LOL, yeah i would have liked to go on the martinez run but i was outta town.
welding help needed
- Thread starter mattcrandle
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #22
just wanted to give a big 'Thank You' to CDaniel for coming over tonight and welding up my motor mounts. that good karma is bound to come your way.
For anyone considering purchasing a welder. Please do yourself a favor and put some thought into it. If you have any sort of urge to "build stuff", do not buy a 110v unit. The duty cycle on these machines is poor, and the penetration is really isn't that good. If you simply want a welder to have around to do a simple repair every few months on relatively thin material, 110v will do fine......but if you are ever going to start building bumpers, sliders, roll cages, etc., you are going to want a bigger machine with a higher duty cycle. A good rule of thumb when sizing a welder. Figure out how big of a machine you need, and how much money you have to spend. Then double both figures. This is the absolute lowest you should go (same goes for plazma cutters). Don't be like me and save money by purchasing a smaller welder, then having to go buy the bigger one anyway. It is cheaper to do it right the first time than it is to do it wrong once, then right the second time.
As for brands.....stick to the big 3. They all make good machines.
As for brands.....stick to the big 3. They all make good machines.
Cdaniel
Undocumented Mechanic-I Am Not CDAN
mattcrandle said:
Glad to help. I look at it as a "pay it forward" deal. Someone will need your assistance soon enough.
You've got a good start for a great rig. Now it's time to jump that next hurdle, what ever that may be.
Just don't do any jumps like this
inkpot
SILVER Star
Howdy! One Atta Boy for Cliff!!mattcrandle said:
One Atta Boy for Matt! Welcome to the Dark Side.
As much as I admire the attributes of the F/2F engine, I just love that little shiver I get from the sound of a V8 busting a hump.
On another subject, but not to argue the point:
I have been using my cheap Chinese ( 110V) AstroMig 140 for nearly 20 years, and none of my welds have failed me yet. With paitence and practice you can get pretty good with an itty bitty mig. I have repaired parts over 1 inch thick at work and they have never broken again. May take a little more time and a little more setup and planing, but it can be done very well. My roofrack, bumpers, suspension, and engine/tanny mounts are all done with the Astro. P.S. I bought it at the ParkNSwap at the Greyhound track in downtown Phoeix. P.P.S. Twenty years ago, virtually all of the guts ( drive motor, contactor/trigger/controls) on any Mig, including the big 3 domestic brands were made in Italy, even my cheap Chinese. May be different now.
John
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2004
- Threads
- 274
- Messages
- 23,205
- Location
- Chandler, AZ
- Website
- www.tontorecreationalliance.org
Most of the Astro Migs were made in Italy. I you need any parts for it I have some in stock and can order whatever you need.
I have also done bunches of successful work with 110V migs.
I have also done bunches of successful work with 110V migs.
Cdaniel
Undocumented Mechanic-I Am Not CDAN
I have to say, welding with the little Lincoln again was a bit of a pain. It took a few tries to get it set right. The welds aren't pretty with the flux core wire but they're effective. I welded the same motor mounts to my Cruiser years ago with the same welder, and much less experience using it. The welds are still ugly and still strong. The key is paitence on thicker stuff and double passes to fill gaps. My Miller 210 kicks so much butt on the old Lincoln, it was hard to go back. But it's good experience to remember.
