Looking for a welder - what do I need?

[Next]

Very, very little experience welding and that experience came with a stick welder on coal trucks, coal truck beds, and playing 15-20 years ago.


I'm starting on a resto project - 1968 Impala fastback.

I'll need a welder.

What do I need and what brand do I look at?

 

[JoeFin]

Eboner sellers in four .. three .. two...

 

[ed_v]

First of all, look for a mig welder. To do bodywork, a 120V 140amp Mig welder running .023 wire and 75/25 gas is what you need. If you also want to do chassis/frame work, look for a 220V Mig welder in the 180-200amp range and run .030 or .035 wire for that. I think Hobart is a good brand for the money.

Ed

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Definitely find one that will allow you to use shielding gas. Some of the cheaper Lincoln MIG's sold at Lowe's and Home Depot will only allow you to use flux core wire which isn't sheetmetal friendly due to the slag it creates.

Like most on here will suggest buy from the big three which is Hobart, Miller or Lincoln. I prefer Lincoln's for sheetmetal but that's because I've owned the same one for almost 20 years (SP100) and have only had to put in a new liner. I can't even fathom how many rolls of wire have gone through that machine, but it still runs like a top. Any of the three will suffice your needs.

I own a Airco Dip Pak 200 for the thicker stuff. I love the welder, but if the circuit board or transformer goes south it's pretty much scrap metal unless I found a parts one to use. I couldn't pass up the deal when I got it, but I'd still look for one of the three since parts availability is great.

 

[bobcatdan]

In my opinion, a 140 wire welder with gas is the smallest thing worth using. I find millers very easy to weld with, my welds look much nicer then any Lincoln I ever used. If your budget allows, look to a 180 amp, 220 volt machine. Little overkill for sheet metal, but it will give you pretty much all the welding capabilities most people will ever need. Horbart is part of Miller and has only minor details to make them come in at a lower price point.

 

[silverdot1211]

Next Follow what bobcat and ed have to say. Also to some this means something but the Miller's are made in Appleton WI and the Hobart's are made in Troy Ohio. Most of all the Circuit bds are made in Appleton WI. The Lincolns...most come from Italy but not all.
Most of the large Lincolns are make is Cleveland but the small ones are made in either mexico or Italy

(full disclosure I work for Miller/Hobart)

 

[CGT80]

I use a miller 135 with .023 wire and 75/25 gas. It does great for thinner stuff. 3/16"-1/4" can be tough and should have two or more passes. 220v or multi voltage is great if you can swing it. The fact that mine is 120v has really paid off though, for small jobs. If I need more power at home, I just use the 460 amp Miller tig machine that I have. I only have a big enough breaker to run it to 250 amps though. My plasma is a miller as well.

Is it Miller time yet? The power of blue!

 

[JoeFin]

Can you swing $300

http://charlestonwv.craigslist.org/tls/4641098321.html

looks like your neck of the woods too

 

[Askme42]

Hobart 140. Bought one for my 65 mustang project.

 

[Next]

Can you swing $300

http://charlestonwv.craigslist.org/tls/4641098321.html

looks like your neck of the woods too

Will call on that for sure.

I would really like to be able to weld tubing etc. for RZR cages at some point too, but the car will be first and for most.

 

[Next]

First of all, look for a mig welder. To do bodywork, a 120V 140amp Mig welder running .023 wire and 75/25 gas is what you need. If you also want to do chassis/frame work, look for a 220V Mig welder in the 180-200amp range and run .030 or .035 wire for that. I think Hobart is a good brand for the money.

Ed

Model #'s to look at?


Where you at in Ky.?