Welding rockers---help

[1968aj]

I have made the decision to weld my own rockers in. going to attempt to do some rust repair in other areas also. never welded in my life so its time to learn. I am going to harbor freight today to buy a machine. need some advice on what type of machine to buy. looking to start out with something cheap and see how it goes. really need some advice on what to buy any help is appreciated

[Bigdav160]

I know some will disagree but if it was me, I'd use structural adhesive before using my truck as a welding lesson

[57taskforce]

I'm not sure harbor freight is the best place to get a welder but I suppose if it's to learn on than it is what it is. I'd suggest a small miller mig. Lincoln would be my second choice. As for the type to get, for body work you need at least a mig, tig is even better but not cheap or good to learn on. Make sure you get a wire feed welder that accepts shielding gas. Doing body welding with a flux cored wire is a disaster waiting to happen. Miller makes the best stuff but it's pricey. To start out and since your wanting weld sheet metal a welder that will run on a normal power outlet is fine. No need for a bigger unit that requires 240 in my opinion. Harbor freight does have decent auto darkening helmets for the $45-50. This is my opinion as a certified welder and a professional body man for a few years.

[1968aj]

I plan on practicing on some junk before I try the truck. I will look for a cheap mig or tig never priced them. just something to learn on. im too old to start a new career.

[Chuck Burg]

I'd buy this http://houston.craigslist.org/tls/4810675093.html

Buy these from HF http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece...mps-60545.html

Good luck

[1968aj]

Originally Posted by Chuck Burg

I'd buy this http://houston.craigslist.org/tls/4810675093.html

Buy these from HF http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece...mps-60545.html

Good luck

thanks have not thought that far ahead . probably could not do it without those

[Rochlow]

I bought a hobart 140 a couple of years ago and fixed all the rust in my cab. (inner and outer rockers, cab corners, kick panels, lower pillars, drivers floor and welded the pinch seam that runs acrossed the cab) It was my first time welding something that large. I used .023 wire for the sheet metal and did some practicing before I jumped in with both feet. I also bought a plasma at the same time, which helped me out alot also.

There are some photos in my build thread.

[Mator]

I decided to do the same thing on my truck. I bought a Lincoln mig at Home depot for around $300 with accessories. It payed for its self since I replaced both rockers and both cab corners as well as a new floor pan and kick panels. Take your time and don't weld to much at one time in one place or you'll warp the metal. I used a grinder and cut off wheels to remove the old ones. I think I have pictures on build sheet. Good luck.

[1968aj]

do these welding machines come as a package deal with all the wire feed or do I have to piece it together

[Mator]

The one I got had everything ready to go. Don't use the crappie face shield they give you thou. You'll end up with flash burn in your eyes. The one I got was set up for both flux core and shielded gas. And the flux core came with it.

[1968aj]

for the shielded gas do you have to go out and but the gas cylinders or is it part of the package?

[Mator]

You'll have to buy it separately. Its cleaner than flux core but since it came with a spool of flux core I used it. Just a little extra cleaning after I was done. It did come with a regulator and hose though.

[1968aj]

misspelled buy not but. you guys have been a lot of help im off to harbor freight. years ago I sold welding equipment should of bought some then but never had the patience. now I want to learn how while I still can get around. thanks again.

[poway]

Generally, the tank and gas will be extra. I got the tank and gas at AirGas. it was over $150.00. I had to "lease/purchase" the tank ($120.00). When I empty the tank, I just go exchange it for a filled one. You can get different size tanks depending on your needs.

[catch2otwo]

I would use shielding gas, its much cleaner, less splatter, less clean up, less time. You'll be spending enough time trying to line up panels and prepping areas, why spend more time on unecessary cleanup. Get a mig 140 unit, able to use sheilding gas. Buy gas from the local welding supply rather than air gas. Air gas is much more expensive for my area anyway compared to the local shop.

[bbcmudtruck]

I bought a complete welding outfit from Northern Tool earlier this spring. I decided on the Hobart 210 and couldn't be happier. I probably spent a little more on a welder than most hobby guys should have, however I had to have a machine that was capable of welding metal at least as thick as my frame. The Hobart has all the same consumable part numbers was well as replacement parts as the Miller machines. Yet they cost 200-400 dollars less depending on model. Bottom line, I'd go with the Hobart and not look back. I couldn't be happier with the way mine has performed.

** Edit, I would not recommend the Northern Tool welding cart/cabinet. It was $150 bucks or so and not worth it. Cheaply made.

[Doug's68SS]

I went the cheap route the first time and regreted it. i bought a wire feed 110 welder and was not happy with its performance. sold it and bought a 220 welder, so much better because you have more control of your heat. I got the Hobart 180 from Tractor Supply and it came with an Auto darkening helment and cart. i have been happy with it for years. i also picked up a CO2 bottle for shield gas and it works preaty good, i am going to try some mixed gas to see if it is better.

[motorcritter]

I got the cheap HF flux welder, and some good wire. The welder was an 'open box' sale, so it wasn't an expensive outlay. It's good for light metal, like auto body sheet metal. I got it primarily to repair the spring perches on one of my Benz sedans. Since the GMC is getting a nice professional paint job, I'll let them do the clean up (I got it with the floors and rockets already done, rather nicely at that). Flux core is pretty dirty, and it needs a good contact surface to get a good bead- not that hard to do. Practice on some scrap stuff, it shouldn't take long to figure out what to do, and not do. The HF auto dark helmets are nice, cheap, too. I had a bunch of welding 'stuff' - leather gloves, chipping hammer, etc. from my Lincoln arc welder and Victor gas outfit, so I was all set. My old helmet was pretty pathetic, hence the new one. A light duty welder like this is useful for a whole lotta stuff. I've used them to remove snapped-off studs and bolts, mend/alter/build exhaust systems and fabrication work for custom setup stuff. I've got a Hobart 240V heavy-duty one buried in a storage hangar. I haven't needed it-yet.

[Unionwelder]

You can usually pick up a good machine at pawn shops, the one I run isn't a beginner model but you can get a small 110 millermatic or Lincoln for around 150$ most of the time. Just make sure it can run a shield gas. The non shielded flux core only machines are junk imo. As long as you can run a .30 wire with a shield you'll be good to go.

[chevyc10lover]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1419017571
can´t go wrong with miller.
i just bougth mine and build a cart for it that is my 1967 i will replace cab corners and rockers

[MidLifer]

Eastwood sells a nice 135 MIG box. Better quality than HF and won't break the bank. I have had great luck with mine.

[nlped]

I bought my Miller 175 off Craigslist years ago for $200, and it still works like a champ. I do have a smaller 110v Lincoln that I use occasionally on the really thin stuff too.

[72bowtiestepper]

Don't buy the harbor frieght welder....you will regret it if you do.
As others have said, you are MUCH better off with a small Hobart, Miller or Lincoln mig set up with CO2 argon mix gas and .021 wire for auto sheet metal work.

[landy]

BigDav160, tell me about the structural adhesive product you mentioned in your post. What application did you use it on?

[Bigdav160]

So far, only on Corvette panels but plan to use it extensively in my Camaro build.

I know some body guys that are big believers in these new glues.