Welding Setup

[chewiebarker]

What kind of welding equipment do people use for the work they do on their burbs? I have never welded before but want to learn it. Part of the reason I chose to get into my Burb project was to learn how to weld. What setup works well for autobody work? What options are good for someone like me that will not need to do this professionally, but will need to be functional enough that the work I do on the truck will be of good quality?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

[Tinkermc]

You can look at HF and start very cheap. If you want to save money go to Miller or Lincoln and get yourself a 240 volt gas unit that will always make you happy. If you start cheap you will get better and want more so then you will step up 2 Miller or Lincoln. That's just my 2 cents.

[lowrollin70gmc]

I've been using a Hobart Handler 140 for the last six or seven years and it's handled nearly anything I've needed to do on my projects. It's easy to use, being 120V, welds cleanly (I would go straight to a gas shielded wire feed, skip flux core) and isn't expensive. Miller makes Hobart, my gun even says Miller on the side.

Unless you plan on welding frame rails often I wouldn't go for a 240V unit. With the thickness of our frames, I've used my Handler 140 on frame rails properly prepped and multi-passed. It's much easier to be able to plug into existing 120V outlets. Full disclosure: I recently added a 240V Miller Maxstar, but that's mainly for TIG and stick welding (and it's 5-6 times the price of the 120V Handler).

I started with a Harbor Freight cheap flux core welder and it was horrible for sheetmetal work as it's easy to overheat and warp the panels with flux core wire. An autotint hood from HF can also help, as they're cheap and if you're not welding to make a living work just fine.

Whatever you end up with for a machine, the most important part of welding is the preparation of the metal. Having clean, rust free, and paint free steel will go miles in making your finished product stronger and better looking. I've seen plenty of people lay horrible welds because they refuse to take the extra minute or two to grind/sand the surface. Practice on scrap, watch some YouTube, and possibly see if a local community or tech college offers intro to welding courses. Finally, a good GMAW (aka MIG) weld is not always a stack of dimes as many times people will stack tack welds to achieve the look but there is no strength in tack welds. I like to leave a small gap, bevel both sides, and do a weave, as that's what I learned in my apprenticeship to be a pipe fitter.

[Bigdav160]

No doubt the Lincoln/Miller/Hobart fan boys will claim there is no other choices.

Having a Miller Dynasty (TIG) at work and a Hobart (TIG) at home, I will agree they make good equipment. However, I sold my Snap-On MIG (Century) and replaced it with an Eastwood 175. I must say, while feeling a little cheap, it has done a nice job of welding. And it was under $500 shipped with a spool gun.

[chewiebarker]

Thank you all for the information, especially about the size of the equipment that is needed to do the bodywork versus frame welding. I want to get a quality setup, that will last me for all that I might do, but not go over the top and waste my $$. I can't imagine I will be doing structural welds without any real knowledge/training so I will stick with the 120v. Thanks!

[dwcsr]

You should look at HTP as well. I just purchased a MIG 2400 about a year ago and am very impressed with it. I've used just about every machine made over the last 45 years and it is every bit as good as the high end machines. Price was right as well. www.usaweld.com

A side from the machine what ever you get make sure you dial it in, search youtube for "dialing in a Mig" or go to weldingtipsandtricks.com and watch the videos on welding and setup. If its not setup correctly the best machine will give you poor welds.

[mr48chev]

Miller, Linicoln or Hobart are your best bets for a mig for doing body work. The primary reason is that 99.9 percent of electric welders of any and all varieties will need parts and or service at some time and you can get any one of those three serviced at any good welding supply store that ha s a service department without an issue out side of some of the older ones may have parts that have been discontinued but that usually means the unit is really old to begin with. The HF welders don't have any sort of decent reputation and repairs and parts are non existent. Take one into a welding shop for repair and when they get up off the floor from falling down laughing they will tell you to take it back to HF where they will ask you if you bought the extended warranty

I lucked out and bought a Lincoln 175 220V unit off Craigslist from a guy who had bought it, used it a few times to build a couple of things and then decided it wasn't going to be big enough for the new business he and his dad had started. My son who was welding for a living then (he is the shift supervisor now) thought it was a new out of the box unit when he saw it. Having used a stick welder for over 35 years I'm still getting used to the mig.
I primarily use my gas welding torch to weld the sheet metal body panels that I need to do finish work on. I've done it this way for for over 45 years and the gas welded el ls are easier to work after welding. I attended one of Gene Winfields metal working classes last spring and that is what he does most of the time for just that reason. As an example he gas welded two sheets of metal together then beat them into a shape with a mallet and shot bag and then ran that through the english wheel to turn it into a bowl shaped object. No cracking of the weld either.

One thing about learning to weld. Don't start out on your truck. Start out putting pieces of scrap metal together and get to where you get good welds and then build some things. If you are married your wife will be ticked to death if you build her a plant stand or something decorative and you get the practice making something. Rather than spending 70 to 100 bucks or more for a welding cart build your ownWeld up sheet metal scraps until you get good at it and then start on your truck.

[tedfrk]

Did you make your purchase yet ?

[chewiebarker]

No. Need to learn a little more about the tech before I do. Also, I have a friend who is a welder and I am going to spend some time with him learning before I commit.

[Burbs]

Hew Chewie,

I saw your thread and know we are in the same boat. I just bought this on Amazon... and I have been welding for a while. Picked up my bottle of mix for gas, and I'm off to the races. Have a Hobart Ironman 750 at work I learned to weld on, but don't have 3 phase in my home shop and just wanted to see how much I could accomplish on the body without wiring in a dedicated 220v line.

Hobart 500599 Wire Feed $499

I figure it'll get me through all the body work, and weld in the 2x4 I have planned for the rockers.

[Gumby]

Been using this HF welder for over 10 years now, and it

gets allot of daily business use, everything from paper thin gas tanks, brackets and guards to heavy structural parts. Wagon in back ground lower front shock mount was weld on with it. Built chopper bicycles, welded uni body Firebird inside and out…..

only upgrade to welder was a large AC pancake fan to keep it cool and not need to worry about duty cycle.

[Orange Crate]

X2 on the Hobart Handler. I have been using the same one for 23 years.....You don't really need to learn too much about it, just get something decent and practice a little. Some of the best lessons are learned by doing no?

[tinydb84]

I just picked up a Hobart 190. I suggest you get the biggest you think you will ever need. It sucks to be able to weld and still need to farm out some work.

Here are my practice beads after 2 years of not welding. I really like this machine.

[vidman]

I have a Miller maxstar 200 that I use for stick and Tig and a Millermatic 211. Also have a Lincoln weld-pac 125. All 3 work great and have their place depending on what and where I,m welding. If you can, buy the best one you can afford

[chewiebarker]

What about an Oxy-acetylene torch setup. They seem much less expensive and some bodywork pros prefer them for the softer welds they produce. Also, many suggest it is a more versatile tool. What are the cons?

[chewiebarker]

Can I use an AC only stick welder for body work? On other boards people suggested that it will cause warping and burn through for body panels. Thoughts?

Here is a Miller Thunderbolt 225 on CL that is only $250 but if it won't do the job, it won't.
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/tls/4418614653.htm

What do you experienced guys think?

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by chewiebarker

What about an Oxy-acetylene torch setup. They seem much less expensive and some bodywork pros prefer them for the softer welds they produce. Also, many suggest it is a more versatile tool. What are the cons?

Way too much effort to use it on body panels. If you were custom fabing one off parts, sure. I wouldn't use it on structural (I know some can but that is a steep learning curve comparatively)

Originally Posted by chewiebarker

Can I use an AC only stick welder for body work? On other boards people suggested that it will cause warping and burn through for body panels. Thoughts?

Here is a Miller Thunderbolt 225 on CL that is only $250 but if it won't do the job, it won't.
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/tls/4418614653.htm

What do you experienced guys think?

You cant use stick on sheet metal. You can do structural but it wont look as nice. I would get a 220 mig. If you are concerned about the cost and don't intend to much structural then go with a used 110 set up (go gas). I have seen people run a 110 on 1/4'' but you need to be careful and know what you are doing (preheat, bevel, gap, run uphill, etc)

[chewiebarker]

Thanks tiny. I did find some spots on my frame that will probably need to be strengthened - PO failed to mention these...so I will have to go with a more powerful unit. $$$

[tinydb84]

Got pics of the sections? If you aren't going to need a larger welder for anything other than that then you might be better off with a smaller unit. Plus if you haven't welded before you might find you hate it....doubt it but there is a chance

[chewiebarker]

I will get some shots this weekend.

[Ronw435]

Has anyone used a Tig welder for body panels? Is there an advantage over Mig?

[Bigdav160]

Yes, I love my tig!

Excellent heat control
No spatter
No more Mig wire pushing out the patch

If there is a down side is that it is slower than Mig. The metal need to cleaned before welding. Different positions can be a challenge

[Ronw435]

Thanks for the information Bigdav160. I understand about the different positions....lol. I only have a hand control but am going to have to get the foot control.

[Ronw435]

Bigdav160 can I ask what gas you use on the steel?

[lowrollin70gmc]

Tig requires 100% argon for steel, otherwise the tungsten will burn up. Old timers have also used helium but argon is cheaper.