Don't waste your money (like I did) on a small one.
welders?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: ft. lauderdale florida
welders?
Ok, well it's now time to replace my floor pans onme 1979 Vette. I haven't welded for, well over ten years now. I looked into shops to do the work but was told anywhere from $950 to $1500 and thats with me suppling the floor pans. So I started to look on line to see the price of welders. I can pick up a small cheap Miller or Lincoln for under $300. So, I figure that I would just buy one, and do the work myself. The problem is I'm not too sure what welder to buy. If anyone has any thoughts or can point me in the right direction, it would be great. I'm looking for a Mig Flux Core Welder, but what size??????
Thnak you to all for you time and thoughts,
Gordo
Thnak you to all for you time and thoughts,
Gordo
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
your best deal will be at lowes or home depot for a Lincoln MIg welder that is all set up for Gas welding.....the flux core welders are really crude and create so much splatter...i used one for 10 yrs and finally went and got the gas kit for it and it is so nice now....if you can spring for the extra dough get the 240 volt one if not get the biggest 120 volt you can
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Ocean City MD
I bought a Millermatic 135. It is the biggest 120V welder. I have used it for years and have bee real happy. I have used it to weld everything from roll bars to quarter panels. If a welder is something you will use everyday then spend the money on a 220V machine. If is more a hobby than get one of the quality 110-120V welders. But definatly go with gas.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
From: Chandler Arizona
St. Jude Donor '08
I agree w/ previous comments on gas, stay away from flux core. Besides being messy, it also creates a ton of smoke as the burning flux is what creates the shield around the weld area while you are welding.
Flux core welders were created primarily for mobile outdoor use where you can't get the conditions required to allow gas to adequately sheild the area around the weld (i.e. no wind, etc...). Yes they can be converted and will do OK, but larger jobs will require more power. If you think you will ever do more it's worth the extra coin to step up to a 220V machine.
I made the mistake of buying a cheaper Lincoln 100 weldpak and I converted it to gas, and ultimately sold it to buy a better (more power) 220V welder because I use it with my other (street rod) project. I even do frame work. I have a Millermatic 175. As I recall I paid $675 for it 3 years ago, and I bought it off one of the larger suppliers on ebay w/ free shipping. I bought the gas bottle from a local gas supplier. It's less than the price of paying someone to weld your floor pans in and the welder will last you a lifetime.
Flux core welders were created primarily for mobile outdoor use where you can't get the conditions required to allow gas to adequately sheild the area around the weld (i.e. no wind, etc...). Yes they can be converted and will do OK, but larger jobs will require more power. If you think you will ever do more it's worth the extra coin to step up to a 220V machine.
I made the mistake of buying a cheaper Lincoln 100 weldpak and I converted it to gas, and ultimately sold it to buy a better (more power) 220V welder because I use it with my other (street rod) project. I even do frame work. I have a Millermatic 175. As I recall I paid $675 for it 3 years ago, and I bought it off one of the larger suppliers on ebay w/ free shipping. I bought the gas bottle from a local gas supplier. It's less than the price of paying someone to weld your floor pans in and the welder will last you a lifetime.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
My dad has a 220v Hobart Handler ... he loves it.
I have an ancient 110v Clarke 100EN with very little run time - it has the gas and TWECo conversion kits ... I love it (it's basically a 130EN now). The local Harbor Freight store had a MIG welding cart for $45 during their grand opening sale, so my welding equipment is much neater now.
I don't have 220v in this garage, but if I really needed to weld something heavy I could borrow the Hobart and run an extention cord from the laundry room.
Northern Equipment has been known to have some great prices with free shipping. That's where dad got the Hobart.
I have an ancient 110v Clarke 100EN with very little run time - it has the gas and TWECo conversion kits ... I love it (it's basically a 130EN now). The local Harbor Freight store had a MIG welding cart for $45 during their grand opening sale, so my welding equipment is much neater now.
I don't have 220v in this garage, but if I really needed to weld something heavy I could borrow the Hobart and run an extention cord from the laundry room.
Northern Equipment has been known to have some great prices with free shipping. That's where dad got the Hobart.
Last edited by I'm Batman; Jul 16, 2006 at 07:21 PM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: ft. lauderdale florida
Thank you very much everyone. I looked at the Millermatic 135 online at Miller ($750) and on E-bay ($580) so I got myself a new toy. Thank you very much once again........
Gordo
Gordo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
I will definately get a TIG welder as soon as possible, but the $180 flux core welder that I have now was good enough to get every job done 
If it's only for your floorpans I'd get a cheap flux core - it will get the job done but you'll need a 4" angle grinderand a sandpaper disc to clean the welds.... it won't be great but it will get the job done
If it's only for your floorpans I'd get a cheap flux core - it will get the job done but you'll need a 4" angle grinderand a sandpaper disc to clean the welds.... it won't be great but it will get the job done
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Fore years I used a 220 stick welder, great on thick stuff, crappy on thin stuff. Then I got a Lincoln .035 flux core and it's worked great for me. I can do thick stuff, (angle iron, motor mounts), etc, but can also weld up thin stuff (body patch panels, exhaust systems) even stiched in floors on my '55 chevy. Never had the need to convert to gas, guess I don't know what I'm missing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 2
From: Huntingburg Indiana
Definitely get a 220 volt machine if you think you will ever weld anything heavier than sheet metal. We have a Lincoln powermig 255. It is a 300 amp machine. This is the best mig welder I have ever used. My dad is a lincoln man. Flux wire may splatter a little, but if it's so bad that you get an ugly weld, it's probably the machine. The flux does the same as the gas, it shields the weld. Gas is definitely nicer. I'm not trying to start an argument here, but the smaller miller machines aren't too great. We even had a bigger miller mig at work and that thing was sorry. First of all, the speed and voltage adjustments were crap. The voltage **** was 5 clicks. What if one setting was too hot and the next was too cold? Even at that, it was just numbered from 1 to 5. What voltage is it set at exactly? You could not even use the .025 wire in this machine, it would just backlash. That is the size you want for body work. This machine wasn't used hard and we had to replace the liner a few times and the trigger once. My dad uses a big miller at work and he brags on it. The smaller machines just suck. I don't care what those fools at occ use. Go with a lincoln.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by lowbuck72
Fore years I used a 220 stick welder, great on thick stuff, crappy on thin stuff. Then I got a Lincoln .035 flux core and it's worked great for me. I can do thick stuff, (angle iron, motor mounts), etc, but can also weld up thin stuff (body patch panels, exhaust systems) even stiched in floors on my '55 chevy. Never had the need to convert to gas, guess I don't know what I'm missing.
i made the change after 10 yrs and you are right you don't know what you are missing....the good side is that after using the flux core wire moving to true GMAW welding is such a pleasure and the welds are so damn good lookiing the ugly welds are a thing of the past
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I wouldn't go flux core. Flux core bites like a stick while the Gas shield and solid wire flow so much better.
If you want a descent unit buy 220 volt unit and gas.
Stay away from Flux core for sure on thin material and go 220 if you can afford it.
If you want a descent unit buy 220 volt unit and gas.
Stay away from Flux core for sure on thin material and go 220 if you can afford it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 918
Likes: 5
From: Gainesville FL
I agree with most everything that's been said, although there are a few advantages of flux core. It works much better than solid wire if the metal is contaminated with rust. Of course, it's best to remove all the junk and get the base metal as clean as possible, but occasionally, this isn't an option because of tight fit, location, etc. Flux core also burns hotter and can give better penetration. This can be important for 120V machines running up against their capabilities. That said, I normally use gas-shielded MIG welding for all the good reasons mentioned already.