Looking for a welder

[06Daytona]

After I get the Challenger as a daily driver I'm planning on pulling the Cuda apart and redoing it properly. I'm looking for some recommendations for a new welder since I haven't done any for about 15 years and very little of that was on body panels. I've been asking around here to see what people are using, and that seems to be everything from 30 year old buzz boxes to brand new Mig/Tig rigs. I'll probably end up doing patchwork, some floorpan work maybe a quarter replacement or 2 and by the looks of it some boxing in on the uni body

[the_engineers]

Oh boy...this'll get more responses than Cudas vs Challengers.  My opinion is to get a 110 MIG machine from Lincoln or Miller, depending on budget. They seem to be easier to fine tune on lighter welds than a 220 machine.

[72cudamaan]

A 110 unit will be plenty big enuf. DO get a brand name, they are definitely worth the little bit extra, and DO get a unit with gas. Flux  core isn't as user friendly and dirty.

[brads70]

   I have a 110V Lincoln, had it for 15 plus years and it's done a ton of welding and never once caused me any trouble! As was said above DO get the gas kit! The flux core stuff makes a mess!

[purple1]

A 110 unit will be plenty big enuf. DO get a brand name, they are definitely worth the little bit extra, and DO get a unit with gas. Flux  core isn't as user friendly and dirty.

  When it came time to weld the quarters on my trailer, we put the 220v mig up and got out a little 110v mig. Just make sure you get one with the gas hook up. 

[ksierens]

  I have a 110v 120amp Lincoln (with gas) and it works great! I would also use Twenty Gage brand wire.

[heminut]

Definitely go with a 110 MIG with gas and the .023 wire. If you can stick weld then MIG is a piece of cake! I have a Lincoln 110 v. MIG that I used for all the sheetmetal work on my Cuda and it worked great!

[06Daytona]

Thanks for all the help. I'm going to start looking at Lincolns around here this weekend since the only show is beyond the distance comfort zone for the Cuda.

Do you need a welding ticket to get AC 75? I heard from a welder that I used to work with that you needed one for all welding gases, but that was 15 years ago

[ntstlgl1970]

Heminut mentioned the most important thing - using .023" wire. I think you will be fine with a 110v setup with gas.

[72cudamaan]

Heminut mentioned the most important thing - using .023" wire. I think you will be fine with a 110v setup with gas.

I actually have used .030 wire with better results. Use the same amperage and a little slower feed rate and I don't have burn through as much. But whatever works best for you.

[Challenger III]

I actually have used .030 wire with better results. Use the same amperage and a little slower feed rate and I don't have burn through as much. But whatever works best for you.

I am using a Hobart 110 also with .030 and 75/25 gas. Works great! Make sure you don't settle for the little bottle. Get the larger bottle and save numerous trips to the welding supply store!

[elitecustombody]

I'd look into getting a Miller MIG welder, I have Miller 130 XP and  Lincoln Pro-MIG 135 as a back-up and can't stand the cheesy plastic wire feed drive Lincoln came up with, if you buy Lincoln,make sure it has upgraded wire feed system,

[06Daytona]

I know the wire feed on the Lincoln I was using was garbage too. Aluminum wire kept binding and snagging on it. I'm going to take my time looking and I'm going to see if I can test fire before I buy too. I'm not sure what flavors of welders I can get in Puerto Rico, so I might be limited with what I can get here unless I get one special ordered. My wife is on cleaning rampage today, so I might take off and start looking soon.

[72cudamaan]

Ya, you gotta use a spool gun to feed aluminum wire.

[lemming303]

I asked this same question about a year ago and got a totally different answer! LOL

I was told to get the 220 because you can do so much more with it. Only a couple of people told me to get the 110! I still haven't bought one yet, but I think when I finally have the money and something doesn't come up that I will get one! It always seems that when I get some extra to use on the car something else comes up and I wind up using it to buy or fix something else. Oh well, that's life I guess!