Welders?

Well as you know I have a lot of welding to do on the Cobra. I have a 220amp MIG with gas. But it's not the best I've ever used. Sure I'm not a pro at all but I got the privilege to try out an all digital Miller which cost more than my black notch and the difference was simply amazing. I'm wondering if there's something I can get that will allow me to work on sheet metal better. So basically being able to weld 18ga sheet metal up to 12ga structural stuff such as frame rails. I could get a smaller 110v welder for smaller jobs and keep my larger MIG for structural.

I also wanted to learn how to TIG and maybe build a turbo setup (my goal eventually). Not sure if those "all in one" deals are any good...

Any ideas? Keep in mind, I won't be able to spend 5 grand on a welder at this point.

Thanks

I've got a 220 mig set up for structural work and a 110 mig set up for smaller jobs like sheet metal and exhaust. It really is the best way to do it or you will be compromising. Another option is a single mig but changing liners and wire size, seemed like a great idea when I tried it but in reality most times I went to grab the mig it had the wrong set up in it, changing over got old quick.
When purchasing a mig (s), staying with the big two names, you can seldom go wrong. Pay special attention if your buying an OEM or made for the big box store version though, considerable difference between them. Watching Kijiji or similar, amazing what pops up from time to time.

yeah some good deals... I bought an old tomb stone Lincoln arc with two 75 foot 0 gauge cables... got everything for $150... At the time I was building plates and rock sliders for my Ranger. Oh it also came with boxes on boxes of rods of all sizes. Sold everything for profit once I got rid of the off-road Ranger.

The smaller, compact 220 migs from Miller / Lincoln are flat out amazing how well they perform as an all round machine. While something around .020 wire works well for exhaust n sheet metal and around .028 - .030 is the hot ticket for larger jobs, bet a quality machine with something in the middle would offer enough flexibility to do both. Just an idea if having two is out of the question.
My set up, angled plate secures my smaller mig on top of the larger one then used a manual Y valve so they can utilize the same tank.

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Originally Posted by ZR

Pay special attention if your buying an OEM or made for the big box store version though, considerable difference between them.

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+1 on this advice.
When I was researching my welder, the big difference was where the actual transformer was made. Big price difference between and American wound transformer versus an 'import'.

Very happy with my little SP-135T.

condition and quality of filler rod and how their kept also has a affect on the finished product,but quality of equipment is most important

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Originally Posted by rioredsvt

condition and quality of filler rod and how their kept also has a affect on the finished product,but quality of equipment is most important

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He has a mig, not a stick, but the point holds true regardless

110 mig is, imo, best for sheet under 16 gauge....beyond that the bigger 220 machines can usually be turned down enough for 1/8" plate....up to 1/2" and generally multiple passes when you get that thick. If you have alot of welding of 3/8" or thicker, you wanna step up to 3 phase 575 which of course you wont be able to do at your house. Anything thicker than 1/4"/.250 is pretty rare on cars so youll be fine. Take your time and do lots of practise passes before welding your final product that way you dont cock up when youre welding in/on the car.

Stay away from the Canadian Tire Lincoln mig welders.....pay the extra money and get an american made unit that has a metal wire feed system....ive seen some of the cheap welders with plastic feeds and you WILL regret every minuet of owning it.

If you can spend up to 2k....go to Praxair and get a multi process unit with stick/tig and a plasma cutter....most stuff on cars can be done with stick and then you have the option of tig as well if you want to learn that.

i have been reading a lot about the machines and reading reviews i want to buy a good unit for home as well for my own work and so far the best all around options are the lincoln 210 or the miller 211 units both capable of mig and tig

Put ESAB on your shortlist.

If youre looking at used, Canox is Miller so check them out as well. Most of the multi process units that are cheap arent well known name brands but if you buy one from Praxair or a reputable dealer you should get some kind of decent warrantee/guarantee

This is the Miller I have but I added foot pedal for control. its a suitcase unit. It works on 110 or 220. and does stick or tig. I can weld 1/2' plate steel no issues on 110. I'm going to switch to a unit that can do aluminum. I would also like a high frequency start and pulse modulation. Check out the everlast welders. There made in USA and they even have a unit that can stick, tig, mig, ac, dc, high freq, etc. (everything in one unit)

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e1/b3...61c095d5ec.jpg

^^^cool looking setup

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Originally Posted by Speedtospare

This is the Miller I have but I added foot pedal for control. its a suitcase unit. It works on 110 or 220. and does stick or tig. I can weld 1/2' plate steel no issues on 110. I'm going to switch to a unit that can do aluminum. I would also like a high frequency start and pulse modulation. Check out the everlast welders. There made in USA and they even have a unit that can stick, tig, mig, ac, dc, high freq, etc. (everything in one unit)

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e1/b3...61c095d5ec.jpg

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Thats a nice setup....pricey tho. Also no reason you cant weld aluminum with that. The beauty of tig is that you can weld anything really with it. Ive seen titanium welded with tig in a special box that gets filled with inert gas so theres no chance of contamination. Tig is the best type of welding you could learn imo...so much control and so neat when you get it right although a good welder with a mig can lay down some impressive welds. The guy that taught me to mig is like that...youd almost swear his welds are done by robot!

Also iirc most Millers can be set up with a spool gun. We have one at work that has a spool gun set up for aluminum rather than switching wire spools. The options out there are almost infinite...its a good time to be a welder.

Everlast has made great head way, had experience several, They are Not made in the USA, Russian I think, anyhow

We have used ESAB Lincoln, Miller, Thermal Arc and Everlast units all are good units
The newer Inverter based units are awesome. In todays market don’t even look at a transformer machine anymore. Especially for a home hobbiest powering off 220 single phase
95% it is the user / setup that makes bad welds not the machines
What kind of “ gas “are you using, what is your settings?
what makes you think you need more of a machine? 220amp is near the limit for single phase power.
is yours an inverter or transformer machine? Sheet metal needs very little power, and it warps and burns threw real easy if you weld too much at once

No offense meant here, just if you can make what you already got work like it should and well. Then You can get on spending on the car rather then tools you already have.