KCHOTBOAT
Well-known member
Looking to get a small 110v mig for light duty body work. I know to avoid the HF stuff. How is this one?http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00920580000P?vName=Tools&keyword=mig+welders
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small mig welder advice
- Thread starter KCHOTBOAT
- Start date
PAToyota
Well-known member
Definitely go with shielding gas for body work - you don't even want to try using flux-core for that sort of stuff.
l_bilyk
Well-known member
You will need a model that accepts shielding gas for body work. Something like the 3200HD from home depot.
two2fastforu
Member
I agree with all those above, especially buying a name brand so that you can get parts for it later.
Yotaforce
Well-known member
I like my little Miller
Magneto349
Member
I have several welders, for body work I do most of my welding with TIG, I like them better because I dont spend 5 days grinding and I dont have very much heat. I also do a lot of metal shaping so its either gas or tig for me. But I did buy a small Miller 130 about 5 years ago I use for just about everything up to 3/16" and I love it. Its a great little welder, I`ve welded a ton of stuff with it and it has never let me down. I have done body work with it, but its a matter of preference for me. Make sure to buy one that has gas shielding and the regulator for it. If your going to buy one go over to a good welding shop and tell them what your looking for and 99% of the time they will let you try one out before you buy it. I know all the home centers sell them, but you wont get the help like you will from a good dealer. The Millers are nice so are the Hobarts "miller makes the hobart, just a cheaper version" I have used the lincolns and they seem to be preety good too, but the Millers seem to be far more quality for usualy the same price. Hope this helps!
daddylama
Well-known member
as stated above, stick with the the big three: Lincoln, Miller or Hobart... and inert gas. forget about flux core for anything on light gauge metal...
I've got a few welders in my shop...
an 8 year old Astro Mig, which i love... one of the Italian made models, 130amp, 110v or 220v, runs clean and smooth, takes tons of abuse... but REALLY TOUGH to find parts for! great little welder, but i'd not recommend it to anyone because of difficulty getting replacement parts and consumables. can't find the Italian made ones anymore, either... and the Asian made ones are complete crud.
a Hobart Handler 180... great little machine, easy to get parts/consumables for. this used to be my primary body work/sheetmetal welder.
a ~30 year old Miller 220v mig: parts/comsumables are readily available online or nearly any local welding supply.
a very old ac/dc arc welder... 220V, 200A, can probably put another 50 years of use on it and still never need to replace a part. also have an old (50's era, i think) Homart scratch-start TIG setup for it, that parts are nearly impossible to locate.
most welding i do for anything, sheetmetal included, is oxy acetylene...
i've got an old Smith mini aircraft-style and a ~40 year old Harris 19-2 with modified valves. can weld damn near anything with oxy/ace, including aluminum with astounding results. surely takes a lot more practice, but something about it just feels "right" to me.
I've got a few welders in my shop...
an 8 year old Astro Mig, which i love... one of the Italian made models, 130amp, 110v or 220v, runs clean and smooth, takes tons of abuse... but REALLY TOUGH to find parts for! great little welder, but i'd not recommend it to anyone because of difficulty getting replacement parts and consumables. can't find the Italian made ones anymore, either... and the Asian made ones are complete crud.
a Hobart Handler 180... great little machine, easy to get parts/consumables for. this used to be my primary body work/sheetmetal welder.
a ~30 year old Miller 220v mig: parts/comsumables are readily available online or nearly any local welding supply.
a very old ac/dc arc welder... 220V, 200A, can probably put another 50 years of use on it and still never need to replace a part. also have an old (50's era, i think) Homart scratch-start TIG setup for it, that parts are nearly impossible to locate.
most welding i do for anything, sheetmetal included, is oxy acetylene...
i've got an old Smith mini aircraft-style and a ~40 year old Harris 19-2 with modified valves. can weld damn near anything with oxy/ace, including aluminum with astounding results. surely takes a lot more practice, but something about it just feels "right" to me.
