What welder should I buy?

[98Camarod]

What is a good welder that isn't too expensive to be able to get some welding done? I need to learn how to weld and I would like to get my cold side welded up instead of using all of these damn couplers. I figured I could buy some stainless and weld the shit up.

I know it isn't all that simple, but that is what I'd like to do. Does anyone know of a good one for sale as a complete package?

[BAD BOB]

all i use at the shop is Miller. We got 2 110 migs and my Tig/Arc. the migs have lasted a long time and with very little problems. My dad just bought a new one and it came with everything including a roller stand. i wouldnt recomend anything else! what are you looking to spend? i think my dad payed around 500 for the whole kit. and if you need any pointers on welding i could try and learn you some of the basics to get you started.

[79bluebird]

i have a lincoin 135 from lowes at the house and have a miller 250 mig and a miller 180sd tig at work. both have been great.

[BAD BOB]

yeah our old miller migs are 130's i think and my dads new one is a 150 and they do great on almost all general things what you should need to do to your car

[Silver-Dollar]

What is a good welder that isn't too expensive to be able to get some welding done? I need to learn how to weld and I would like to get my cold side welded up instead of using all of these damn couplers. I figured I could buy some stainless and weld the shit up.

I know it isn't all that simple, but that is what I'd like to do. Does anyone know of a good one for sale as a complete package?

Good luck learning. Stainless has a very fluid characteristic when melted, more so than mild steel.

[98Camarod]

all i use at the shop is Miller. We got 2 110 migs and my Tig/Arc. the migs have lasted a long time and with very little problems. My dad just bought a new one and it came with everything including a roller stand. i wouldnt recomend anything else! what are you looking to spend? i think my dad payed around 500 for the whole kit. and if you need any pointers on welding i could try and learn you some of the basics to get you started.

500 was the most I wanted to spend. That sounds like what I need to get. Was there anything else that he needed to get to start welding and where did he get it at?

I didn't mean stainless, I meant mild steel. I was under the impression it was difficult to weld stainless with a mig and you needed a special gun to go with it.

[DolSVT00]

What is a good welder that isn't too expensive to be able to get some welding done? I need to learn how to weld and I would like to get my cold side welded up instead of using all of these damn couplers. I figured I could buy some stainless and weld the shit up.

I know it isn't all that simple, but that is what I'd like to do. Does anyone know of a good one for sale as a complete package?

If you want a good combo machine that will do it all GMAW,GTAW,SMAW,FCAW get a Miller XMT 304 with a high feeq box and a spool gun for mig and fluxcore.

If you just want a cheap squirtgun get a millermatic 130 autoset and buy some blue thunder stainless fluxcore.

[Slowleen]

Go to Tri-Tech on Rivers Ave. and talk to Jeff. Tell him you know Tim Yeager, member of the mustang/ford club...my dad is the regional manager and they are supposed to get the hook up...plus Jeff is very nice/knowledgible. Also for people wanting 0 or 2 gauge wire for battery relocations...they sell it very cheap.

[BAD BOB]

500 was the most I wanted to spend. That sounds like what I need to get. Was there anything else that he needed to get to start welding and where did he get it at?

I didn't mean stainless, I meant mild steel. I was under the impression it was difficult to weld stainless with a mig and you needed a special gun to go with it.

you would want to get a bottle of co2 or argon and not use fluxcore so it will come out cleaner. call me monday and i will see what kind of price i can get on the miller. you can get high tech and expensive or stay on the cheaper route

[98Camarod]

you would want to get a bottle of co2 or argon and not use fluxcore so it will come out cleaner. call me monday and i will see what kind of price i can get on the miller. you can get high tech and expensive or stay on the cheaper route

Cheaper is good :bigthumb:

[DolSVT00]

you would want to get a bottle of co2 or argon and not use fluxcore so it will come out cleaner. call me monday and i will see what kind of price i can get on the miller. you can get high tech and expensive or stay on the cheaper route

BTW I was under the impression he wanted to weld stainless, thats why I suggested fluxcore... and the only fluxcore thats self shielded is NR wire and yes it looks like poo. Blue thunder is a stainless wire that you can get in all diameters .025 .035 .045 that requires 75/25 (ar/Co2) as a shielding gas even though it has a flux baised core.

The flux in the core performs de-oxidizing functions that make welding stainless easier while also not producing a black or oxidized weld (it will look like it was tig welded)

[98Camarod]

BTW I was under the impression he wanted to weld stainless, thats why I suggested fluxcore... and the only fluxcore thats self shielded is NR wire and yes it looks like poo. Blue thunder is a stainless wire that you can get in all diameters .025 .035 .045 that requires 75/25 (ar/Co2) as a shielding gas even though it has a flux baised core.

The flux in the core performs de-oxidizing functions that make welding stainless easier while also not producing a black or oxidized weld (it will look like it was tig welded)

That was my fault. I would like to, but I will be welding mild steel.

[Silver-Dollar]

Also invest in a 4" angle grinder

[98Camarod]

Also invest in a 4" angle grinder

I have that covered already, atleast thats something

[minytrker]

I have a hobart, have had it for years and have went through many spools of wire. It's made my lincon if i remember right. Its either lincon or miller, anyways you can get every part for at any welding supply store and its fairly cheap. I bought mine on dorcherster at the welding supply store. What ever you do dont buy a cheap welder, you never be able to get parts down the road. I had one from sears and it only took 6 months to get another gun in for it when I needed one.

[98Camarod]

ok I finally am able to buy one. I looked at miller's website and the cheapest mig I see on there is 800 bucks.

Having said that, I have found on ebay the Lincoln welder pak's brand new in the box. There isn't much of a price difference from the 140 amp to the 180 amp ones. Is there a big difference from going up from 140 to the 180?

I would have to run an extension cord for the 220v from the drier hookup to outside. What kind of price are we talking for say a 30ft section to make the extension cord?

[LXtasy]

$100 Look at sites for RV's and get the extension cord there for 22o hookup. That is what I have looked at. Unless you want to make your own. But than the ends are at least $20 a piece.

[98Camarod]

$100 Look at sites for RV's and get the extension cord there for 22o hookup. That is what I have looked at. Unless you want to make your own. But than the ends are at least $20 a piece.

Fuck my face....140 amp it is I guess. I'm guessing the big limitation of the 140 amp is the thickness of the material that can be welded correct?

[LXtasy]

what size do you plan on welding up too?

[slow04]

Fuck my face....140 amp it is I guess. I'm guessing the big limitation of the 140 amp is the thickness of the material that can be welded correct?
potty mouth.....:hysterical:

[98Camarod]

what size do you plan on welding up too?

Right now, just whatever size 3" mild steel exhaust pipe is. I'm going to use 3" mild steel for my cold side and weld it up. A universal kit I found said 16 gauge, so whatever thickness that is.

But later, I'd like to weld in a cage.

[minytrker]

You can weld all that off 110v you wont need one to run off 220v. Did you check national welders off dorchester?

[98Camarod]

You can weld all that off 110v you wont need one to run off 220v. Did you check national welders off dorchester?

I didn't, but I will :bigthumb: