lets talk about mig welders??

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mopar65

mopar65

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well i am going to start working on my 73/72 duster and i need to buy a mig welder and not sure which one to get. I was going to buy a 90 am flux core from harbor freight, that is until i did a search and read about then bad reviews it got. So i found a Hobart easy arch 130 mig welder that you can use with ether flux or gas for 329.00 they also have a 140 am one but for some reason it 540 dollars more? i want something that i can use to mig weld body panels with and install frame connectors, move the springs in and maybe install a roll bar.also i dont want to use flux core wire on body panels right? so does any body have any recommendations? really cant spend over 350 right now for a welder.thanks for your time. Mopar65:burnout::burnout:
 
Only two things. Duty cycle and parts availability.
 
Buy brand name Miller Hobart, Lincoln, etc, used on Craigslist if you cannot afford new. Definately get gas setup

"Sears" is not a brand name and neither is "Horrid Freight." Century is not, and neither are any of the other Chinese/ Italian/ T.I. Whon etc etc etc

Here's one that appears to be a relabled Lincoln

http://springfield.craigslist.org/tls/3776737789.html

You might research this one

http://springfield.craigslist.org/tld/3780259138.html

Not sure how far away..............

http://loz.craigslist.org/tls/3783400457.html

No idea. Check it out

http://loz.craigslist.org/tls/3775073029.html
 
67Dart273 said:
Buy brand name Miller Hobart, Lincoln, etc, used on Craigslist if you cannot afford new. Definately get gas setup

X2! Get a gas set-up. Flux core works ok, but is sloppy and stinky. With some seat time, an inert gas (MIG) weld will look pro. You will be pleased with the finished weld and a lot less clean-up grinding. You should be able to find a used Miller, 110 volt with gas and stay within your budget. If you stick with a BRAND NAME you will always be able to get replacement parts and get it repaired.
I run an old (1980's) Lincoln Idealac 200 amp, 220 volt. $300 pawn shop score about 6 years ago. Every piece is still available to fix it and I have only had to replaced the liner in the stinger. This will be the only MIG welder I will ever buy.
I tell ya, new Millers have come down in price a ton in the last few years.
Check the link.
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/product.php?model=M00234
Not quite twice what your budget is, But it will last you a life time!
JMO,
Larry
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67Dart273 said:
Buy brand name Miller Hobart, Lincoln, etc, used on Craigslist if you cannot afford new. Definately get gas setup

"Sears" is not a brand name and neither is "Horrid Freight." Century is not, and neither are any of the other Chinese/ Italian/ T.I. Whon etc etc etc

Here's one that appears to be a relabled Lincoln

http://springfield.craigslist.org/tls/3776737789.html

You might research this one

http://springfield.craigslist.org/tld/3780259138.html

Not sure how far away..............

http://loz.craigslist.org/tls/3783400457.html

No idea. Check it out

http://loz.craigslist.org/tls/3775073029.html
Click to expand...

thanks i found all of those last nite just not sure which one to get.lol i like the real gear, i think they said it was a knock off of a Lincoln. But its made in china, if that matters/ also found out the Hobart line of welders was bought out by miller . mostly just worried if the 130/140 amp line of welders will have enough amperage to weld what i need it to, but thanks every one for all the help. looks like i need to do more research. mopar65
 
Billy's dad left him this Lincoln beast. Not only a serious welder, it can run your house if the electricity goes out. It has a 20 hp Kohler motor and is pretty well self-explanatory on the welding side. Last I looked at the "speedometer," it had only 351 hours on it and it's a 2003 model. Billy's dad bought the best of everything and rarely used any of it.

He'd like to get $3000 for it or trade it for something cool.

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CudaChick1968 said:
Billy's dad left him this Lincoln beast. Not only a serious welder, it can run your house if the electricity goes out. It has a 20 hp Kohler motor and is pretty well self-explanatory on the welding side. Last I looked at the "speedometer," it had only 351 hours on it and it's a 2003 model. Billy's dad bought the best of everything and rarely used any of it.
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:prayer:
 

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CudaChick1968 said:
That's funny Rani ... while you were drooling over Billy's welder I was inviting you to learn how to powder coat and cut a bigger hole in my Cuda. LOL!!! http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showpost.php?p=1969963480&postcount=15

Great girl minds work alike. :-D
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i want to weld ...seeing that welder make me want to go out to the shop and start making some pretty blue light. too bad in currently involved in engine work right now .....no welding anytime soon for me till i get some other stuff out of the way.
 
