I've decided to teach myself to weld, and I want to get the best and most flexible welding rig I can. I don't plan to create heavy metal masterpieces, just join pipe, fix small things, etc. It's got to run on 110v, since I don't have 220v anywhere in my garage, and it should be small. Money is less an object than small size, flexibility, and reliability. I want something I can haul out on short notice and get a small job done.

From what I've read, I think a MIG setup might be the most useful. Also, the self-dimming helmets sound pretty trick. Do they really work?

Recommendations? Accessories? Where to order? Good self-teaching books?

Thanks in advance! :D

-Noel

 

Mig 's your answer pretty darn handy. I've had a arc welder for 25 years. Bought a mig to do body panels etc.. make sure you get a "bottle " argon co2 mix makes for a nicer job. Auto tinting shade is a must but buy a good one. Depending on how old your eyes are :D The older the person is the lighter the fixed tint needs to be. My auto tint is 4-11 fixed and I find it to dark sometimes. When you start to weld it goes dark enough but getting set up sometimes "off" is to dark.

 

For the home shop, MIG is the way to go. You can start out with flux wire to gain some experience, then add the shielding gas bottle later. The auto darkening helmets do work fine, just costly. Expect to spend 150-200 or more for the helmet. A LARGE viewing area is mandatory wheater you use a flip down or auto darkening. Two recommendations are the HTP brand and Hobart 135 handler. I recommend these are they have the controls and a wire feed mechanism that is not plastic. Both are 110v for the garage.

Go the http://www.htpweld.com and look at the products. They have a real good video that you can get for I think $20 bucks that is an introduction and instrucitonal video on MIG welding. Hobart has an informative site also. They are http://www.hobart.com.

 

Noel, get hold of my friend JohnGTO@attbi.com

He is a navy cert welder up at the shipyard here, does all sorts of welding, builds anything....I mean anything....
he has a TIB machine 220 volt....and knows more about welding than anybody I ever knew.....makes most guys look sick, really sick....
he did a fantastic job 15 some years ago on his '68 GTO....
car is still in great shape, allthough HE sees flaws....rust is starting in the rear window again...he fixed it 15 years ago...oh well...

he filled the aluminum on my WSW door brackets for my '72 vette here...
he built out of hardware store aluminum, the front grill in my sig file....

tell him you know me....otherwise he may not reply....
IL"ll send him a covering email about anything you might ask about...so you get an answer....

GENE

 

Noel,

When I asked this question last year, most everyone told me to stay away from the smaller 110v machines. Being the cheap dimwit that I am ;), I bought one anyway:lol: I just didn't have the extra $1000 lying around at the time for a bigger unit. I picked up a Lincoln Weldpac 100 from the local Home Depot for around $330, and the MIG add-on kit for another $75.

Frankly, I couldn't be happier. It welds everything I throw at it without a wimper, and it fits nicely under my workbench. It has a 20% duty cycle, which I was told was too low, but I've never had an interuption in my welding. Who knows... I'm not welding frames or roll cages with it, that's for sure. It has absolutely no problem with exhaust (including the new stainless mufflers I just installed) and other similar guage metals. I've also used it to make throttle brackets and other stuff from 1/8" steel.

My next assessory for it will be the new "spool gun" that Lincoln just released for the WeldPacs. It allows you to weld aluminum. Sears sells all this stuff in their tool catalog.

If I had to do it again, I might go for the next larger system just for room to grow in the future (for when I get a steel bodies car!). This would be more of a luxury than a necessity.

-Joe

 

I also really like the Mig welders. I have stick also and hardly ever use it. Mig is great on steel with a argon 15% carbon dioxide mix. Straight argon will not work. For stainless it isn't that great. You need a triple mix and that gets expensive. The auto tint also works great.
About voltage. I think the 220s are alot better then the 110s. I know you said you don't have 220 in the garage but couldn't it be run from the house or if you have 2 110 lines in the garage they are probably out of phase so it would be 220 joined?
Regarless mig is the way to go. Not flux core. Use gas mix.
I bought a lincoln 220 and it has lots of power.

 

I have a Lincoln SP100 MIG welder. Its a 110V wire fed with the the bottle mounted on a cart. This thing rocks. I have burned at least six spools of wire welding everything from exhuasts and floor pans to plow frames. I have had no problems with the exception of the liner in the torch wearing out, which was cheap and easy to fix. Its portable and very easy to use. I would definitely recommend it to any one looking for a decent MIG for hobby use.

 

Noel Carboni-The best set up is of course is a TIG machine. It simulates oxy/acetone-welding and is the industrial standard, but it's going to run you around $1400.00 for the bottom line machine. A mig/ wire feed arc machine is a more affordable way to go. Don't waste your money on a 110 machine; go with a 220 machine if you can. I've own a self-dimming helmet and it works awesome.
Dan

 

A 110 machine for the home garage is just fine. Unless you are planning chasis fabrication or welding of 3/8s inch plate a large 220 machine is not needed. Stay away from flux wire. Too much splatter while welding. mixed gas is the only way to go. Stay away from TIG welders as the learning curve for them is a bit much for the home garage guy . A good gas or TIG weld is like art work ask any pro and they will tellya the same. Linclon or Miller are the most popular in the Home garage arena. They are both excellent machines. A good auto helmet can be had for 125.00 an exceptional one cost double. The eastwood website has the beginner books and video,s you will need and some other cool stuff in the welding area good luck and enjoy :seeya :cool:


[Modified by One GM A Tech, 10:00 AM 3/14/2002]

 

Noel, I'm working with Harbor Freight 110 gasless MIG. It works good for just playing around. I think I paid $120 for it and it perfect for small projects. I brought it to work one day and weld about 30 3" legs back on tables and repaired 10+ racks, so durability is not a issue. But it is what it is "a inexpensive welder".

