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> Best welder for home body work ?, What have you guys used ?
awallis1
post Mar 20 2012, 09:37 AM
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Lincoln, miller ? I've been shopping around and was just looking for some general input for an all round good restoration welder
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Niklas
post Mar 20 2012, 09:45 AM
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ESAB.
The best there is.
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TravisNeff
post Mar 20 2012, 09:49 AM
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I have a millermatic 175, love it. It runs on 220 though. You can get a 110v welder and that should take care of any welding you will do on your car, I would strongly suggest a gas setup rather than running flux core.
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Andyrew
post Mar 20 2012, 10:07 AM
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Lincoln, miller, hobart.. There all good. A nice 110 true gas MIG is all you really need. .23 wire if you do mainly bodywork / rust repair. .30 wire if you see thicker stuff (1/8"+) occasionally.
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awallis1
post Mar 20 2012, 10:10 AM
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I have a 220 outlet built in my garage so thats not an issue ....the miller looks like a good setup
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sfrenck
post Mar 20 2012, 10:11 AM
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I'm not a welder (yet) - but I was looking at this for price, 110v, infinite heat & infinite wire speed, and comes with the gas regulator

Eastwood MIG135
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Andyrew
post Mar 20 2012, 10:15 AM
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220 is unnecessary for most welding. A 110 box is just convenient and works great. I ran a Lincoln 135 for years, Did everything.
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gothspeed
post Mar 20 2012, 10:22 AM
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QUOTE(sfrenck @ Mar 20 2012, 09:11 AM) *

I'm not a welder (yet) - but I was looking at this for price, 110v, infinite heat & infinite wire speed, and comes with the gas regulator

Eastwood MIG135

That eastwood welder is a bargain for what you get!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I just bought a lincoln 'handy mig' to do the teener sheet metal repairs ............ it is rated to 1/8" metal thickness .............. but for around the same price ..... the eastwood mig you mentioned goes to 1/4" ............. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

I also have a Lincoln TIG 175 that has served me well for a couple decades of hobby welding, however this one is designated to the work shop, is 220V and bulky to move around ........... thus the aquisition of the 'handy mig' ........ (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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toolguy
post Mar 20 2012, 10:29 AM
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Miller's are easy to set up, and give a good weld no matter how you set the heat and speed [within reason] . . My experience with Lincolns are they are more difficult to set the dials to get a good consistent weld. .

I have 3 millers. . an old Miller 35 mig from the 1980's that has been bullet proof, and Miller 180 tig and a Miller 675 Plasma cutter. . . None have ever given me any problems with reasonable care and use. . I've used other Lincolns and they ALL have been 'touchy' to get a good weld. . Stick with a 220 volt unit . . use only solid core wire and CO2 for shielding gas is fine. . 110 volt units are for people who don't have 220 and only want to do sheet metal. . they are a compromise between 'convenience and performance'. . never know when you'll want to make a deeper weld. . . 110 units won't penetrate.

There is a guy on EBay that sells Millers dirt cheap with free shipping and no tax. . . I'd rather buy locally so I took those prices to my local Miller dealer and he matched the price. .
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underthetire
post Mar 20 2012, 11:03 AM
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Been looking at this one myself
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/pro...32691_200332691

If not, ill get this one..
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/pro...06073_200306073
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gothspeed
post Mar 20 2012, 11:21 AM
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^^ either of those will work fine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)!!! but from what I can tell both of them have 4 fixed heat/amp settings. The Eastwood 135 has infinite amp control which gives one a tad more versatility.

Looks like they have a sale on them too!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

http://www.eastwood.com/mig-welder-110vac-135a-output.html

Check out the buyer reviews and if you are planning on heavy long term use ........... also factor in any warranties and product support.
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IronHillRestorations
post Mar 20 2012, 12:13 PM
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The infinite amperage control is a must have IMHO, it allows you to dial in the best setting for the two metals you are welding. If you have lots of experience, then your skills can help, but if you are new to welding then you need all the adjustments you can get.

Don't buy a welder without the shielding gas regulator/hookup.
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infraredcalvin
post Mar 20 2012, 10:53 PM
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I have an Eastwood 175, and am a beginner at welding, after figuring out how not to loosen the wire tension while wire is fed, it is very easy to operate. It came with a spool gun to do aluminum work. Been very happy so far with it. Must get an auto dark helmet as well, it will do wonders for your welds...
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TargaToy
post Mar 21 2012, 07:26 AM
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Millermatic 140 with auto-set. I don't use the auto-set much at all but LOVE the welder. SOOOO much easier than the flux-core Century I had been using for years.
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injunmort
post Mar 21 2012, 11:57 AM
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i bought a century(lincoln) 180amp mig that came with gas regulator, cart, and wire for $350.00. plugs into 110 and is more than ample for anything on 914 sheetmetal. very versatile machine at what i thought was a great price. fwiw.
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balljoint
post Mar 21 2012, 01:30 PM
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I have heard of great results from people who brought scotty b home.

Make sure your wife is out of town though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

I have a little Lincoln with the MIG pack.
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9fourteen
post Mar 21 2012, 01:36 PM
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I got a Millermatic 211. Works great. It works with either 230 or 115. I use mostly just the 115 for bodywork but if I need to do anything heavy duty I have the option. I found the Auto-set feature works fine with heavier stuff but when you are doing thin bodywork the settings were too much. Kept blowing holes. I'm not the best at welding so it might have been my lack of skill but I had to use custom settings. Once I got it dialed in it work awesome. The welding class I took used all Miller equipment and the instructor said it was the best and I have been to many professional shops and Miller seams to be the preferred brand.
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fastmover34
post Mar 21 2012, 03:16 PM
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After researching welders for my 914, I ended up buying the Hobart Handler 140:
http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/wirefeed/handler140/

It is basically a Miller, just a budget version.

Plugs into a conventional outlet (110) and can weld almost anything on the 914 body. It comes ready for gas also, all you need is to provide the tank.
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Spoke
post Mar 21 2012, 04:34 PM
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Millermatic 135. Runs on 110V which is very handy around the garage or wheeled to a friend's house. The heaviest metal I've welded on my 914 is 14Ga and this thing works just fine.

Agree with the continuous feed and power adjustment for us novices.
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cantley914
post Mar 21 2012, 04:44 PM
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QUOTE(Travis Neff @ Mar 20 2012, 07:49 AM) *

I have a millermatic 175, love it. It runs on 220 though. You can get a 110v welder and that should take care of any welding you will do on your car, I would strongly suggest a gas setup rather than running flux core.


I have the same and did all repairs on my teener with it and would never part.
Great machine!

Good luck!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)
Steph
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