I Gots To Get A Welder...

Hey there. Welp, It looks like if I want to be able to actually do the things that need doing on my 59 ,
I'm going to have to learn how to weld. Now, back in A&P school we did some gas welding. And I was
TERRIBLE at it. Gas welding was the first thing that I just never could master. I want to know what you guys would recommend for starting out. Criteria being 1. Cheap, ( because I am...) and EASY. What type of
welder will turn me into a Metal Michaelangelo?
I await your wisdom....

Mad

 

A hobart welder is a good economical one Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder 500559
A lincoln 180 was my first MIG welder. Worked fine.
This Millermatic 212 MIG Welder Auto-Set 907405 is what I will replace my 1980's Airco branded ESAB with.

Buy the best hood you can afford and get an auto darkening one. I used a HF one for a while and i had trouble seeing even though I didn't get flashed.. I bought a 3M like this one Speedglas 9002NC Welding Helmet 04-0100-20NC but older. This is a screaming deal. I paid over 350 for mine on sale.

 

Most of the welding on my jeep was with a $200 Campbell hausfeld mig ready but I just used flux core since I couldn't justify the tank.

 

I borrowed my buddies 110 eastwood MIG...he waited till there was a 25% off or something coupon and got it pretty cheap.
It worked well, and after a little practice I was doing pretty good with it.

X2 on the auto darkening hood!!! they are amazing

 

HF 220 Mig for me. Never look back.

 

I’m really liking my millermatic 35 so far. I got it and a spool of extension cord for $300. A new regulator, spool of wire and gun consumables ran me ~$80.

 

Older welders work fine and can sometimes be had for a good price like that Miiler 35. Mine is an Airco dip pak 200. It runs on only 220 but has a 60% duty cycle at 200 amps. I never have to stop to let my welder cool down. I hav never exceeded its duty cycle. Likewise, I can weld fairly thin material with it as well. I paid 400 bucks for it. Its large but bulletproof. Its a rebranded ESAB. Would the newer welders work better? Probably not, but they do come with the ability to run on 110/115 and their size is smaller than mine for a similar welder.

Find a welder that suits your needs and then buy a better bigger one because your needs will expand. Be aware of the duty cycle of whatever you look at. If it says it will weld 1/2 plate but has a duty cycle of 15% at that amperage, you're not going to get much done. Also anything Blue will have a resale value exceeding those that are not. They aren't necessarily better welders, but they seem to be the standard.

Get one the will accept gas too. It works much better than flux core without the spatter. Flux core is just wire with flux inside like an arc rod has outside. The melting of the material creates the shielding gas to protect the weld from impurities.

 

All I've ever used is the classic old AC Lincoln "tombstone." Burned a mile of rod with it. Nothing fancy, and useless for bodywork, but it will do a heckova lot around the farm and shop for not much money. For a little more cash, you can get it with DC.

 

If you get the DC version you can make a scratch start TIG welder out of it. It won't have high frequency start or fancy lift arc and you won't be able to modulate the voltage with a foot pedal, but you CAN weld simple steel very nicely with it. All you need is a bottle of argon, a regulator and a TIG torch with a gas valve on the torch itself.

My first welder was an AC/DC unit just like the one Pete posted. 75 bucks and it went home with me. 300 bucks later I had a TIG welder too.

 

Thanks for all the info guys. Now here's the next question. What things should I make sure to AVOID?
It will help me when I start shopping.

Mad

 

Flux core welders - don't waste your money

 

+1

A welder is one of those “go big or go home” things.
Either find a cheap tombstone Lincoln and learn to stick weld (nothing wrong with that), or go full MIG from a reputable company. Anywhere in between, like Twin2 said, is a waste of money.

 

Iv been using a lincoln 100 mig for 20 years and its been great. A few diodes recently went bad but I fixed it. I run straight co2 because its cheaper than mixed gas. No problem. It would be nice to have a bigger unit for some jobs but itll certainly do anything i need jeep related.

 

This helmet is by far the best bang for the buck. I love mine. Large view, plenty of features, and Jackson is a very reputable name brand. Can’t beat it for $108

Jackson Welding Helmet - Black Insight Lens 46131

 

Be sure to check out Esab welders, i used my son's to weld up my bumper kit for my Dodge 2500 I bought off epay. it was great sense material thickness and amperage needed and lets you just drive on welding. It's the brand Ian Johnson uses in his shop on the current fourwheeler tv show.

 

I bought a Hobart 140 about 12 years ago from Tractor supply. It will pretty much weld anything on a Jeep that you need.

 

HOBART 210 MPV is the one of the best mig welders IMO. You can weld on standard 110V or 240V.

And if you want to save some money, get put on the list at Hobart for one of their reconnditioned units and get a nice discount. (That's what I did, I'm a cheap SOB but I also like quality)

Reconditioned Welders & Plasma Cutters - Hobart Welding Products

The picture below was the day I got it. Couldn't tell it wasn't brand spanking new.

It will weld the thin stuff like 16 gauge sheet metal, all the way up thick frame steel with zero issues. I have yet to find anything this Hobart cannot tackle with ease.

Best money ever spent. Buy once cry once

 

I have a lincoln 140. Works OK. Wish I had a 220v welder. It works but on thicker stuff I have to make multiple passes.