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partsman
Well-known member
+1 on the lincoln a freind of mine just got one of them from home depot and it is impressive for its size
Another miller 130 owner. i also have larger stuff and a Syncrowave 250. My go to for most car stuff is the 130. I was talking to the body shop manager at the dealershit I work at today. We were looking over the 3 banged up and misused AutoArc Pro230 welders the shop. (Made by Miller) He was grousing that they had 3 of them and no 120V machines. He was telling me that in the last shop he ran they set up a program for his mechanics to be able to purchase a Miller 130 on a payment plan and at a good discount. He said the guys take great care of their own stuff but trash the shops stuff. I asked him why a 120v unit and he said it does 99.9% of the work. If you need the big one you come ask and they rolled it out. The 120V let the guys work were the car was not were the welder was.
1320stang
Well-known member
I've had a Miller 130 for about 8 years as well and have welded everything from sheet metal to truck frames with it. It has a gas kit.
One piece of advice, stay away from cheap wire, buy something good like Lincoln or Forney. I'm going to have to replace the liner in mine due to HF wire, I have sticking problems (and yes, I've adjusted the feed roller pressure).
Also, when you get a 110v welder, even with a gas kit, they are typically set up for flux core, not gas. You have to change the polarity for gas, or it'll weld like $#!*.
One piece of advice, stay away from cheap wire, buy something good like Lincoln or Forney. I'm going to have to replace the liner in mine due to HF wire, I have sticking problems (and yes, I've adjusted the feed roller pressure).
Also, when you get a 110v welder, even with a gas kit, they are typically set up for flux core, not gas. You have to change the polarity for gas, or it'll weld like $#!*.
Lloydthumper
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2007
- Messages
- 268
The one from northern tool is made by hobart. I have a hobart 140 with sheilding gas and It works great for anything small. I use a miller 250 at work all the time but for a 1/4" or less the hobart works great. I got mine brand new from a friend that took it in trade for some auto work he did but it was still new in the box. for $275 I do highly recommend getting one with a sheilding gas I can't stand to weld with flux core wire.
I know you said 110, not sure if you are limited to that or if you selected that based on simply wanting a small welder. But, my opinion is if you have 220, definately make use of it.
When I was in highschool they were running Lincoln Mig Pak 15's (they were 220's....I think they are like a model 175 now or something like that) at the time for basic welders and then had a few large ones for any serious welds. The Lincolns were very nice to work with, and they basically ran for the equivilent of half a day, 5 days a week for the entire school year. I can only remember 1 occasion where one of these machines was down for any length of time for something other than user error. Since I finished school I have used a couple different 110 machines, and I always think to myself how weak they are compared to what I learned on. Not to say the average guy needs the capability of a 220 machine, but it is sure nice to have when it comes to having to lay down a few beads on something that will bear a lot of weight or is built for the sake of safety (say like a roll cage).
If you don't have access to 220, then by all means get the best 110 that is availible.
When I was in highschool they were running Lincoln Mig Pak 15's (they were 220's....I think they are like a model 175 now or something like that) at the time for basic welders and then had a few large ones for any serious welds. The Lincolns were very nice to work with, and they basically ran for the equivilent of half a day, 5 days a week for the entire school year. I can only remember 1 occasion where one of these machines was down for any length of time for something other than user error. Since I finished school I have used a couple different 110 machines, and I always think to myself how weak they are compared to what I learned on. Not to say the average guy needs the capability of a 220 machine, but it is sure nice to have when it comes to having to lay down a few beads on something that will bear a lot of weight or is built for the sake of safety (say like a roll cage).
If you don't have access to 220, then by all means get the best 110 that is availible.
I could run another 220 to the garage. I didn't really want to spend a great deal of money on one. I wanted to stay below $500.00. The reason for getting a welder is I am building a Honda CRX for the kid who has 4 more years till he can drive to school and autox. It needs a few spots welded and a few times a year I could use a welder.
NWOhioChevyGuy
Well-known member
I have a little Lincoln 120V that can be used with Flux core or Shielded. Love the little thing, many a item gets fixed instead of junked around the house & farm.
I've had it over to fix stuff at my parents 3-4 times a year since I've had it.
One of the best purchases in the garage,all be it one of the few that I've made.
I've had it over to fix stuff at my parents 3-4 times a year since I've had it.
One of the best purchases in the garage,all be it one of the few that I've made.
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
Thanks for the advice guys I ordered the Hobart 187 last night.
Good choice. I'm not a big fan of 120v machines, too limited and not much cheaper than a base 240v model. I love my HH175.