Need a welder

[Cranker]

Flux core or inner shield welding uses a higher amperage to weld and will burn through the thinner sheet metal eaiser requiring more skill to have a good outcome. On the the up side the hotter burn allows you to weld thicker metal then a simaular unit with gas. Also it depends on were you will be welding. If you paln to do most of your welding in the driveway then all of your shielding gas will be blown away by the slightest breeze. With a flux machine this is not an issue.Just my 2 cents Tom

[Cuda Cody]

I already have a Miller EconoTig hooked up in the garage (220), however I haven't had a chance to mess with it yet.  Anyone played with one of these little tig welders before?

[dodgetkboy78]

Flux core or inner shield welding uses a higher amperage to weld and will burn through the thinner sheet metal eaiser requiring more skill to have a good outcome. On the the up side the hotter burn allows you to weld thicker metal then a simaular unit with gas. Also it depends on were you will be welding. If you paln to do most of your welding in the driveway then all of your shielding gas will be blown away by the slightest breeze. With a flux machine this is not an issue.Just my 2 cents Tom

LOL!!!

I use innershield wire, it is a trick, but can be done on body metal. The best way is to stitch it. Also, the innershield is more likely to warp/sretch the metal (hotter) so I use wet rags next to what I am welding, or just keep it wet. :thumbs:

as already said? Lincoln, or miller :thumbs:

I use a weld pack 115 (about 15 years old now), a sp 175, and a old old old willies powerd who knows what amp Miller! (silver winding military unit)
All work flawlessly, well, the willies knocks and smokes, but that aint Millers fault. :thumbs:

[Cranker]

   Never said it couldnt be done.  Like i said it takes more skill to get the right outcome. That is why i recommend that a beginer starts with gas or alotta practice so as not to get to frustrated.

[jvhodges]

O.K. I'm ready to buy a welder, I'm looking at a Lincoln SP135t or a Hobart Handler 140, a miller is alittle out of my price range. Both of those welders are going for around 425.00. I don't know witch is a better brand, can anyone help me out, if it was you what one would you get. I'll be running gas with it and maybe some flux.
Thanks Guys.
Jeff

[dodgetkboy78]

NO! NO! NO!

DONT GET THE HOBART!

NO MATTER WHAT THE GUY AT THE WELDING STORE SAIS!

DONT GET IT!

They talked us into getting a hobart Handler, it lasted about 6 months, and fried. Might still have it? They fixed it the first time, and the sacond time it was out of warraty. Come to find out from others that used hobarts that this was not rare.
we replaced it with a SP (lincoln) 175. About 6 or 7 years ago, not a prob since. :thumbs:

[jvhodges]

Thanks Dodgetkboy78, I'v been cruzing the welder forums and what I'v been reading is that the miller is #1 followed by the lincoln than hobart, some people think that the welders from harbor fright are better than the hobart  :laughing:

[Plum6Pak]

  You can laugh but they (the Harbor Frt ones) are cheap enough that if you get 5 years out of them you aren't out much. You can buy a warranty that will keep you safe for a while too. For someone who isn't going to use it on a regular basis, they are fine but if you are going to use the death out of it Miller really is the best. I have the Millermatic 130 and it has been great! Got it originally with only the flux wire which is tricky to make look decent but works pretty good, I now have the gas setup for it and love it. I work for a company that sells welders and got a killer deal to boot! 

[paintshop101]

The Lincoln 135 previously recommended is an excellent choice! Go the extra and get the gas. CO2 works fine but the gas of choice is the co2/Argon mix. A 110 volt unit (versus a 220) is all you need for all your sheetmetal work. Its not recommended for heavy steel like suspension components. Easy to use, inexpensive. Oh, and save yourself the hassle and just buy an auto-darkening helmet up front. These things are cool and really are nice to use, saving you from raising and lowering the hood every time which often causes you to lose the starting point on the weld. If you already own an auto-darkening helmet, remember that they need to be recharged from time to time... set the solar panels in direct sunlight now and then!

[jvhodges]

Thanks Guys :beer: I decited to go with the Lincoln, since I'v never welded before I going to bring home from work some differant gauges of 6"x12" sheetmetal to practice on before I jump into the car. What size of tank should I get, buy one or rent one? Paintshop101 thanks for the info about the helmet I'll check into it, have'nt looked at helmets yet.
Jeff

[jvhodges]

Hi its me again, theres 3 lincolns to choose from, the SP135T, Pro Mig135, or the Weld-Pak 3200 Hd. Anyone know about these?
Thanks Again
Jeff

[Cranker]

I spent alotta time researhing welders before i bought mine. Both on line and locally at some welding shops. What i came up with is that if you are using the welder for commercial unit then go with esab or miller, but for home use hobart will work fine. hobart is owned by miller. The main difference that everyone was talking about was that the hobart came with plastic drive gear and the miller with metal. I have the hobart 180 and mine has the metal gears also has the miller whip. I have had it for a while and it has worked flawlessly. Also check the hobart forum for good info on welding regaurdless of what machine you get. I also reccommend the autodarkening helmet. They are very nice. Just my opinion  Tom

[jvhodges]

Thanks Cranker its nice to hear differant opinions from people that have these machines it will help me out alot, like I said I'm going to replace the floor pans and trunk pans and welding some patches on the firewall inside and out. I'm in no hurry to go out and buy probley next week sometime. Anyone else have any opinions about these welders.
Thanks Guys
Jeff

[Silver R/T]

Ive used most brands, but Ive liked hobart the most

[dodgetkboy78]

I dont think there is any real quality difference between miller and lincoln, just prefernce.

As far as Hobarts go, I also dont like the slow start the wire feed has, compared to the lincoln. It makes stitching a screwed up mess, if you are used to a lincoln.
The SP 135 is a great welder, I love my weld pack 115, it is sitting in th eback of the truck, in th erain, right now.
has been like that for years, for 15 years, to be correct. :thumbs: