I'm going to pull the tub off the 40 this spring and cut out rust. I have a stick welder avaliable to me but I need to buy a small MIG for the sheetmetal work. Any suggestions? Is it possiable to get a nice weld without gas? I haven't used a MIG in years and was hopeing the flux wire had inproved. I know it use to make real nasty weld when we used it for repair work on gates.
Recommend a welder?
- Thread starter nailbender
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I assume you are looking for a 220v welder, if so I love my MillerMatic 175. It will weld anything from thin sheetmetal to 1/4" plate in a single pass. You can well thicker stuff if prepped correctly and you use multiple passes. For welding sheetmetal, though, you definitely need to go gas shielded. Fluxcore is known to weld quite a bit hotter and would not be good for sheetmetal work. The MillerMatic 175 will do *most* anything you will ever need to do on the cruiser.
brian
SILVER Star
i've been using a small 110V machine from tractor supply for body work. it's ok for that, but that's about it. when i first picked it up i was'nt using gas, it was basicly stick welding from a roll. worked fine as i ground the beads anyway. the mig setup does work better on sheet metal, as there are smaller wire diameters availible(less wire=less heat).
buddy has a 110 hobart handler, that is alot better then my machine. although i've had mine quite some time, and it has alot of wire through it and it's still going.
if your going to get a wire feeder, you might as well go with the mig stuff, seeings how you already have a stick machine.
buddy has a 110 hobart handler, that is alot better then my machine. although i've had mine quite some time, and it has alot of wire through it and it's still going.
if your going to get a wire feeder, you might as well go with the mig stuff, seeings how you already have a stick machine.
lincoln 135, or miller 135, 120v, takes flux core and gas.
I have a buddy that has that and a 225 miller (maybe bigger) and he uses the little guy more.
I have a buddy that has that and a 225 miller (maybe bigger) and he uses the little guy more.
I like my lincholn mig pak 15, same as a sp175, 220v, works great.
Go with gas.....nicer than innershield.
Go with gas.....nicer than innershield.
fj40charles
SILVER Star
If you're going to buy one, I'd get a 230V model.
I use a MM 210 and I'm happy with it. Also, use shielded gas for less splatter than flux core.
I use a MM 210 and I'm happy with it. Also, use shielded gas for less splatter than flux core.
nailbender said:
It's possible to weld sheet metal with a flux cored wire welder
but the welds are not as clean as with gas not usually a problem since you need to grind them afterwards, warpage is also anissue that can be overcome because the flux wire comes in a large diameter but like I said it can be overcome once you get used to it , certainly not a big problem..
I would buy a clarke either the 115v or 220v very solid machines great duty cycle , best in the category, 10/2 year warranty
the 110 is 130 amps so it is more than enough for sheetmetal and up to 1/4"
their wire feed mechanism is very sophisticated and the price is super
I think they are the best hobby welders out there I used to sell welders so I have seen many models and brands, for less than $300 you can't get a better welder they also make a 90 amp which is very good for sheetmetal for about $200 it willl weld up to 1/8" but for a little more the 130 amp is more versatile once you have it you are going to want to fabricate more stuff I guarantee you.
they have the best price, put me out of business
http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/weldingdepot/WE6523.html
I have a Clarke 110v and a Millermatic 250. The little Clarke with gas and .023 wire works great on sheetmetal. You can also get .020 and even .017. Like Brian said, small wire =less heat. But I just stitch weld sheetmetal and have no warping issues.
At least on the Clarke 100, you have to reverse polarity from flux core to gas.
I also like the portability of the 110v machine, I drag it around the house. Need to sneak up on the cat.
Ed
At least on the Clarke 100, you have to reverse polarity from flux core to gas.
I also like the portability of the 110v machine, I drag it around the house. Need to sneak up on the cat.
Ed
vtcruiser60
SILVER Star
What about using that stick welder...?
There was a pretty good exchange on using the stick welder for body work.....not the most popular route for sheetmetal work....but the final answer on whether it was possible is a qualified YES.
See...https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=57544&highlight=stick+welding+sheet
There was a pretty good exchange on using the stick welder for body work.....not the most popular route for sheetmetal work....but the final answer on whether it was possible is a qualified YES.
See...https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=57544&highlight=stick+welding+sheet
