Welder Help

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bassguy1970

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I was just looking at some welders, I need some recommendations. First of all should I run a 220 line in the garage? Or are those smaller welders ok. I read that someone had trouble with the spring perches on his car. His welder didn't get hot enough. Snapped them right off on a launch. I don't want to buy this stuff twice, so any hellp would be great.

Thanks Dan
 
Buy at least a 220V machine and the biggest you can afford!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A 175/180 amp machine will weld most anything you can throw at it on a car. I have a Millermatic 175 and wish I'd spent the cash on a 250 class. IMHO, don't waste your money on a 110v machine.

If you can get 220 volt, 50 amp service do that. A 30 amp is all that's needed to run most 175 amp welders and home style 60-80 gallon compressors, I have one 30 amp service and spend some time unplugging and plugging welder/compressor into the outlet. Make sure whatever you are plugging in is turned off... bzzzzzzzzzz followed by .... damn that hurt!
 
crackedback said:
Buy at least a 220V machine and the biggest you can afford!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A 175/180 amp machine will weld most anything you can throw at it on a car. I have a Millermatic 175 and wish I'd spent the cash on a 250 class. IMHO, don't waste your money on a 110v machine.

If you can get 220 volt, 50 amp service do that. A 30 amp is all that's needed to run most 175 amp welders and home style 60-80 gallon compressors, I have one 30 amp service and spend some time unplugging and plugging welder/compressor into the outlet. Make sure whatever you are plugging in is turned off... bzzzzzzzzzz followed by .... damn that hurt!
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I'm in the same boat as Dan. I'm looking for a MIG welder, too, and I hear "Just buy the Miller" all the time from people who should know. What do you guys think? Glad I've got 220 already in the garage. Now, what can go to Goodwill that's taking up the space for my welder? :happy10:
 
Can't go wrong with a red or blue box IMHO.

Lincolns are a quality piece as well. One thing the lincoln might have going for it, you can usually get consumables at HD or Lowes on a sunday when you burn up your last tip...

I like my Miller, had it two years and never a real issue.
 
One other point.

Buy a machine that has infinite voltage and not a tapped machine. If you are starting out, the tapped machines can get you caught between 2 voltages on occasion. If you don't know how to adjust, it makes life a bit more difficult.
 
crackedback has good points, and valid. but you need to know how to weld. the biggest welder out there wont make strong welds if you cant do your part. that said , a smaller quality welder will weld most anything on a car. do your self a favor and get some real instruction or take a class.
I have been a certified welder for many years. i have a 135 amp 110 volt lincoln welder and have used it to weld, axle tubes , ladder bars, motor mounts and frame mods. with no failures.
the most important thing in making a strong weld is in the preperation of the parts, and setting up the welder properly. dont spend $2,000 on a machine that you cant use. spend part of the money on learning the skills needed. it will make your life a lot happier and safer.
what ever you decide to do ...do NOT use the gasless welding wire... make sure the machine you buy is set up for a gas bottle. a little more money but the right way to go. ...good luck and have fun !
 
68gts340 said:
crackedback has good points, and valid. but you need to know how to weld. the biggest welder out there wont make strong welds if you cant do your part. that said , a smaller quality welder will weld most anything on a car. do your self a favor and get some real instruction or take a class.
I have been a certified welder for many years. i have a 135 amp 110 volt lincoln welder and have used it to weld, axle tubes , ladder bars, motor mounts and frame mods. with no failures.
the most important thing in making a strong weld is in the preperation of the parts, and setting up the welder properly. dont spend $2,000 on a machine that you cant use. spend part of the money on learning the skills needed. it will make your life a lot happier and safer.
what ever you decide to do ...do NOT use the gasless welding wire... make sure the machine you buy is set up for a gas bottle. a little more money but the right way to go. ...good luck and have fun !
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Right on !!!!!!!!!
 
but you need to know how to weld. the biggest welder out there wont make strong welds if you cant do your part. that said , a smaller quality welder will weld most anything on a car. do your self a favor and get some real instruction or take a class.
I have been a certified welder for many years. i have a 135 amp 110 volt lincoln welder and have used it to weld, axle tubes , ladder bars, motor mounts and frame mods. with no failures.
the most important thing in making a strong weld is in the preperation of the parts, and setting up the welder properly. dont spend $2,000 on a machine that you cant use. spend part of the money on learning the skills needed. it will make your life a lot happier and safer.
what ever you decide to do ...do NOT use the gasless welding wire... make sure the machine you buy is set up for a gas bottle. a little more money but the right way to go. ...good luck and have fun !
Click to expand...

I am with 68gts340, I also have been welding for many years and only have a HD 500.00 special 3200 pack. There is just no replacement for gas and knowledge.
 
I've got 35 years of big machines behind me, and now use an HD 3200 Lincoln MIG........it's sure not a waste of money........I weld 3/16 with it with no problem, right down to tiny panel hole plugs......You just have to know how to properly tack & bead your welds.

If you're worried about a spring perch snapping off, then have a pro weld that particular part for you when the time comes.......if you get a big welder, you'd better know how to use it or it will come back to bite ya' someplace....as well as your pocketbook...size isn't everything.

For overall body panel work, and Mopar frame welding, I don't think you'll need much more than the big 110V systems, as long as it's gas shielded.....for the love of mercy, don't try flux core...THAT's a waste of your time and money for what you're doing. I paid $625. for my Lincoln, and it paid for itself in 2 small jobs.....an added pleasure. 8)
 
The 120 volt machines have all the power necessary to weld anything on your car. I have a Lincoln HD3200 too and its a great little machine and is more than capable of handling automotive welding needs.

I took a class in MIG & TIG welding at the local voc school. Since I wasn't going to have access to TIG equipment I spent the whole 10 weeks with the MIG machines. The school had huge production grade machines which I realized I wasn't going to be using so the last two weeks I spent with one of the 120 volt Lincoln's they had. It took about an hour of practice to get back to the same quality of welds I was getting with the big machine.

Infinately variable voltage adjustment is nice but certainly is not a requirement for a first timer. My class work proved that to me. If you can afford the additional cost great but if you can't you don't get hung up on it. Just get one with gas, it will cost more to upgrade to gas than to get it in the first place. And you need the gas to effectively weld sheet metal.
 
You need 220 in your shop. May not need it for the welder but a 220 compressor is nice and you'll like a big air conditioner also. If the spring perch broke off it was because the person that put it on wasn't a welder. Definitly a gas unit. Good luck on your search. Practice makes perfect.
 
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