Welders!

[stingrayorangekrate]

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100039229

would this work good for body work.... lmk

[DURRTY]

that one from the depot is not set up to run with gas. The inner shield (gassless-flux core wire) will work fine but it makes a mess with all the spatter. Allot of clean up is required even if you use anti-spatter spray.

it will weld the sheet metal fine though

[xakk]

Originally Posted by stingrayorangekrate

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100039229

would this work good for body work.... lmk

This is a much better deal. Works great, too.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100093231

[stingrayorangekrate]

Originally Posted by xakk

This is a much better deal. Works great, too.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100093231

so this one will work better for body work and replacement plate on my project truck??

[DURRTY]

Yes that one would be nice to use for what your doing

[stingrayorangekrate]

thanks for the help guys

[lks dcvn]

Okay gents - after reviewing this thread and some stuff online...

It would appear that my needs are a welder that can replace/repair the following:

Body Panels, Rockers, Floor Pans, Floor Supports, (No Frame Work needed)

So that puts me in the search for the following for the best results:

MIG Welder - with Gas
Gas = 75% (Argon) + 25% (CO2) or straight CO2
Dependable - Hobart, Lincoln, Miller, etc.

Since I don't have 220 in the garage - that limits my options...

I am also searching for a local vocational class to learn how to weld - I have no experience at all - know nothing about welding...but have wanted to learn for quite some time - just never had a project that needed it...that is until now.

I did a search on CL and Ebay and found a few welders in my area - any of these good for what I need? Is Clarke a good line of welders?

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZgr8deal4u20

Thanks everybody!

[DURRTY]

you dont need a 220v welder. those lincolns (in the links above) are only 115v and its fine.

Ive had a Lincoln SP-135 for years. Its more than enough for sheet metal.

I have a miller matic 210 also but sometimes favor the smaller Lincoln because I can put it in the back of the truck or under if I have to get into tight places that the bigger one wont reach. (body work)

I paid about 400 for the Lincoln 5 or 6 years ago and the 3200 version is the same thing just a newer model number.

Im not familiar with Clarke machines.

[lks dcvn]

Well - I decided to call the guys at Clarke to see if they had any cheap welders lying around from demos and displays (stranger things have happened) - since after doing some more research I found out that their Corporate HQ is about 15 mins from my house/work.

The guy says that if I buy used it won't come with the 10/2 year warranty that basically covers everything for 2 years and the major stuff for the next 8 years...

They guy asks what I will be using it for - he says that Tractor Supply Company has the Clarke135SG model on clearance right now - then gives me the SKU - then he tells me that it is on sale for just under $200 - so I do some searching online for the model - and the cheapest place online is around $600...

So I call around and the closest store to me (5 mins away) is sold out - he checks the store across town (15 mins away) - they have one left...so I call them. The person checks the inventory and says they have one (on the computer), but to call later to verify that they have it (no wasted trip for me).

Just before leaving work - I call - new girl - she will have to check and call me back...so I leave work driving the wrong direction from the store I need to go to...get home and they call (it figures) - they have it...

20 minutes later I am in TSC looking for it - I find it - EXCEPT it is marked down again to $140 - so I figured I would pass on the news that the Tractor Supply Company in your area may have this model on clearance for dirt cheap if you are looking for a MIG welder that can use gas as well and comes with a 10 yr warranty. Ask for SKU = 3806374

I will still need to buy/rent a regulator and a tank, but $140 for a welder out the door was a good deal to me. Now I just have to wait for it to warm up to try it.

Here are the specs:

http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/we...ot/WE6441.html

Thanks for your help everybody!

[pocoloco71]

I didn't read all the post so I'm sure I'll be repetitive, I got my millermatic
140 autoset about 9 months ago. It is truly a might-mite. The rocker
describe in a thread i posted in general discussion a month or so back.
We have had over 600 pounds of people on it and tried to turn it over
just to make sure it was safe. The trailer dolly has moved the trailer with
the motor, engine stand and shop crane on it. All these were welded with
gas(75/25) wire speed 40-60 and set on 7-9, gas flow set on 20. Suface


prep a must. Some back cut on thicker stuff. With only 20% duty cycle, that
2 minutes of welding per 10 minutes of 12 minutes per hour, you see why you
can't use this size commercially. The littler stuff you can turn down the heat.
I can weld some now and some day hope some one might consider me a
welder. This little mig can weld stainless. Again you can't be fast enough
to make a living. It can weld aluminum with the new spool gun Miller has
come out with for the 140 and 180. I have not tried this yet, but 9 months
ago I had never welded.

The miller cost 629, helmet 130, gloves 10, 11lb wire 45. I went to a miller
dealer and probably won't beat any "deals". But if I have any trouble they
got my back.

get a welder, get metal and start melting it together, you will get better
and with mig it goes faster than the other types. There are plenty of
welders that are not fans of mig. But I think the stuff my little 140 has
done so far, passes muster. Hope I have been of some help

I did all this stuff because it was enjoyable and to practice before I
started on my truck. Now I have the joy of welding and fixing my truck,
priceless.

[Rc 415]

Is there a Lincoln welder that runs on 110 that can weld sheetmetal and frames?

[DURRTY]

this one will do it. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100093231

I would use .035 inner shield wire (no gas) to weld a frame.

BUT !! if you are new to welding, it would not be smart to weld a frame together. If the welds fail people could die. Have someone that has good experience help out on that.

A more powerful welder would be the best thing for a frame but that little one can do it, its the operator that will be the variable.

