which welder??

[cmantle1]

So, im getting really into rock crawling/wheelin, and im sick of bugging people to weld my ****....

So, i decided i wanna invest in a welder, not new by any means, just something i can get off craiglist and practice with, and eventually be able to weld some stuff on my rig, and just in general....

can you guys help a newb out here?

thankss

 

[lucky13]

mig welders are the easiest to work, stick welders make a better weld, a miller thunder bolt a/c d/c can be bought new for about $500.00

 

[cmantle1]

mig welders are the easiest to work, stick welders make a better weld, a miller thunder bolt a/c d/c can be bought new for about $500.00

ill prolly go mig then....

this?
http://montana.craigslist.org/tls/1136411688.html

 

[Rubberdown!]

IMO, that might be a tad light duty if you want to do bumpers and roll cages etc.......

 

[dagmccall]

When using a mig welder you should buy a 220 volt the 110 volt at times wont weld hot enough for big projects . Be aware of there limits . I use a 110v hobart and a 220v ac/dc arc welder . Check at your local collage for a welding class 1 semester 1 night a week will help learn faster and cost less. For welding on rock crawlers , jeep ect you need to learn to weld in all postions , tubing, different size metals ..

 

[cmantle1]

IMO, that might be a tad light duty if you want to do bumpers and roll cages etc.......

thats exactly wat im getting it for

 

[Wade]

OK, rock crawling doesn't tell me much. Are you doing autobody and racks, or suspension / roll bars?

If you welding thick stuff and don't have a lot of cash, I'd go get a stick arc welder. I know, that's old tech. But, there's 150 years of tech in that old tech. Even with my TIG welder, I put it in stick arc mode to weld anything 1/4 inch or bigger.

If you doing thin stuff, get a mig. Like 1/8 inch or less.

I personally would spend the extra moola and get a Miller or a Lincoln, even a Hobart.

220V doesn't make it a real welder. It mostly means it will use half as much current, and the copper wiring can be a lot thinner. And, not many people have 100 amp 110 volt.

Your amperage is in the right ball park, go big or regret later.

 

[Rubberdown!]

What ^ said!

 

[cmantle1]

OK, rock crawling doesn't tell me much. Are you doing autobody and racks, or suspension / roll bars?

If you welding thick stuff and don't have a lot of cash, I'd go get a stick arc welder. I know, that's old tech. But, there's 150 years of tech in that old tech. Even with my TIG welder, I put it in stick arc mode to weld anything 1/4 inch or bigger.

If you doing thin stuff, get a mig. Like 1/8 inch or less.

I personally would spend the extra moola and get a Miller or a Lincoln, even a Hobart.

220V doesn't make it a real welder. It mostly means it will use half as much current, and the copper wiring can be a lot thinner. And, not many people have 100 amp 110 volt.

Your amperage is in the right ball park, go big or regret later.

yea roll cages, bumpers, sliders...stuff like that. i guess im looking for the most versatile welder for this type if thing....

im assuming ill use like like .120 wall HREW?

this more like it? http://www.drillspot.com/products/59943/Hobart_Corporation_500502_Stick_Arc_Welder

 

[cmantle1]

ive been reading online too, sounds like a stick is harder to learn, but more versatile in the long run??

 

[Rubberdown!]

I would stick with the MIG idea....Stick can be frustrating and if not good penetration etc,,,Waste of time

 

[Rubberdown!]

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_212_autoset/

 

[hilinerider]

get a miller blue star, get 10 lbs of 6010 , 6011 , 6013, rod in 1/8 0r 3/32 and grab some scrap iron and learn to run a nice bead up, down, around corners and through dirt and rust, if you break it on the trail this is what you are goin to be weldin anyways, blue star does alright and doesn't take up alot of room, and its a generator to run an rv or an air compressor, grinder, etc. if you can weld with a stick a migs a cake walk, i know a lot that can weld with a mig but are lost with a stick

 

[Ex-Member]

Unless you're a good welder, go MIG. Easy, hard to f*ck up. Pull the trigger and go.

Cheap ones, even 220v, won't have the duty cycle the big ones have. Weld, wait, wait, wait, weld, wait, wait.... get a good one, and it's weld, weld, weld, weld, weld.

Had a Miller 251 at my last job, welder I go to for parts now has one as well and a TIG setup. TIG definately does a better job, much cleaner weld; but for the stuff where you gotta add material or just fill in holes, MIG is the way to go.

 

[cmantle1]

Unless you're a good welder, go MIG. Easy, hard to f*ck up. Pull the trigger and go.

.

ive touched a welder once before in my life....

 

[Nikolai]

I bought a $150 used Lincoln 225 ARC welder when I built my Samurai up. Did all the frame work, suspension mounts, axle mods, ect. with it and it worked great. I had never welded before. Just bought some books and a few videos and went to town. I think it's good to start with stick. But my next welder will be a nice TIG.