Best Buget Welder To Buy? - Page 3 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

*highperf4x4* · 10-23-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaceForRent

Does anyone in here use TIG?
It's a great choice for small stuff, low heat input, very accurate.

Did someone answer this guys question and I just missed it?

Since I don't do alot of welding I'd like to get as much "user" info as I can. All I really know is that heat is a killer for sheet metal hence all the spot welding but what's the deal with TIG? I don't know anything about it.

marcsRX · 12-15-2009, 04:39 PM

I'm looking to get into some welding as well. What do you guys think about this one by Miller?

http://store.cyberweld.com/millermatic135.html

It says it will go as low as 30amps. Is that low enough for patch panels and sheet metal?

Sinister · 12-15-2009, 04:44 PM

Ideally you want to go down to 15 to 20 amps. IIRC

marcsRX · 12-15-2009, 04:51 PM

having a hard time finding one that will do that....

Any recommendations?

Sinister · 12-15-2009, 04:53 PM

I have a Lincoln Weldpak 3200 HD that goes from 20-140 amps. Does good on bodywork. Not sure if they're still selling them though.
Edit: Just looked up the specs for the 3200 HD, it goes from 25-135. So down to 25 amps would be good enough. 30 amps might be possible. IDK

PanelDeland · 12-15-2009, 05:05 PM

TIG is the ultimate weld for sheetmetal,stainless and other things.It also has a learning curve.If you are proficient with stick and MIG you can probably learn TIG quicker.
That's not to say some people wont do well starting with a TIG unit,it's just more like a torch weld in that you have to hand feed filler rod into your weld.Unless your gaps are very small and you are very good at TIg you will be better served with a MIG.

BTW Miller has some good tips and such on their website also.Just search Miller welders.

**Daveboyd** · 12-15-2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcsRX

having a hard time finding one that will do that....

Any recommendations?

I bought a lincoln 135 from home depot about 5 years ago as a simple mig machine to do little parts so we didn't need to tie up our big machines turned out to be a really great machine for general purpose repair. Here is a link to the 140 that is comparable to the small one i have.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...5530_200405530

If your budget will allow for a bigger machine.. No doubt i would buy miller and this is a great light industrial machine that will last a long time.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MILLERMATIC-212-...item5ad5a7585d

just incase your wondering this is what we use. MIG
http://cgi.ebay.com/MILLERMATIC-252-...item518e60dd5e

and TIG
http://cgi.ebay.com/MILLER-SYNCROWAV...item53de25261a

im not saying these are the best machines or that is the best place to buy.. but it is what we use. indiana oxygen has great competitve prices and ive bought machines from them in the past.

Sinister · 12-15-2009, 05:19 PM

Just did a quick Google. Seems like the 30 amp welders can weld down to 24 gauge. The sheet metal on these trucks is mostly 20 gauge IIRC. Should be alright with a 30 amp minimum. Here's a link to a Lincoln at Home Depot that would work also: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

12-15-2009, 04:39 PM	#52
marcsRX 68 C10 SWB Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 216	Re: Best Buget Welder To Buy? I'm looking to get into some welding as well. What do you guys think about this one by Miller? http://store.cyberweld.com/millermatic135.html It says it will go as low as 30amps. Is that low enough for patch panels and sheet metal? __________________ "How much physical pain do you go through on a daily basis that you can directly attribute to your lack of intelligence?" -R0bman Last edited by marcsRX; 12-15-2009 at 04:39 PM.

12-15-2009, 04:44 PM	#53
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	Re: Best Buget Welder To Buy? Ideally you want to go down to 15 to 20 amps. IIRC __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

12-15-2009, 04:51 PM	#54
marcsRX 68 C10 SWB Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 216	Re: Best Buget Welder To Buy? having a hard time finding one that will do that.... Any recommendations? __________________ "How much physical pain do you go through on a daily basis that you can directly attribute to your lack of intelligence?" -R0bman

12-15-2009, 04:53 PM	#55
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	Re: Best Buget Welder To Buy? I have a Lincoln Weldpak 3200 HD that goes from 20-140 amps. Does good on bodywork. Not sure if they're still selling them though. Edit: Just looked up the specs for the 3200 HD, it goes from 25-135. So down to 25 amps would be good enough. 30 amps might be possible. IDK __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match... Last edited by Sinister; 12-15-2009 at 05:07 PM.

12-15-2009, 05:05 PM	#56
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	Re: Best Buget Welder To Buy? TIG is the ultimate weld for sheetmetal,stainless and other things.It also has a learning curve.If you are proficient with stick and MIG you can probably learn TIG quicker. That's not to say some people wont do well starting with a TIG unit,it's just more like a torch weld in that you have to hand feed filler rod into your weld.Unless your gaps are very small and you are very good at TIg you will be better served with a MIG. BTW Miller has some good tips and such on their website also.Just search Miller welders. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil" Last edited by PanelDeland; 12-15-2009 at 05:11 PM.

12-15-2009, 05:19 PM	#58
Sinister Between Trucks... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA. Posts: 3,830	Re: Best Buget Welder To Buy? Just did a quick Google. Seems like the 30 amp welders can weld down to 24 gauge. The sheet metal on these trucks is mostly 20 gauge IIRC. Should be alright with a 30 amp minimum. Here's a link to a Lincoln at Home Depot that would work also: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053 __________________ Beat it to fit, Paint it to match...

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