 

I just bought a Lincoln Squarewave 175 Pro TIG welder and it's pretty awesome. It can weld steel, stainless, aluminum, and titanium from .020" all the way to 3/8". It's 220v, but it's a darned good all-around TIG/Stick welder that will produce beautiful welds and handle about anything a home mechanic/hobbiest would want to do. It's too small to repair a serious crack in an aluminum head, but it can handle about anything else. I picked one up new for $1375. I've seen them advertised for as much as $1800, but I shopped around and ended up getting it form a BOC Gas/Welding suppy store. They initially wanted $1650 for it, but I told them I could get it for $1375 off the internet and they met that price without blinking an eye. The Squarewave technology really helps produce a clean weld with great penetration. It'll make you look like a pretty good welder in no time. Alot of people say that TIG welding is the hardest process, but I think it's easier than MIG once you get thae hang of it. Just move the torch in small figure 8's.

It really isn't that hard to route a 60amp/240v outlet into the garage, I did it myself. The only thing about it that was hard was trying to drive a 8' grounding rod into the ground to prevent electrical interference.

I also like the autodimming helmets as well. I picked up a new Jackson EQP Professional a couple of weeks ago and it beats the old way of positioning everything, flipping the helmet down and hope nothing moved before starting your weld. The one I got starts out at a #3 shade, and is adjustable for a final shade of 10, 11, 12, or 13. For TIG, 11 or 12 is usually about right.

 

Ditto on the small MIG's. I have a Lincoln 110 and have used it extensively on my car. You should get the optional gas package, if the one you buy doesn't come with it. Gasless is okay, but you really should spring for the gas package. I have done some aluminum welding with mine and you CAN do it, BUT, I don't recommend it, unless you get a harder spool of aluminum. Even then, you will have to be patient. It also requires straight argon gas, so you would need two different bottles of inert gas, if you did weld aluminum. As for steel, you can't go wrong. If you do consider a TIG welder, make sure it is a DC system. Now, I just wish I could weld better.

 

Can any of these weld cast iron? dunno the exact name of the process... adding to a block... Wondering how hard it would be to make a standered block into a Zl1 strength wise? :crazy:

I've never welded before, so hey cut me some slack :jester

Also, sorry for piggy backing another question onto someone elses thread :bb

 

I have bought many, many welders for work. The Miller mig is the best choice.

 

Get a Miller 185. Not cheap, but it'll weld about any project you come across.
I've used one for years. I'm sure the Lincoln and Hobart are also good.

 

Didn't see your need of 110v only. You may be disappointed with a 110v unit. Might consider wiring in a 220v outlet?

 

I just got a Campbell Hausfeld 110v (120 amp, runs on a 20 amp @ 110v circuit). It was one of the most powerful 110v welders I could find, I got it for $330 including a MIG kit. They say it can weld up to 1/4" steel, same as what the Lincoln Weldpack 100 is rated at (although it's rated at a lower amperage). The Lincoln is better quality, it has a more solid body and I am wondering if I should have gone with that. The regulator that came with mine has no guages, and it's $40-75+ to get a new regulator with pressure & flow guages. At any rate, I can't imagine needing to weld more than 1/4" steel for a hobbyist. Even a car frame isn't 1/4" thick.

I just got an auto darkening helmet from Harbor Freight (www.harborfreight.com) for $130. It is infinitely adjustable from between 9 - 13. I'm very happy with it, it's regularily $160, but on sale right now. The quality is good, it was recommended to me by a few Jeep'ers who are always welding up bumpers 'n stuff. They also have one on sale for $80 which is adjustable for #10 or #12.

Rob

 

There are plenty of 110V MIG welders and they run the spread from the real cheap flux-cored units for less then $200 up to some very high-end units. I purchased an HTP MIG 140. It runs on 110V-20A circuit, has a lot of features, and even though I had my garage wired for a 110V-30A and 220V-40A circuits, I can take the welder anywhere and don't have to worry about finding a 220 outlet. And it delivers the same 140-amp output and duty cycle as a 220-only system. Also, HTP makes a system that is convertable between 110 and 220 if that's what you need.

Not saying HTP is the best out there, but Miller and the other premium line manufacturers have a wide range of outstanding quality products that will fill your need.

 

Don't know if they still sell them - but I bought a Sears 110v Mig 10 years ago while resoring my Mustang. You know how much rust they have :lol: .
Never gave me any problems - even welded 1/4 steel plate for the I beam install in my garage. Think I paid about $250 with the gas kit. Bought a 60lb tank so I wasn't constantly running for refills.

 

Noel, I missed the last part of your question: I got a great book from HP titled "Welder's Handbook" from Summit Racing. I think I paid around $17 for it, and it's well worth the cash.

-Joe