What Welder to buy, I show my ignorance inside! Options

[Hawktel]

Okay I figure might as well take the plunge, and buy a welder.

I know nothing about welding. I've never welded anything. I think I understand the basic principle. But if you were to blow a couple hundred bucks, to have a portable weilder setup, just work on cars, what would you get?

I was considering this little unit off ebay.

Ebay Welder link

Specifically, I'd want to use it to replace the battrey shelf, some trunk rust repair, and replace some brackets for the floods and such.

If you wouldn't use the above, what would you use?

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[TimT]

Save your bucks and buy a Lincoln or a Miller, not a cheap import stick welder. Buy a MIG welder. Stick welding sheet metal isnt for a novice. With a MIG you will be making some impressive welds in no time. Of course this comes with a price, figure over $400 for entry level welders from either of those manufacturers. Hobart is another brand you may want to investigate.

This might be a good start

Invest your money in a tool you can actually use.

regarding the ebay link, I saw some pre owned Lincolns for buy it nows of 299

[ppickerell]

Buy a small Lincoln MIG. Much better suited for all purpose work. About $400.

[rick 918-S]

Electric arc is much more suited to 1/8 steel than to 22 GA. sheet metal. notice the ebay ad shows the guy welding on square tubing. If your going to spend money on a welder buy a gas sheilded wire feed. Don't buy an arc welder for sheet metal. You wont be happy with an electric arc. Its allot harder to learn to use and you will burn more holes learning to use it. You will end up with a knik knak on the garage shelf and swiss cheese on the 914. If your looking to get by cheap save money someplace else. There are also innersheild wire feeds. These are better than an electric arc or stick welder but not much better. There is one advantage with a inner sheild wire feed. If you purchase the right one there is a conversion kit to convert it to gas sheilded wire when you figure out that the inner sheild wire is too hard to use and too hot for sheet metal.

[URY914]

You may also ask yourself if you want to spend +/- $400 on the welder plus another $200 for gas, helmet, cart, etc, etc if your only going to weld 4-5 pieces. You have about 2 hours worth of welding there, than you'll have a nice paperweight. I know you'll find other stuff to weld but the cost vs usage ratio is a little upside down.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I have mine, but it may not be for everyone.

Paul

[Hawktel]

Okay the Stick welder is for big Stuff? Whats a Mig welder like. Is it a wire feed? What is the difference?

I have considered the paperweight factor, but if I can do this for only a couple hundred, I'd consider it worth it.

[redshift]

Rent, borrow, steal.


M

[stock93]

I made the mistake of buying an arc welder first when I should have bought a mig. I used it a good bit on my rail buggy. I could already arc weld before I bought it so I was a bit farther ahead. If you do buy a welder start with a mig or wirefeed welder you can convert to mig later on. It is just much easier to use a mig. I drag out my arc welder about once or twice every six months. I use the wire feed at least every other day. I'm using it right now to build a set of A-arms for the front suspension on my rail buggy. I couldnt do this easily with an arc welder.

John

[seanery]

MIG is easy to learn. I taught my buddy to do it in an hour (and get good welds). Arc takes more practice, is not as easy and is messy as hell! Even wearing safety goggles I got a piece of slag in my eye (my good eye) and scratched it. MIG will have no slag. MIG, MIG, MIG....got it?

[redshift]

Sean is right about the slag.

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M

[Hawktel]

Okay. So Mig. Whats the difference between Wire Feed and Mig? Something about a Shrouding Gas? Whats the supplys cost for Mig?

My car is also for education. If it can teach me to weld, thats something new.

[Malmz]

Keep an eye on Ebay, pawn shops, etc for a Mig. I bought an ugly but extremely useful Mig off Ebay which included extra tips, extra spools of wire, an a gas canister that was just filled.

sm

[fraggle00]

I'm the same boat as Hawktel. I figured ~$400 for some harbor freight setup (I think it was a MIG). bought couple of books and plan on taking a course at the local 'U' to set me straight. With all the projects I involve myself in, automotive or otherwise, it seems like a good move, and I'll learn something interesting at the same time. I'd love to hack together my own exhaust systems and such.

[steve@ottosvenice.com]

Use this welder with or without gas. Comes with welding torch, tip, grounding cord with clamp, brush/hammer, hand held welding mask and manual.
Input: 230V, 60 Hz, single phase, draws 30 amps @ 230V
Welding current: 30 to 170 amps
Max open circuit voltage: 33V
Duty cycle: 16% @ 155 amps
Weldable wires:
.023" to .035" steel or stainless steel
.030" to .035" flux core & alumimnum
.030" flux core



ITEM 43025-3VGA

$399.99

Harbor Freight Tools
97 N. HARRISVILLE RD.
OGDEN, UT 84404

Phone: 801-778-0746

Manager: DOUG BARRY

Harbor Freight USA
10296 FAIRVIEW AVE.
BOISE, ID 83704

Phone: 208-376-8989

Manager: TERRY RICHMOND

http://www.ottosvenice.com/

[Hawktel]

To bad your up in Boise Fraggle. We could split the cost and learn together!

[Hawktel]

Okay Steve. Thats the ticket I'll start looking at.

Thanks for you help guys. If you read about some idiot in Utah getting a darwin award with a welder, well, now you know the story!

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[trojanhorsepower]

I took the plunge and got the Lincoln 135A mig. I got it off ebay brand new, much cheaper than I could locally. ~$400 is right + $100 for a bottle, you should get a regulator with the welder. Defiantly buy the CO2/Argon bottle. Rent will eat you up unless you burn all the time. My Lincoln is nice, but if I had it to do over I would spring for the Miller to get the smoother wire feed.

-P
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[seanery]

don't buy crap.

Stick with a good company.

Miller & Lincoln are the big boys. Hobart is (I'm pretty sure) made by Miller. If you want to save then go Hobart, not the disposable type. They are a waste IMHO.

[TimT]

Duty cycle: 16% @ 155 amps

That spec sucks, you want to get the most duty cycle you can. It has to due with the amount of time you can weld vs non welding time.

The harbor fright welders are Italian made, they work fairly well ( I used to have one) but parts are a pain in the nuts to get.

Pony up the bucks and get one of the big names.

I got a "cheap" Hobart 135 MIG welder. I think Hobart is somehow connected with Miller. It works well and I can do body work, fix broken engine mounts and actually did some suspension bracing for a friend's car.