Welder question

[NasaGT]

I'm interested in restoring a classic stang down the road - the one thing I want to learn before I start is how to weld. The question I have is how big a welder is necessary for automotive restoration work? I don't want to buy something that I'd end up replacing down the road.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ronstang]

I use an portable 170 amp mig welder made by Lincoln and have loved it since the day I bought it 8 years ago. It does everything I need from the thinnest of sheetmetal to 1/4 inch plate with no problems. Some will suggest you go with one of the smaller 130 Amp units but spend a little extra and get a little more power and you will have more options as your talent grows. Get a gas shield also, some will tell you that you don't need it but you do if you want to keep the heat down. I prefer a 220V unit to keep from overloading the house 120V circuits that are overloaded already but some will tell you to get a 120V unit. If you have or can easily get 220V service to your work area then get a 220V unit.

 

[Hack]

I have a Hobart 140 (110 unit). My house is 70 years old, so the electrical service is poor. I have a 15 amp circuit to my garage, and I've never had a problem. The 140 is rated up to 1/4" thick material. I'm certain that it will weld anything on my car, and also pretty much anything I can imagine wanting to fabricate. 1/4" steel is pretty heavy, rigid stuff.

Having said that, I agree with Ronstang's post. If you have 220 service or can cheaply add it, use it. The higher voltage is more efficient.

 

[none67]

I got a "little" Lincoln Magnum 100. goes from 30amps to 110amps. very nice little welder, can weld the thinest stuff you can find and up to 1/4 (but you need to do more than one pass). It can weld anything on my car that i can ever dream of. EXTREAMLY handy, EXTREAMLY, you NEVER know how much these things are good for till you have one. Its only a 110V so its fairly portiable also.

With MIG welding its all practice, you really don't need to take any classes or anything. Just buy "Welders Hand Book" Its a book by HP books. Very good read. But like i was saying if you feel you want someone to show you just get them to show you how to make a proper bead, after its all practice. good luck.

 

[NasaGT]

Thanks for the comments guys! Time to go shopping.

 

[stephen4785]

we use a a millermatic 135XP at work al day long and have very few problems with it.

 

[gingerbreadman]

I have a lincoln mig pak 15 (might be only available in canada) its a wire feed welder, 220v it has heat range settings from 30amp to 175 amp, i can run .025,.030,.035,.040 wire with merely changing the tip, I opted on the argon shielding gas as you get a much cleaner weld then using that flux core wire (plus its alot cheaper) they claim you can weld 1/2 inch with multi pass but id be leary, I built a trailer with it and i had plenty of power for 1/4 inch steel, its a mid to light weight welder but it kicks a donkeys ass when it comes to body work, turn the heat down and great control cause its a mig welder.... Im told i can weld alluminum and stainless steel just by switching the wire, i dunno i havent tried yet ...


heres a link of a big write up I did on my welder and the trailer i built http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=495320&goto=newpost


-gbm-