110V Mig Welder Question?

[Chris05gto]

Thinking about getting a 110v Mig welder for auto restoration work in my home garage.
My question is should I get gas or no gas? What are the pros and cons?
Thanks!

 

[Ign]

Get the option, ie a MIG, not just a wire feed. You'll always have the option later.

 

[Bobcat753]

For restoration work go with gas,Argon,Co2 Mix. Easy to use and no heavy spatter. Also cuts down on heat and makes much cleaner welds. Slag is no fun on thin sheet metal!

Also a 110v is suitable for restoration work. Although I'd look into getting 220v and getting the miller 212 or the miller 252. With those machines you could get into frame/major component welding.

 

[brownbagg]

Although I'd look into getting 220v and getting the miller 212 or the miller 252.

yes anything under a 180 is really too small for anything, and get gas

 

[Zeke]

A good little MIG is nice to have. However, I've been beating on cars since the late 60's and a lot of the work has been done with my oxy/acet torch. Much more versatile than an electric welder. Last set of fender flares I installed were done with a little torch and I didn't have to stitch little dots up next to each other ad infinitum and grind them all off.

 

[Murphy4570]

You want MIG not FCAW. That'd be the gas variant.

If you are doing bodywork, you want to run 0.025" wire. Use quality wire. You'll want to use a gas mixture, 75% Argon 25% CO2.

A 110V MIG machine is more than enough for light auto restoration work. Typical maximum amperage output on those size machines is in the 15-18 amp range. That is good for 3/16" thick steel maximum.

The only reason you would need a bigger machine is if you are doing heavy truck repair, or frame welding. Automobiles don't really have much thick metal on them that needs welding.

 

[zkling]

Agree with IGN, the only place self shielded wire shines on a small unit is for portable work. A hobart 140 or similar would be a good machine. If you have the option of 240v available, get a 120/240v machine for future growth.

A good little MIG is nice to have. However, I've been beating on cars since the late 60's and a lot of the work has been done with my oxy/acet torch. Much more versatile than an electric welder. Last set of fender flares I installed were done with a little torch and I didn't have to stitch little dots up next to each other ad infinitum and grind them all off.

For the purists and high end work, the gas torch is still king.

 

[Guffster]

I have the Hobart 140 and it's a great machine for DIYer. As stated above use quality .025 wire try a small spool of Hobart and Lincoln and see which one you like better. I went from cheap harbor freight wire to Hobart wire and wow what a difference.

 

[Weldor]

Pretty much any 110 machine you use you're just gonna glob it on and grind it smooth. Definitely get a gas machine though.

For thicker stuff I prefer to run dual shield FCAW, less spatter than MIG.

 

[Chris05gto]

Thanks for all of the responses.
I will have to make up my mind! ��