Welding with a 110 V MIG Machine

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Hey everyone.I was wondering if ayone would be able to help me.I'm going to be start a home project in the coming months, and as it'll be a weekend thing, I'll be what you consider a garage welder.Anyway, I'm going to be making a front strut-bar for my car (you all probably know what that is), and I plan on using 1/4" plate for the mounting plate and 3/8" round rod for the bracing.I'll most likely be using a Miller 110V MIG welder and an .023 wire on a 15 amp circuit, and I was wondering if this would provide enough voltage and amperage for sufficent melting and bonding of the metals given the thickness of the parts I'll be using.I'll be beveling the rods for proper angel and fitting under the hood, but I would still like input into the matter.Thanxs in advance everyone for your help.Chris Ps. I dunno why I used that flaming guy, he just looked cool!
Reply:Hello, My guess is no it will not be powerful enough to do what you want well. If it is the MM140 the max is 3/16" in one pass. Beveled well with multiple passes, maybe, depending on the quality of your welds. I can't quite envision the part you are going to do but its been a long day. You will most likely need to set that machine to max to do what you want. A more powerful machine would be a better choice and give you a better product.
Reply:my guess is you will not have enough power there, 1/4 inch plate is hefty for a 110v machine. are you using gas or flux cored wire? If you can weld this, that welder will be at maximum output.Guy_48Welding is an art......Millermatic 252Lincoln SP175PlusLincoln 225 AC/DC
Reply:Originally Posted by CarNutMetalManHey everyone.I was wondering if ayone would be able to help me.I'm going to be start a home project in the coming months, and as it'll be a weekend thing, I'll be what you consider a garage welder.Anyway, I'm going to be making a front strut-bar for my car (you all probably know what that is), and I plan on using 1/4" plate for the mounting plate and 3/8" round rod for the bracing.I'll most likely be using a Miller 110V MIG welder and an .023 wire on a 15 amp circuit, and I was wondering if this would provide enough voltage and amperage for sufficent melting and bonding of the metals given the thickness of the parts I'll be using.I'll be beveling the rods for proper angel and fitting under the hood, but I would still like input into the matter.Thanxs in advance everyone for your help.Chris Ps. I dunno why I used that flaming guy, he just looked cool!
Reply:NO.  You are limiting yourself in just too many ways.  The 15A circuit will not even allow the 120V MIG to reach its full potential, which is still inadequate for such a critical joint..024" wire (which must be used with a gas) has less penetration than a flux-cored wire.You really need to call a buddy with a bigger welder.  The 120V MIG can easily make it LOOK like it did the job, until the wheels fall off.
Reply:What he said!Welcome back MAC702 David
Reply:enough said about the   machine. is the plate and brace rods too light as well?
Reply:I'm not certain on the terminology 'strut bar'.   Are we talking about a suspension sway bar, that attatches to the a-arms and the sub frame, or is this a shock tower brace that attatches between the tops of the inner fenders where the shocks or mcphereson struts mount?If this is a shock tower brace, the 1/4" plate should be more than enough for the application, but the 3/8" round stock doesn't have much resistance to bending.   Too small diameter and the solid center of the bar isn't doing much to increase the strength.  I would build it from 1", 1.25", or 1.5" dia tube instead.If this is a suspension sway bar, 3/8" round bar is way to small, and soft, for the application.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I'm not going to say no. (unlike everyone else) With the correct joint prep (bevel ext.) and a good preheat I think you would be able to do it. I've seen people weld 3/8" v groves with a 110V machine. --Gol'
Reply:Even if you manage to do it where it will stay in one piece it will be a slow go because of the duty cycle of those things. If I were doing it I wouldn't even consider using a 110 volt machine and I have one.