Buying a welder.

[Adam]

Things would move much more quickly if I didn't have to build everything at work. Every time I plug our welder in to work on my bumper my boss comes over talking about gusseting this, wrap this around and make it do that, support this. Good ideas, but none of its really necessary for any of the shit I make.

Anyways, I'm looking for a MIG set up to weld up to 1/4" with a wire feed and gas or gas less option. Is flux core MIG welding the same principle as welding with a shielding gas? Or would I have to relearn the techniques and stuff. I'd just rather not go through the hassle of having a bottle out on loan and lugging it aroudn.

So i guess my questions are...
Can I find a decently priced machine to weld up to 1/4" on a 120v standard outlet?

Is flux core welding the same as with a shielding gas?

[Dr. Thunder]

i used to love flux when i first started (5 years ago) cause it as easy and cheap. had never used gas but that was back with the little lincoln. that shit the bed and we got a millermatic and use gas. there is no going back to flux. much smoother and WAY cleaner. spatter is nearly non existent compared to flux. i recommend miller but never had problems with the little lincoln until it crapped out.

[Adam]

So its really worth it to go with a gas set up?

[Dr. Thunder]

in my opinion yes. you only have to buy gas every couple of months anyways if you run it at the right psi. much stronger welds too

[crosbike]

Check here

[Adam]

Thanks, good find.

[CSaddict]

Check out Indiana Oxygen on Ebay. I would go with a 220 volt machine. Higher duty cycle and more amps. Gas is a must.

[Adam]

I'd have to get a 220v outlet installed at my house. Which would be nice, but I won't be living here much longer to pay for that.

[CSaddict]

Well if you go with a 120 volt machine you are limited to the 135-140 amp machines. 20% duty cycle sucks sometimes.

[Adam]

I'm assuming that means it needs to cool down after extended use?

[CSaddict]

Yeah. I have actually had mine shut off.

[1tonflattie]

if you must have a 120v machine i would either buy a millermatic 140 or similar hobart, steer clear of the lincoln powermig 135. forget about the autoset feature on the millermatic. with flux core wire you get better penetration and can weld thicker material, but as everyone metioned here the trade off is that it is nasty to work with. The mm140 welds 1/4 ok with 75/25 .023 wire on max heat, i just set up a machine like that and it was decent. If you are serous about buying something new send me a pm and I can get you a price on a mm140 from my shop. Beware of companies that sell miller products online. Miller has a 3 year warranty that starts elapsing 1 year after manufacture. A lot of online companies are selling machines cheap that have been sitting on the shelf for a while, so when you get it you are not going to have the full three years.

[KtmRacer419]

i love my hobart 140 amp

i ran it with flux core wire for a while and while it was ok, i switched it to gas.

as for what it can weld. my control arms were put together by it as well as all my link mounts on both my axles (3 link) solid stock and 1/4" plate and dom.

i got mine as a refurbished unit for about $450. didnt even appear to be used.

[CSaddict]

1tonflattie said:

if you must have a 120v machine i would either buy a millermatic 140 or similar hobart, steer clear of the lincoln powermig 135. forget about the autoset feature on the millermatic. with flux core wire you get better penetration and can weld thicker material, but as everyone metioned here the trade off is that it is nasty to work with. The mm140 welds 1/4 ok with 75/25 .023 wire on max heat, i just set up a machine like that and it was decent. If you are serous about buying something new send me a pm and I can get you a price on a mm140 from my shop. Beware of companies that sell miller products online. Miller has a 3 year warranty that starts elapsing 1 year after manufacture. A lot of online companies are selling machines cheap that have been sitting on the shelf for a while, so when you get it you are not going to have the full three years.

Funny. I have the Lincoln 135 and it works great. Why steer clear? If he buys online from Indiana Oxygen he would be safe. They are a huge reseller so shelf stock gets rotated often I would imagine.

[1tonflattie]

lincoln 135s have been having some drive motor problems. comparatively i like how the mm140 welds better then the linccoln 135. A reputable online dealer is probably ok, ask for the serial number before you buy the machine. For miller the serials start with two letters, first letter is the decade j=1980s, k=1990s, l=2000s, second letter, is the year of the decade, a=0, b=1, c=2 etc, so for example a machine serial LF is a 2005 manufacture