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Welding Equipment Advice???

Lake919

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Mobile, AL
Hi guys, I am going to be trying my hand out at fabricating a few pieces for my jeep and I was wondering if anyone could give me advice on what kind of welding equipment I should buy. Should I go with mig or stick? I am also going to be purchasing a plasma cutter so any advice there would help as well. I am pretty mechanically inclined, and have a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. Again, any and all advice is appreciated. Mike
 
I'd definitely go with MIG over ARC for use at the house, although you get a bit more versatility with an ARC welder its time consuming and messy.

I prefer Lincoln for my welders, but my plasma cutter is a Miller.
 
Thank you for the quick response, for your bumpers that you fab what is the thickness of the steel? Also are you using using a gas or gasless mig? I saw a great deal on a Hobart plasma cutter at sears, but I like Miller and lincoln as far as durability goes. What models are you using?
 
I have a Lincoln 180C and Miller 375 Xtreme. I use .30 wire and argon/CO2 mix primarily, the bumpers I build are made out of 3/16 plate steel. Nothing fancy, just your trypical mild steel.

I like my little Miller Plasma Cutter because its dual-voltage so I can take it with me. Lincoln now makes a dual voltage version of the 180 that I'd love to have but I think instead I'd like to upgrade to the next level MIG for at home and then get a 110V Lincoln for travel use as a flux-core welder. That was my intention back when I had my flat-bed truck, I was going to mount a decent 110V generator and a welder to it and then be able to use either my plasma or oxy-acetylene for cutting.
 
First, buy 220-volt equipment. Second, buy more capacity than you think you need. The benefits are an improved duty cycle and arc stability.

I agree with Dutch about buying a MIG for your stated usage.

With your grasp of technical details, I think you'll do fine with a basic welding manual. Just remember that prep is everything.
 
You'll spend more for a Miller...... Hobart is made by Miller and as such, they give the Hobart a few less features than a Miller, but I don't really miss the features. Miller welders have infinite heat level settings and wire feed speed. Hobarts have set speeds and heat levels. Beyond that, they're the same.

I have a 220V Hobart Handler 175 and it's been a fantastic welder. I have zero complaints. Got it with all the accessories from E-bay for $550 shipped.
 
check online for a good used 220 miller welder. always go bigger then what you think you need, youll always find a use for more amps/penetration in the future. as far as plasma cutter how big of a air compressor do you have?
 
I have had good luck with my 110 welder(s). Until just recently, I have always been renting garage space and never had the facilities to run a 220. I currently have a Hobart Handler 140 which has allowed me to do pretty much everything on the Jeep I have wanted. I still run the .030" flux core and can do 1/4" without any real issues.

A good 220 machine as mentioned is the way to go, if you have the means. But don't discount a good 110 unit if that is all you have access to.

A buddy of mine has the Lincoln 180HD and has has good luck with it. He signed up and bought it with a HD credit card too so he had no payments or interest for like 6 months either.

Toolking has Hobart Factory reconditioned machines that are less than new. Their stock varies on them though.

If you are just getting into it, get a decent auto darkening helmet. I think it makes life a lot easier. I have had good luck with Tilman gloves. Thin enough for good dexterity, thick enough to protect my hands, they last pretty well, and they are cheap.
 
What is your budget?
x2 on the auto dim helmet. I have a miller pro,hobby, and I love it
taking a welding class at your local community college is never a bad idea, and most let you use their high $ machines for personal projects.
 
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Thanks for all the advice guys, I went ahead this morning and ordered a Lincoln Electric Power Mig 180 Dual Mig Welder and with that I got a really nice value pack from Lincoln that consists of a Very nice Duffel Bag, an Auto darkening helmet, a welding jacket, doo-rag, thw pairs of gloves, and safety glasses. I also went ahead and picked up a Hobart Airforce 250 and it comes with a built in air compressor. I got to play with one at the local welding store and it handled pretty well and cut through 3/16 steel pretty well. I also went to Sears and spent another grand on various man toys, I got a 4 ton floor jack, two sets of 4 ton jack stands, a mechanic 252 piece tool set, 3/8 and 1/2 inch torque wrenches, a Craftsman Professional 27 gallon stand up air compressor and an engine hoist from Harbor Freight. I love this being divorced thing. So much extra money for toys.
 
I need your divorce lawyer then, or apparently I need to move to AL before I do.

If you were so eager to go out and spend money you should've just said so. I've got all kinds of toys I want. Axle alignment bar setup for making custom axles, a torchmate 4x8 setup, a new truck. You know, lots of things. :D
 
You better not let Mrs Dutch see you say that, I can imagine a plasma cutter to the boys in the middle of the night would not feel so great. We both signed pre nups before we got married, She never worked while we were and thought that she could get the one she signed thrown out and go for alimony but it did not happen. I just felt like buying toys and I figured what the hell, why not. I need to have cool toys so that when I move to CO in a few months I can make friends quicker lol
 
Well hell, I am golden when it comes to Whiskey, I literally have three cases of the good stuff in the garage right now. One of Crown Black, One JD single barrel and one of turkey 101. My buddy owns a liquor store so I get the bulk ordering discount.
 
I also went ahead and picked up a Hobart Airforce 250 and it comes with a built in air compressor. I got to play with one at the local welding store and it handled pretty well and cut through 3/16 steel pretty well.
I hope that works well for you, I have the Airforce 125. The compressor circuitry is a little tweaky, built in safeguards will shut the unit down. If the ambient temp gets below 45* F, the unit will shut down. If it starts to rain, the unit will shut down. If the sun, moon, stars, and weather align, it does a nice job.

I hate to say it, but before you buy any man-toys from Sears, google the model number. Sears has sold some real duds over the last few years.

Another heads-up! Here in Colorado, we have entites called HOAs. I think they are run by bitter, ex-wives. Avoid them at all cost. Get to know the city codes for any community you are considering. Many are restrictive about hobbies that include fire, machinery, inoperative/unregistered vehicles, outdoor storage, or any vehicle bigger than a Volvo wagon.

Good luck!
 
I broke my neighbors Airforce 125 by using it to cut the fenders off my 92 XJ. I guess I hit te duty cycle 1 too many times because it never turned back on again.
 
Yeah maybe this Hobart decision was not a smart one. Maybe I should just spend an extra 400 and get a Miller. As far as the HOA's are concerned, I have a bitter ex wife and I know how to deal with them. Its my award winning smile and charm that get me by....
 
Yeah, I try that too but the HOA still comes after me from time to time. Just like my wife, its always mad at me. The smile and charm just keep me from getting burned too badly.

Personally I've never been a fan of any of Hobart's products. I seem to have really bad luck with them. Lincoln and Miller are my personal favorites and I usually prefer the more simplistic Lincoln stuff.
 
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