[Rc 415]

no worries I'm going to take a class and lots o practice before i dig into my truck

[usernamessuck]

A 110 volt welder will work great for almost any work you will do at home, but only if you follow correct procedures. NEVER run larger than .030 innershield (flux-core) wire in a 110 volt machine. Also never run larger than .025 hard wire in one of these welders either. These 110 volt machines will weld with the larger wires, but they use too much of their power melting the wire rather than penetrating the base metal. I know of people that weld body panels with cored wire but this is not a good idea because of slag inclusions caused by not being able to generate enough heat to float the slag to the surface of the weld. Over time a weld that has slag inclusions will fail. This is another good argument for spending the extra money on a MIG machine (one that you can run a shielding gas with). Spend the money for a good machine or you are just wasting your time. If you can't afford to buy the right tool for the job then maybe knitting is a better hobby.

[cartman]

I have had a lincoln weld pack 100 for about 12 years, it has been a great machine. I have always used it with flux core and never had any problems! Yes it does require a little more clean up ( flux core), but for the price it's still a great buy. Perfect for the guy that just want's to do some patches, rockers etc. I have welded 1/4 in plate to repair some of my snow plows with NO failures, years of abuse on the welds. But 1/4 is definitely the very end of it's capibility and not really sugested. At the time 110 welders were in their infancy, and now I will probably step up to a 3200 lincoln with gas when I get my new shop set up. A good 110v machine with flux core should work fine to get any one started. As practice, experiance, and $ allow, you can always step up to a bigger better machine. Some one will always buy your old one as long as it's in good condition! The guy that taught me could weld 2 razor blades together, I'm not that good but I learned a lot from him. I have experiance with other 220v migs, but the weld pack is what I use on my projects at home. Mostly sheet metal, light tubing ( exhaust)

[slug]

Miller Matic 135, Thermal Dynamics Pak 38 Plasma

[mwinchel7]

I bought a miller matic 185 off ebay for 805.00 total with shipping and all. It came with everything minus the tank. It came with the cart, cable, wire, ect.. This welder has everything you need and it is 220. The guy i got it from is a dealer so you get the warrantee and everything check it out they are all over ebay.

[Sam59]

i just bought a hobart 210 handler yesterday, and now im learning to use it.. i like it alot! welds 24 ga. - 3/8 ''.. its nice setup, a little pricey though

[68c10owner]

Well it`s a little late to ask now since I already bought it but what about the Matco auto Arc 140A? It`s suppost to be made by Miller for Matco. It`s alot more than I wanted to pay but I didn`t have the cash to buy one outright and I was able to put this on my Matco credit account. Here are the specs on it from Matco`s site,

Operates off 115 Volt standard household current for maximum versatility. 20 amp breaker.
Welds from 24 gauge to 1/4" in a single pass.
With an amperage output range of 25-140, easily handles a broad range of wires from mild steel, stainless and aluminium from .023 to .035 diameters and even gasless.
5 yr. Warranty on Transformer, 3 yr. on Electronics and 1 yr. on Torch.
Built-in contactor eases use and is an excellent safety feature which makes wire electrically "cold" when not welding.
Four output voltage settings with wire feed speed tracking provide quick and easy adjustment for different materials and thicknesses.
Welds with all wires including gasless on 2# & 10# spools.
Comes complete with 10' Miller Welding Gun, built-in gas valve, regulator and gas hose, power cord w/plug, 10 ft. work cable w/clamp, extra contact tips, sample spool of wire, weld set-up and parts info. chart, 8 in. wire spool adapter and owner's manual.


I want to be able to weld in body panels and some frame work like MII set ups, boxing frame rails and maybe 4 link set ups. I had a Lincoln weld pak 100 years ago and was able to box the frame on my old 57 chevy p/u that I put a MII set up on but it would`nt touch the 5/16" crossmember. I ended up using a borrowed stick welder to tack it in place and had a firend come over with a big 220V lincoln and finish it up.

[usernamessuck]

I just bought a replacement gun for one of our cheapo lincoln welders at work. It is a Radnor unit from Airgas. It didn't cost any more than the lincoln replacement gun, but it is SO nice. The quality is right up there with the $1000 gun on my Miller suitcase. If anyone needs to replace the gun on a welder, I strongly recommend taking a look at one of these.

[89 crew]

Personally, I'm using a miller 251 with a tweko gun, argon/co2, 75/25 blend and I love it! They give beautiful welds, and I have never tripped the duty cycle even welding a hopper in a trash truck! Plain and simply they rock!

[Gauder the Goof]

Originally Posted by Sam59

i just bought a hobart 210 handler yesterday, and now im learning to use it.. i like it alot! welds 24 ga. - 3/8 ''.. its nice setup, a little pricey though

I just picked one of these up too. Trust me, it is a lot of welder for that price though. You definately got your money's worth.

[EC7Five]

Originally Posted by xakk

This is a much better deal. Works great, too.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100093231

This is the welder I have and I love it. It's a nice, easy to setup and use machine and works great for body panels, floorpans, etc. I mostly do my welding outside so I have mine set to use flux-core, but it's nice to have the option of gas in case you're welding inside a garage/shop and want nicer welds with less spatter.

[LUCKIN-FOU]

My dad walked beams in New York City they used Lincolns. When he came off of the beams they had Lincolns in the shop. He told me when I got my frist machine make sure you get a Lincoln , Miller , Or Hobart that way no matter were you go in the world it can be fixed. So now all I run is Lincolns
140 Volt 110 Mig
SP 250 Mig
Power Mig 255
Square Wave 275 Tig
Precision Tig 375
Pro Cut 55 Plasma Cutter

[70rs/ss]

Lou, My dad walked Iron in PA and OH. He has Lincolns all the way as do I. I used Miller through college and bought one when I could, need a TIG and a Plasma for retirement!