Well, I'm ready to buy a welder, I look at ads for used ones and there are tons of them for sale. I want to get iit right the first time. I used to arc weld but that was a long time ago, self taught with tips from co workers.
I'm looking for something I can weld body parts with and maybe some slightly heavier stuff like a frame or something around the house.
220V or 110V, i have the skills to put in an outlet for 220 if needed. Mig, right? but is flux core good or do I need a unit with inert gas?
What type of amperage rating should I be looking for?
Thanks bill v
69 Firebird Convertible (wifes car since 1979) Goldenrod Yellow, 350, plain Jane Car was stored in garage since 1990
I need help, if anyone see's I'm going down the wrong road--Straighten me out!
Go for MIG with 75Ar-25CO2 shielding. Stick with the name brands, Lincoln, Miller, Hobart. Avoid the Harbor Freight Chinese crap. 220V is better if you can but my 120V works fine for me and is more convenient. Can plug it in anywhere. My 2 cents.
Bought my blue machine back in 1999 and haven't had any problems Have seen many new machines ( red and blue ) sitting at the welding supply waiting for repairs. Buyer beware
I can tell you from my experience. I have had both 110v & 220v welders and prefer the 220v. You lose convenience for the outlet, but it can do more, do thicker, and do it longer than the 110v welders. Mig as mentioned with a 75/25 mix is what I am happy with. My welder is an old Miller 250MP, no dials but a circuit board - with auto settings that work great. Plugs, spot feature, beads of all kinds are no problem, now lovingly called the beast. I sold the 110v Clarke, and while it could weld ok, it was much harder to get my beads to look like the 220v unit. The miller was effortless. We even built the rotisserie with this unit with 3/8" steel tube. Wire size change would allow me up to 1/2" if I need. Stick with a name brand and you'll be happy.
I went through the same thing about three years ago and got all kinds of help here. I can't post the thread but if you go to forum search and enter 'welder' you will get the thread. Some great advice on there. Now that I've been at it for a while and welded on my bird as well as other machinery and projects I can offer a bit. First I would buy the biggest 220-240 machine I could afford, largest power not size. I would get a machine that has the controls not stepped but with infinite dial. Sometimes the voltage at one step is not enough but the next is too much. If I was a more experienced welder it may not matter. I would buy a hood with the larger viewing area. If you don't have 220 receptacle large enough to handle the welder install a 50 amp breaker with number 8 wire, may not need 50 for your welder but how about the next one you buy? If your going to install one anyway may as well go for what you may need in the future. . Get/make as many clamps, holders, jigs, grinders and other tools as you can. Buy quality equipment, inexpensive stuff is usually cheap junk. Buy new steel if you can afford it, I've done most of my projects with salvaged and the clean up of rusted metal takes many times longer than welding the whole project. Try to take some welding lessons, wish I could have but none offered on this Island. I'm self taught but selft taught myself some bad habits. I