Need Help Choosing A Welder.

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I am by no means a welder. I have never welded before in my life. Let me explain what i plan to weld. I own a '99 Jeep Cherokee Sport and i plan on making new bumpers for it.I thought i was going to get a mig welder, but i learned that it wasn't too strong of a weld. I then realized that if i built a bumper that "wasn't strong" and i got into an accident, the bumper would be near useless.What type of welding would be the best for this kind of application?Thanks in advance.
Reply:use super glue
Reply:duct tape is good too!
Reply:First what does mig mean to you?I think mig means gmaw gas metal arc welding which generally uses a solid wire and a shielding gas.  There is fcaw flux core arc welding and two varieties of that one where the flux core provides the shielding and the other where there is an inert gas for shielding and the flux in the core makes it work better This is often called dual shield.  The self shielding is the cheapest on the low end but can also work with big wires and lots of amps.  That is probably what you are thinking of as unreliable.I never have experimented with the self shielded myself.  I would trust my life on the dual shield stuff if the material was thick enough to use it.  The solid wire can be used on thinner stuff than either of the other two I mention.  What is the idea get some 8 inch channel, cap the ends and add some tabs going back to tie into the frame?  Is the frame even designed to accomidate anything that is not sort of shock absorbing?
Reply:I can't believe I'm defending mig. With mig someone who lacks knowledge/experience can put down a good looking bead in very short time without truly knowing how to weld. This is where the problem starts but this can change with good instruction and some destructive testing on welds.If you want to cover the three main welding processes you can look into getting a 3 in 1 machine like the Thermal Arc 181i which will have tig, mig and stick. Then you can give each process a try.
Reply:Originally Posted by Kingkong0192I am by no means a welder. I have never welded before in my life. Let me explain what i plan to weld. I own a '99 Jeep Cherokee Sport and i plan on making new bumpers for it.I thought i was going to get a mig welder, but i learned that it wasn't too strong of a weld. I then realized that if i built a bumper that "wasn't strong" and i got into an accident, the bumper would be near useless.What type of welding would be the best for this kind of application?Thanks in advance.
Reply:Originally Posted by Kingkong0192I am by no means a welder. I have never welded before in my life. Let me explain what i plan to weld. I own a '99 Jeep Cherokee Sport and i plan on making new bumpers for it.I thought i was going to get a mig welder, but i learned that it wasn't too strong of a weld. I then realized that if i built a bumper that "wasn't strong" and i got into an accident, the bumper would be near useless.What type of welding would be the best for this kind of application?Thanks in advance.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWThe problems start to occur when people either want to buy an inexpensive machine, or they want to run it on 115v input, or both. Generally machines that run on 115v input lack any significant output power and under real world conditions are limited to 1/8" steel or less. you can get machines that have slightly better performance on 115v power, usually stick machines, but they are fairly expensive. Most inexpensive migs are 115v There are a few 230v low end migs  however that don't have anymore output than the 115v units. These usually aren't worth the money either.
Reply:KK0192,If you price out a good lower priced 220v mig your going to be looking at $ 600 to $1000 depending on features and amps. A good DC stick machine may run you $400 to $600 and AC would be cheaper but DC has more benefits. A basic DC tig will run you $600 to $ 1300 with more features at the higher price range. These prices will cover name brand manufactures and not import machines.  If you price the TA 181i you'll be able to find it for around $800 for the unit but the tig torch is separate along with a foot control if wanted. You should go to the Thermal Arc website and check it out.
Reply:The bumper only helps you in a low speed crash, so even without any bumper at all, you vehicle is not more dangerous, and just about anything you goober together will be stronger than the OEM bumper.
Reply:wait till the end of January and you will see the new miller 3 in 1 on the market. more features including 110-220 input. price will be in the $1600 range. it will be in the new 2012 catalog when it comes out. got the info from miller a few weeks ago but they asked me not to mention it for a few weeks. they didn't want TA to get a jump on it with promo's.as already said there is nothing wrong with mig for your app if done in the right hands with the right machine.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:Originally Posted by GerryMIf I was you I'd look for a stick welder, new or used. Then get some scrap metal and practice A LOT. Start with 6011 rods, when you get good with them move to a 7014 rod and practice more. Then make your bumpers. The mig guys will jump in here and tell you why a mig is better then stick, but I like stick better the mig. Both have there places in welding.
Reply:The best investment you can take is enrolling in a welding class at a community college or Voc Ed center...  you will probably exceed the actual cost of the class in welding rod, gas and metal that you use learning and practicing. Plus you will come away with the knowledge of how to make a sound weld.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Ditto what southpaw said ! that's what i did and it will be money very well spent not just for the welding instruction but the safety practices they will teach  you . for the welder part of it definitely get a brand name machine stay away from Harbor Freight and any other off brand china made s*** ,if you don't have allot of cash right now watch craigslist there is always good deals but you got to be fast the good deals go quick !  as for MIG or Stick they are both good it just depends on what your doing you will find allot out when you take a class my recommendation  is learn both .  let us know what you decide . good luck chris.
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArc+1kingkong..... I like many others started out on stick.  I never owned my own stick welder until recently.  I've always owned migs but use both stick and mig at the shop.  I wished I had a stick welder at home years ago.  I could have used it several times.  I have fabricated some heavy off road bumpers in my time and predominantly used stick.  On some occassion I used MIG and TIG.  For strength, Tig and SMAW (stick) are the strongest welds.  Although, in the hands of a skilled welder with the PROPER Mig machine, it's also hard to beat.  If I were you just starting out, I'd get a stick welder (avoid harbor frieght) by either Lincoln or Miller.  Read up, watch youtube, most importantly, get a pro to give you some tips or lessons would be best.  Then practice, practice practice.  After that, practice some more and make a few smaller projects.  Then eventually, build your bumper.  To answer your question directly, I think stick welding with 7018 rod is the best.  I've built several bumpers with that exact set up.  Remember, everyone here is going to have a different point of view and opinion on the matter.  Everybody has their own personal belief and favorite welding types.
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawThe best investment you can take is enrolling in a welding class at a community college or Voc Ed center...  you will probably exceed the actual cost of the class in welding rod, gas and metal that you use learning and practicing. Plus you will come away with the knowledge of how to make a sound weld.
Reply:In that case, use the search function for practice coupon info and practice using formal techniques. You can make a bend tester from a hydraulic press.
Reply:Miller Thunderbolt XL AC/DC or a Lincoln 225AC "tombstone". Run them both and have one of each. They will be on Craigslist as low as $75 sometimes. You don't need a new one as there isn't much that fails. Use the rest of the money to pay for the "adult learning" class as suggested by others.
Reply:The Hobart Stickmate seems, in my opinion, to be the same machine as the Miller Thunderbolt with different paint.  The Stickmates are sold at a lower price point through retail stores; the Thunderbolts are sold through Miller Dealers.I own a Stickmate.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor