Welding.

[Mikec10]

So lets say that i wanted to teach myself how to weld and what not, now i know there are two different types or whatever tig and mig. What kind of welder should i buy if i want to be welding things like exhaust, patch in body panels.. floor pans. Stuff like that.

[cableguy0]

You definately want a mig welder. Get one that uses gas instead of flux cored wire. Gas welding is much cleaner and leaves a better result especially on body panels.

[C-10 simplex]

Well, to confuse the issue further (sorry) maybe you should learn stick first?

i'm not sure if learning mig first is nessesarily the best way? This isn't like cooking (well actually it is in certain ways)----i mean it's different from cooking in that safety is at stake. Burnt meat loaf isn't going to cause the truck to fall apart on the highway.

[cableguy0]

How is stick welding going to help with mig welding? Nothing he wants to weld is a suitable place to use a stick welder. Stick welders should be reserved for heavy steel plate.

[mongoose]

the mig is easiest to use... just get one of those.. and will work the best for what you want.


c10, I'm assuming you're saying that cuz that's what you learn in school first... the main reason it's learnt first in school as most welding jobs use stick welding, well the jobs that are easy to get in to.. Ie construction.. but outside of that field it's not used very often..

[Gobbles]

Go for the mig! I got a Miller 211 and never looked back, its a tank!

[C-10 simplex]

Originally Posted by cableguy0

How is stick welding going to help with mig welding? Nothing he wants to weld is a suitable place to use a stick welder. Stick welders should be reserved for heavy steel plate.

Yes mig is better(much better) for sheet metal, exhaust etc. i'm just saying if you're an absolute beginner i'm thinking it would be better to learn stick first then go to mig? Not that learning mig the first time you weld anything is an absolute guarantee of disaster.

Stick helps you learn control, puddle control/size/speed, proper penetration/heat/amperage levels etc.


Sorry i confused the issue, but i had to say it.

PS--- i just re-read the original post and there are actually 3 types (maybe more actually), but 3 main types of welding---stick which is actually properly called SMAW--shielded metal arc welding, and mig and tig.

So smaw, mig and tig.

[ryans69chevy]

I don't wanna steal the thread, but since the PO is looking at a starter welder I figure this would give him some options... AND ME!...

What's the best size of welder to get if someone was to just use it to weld a maximum thickness of one our pickup frames? I'm seriously looking at welders I was considering the new miller 211, but I've heard that's a little too big for back yard auto work. My neighbor has a lincoln 140 and says that's all the welder you need. Anyone have a take on this? Maybe a lincoln or miller 180?

I went to a two different hot spots that sell welders and got a quote on the miller 211. After everything I'd have to buy with it i.e. gas, tank, cart, wire, helmet it's just a little too much that I'd wanna spend on a welder. Not that I don't wanna go cheap on a welder, but it's just because I've heard a smaller one would be adaquate for a back yard welder.

I know the lincolns and millers have some deals going on right now on their welders so I wanna jump on one if I can.

[cableguy0]

Once you move into the thicker metals a 220v machine with a decent duty cycle is your best bet. Something like a 180 will be fine for your needs. The miller 210/211 is a very good welder. We have two miller 210's at work and they will basically weld anything. Its probably overkill for home stuff but can you ever have too much ability?

[mongoose]

Originally Posted by cableguy0

Once you move into the thicker metals a 220v machine with a decent duty cycle is your best bet. Something like a 180 will be fine for your needs. The miller 210/211 is a very good welder. We have two miller 210's at work and they will basically weld anything. Its probably overkill for home stuff but can you ever have too much ability?

nope... one job i had we had a few 251's... 75% of the welding was 18-16 ga tube and 20-16 ga steel... that's a bit overkill..


that being said.. i can't recall ever changing the settings to go from 3/16th's back down to 20 ga lol

[ryans69chevy]

I believe the 180's are both 220v systems. So technically if I really wanted to someday weld something thicker than my truck frame I still could with a 180, it would just need a couple passes and maybe some thicker wire. I heard you can always get thicker wire (within reason) to fit your needs. With all that said what brand should I go with? Lincoln or Miller? I guess I my personal prefrence would be the better brand! haha so you can't say that. This will be my first welder so I'm not sure what the better overall welder would be...

I was thinking of putting in a few receptacles that would be backed by a 50 amp breaker for this welder. What are most running. The walls are all bare right now in the shop so I can put whatever.

Thanks!

[Mr. 250r]

Learning stick does help your mig it teaches you hand movement and wrist control which is pretty important, mig i would say is slightly harder to start if you have no help because you have to figure out wire speed/amps and pressure but after that its basically easy but then you have people that want you to weld half moons or do circles or just straight drag the puddle or push it, that is what gets annoying i had multiple teachers telling me multiple things which is frustrating at first

[karlbenz]

thicker wire is not gonna get you penetration on thicker steel though. I have a millermatic 210, wish I had a 251 though

[PanelDeland]

The Miller 211 is a good unit for a beginner.It's auto set so you dial thickness of metal and it basically sets itself.Get an auto Darkening hood.It will help you get better starts.Stick or MIG the weldor is what makes the weld,the welder is just a machine.You will have to practice to get proficient at welding.

[Dunenutt]

Which ever one you decide on, make sure it has dials on it. The welders that have 5 position knobs will drive you crazy. It seems that you always want to weld somewhere in between the clicks.

You will NOT be sorry if you buy a miller welder. Buy the biggest one you can afford. Anything over 180 A is probably going to be 230v though. The small inverter millers are sweet!

[ryans69chevy]

I'm going to get a price quote on the miller 180 next week and hope that's more in my price range. Can't wait to get a welder!!

Auto darkening helmet is a sure thing in my book!