Picking out welder

admin

First off, this is my first post.  I came on this site hoping for a sticky on how to pick out the best welder for your needs, but no luck.  My name is Kevin and I'm 22.  I'm a computer security major in PA, but enough of that.Im looking for an inexpensive welder (probably mig) that I can use to weld a header for a car.  I may also be doing a little bit of exhaust welding.  Im new to welding so I only know what I've read so far.  Any help would greatly be appreciated.Thanks in advance,-Kevin
Reply:Since you desire to accomplish a specific task, you should be aware that you are unlikely to be able to buy/rent a welder and promptly do a repair that you will be proud to show off.  It does take lots of practice to make a good looking (and performing) weld.You might consider taking a welding course at a community college or night school and do the repair at the school after some expert training and with the instructor giving you some specific advice on the task.As a second option, you might consider renting, rather than buying a machine for this specific project.  That would give you the opportunity to see how various machines and technologies work with various materials, and you will not have made an investment in a compromise machine that proves inadequate for future projects (as I did).Have fun.awright
Reply:There's a number of 120VAC MIG welders that will do headers and exhaust pipes just fine as they're quite thin.  Stay away from the cheap imports, as they tend to suck.  There are offerings from Miller, Hobart, and Lincoln that all work well enough and run about $500 or so.It'll take some practice to get to the point of being able to weld exhausts.  Following that, the 120VAC MIG welders tend to run out of juice very quickly on thicker material.-Heath
Reply:Alright.  Ive actually been looking at a Lincoln arc welder K1170 AC225S.  It is decently priced but Im not sure if this will still be good for exhaust work and some other automotive tach welds i might do.  Anyone familiar with this arc welder?  Is this a feasible option?
Reply:Hi WhiteKid;I believe that AC225S is a stick welder, can't remember at the moment.     I do believe there is atleast one of these welders on every farm in America.    If so I would suggest that that welder might be less than ideal for some oof your applications.    One thing you have to realize is that there are very few (affordable) welders that can cover just about every thing you might want to weld up on a car.    So the first thing is covering the various technoloigies which takes a good book or as some have suggested a class or two.    I suspect though that at the moment you have your fill of classes.To that end I might suggest that a mig welder would be the smart choice for at least some of your projects.    You just have to realize that it won't be the ideal solution to every problem and may not be the best choice for your headers.    Mig welders are fine for sheet metal and thinner gage materials and can handle somewhat thicker materials in multiple passes.   Now the thing with Low cost MIG welders is that they come in two flavors.    One variety that plugs into a 120 volt outlet and the others that plug into 220 volt outlets.    The 220 volt machines provide you with much more capability for not to much more $$$$$.    Since I happen to be shopping at the moment for a MIG I can tell you that the Millermatic 175 is about $160 dollars more expensive than the Millermatic 135 (local suppplier).      The 175 is the 220 volt unit.    These are the low end units in one aspect but are also professional quality and are used by many a body shop.    One of these welders should handle exhaust work and tack welds fine.    By tacking I mean just that, glueing something together for a better welder.     Miller lists the 135 for materials up to 3/16" and the 175 for matrials up to 1/4" and they are being optimistic.    I only have the Miller info because I stopped by the reps place yesterday, some will argue that Lincoln makes just as good or better machines competeing with the two above.    They are small portable welders that are well known in the industry.The nice thing about this class of welder is that it will remain usefull for as long as you own them for automobil work.    Even if you invest in a stick/Tig machine, these specific MIG welders are in a class all themselves.    So you shouldn't feel bad about the investment as you skills increase and you aquire other tools.    More interestingly I'd have to wonder what the local muffler shops use to weld up pipe.    I'd actually be surprised if they did it on the car.   Maybe talking to a muffler shop might provide you with more insight.Unless you have specfic voltage requirements I'd suggest staying away from the 120Volt units.   Go 220 even if you have to wire in the circuit.    The extra margine of peformance is well worth it.    The only exception here is Millers Passport which is a 120/220 unit with inverter technology, great machine if you can afford it.ThanksDave
Reply:Originally Posted by wizardHi WhiteKid;I believe that AC225S is a stick welder, can't remember at the moment.     I do believe there is atleast one of these welders on every farm in America.    If so I would suggest that that welder might be less than ideal for some oof your applications.    One thing you have to realize is that there are very few (affordable) welders that can cover just about every thing you might want to weld up on a car.    So the first thing is covering the various technoloigies which takes a good book or as some have suggested a class or two.    I suspect though that at the moment you have your fill of classes.To that end I might suggest that a mig welder would be the smart choice for at least some of your projects.    You just have to realize that it won't be the ideal solution to every problem and may not be the best choice for your headers.    Mig welders are fine for sheet metal and thinner gage materials and can handle somewhat thicker materials in multiple passes.   Now the thing with Low cost MIG welders is that they come in two flavors.    One variety that plugs into a 120 volt outlet and the others that plug into 220 volt outlets.    The 220 volt machines provide you with much more capability for not to much more $$$$$.    Since I happen to be shopping at the moment for a MIG I can tell you that the Millermatic 175 is about $160 dollars more expensive than the Millermatic 135 (local suppplier).      The 175 is the 220 volt unit.    These are the low end units in one aspect but are also professional quality and are used by many a body shop.    One of these welders should handle exhaust work and tack welds fine.    By tacking I mean just that, glueing something together for a better welder.     Miller lists the 135 for materials up to 3/16" and the 175 for matrials up to 1/4" and they are being optimistic.    I only have the Miller info because I stopped by the reps place yesterday, some will argue that Lincoln makes just as good or better machines competeing with the two above.    They are small portable welders that are well known in the industry.The nice thing about this class of welder is that it will remain usefull for as long as you own them for automobil work.    Even if you invest in a stick/Tig machine, these specific MIG welders are in a class all themselves.    So you shouldn't feel bad about the investment as you skills increase and you aquire other tools.    More interestingly I'd have to wonder what the local muffler shops use to weld up pipe.    I'd actually be surprised if they did it on the car.   Maybe talking to a muffler shop might provide you with more insight.Unless you have specfic voltage requirements I'd suggest staying away from the 120Volt units.   Go 220 even if you have to wire in the circuit.    The extra margine of peformance is well worth it.    The only exception here is Millers Passport which is a 120/220 unit with inverter technology, great machine if you can afford it.ThanksDave
Reply:Toolking.com has very good prices on Reconditioned Hobart mig welders.  A vo-tech course is a great idea.  I learned to at the local vo-tech.  I will warn you this welding thing can get kind of addicting but I can think of a lot worse addictions to have.DennisThermal Arc 185-TSWMillermatic Challenger 172VictorO/AAtlas Craftsman 12 by 24 LatheEsab PCM-875Wholesalem Tool Mill-Drill
Reply:I have a millermatic passport and am very happy with the performance.I have done exhaust and some light sheetmetal with no problems.I also have tried it on 3/8 material and was able to get good penetration as well as a good looking weld.I am thoroughly impressed with this miller machine,although the price was more I love the dual voltage and the fact I can use 023 030 035 wire gas sheilded or flux core and it is very portable for my sheetmetal business.It is more money but well worth the extra in my case.Nobody moves nobody gets hurt(safety first)millematic passportmiller 375 plasmacutter