what's a good welder to weld patch panels

[Baker72chevy]

I like a miller found a miller 210 at a good deal is it to big

[Baker72chevy]

Fount a miller 210 I think it mite be to big

[Clavo106]

I got a Hobart 190 mig with a spool gun kit. I payed $850 free shipping a yr ago from cyberweld. A little 120v will do panels but I needed something bigger to do frames. if you're going mig that is and u need to buy the tank and gas.. because flux is no good for panel work imo.. iv heard good things from lincon welders for starters i never ran one thowe.

[jocko]

second the Miller. Millermatic Auto-set 211 is my go to.

[67swb72klb]

You will want a welder that will run .023 size wire for sheet metal to minimize warping

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Baker72chevy

I like a miller found a miller 210 at a good deal is it to big

I do all my MIG work with a Miller 211 autoset which is the same ampacity and wire size as the 210. If the price is good, snap it up! Great machine.

[Baker72chevy]

Looked at miller 211 they change it a lot look smaller

[F.A.A.benny]

Miller is good quality but like anything else, it could be used and abused. Ive worked in some production shops that ran 3 shifts so those machines were well worn. If it came from some guy who didn't use it much and the price is right, snag it. I paid $1200 for my millermatic 210 back in '04 and it has maybe an hour use on it, lol. They don't even make that model anymore. Ive used lincoln and esab. Both good also.

[Baker72chevy]

What's the smallest wire you can use on the 210

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Baker72chevy

What's the smallest wire you can use on the 210

The 210 accepts the following drive rolls:

V-Grooved Drive Roll Kits and PNs
(solid wire)
#204 579
.030 & .035 in (0.8 & 0.9 mm)
Combination (Reversible)
#087 131
.023/.025 in (0.6 mm)
#079 594
.030 in (0.8 mm)
#079 595
.035 in (0.9 mm)
V-Knurled Drive Roll Kits Since it accepts and uses the 0.023 drive rolls it will use 0.023 wire which is good down to 22 Ga sheetmetal.

[Baker72chevy]

I've found a miller 211and 210 the difference is 300 dollars

[Wizo]

fellas: if it counts for anything I managed to do all my patch panels and a large portion of the floor with a hobart handler 175 mig welder with gas.And i managed to teach myself to mig weld with it also. I do wish it was a Hobart handler 125. it would have been nice to have a bit lower heat setting. Most people that have seen my welding think it looks pretty good. Patience and take your time young grasshopper,you can do it. Just say'in

[hugger6933]

I'm still using the Snap-On welder I bought in 1988. I don't think they make it anymorebut is a ya240 it is a big machine and it has been real good for me.

[rcazwillis]

I like the small Lincoln line. Currently have a Lincoln 140 with a gas kit. It works very well for most projects that I have tackled. This includes building roll cages and welding sheet metal.

[mmiddle]

I have a Miller 140 Auto-set and a 211 Auto-set. The 140 is the one I use on sheet metal. It's just easier to use the 140 for light stuff and the 211 for general heavy welding.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by rcazwillis

I like the small Lincoln line. Currently have a Lincoln 140 with a gas kit. It works very well for most projects that I have tackled. This includes building roll cages and welding sheet metal.

I have a Lincoln 140C and love it. It fits my needs perfectly.

Gary

[Baker72chevy]

Thanks everyone for the help

[hugger6933]

I know if mine crapped out I would look for something besides the kind I have now I paid 3200 for mine in 1988 wouldn't that be like 8000 dollars in todays money? I am sure the ch is leaps ahaed of what my was but it still welds and I have only had to have it worked on once I did replace the liner and gun with a flex one if you don't have the swans neck look into them their the bees knees.

[hugger6933]

But I also paid like $2000 for my plasma cutter that never worked right and the $750 avortec I replaced it with is ten times better.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Wizo

fellas: if it counts for anything I managed to do all my patch panels and a large portion of the floor with a hobart handler 175 mig welder with gas.And i managed to teach myself to mig weld with it also. I do wish it was a Hobart handler 125. it would have been nice to have a bit lower heat setting. Most people that have seen my welding think it looks pretty good. Patience and take your time young grasshopper,you can do it. Just say'in

You may not know, but Miller bought out Hobart in 2006. Any Hobarts sold after that date have miller internals. The Hobart Handler is still a good unit!

[Clavo106]

Originally Posted by Fitz

You may not know, but Miller bought out Hobart in 2006. Any Hobarts sold after that date have miller internals. The Hobart Handler is still a good unit!

thanks you for that info. I was always curious about why I was always geting there tips and drive rolls when I order... now I know.

[moggey01]

I bought a used millermatic 140. 400 dollars. Using .023 wire to do sheet metal work. Works great . Use .030 for heavy stuff. Really a good set up. You can see the results in my build thread The Mother Trucker.

[ETraugott]

I have a millermatic 210. Went under salt water in huricane ike. Washed it out. Put new liner and wire. Still working to this day. In my opinion i like the millers the best out of wire feeds. Used plenty of others but the miller seems the smothest to me.

[Jrainman]

today most welding machine are made well , if you are not doing structural any 110 v welder is fine , but as mentioned you want the option to run gas and also the option to run 0.23 wire for tin panel work ,

if you are not experienced with welding I would opt for 0.23 silicon / bronze wire . it is soft and flows nicely so your panel work will not heat up as much and will make warping minimal = less body work

I prefer and weld body panels with a Tig , but Tig welders are costly

[Jrainman]

Originally Posted by hugger6933

I know if mine crapped out I would look for something besides the kind I have now I paid 3200 for mine in 1988 wouldn't that be like 8000 dollars in todays money? I am sure the ch is leaps ahaed of what my was but it still welds and I have only had to have it worked on once I did replace the liner and gun with a flex one if you don't have the swans neck look into them their the bees knees.

I had that same Unit , great machine bought it around the same time frame , about 4 years ago my son decided to use it and toasted it on me , I was pissed to say the lease .took it to my local welding supply to get fixed they said forget it No parts for it .........