Mig Welder Recommendations
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Minnesota
Mig Welder Recommendations
I am looking to buy a cheap mig welder for general use.
The heaviest martial I would be welding would be exhaust.
Would any of the following welders be powerful enough to weld exhaust?
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...33841&R=533841
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...24&R=200116124
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...74&R=200116174
Any recommedations would be greatly appreciated.
The heaviest martial I would be welding would be exhaust.
Would any of the following welders be powerful enough to weld exhaust?
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...33841&R=533841
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...24&R=200116124
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...74&R=200116174
Any recommedations would be greatly appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Originally Posted by captainmorgan
I am looking to buy a cheap mig welder for general use.
The heaviest martial I would be welding would be exhaust.
Would any of the following welders be powerful enough to weld exhaust?
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...33841&R=533841
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...24&R=200116124
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...74&R=200116174
Any recommedations would be greatly appreciated.
The heaviest martial I would be welding would be exhaust.
Would any of the following welders be powerful enough to weld exhaust?
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...33841&R=533841
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...24&R=200116124
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...74&R=200116174
Any recommedations would be greatly appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,358
Likes: 379
From: Plano TX
Lincoln, Miller and Hobart are all great units. Spend the extra and get one that will do gas rather than flux core. The welds will end up with much less splatter.
$370-$430 will get you a 135-140 amp unit that still runs on 115V and can do up to 1/4" steel.
$370-$430 will get you a 135-140 amp unit that still runs on 115V and can do up to 1/4" steel.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,654
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Get the Lincoln Weld-Pak 100 I have one and it is great, you could weld your frame with it. It is under $300 I think and you can add gas later If you want 
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
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From: Living in the Hartland
Just got a chicago elec 220v 130 amp one for $199 on sale via Harbor Freight website, is set up for gas add on if I want to.
Here is a cheap tig they have on sale, done some reading since i got my MIG and prolly would have bought this one instead, TIG is better but slower.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91811
Here is a cheap tig they have on sale, done some reading since i got my MIG and prolly would have bought this one instead, TIG is better but slower.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91811
Last edited by Fevre; Jan 27, 2005 at 12:38 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
I am new to MIG myself. I bought a Hobart 180 before Xmas. My advice is stay with a good brand -Hobart, Miller, or Lincoln. Get gas type or just stick weld. The gas provides a very smooth fluxless weld. Look on Ebay for MIG, I bought mine from weldingsuppliesatioc or something like that, they have a bunch. Got free shipping. Very very happy with it. I made a cart as my first project, about $15 worth of materials. 220V gives a higher duty cycle over 110V.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
It really depends on what you want to use it for.... for small projects a 'flux core' welder is fine. It's less than $200 for a name brand welder. Yes, you get more splatter - you'll have to grind most of the welds clean and remove splatter... but then again: it depends on what you use it for.
My flux core welder did a great job for the past two years, mostly exhaust work...
My flux core welder did a great job for the past two years, mostly exhaust work...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
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From: pr, frederick md.
youll be fine with any of those for welding exhaust. but as with anything you usually get what you pay for. spending a few extra bones now might save you some later. flux core will get the job done, and there are sprays to help with spatter. gas is better, and tig is the best looking weld but not the strongest. but i would use tig on an exhaust
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by captainmorgan
Thanks, but I was hoping to spend under $300.
I will not be doing a lot of welding.
Not sure what advantage the gas would be.
I will not be doing a lot of welding.
Not sure what advantage the gas would be.
Also while you say you will not weld much why not spend a little extra and get a good unit.
The Lincoln, Miller and Hobart are all good but I always recommend 220 volt gas and even for thin welding run it hot.
Frames are thin?? and people welding them with 110 units wish for more power.
Heating the metal with low power is not good. Burn it in fast.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: pr, frederick md.
Originally Posted by norvalwilhelm
Flux core runs like stick, may as well get stick if you go that route. Gas runs alot cleaner and makes you look good. Flux core will burn through where gas will not. Weld upside down on the bottom of your car and again gas will not drip but flux core will.
Also while you say you will not weld much why not spend a little extra and get a good unit.
The Lincoln, Miller and Hobart are all good but I always recommend 220 volt gas and even for thin welding run it hot.
Frames are thin?? and people welding them with 110 units wish for more power.
