Welder?

[Matt Demick]

Well i'm looking to advance my mechanic skills to the next level. Time to learn the art of welding.

First off i know nothing of the equipment and what to look for, thats why i started this thread.

I'm looking to do custom body work, intakes, and exhaust systems and what not.

So wich system is the best bang for my $? Mig or Tig.  I know Mig is way cheaper but is not as clean. If any of ya could explain a bit on why and how it woulld be greatly apreciated.

I know right now i can pick up a Deca 115V, 20amp, AC input Mig welder for $330 before taxes. Good deal?   it does 70amps@ 15% duty cycle, automatic thermal shutdown protection, 4 heat settings, variable wire speed; live wire trigger and is gas operation only. So does this mean i gotta have gas on hand like argon? and have to find a bottle and a place to fill it correct?

Thanx in advance for your time and advice

[Mike Schmid]

MIG is the better beginners welder.  You really need them both anyways.  the MIG is a one handed welder and it's great for mock up and spot welding stuf together.  TIG is by far the most superior in terms of weld quality, types of material, etc but the most expensive and hardest to use.  Lots of them, if not all, need two hands and a foot pedal to make a weld.  

A small MIG should do just about everything you want to do until you want to step up to aluminum or titanium or lay down some really nice welds.  

Gas vs gasless: gasless MIGs use wire with flux on it.  The flux melts and protects the weld while it cools but leaves ugly spatter and a coating on the weld that needs to be hammered, chipped and ground off.  Gas MIGs use an inert gas like argon to shield the weld leaving a nice clean bead at the expense of the added cost and complexity of the gas setup.  Lots of small welders can do both with a little conversion kit and a regulator and bottle for when you're on gas.  

And if you can find a reasonably priced MiG 29, take it, those things are badass.

[Kimyee Lai]

It really depends on what you want to do.  If you want to use the MIG to do actual work, a 15% duty cycle welder is not going to be good enough.  15% DC means for every 15 sec of welding it needs to be off for the next 85 sec.  

Get a decent set-up.  If money is an issue you can always get used ones.

[Dan Harshey]

For doing bodywork and intakes and exhausts i'd think a welder with a 15% duty cycle would work just fine.  You can't really put down a bead for more than 5 seconds without warping the metal anyway.  If thats all you want to use it for of course.

[Jovan Ceklaj]

From someone who has used both (more MIG than TIG) I would say get a TIG if you can afford it.  The welds go a lot slower but they're stronger and cleaner.  If you have a 3 phase outlet (like a drier outlet), you could get a better unit as well.

A 15% duty cycle is going to be a pain in the ass.  Mine is 25% and I often get impatient with it.  The most important question is how much do you want to spend?

[Matt Demick]

I'm lookin to spend around $500+ range. and if a amazing deal comes up on a awesome welder for a bit more i'll splerge.

What brand should i look for?
Also where should i shop for them?
What DC would be idel to find?

Thanx again for all of ur quick inputs

[Jovan Ceklaj]

for $500 you're looking at a hobby MIG welder.  Look in the buy and sell for a used one.  I know you can get some second hand elsewhere, just don't know where it is

[Kevin Jones]

I was taught that duty cycle represents the percentage of a 10 minute period in which the welder can be used. So 15% would allow you to weld for 1.5 minutes at which time you have to let the welder cool for 8.5 minutes. If I try to weld longer then the duty cylce on my welder(30%) it will blow a diode inside. Easy to fix, but a pain if you don't have a spare supply.

[Trevor Robinson]

I would love to have a TIG but price is costly.  Mig is very nice to start learning on and can do some decent looking welds with very little practice.

Flux core you will have to chip of the slag and clean up the weld spatter with a chisel and hammer.  Gas is very nice and you can just weld away and not haveing to clean the weld after.

Check out
http://www.millerwelds.com/
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/
http://www.hobartwelders.com/
http://www.airliquide.com/

You problay want to look at a higher duty cycle and have some room to grow with the unit.  

    "   If you have a 3 phase outlet (like a drier outlet), you could get a better unit as well.
   "
Umm I thought driers were only 1 phase;  From what i know 3 phase you have to have 4 wires;  3 are your hot, 1 neutral.

[Rob czep]

If your looking to spend $500 on a welder i suggest buying used, You should be able to find a good 135-150 amp 220 single phase mig.
   Myself im a big fan of tig, there the way to go for welding aluminum and stainless steel. Picken this one up next week.
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/syncrowave_180_sd/

[Mike Schmid]

Drier/Oven plugs are single phase 220V.  Do not buy a 3 phase welder, you will not be able to plug it in unless you have a very well equipped commercial/industrial shop or a biiiiig budget to run a 3 phase power supply into where you're welding.

[John Hartman]

depends on what you are using as a fulcrum

or should I capitalize that?

Matt, best of luck, I would some day like to learn to weld as well.  Aluminum mostly.

[Matt Demick]

If your looking to spend $500 on a welder i suggest buying used, You should be able to find a good 135-150 amp 220 single phase mig.
   Myself im a big fan of tig, there the way to go for welding aluminum and stainless steel. Picken this one up next week.
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/syncrowave_180_sd/

Ya that would be sooo nice to have, but i ain't got $1811 USD!.  

The Snap on truck stoped by today and told me they have 2 to choose from. one is $700 and the other was $1100. but he didn't know what the stats were ( usless guys only interested in money ) said he was gonna call me tomorrow.

[Matt Demick]

Todays buy and sell options. What do u guys think.     225 AMPS MSM stinger ac transformer arc welder on 220V w cables $200 obo. Call aft 6pm  Tel: 604-812-4501  
 email ad to a friend...  

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      BRAND new welder, still in box, 200 amps, 110-220 $350.  Tel: 604-684-3453  
 email ad to a friend...  

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      CENTURY 100 mig welder $375  Tel: 604-574-6496  
 email ad to a friend...  

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WORKS GREAT

LINCOLN arc welder, 200 amp, 220 service, everything included, on cart $175.  Tel: 604-596-0287  
 email ad to a friend...  

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      LINCOLN welder on whls $195  Tel: 604-853-9121  
 email ad to a friend...  

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      OXYGEN acetylene welder w 2 tanks, some gas still left inside $600.  Tel: 604-853-9121  
 email ad to a friend...  

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[Rob czep]

The brand new 200 amp stilll in box might be worth a phone call, Matt