I love my HF welder, the new black ones are better built. Their wire is good too. The only thing I find about flux core is you can't do is long flat butt welded panels, it's too hot. I've done my whole car with .035 wire and one, for all the haters, look at my build thread. :D
 
I'd highly reccomend the Eastwood 130 amp unit from personal experience. I've been using it almost daily in my shop for 2 1/2 years now,its user friendly and has a 3 year warranty! Whatever you do don't buy a flux core unit, they're junk and just not suitable for what your trying to do
 
I'm not a fan of welding roll bars/cages with a 110volt welder.

Even the 140 amp Miler/Hobart/Lincoln are barely capable IMO.
 
crackedback said:
I'm not a fan of welding roll bars/cages with a 110volt welder.

Even the 140 amp Miler/Hobart/Lincoln are barely capable IMO.
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I agree, but you CAN help improve their performance by making sure that you hook them to a dedicated, "large gauge" electrical outlet, one that is heavy enough wired to maintain line voltage, and don't run the damn thing at the end of a big long extension cord.

This might not make much difference if all you are welding is floor panels, etc, but when you start pushing them "up" a little, this becomes very important.
 
Another vote for the Eastwood welder, or even the harbor freight or northern tool units if you have one close to you, out side of them three I wouldn't buy any of the Chinese welders. The difference in them 3 is they at least stand by what they sell and you can get a warranty on either
 
I recently bought the Hobart Handler 125 MIG it will weld up to 3/16" - nice for cars. It's cheaper than the HH 140.
Made in USA....
 
My .02....get one of the established brands and get it set up for gas. Also look for continuously variable wire speed and volts, not just a few click stops like the models from the big box stores. It makes them much easier to adjust for light gauge material. Get a good one and use it for many,many hours of welding for many years.
 
mopar65 said:
well i am going to start working on my 73/72 duster and i need to buy a mig welder and not sure which one to get. I was going to buy a 90 am flux core from harbor freight, that is until i did a search and read about then bad reviews it got. So i found a Hobart easy arch 130 mig welder that you can use with ether flux or gas for 329.00 they also have a 140 am one but for some reason it 540 dollars more? i want something that i can use to mig weld body panels with and install frame connectors, move the springs in and maybe install a roll bar.also i dont want to use flux core wire on body panels right? so does any body have any recommendations? really cant spend over 350 right now for a welder.thanks for your time. Mopar65
Click to expand...

Not sure if anyone answered your question about the price difference. From what I've seen some of the smaller units say they can be adapted for gas, but do not come with the regulator/gauges. I have the 140 - it comes with the regulator and should do everything you need.
 
and meant to add - as far as under $350... look for used. And don't forget -your going to need a bottle and safety gear too. If your lucky you might find somebody selling all together...
 
I have a Hobart Handler 135. It can use solid (gas) and flux wire. I use gas for sheet metal work and fine welds and use the flux for non-critical welding, like fences, etc.
 
One last thing.............

For all of my welding, and I'm "no welder," LOL, I've gotten by VERY well with straight CO2, which is MUCH cheaper than Argon/ CO2

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I have a Miller 135 mig that's been great for the last 20+ years. Reliable & consistant. I've only ever had to replace consumables. I have welded body metal as well as mild steel tubing for a roll bar. I just turned up the heat & beveled the tubing edges of my joints for better penetration, (made a few welds on scrap tubing 1st to get good penetration) & was fine. If I was doing it everyday I'd opt for a 220v 175-200 amp unit.
Eastwood welders IMO are junk!! I went to a welding seminar at Eastwood 2 weeks ago & their welder (looked almost new) stopped working after about 5 min of just running practice beads on 20ga steel. They rolled out another welder & that one didnt work either!! It felt very cheap & flimsy compared to my Miller & with the problems with 2 welders I'd stay away! They even admit they are made in China to save manufacturing costs!
Don't waste your time & money on flux welding. The welds are not as nice & your limited in what you can do with it. Not good for body reapairs.
 
sorry cuda chick that welder is way out of my price range.lol even though i would love to own it.thanks for all the info every one. well i did some more searching and found some 220v welders on ebay. so are any of these worth a crap? if not i might just have to see if i can barrow one.thanks again Bobby.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=220+mig+welder
 
my 90 amp hf mig with flux core aint bad ive had it for years now didnt pay much maybe 89.99 on a sale and with a 20%off coupon.it works great done welding on the valiant when it was hit and did repairs on my harley
 
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