Heating the metal with low power is not good. Burn it in fast.
Also while you say you will not weld much why not spend a little extra and get a good unit.
The Lincoln, Miller and Hobart are all good but I always recommend 220 volt gas and even for thin welding run it hot.
Frames are thin?? and people welding them with 110 units wish for more power.
Heating the metal with low power is not good. Burn it in fast.
depends on whos using the stinger with practice any form of welding will look top notch
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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Stick and flux core make gorilla welds. They were never meant to make nice looking welds.
Lets have a competition, you and your stick or flux core welder and I'll use my gas mig
I can lay some ugly welds and still have them look better than stick welds.
Lets have a competition, you and your stick or flux core welder and I'll use my gas mig
I can lay some ugly welds and still have them look better than stick welds.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
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From: pr, frederick md.
not really. i can lay down a weld with stick just as nice as any other form. smooth as glass and no grinding! just got a knack for it. before i got into elevator thing i was a fabricator/machinist for 15 yrs. i actually prefer stick in some situations. mig is quick and makes the harry homeowner look good. you wont even find a REAL welder that uses those silly quick darkening hoods. but dont get me wrong, i sometimes prefer mig or tig. it just depends on the job. the weld quality depends on the person, not the equipment. period.
Race Director
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Let's see it I want to see a clean stick weld, as clean as a quality mig weld.
I don't have an auto darkening helmet either but will get one because it's easy when you are in a tight spot not having to do the hood up and down every time.
Here's an example, I don't see how you can do it like this with a stick or flux core
I want to see a clean stick weld, as clean as a quality mig weld.I don't have an auto darkening helmet either but will get one because it's easy when you are in a tight spot not having to do the hood up and down every time.
Here's an example, I don't see how you can do it like this with a stick or flux core
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
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From: pr, frederick md.
i cant do the picture thing yet, but i assure you i could do better than that with a stick if i wanted to use stick on a job like that. thats a good weld but certainly not the greatest. the edges are not uniform, i see several places where the weld isnt 100% on the top or the bottom. it was either a shakey hand or heat was to low. but i would guess a machine did that one. and yes i could make a stick weld WAY WAY smoother than that. but with all due respect, welding is or was my thing. 99% of folks couldnt do what i do. for just about anyone else you would be 100% correct 
Race Director
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The welds has full wetting of top and bottom, there's not a single spot where it has tuck under or whatever you call it, it's not done by a machine, the rougher spots is where it was tack welded at first.
As for heat, I always weld at high settings, I never have problems with too little heat. And this is a pretty small piece, it may look like something large but it's not. The round section has an inner diameter of 90mm..it's this piece, not that big at all
As for heat, I always weld at high settings, I never have problems with too little heat. And this is a pretty small piece, it may look like something large but it's not. The round section has an inner diameter of 90mm..it's this piece, not that big at all
Last edited by Twin_Turbo; Jan 27, 2005 at 05:03 PM.
Race Director
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From: Living in the Hartland
This week on Welder Weld Off we pit Twin Turbo the Dutch Destroyer against redc3 the Red Baron in a ***** out weld-a-thon where each man must weld an Iron Maidon for the other. The winner will be determined by who has the best welds with bonus points award to the one who inflicts the most pain. The winner will walk away (if they can) while the loser is left to rot. Check your local listings for time and channel!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: pr, frederick md.
Originally Posted by Fevre
This week on Welder Weld Off we pit Twin Turbo the Dutch Destroyer against redc3 the Red Baron in a ***** out weld-a-thon where each man must weld an Iron Maidon for the other. The winner will be determined by who has the best welds with bonus points award to the one who inflicts the most pain. The winner will walk away (if they can) while the loser is left to rot. Check your local listings for time and channel!
thats the hardest ive laughed all day!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
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From: pr, frederick md.
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
The welds has full wetting of top and bottom, there's not a single spot where it has tuck under or whatever you call it, it's not done by a machine, the rougher spots is where it was tack welded at first.
As for heat, I always weld at high settings, I never have problems with too little heat. And this is a pretty small piece, it may look like something large but it's not. The round section has an inner diameter of 90mm..it's this piece, not that big at all
As for heat, I always weld at high settings, I never have problems with too little heat. And this is a pretty small piece, it may look like something large but it's not. The round section has an inner diameter of 90mm..it's this piece, not that big at all