Welder Purchase For Flatbed Project

[Chaldaean]

My buddy just asked me a question about welders and I couldn't give him a good answer.

He's looking to buy a box truck (something like a large U-Haul), remove the box (to use as storage around the house) and fab up a flatbed.

He's hasn't done much welding and he's looking at this project as a way to get into it.

I suggested that he go with a MIG for the shortest learning curve (correct me if that's bad advice), but I couldn't give him a suggestion for a suitable welder.

He's looking for something used.

Anyone have suggestions regarding brand/model (sized big enough to fab a flatbed)?

Also, if MIG is the way to go, any thoughts about flux-cored vs. solid wire would be great.

Thanks, All.

 

[madinal]

There's a whole lot of depends here. Does he have 220v? Will he have an enclosed (no wind) welding area for gas shielded welding? Is he going to make a frame for wood or is this an all steel bed with stringers, ribs, chain holes....? Will he bolt it on the frame or weld it on? If bolted, will he make it light enough to lift off?

Essentially, he needs the tools to fit the design and without the design, the tools are hard to define.

 

[Pin_Head]

If you are welding outside in the wind on 1/4 inch or bigger steel, use a DC stick welder. 220V MIG would be OK too, but it isn't going to work as well outside in the wind. No problem with a MIG indoors.

 

[wadeclinton]

A decent used mig would be my recommendation. Miller 210 (http://www.off-road.com/trucks-4x4/review/millermatic-210-mig-welder-21547.html) is what were using in addition to a suitcase powered by the engine drive welder. http://www.millerwelds.com/products/wire_feeders/suitcase_x-treme_vs/. The 210 will also run a spool gun to do aluminum and stainless. A decent used on should run about 600$-800$. The 210 will accept .045 flux core no problem for the outdoor projects. You can do single pass 1/4 material no problem. Anything thicker you need to do multiple pass joints.
Lincoln welders are good as well, and a similar model to the miller can be had for a similar price. I just prefer the miller machines. My 2 cents. Hope it helps.