School me on welders

[302w 83]

I'm in the market for a small arc welder. I bought a 1965 Mustang that needs some holes patched in the floor along with eventually a patch in the 1/4 panel. I haven't welded in years, and even when I did I was mediocre at best so I'll likely have one of my friends weld the quarter panel when I decide to do it.

 

That being said, I know very little about welders. I would like a 120v arc/stick welder because I only have 120v outlets and I was terrible with the wire welders in school. I'm only welding steel and I can't see myself welding more than 1/4" ever. 

 

Would something like the cheapo special Harbor Freight welders work for me? I don't see why I would need anything more than that for a car or truck. I'm never going to weld aluminum, frames or driveshafts or anything of the sort.

 

The thickest I would ever weld would be the axletubes of a Ford 8.8", in which case I could have someone else weld it.

 

Thanks.

[M4BGRINGO 139]

Small Mig made by Lincoln from Home Depot. I have a 240v model and use an external tank, works great. Never did anything over 3/16 steel. No way would I want to stick weld again. Have torch welded too, but I'll take my Mig any day.

[Bully 749]

I would seriously look at flux core or mig.

 

Both are wire fed meaning that it's kinda point and shoot. Touch the wire to the surface, squeeze the trigger, and when you're done, stop. Much easier than stick and for patching holes on thin steel a bit more controllable. HF or Depot/Lowe's should have something that will work for you.

 

C

[fishnut 2,358]

Miller!!! you can get a small 120v MIG welder for a reasonable price. Miller is made in the USA and has a lifetime no questions asked warrantee. Stick welders are not recommended for auto body and you would likely destroy a quarter panel if you attempted to weld it on with a stick welder. If you get a 120v MIG and want some lessons your welcome to bring it by my place and I can teach you.  I am an ICAR certified welder

[Hooligan 0]

I'm still a novice, but I believe the inexpensive stick welders are all 220.  You can get an old tombstone-style AC or AC/DC arc welder for cheap, but you'll need the juice to run it.  On the mig side of things, I think some of the best deals out there are Hobart Handler wire-feed welders from Tractor Supply.  They run on a 115v outlet and come set up with flux-core wire, but also include a regulator if you ever want to add gas and do some mig welding.  

 

 

Edit:  Numbers.  Not enough coffee today.

[glockncolts 50]

For light sheet metal a lincoln from home depot works great. use hardwire .023, plugs in to 110volt.  with gas shield and your are all set!

[maintenanceguy 510]

I've got a couple of bigger welders in our shop but we do have a small, 110V lincoln mig welder.  It's fine for work outside of the shop and we often use it when we can't get something to the welding bench in the shop.  Miller makes better products but for occasional use, Lincoln is fine.

 

I would really suggest a mig welder instead of a stick welder. I can weld both ways.  Mig welders - once you spend the hour to get comfortable with them - will do a much nicer job and are really convenient.  

 

It's also much harder to weld thin material with a stick welder.  If you're going to weld heavy steel - go with a stick welder.  If most of your welding will be on steel under 1/4" thick, I prefer a mig welder.

 

About the harbor freight welders - sorry no experience with them.

[EvoKin 0]

I have no experience with welding but which one is a better buy for a beginner?

(Mig/Flux for $200)
http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/mig-flux-welders/170-amp-migflux-wire-welder-22-volts-110-amps-68885.html
 

or Everlast Power Arc 140ST (120v & 240v)
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM6241027308P?ci_src=184425893&ci_sku=SPM6241027308&sid=IDx20131030xMPTLxCPA25

[Howard 538]

Watch the current draw, I think most of these 115v units need a dedicated 20amp outlet.

[302w 83]

Guys... I appreciate the input but I hate mig welders. I don't mean to be "that" guy that asks advice then tells everyone no, but I've never had luck with the things. I realize that they are vastly superior to stick welding, but I never had success with them. I know how easy it is to burn through sheet metal with an arc welder, and that a mig would be a better choice. 

 

Also.... I forgot to mention that I'm cheap. I would love to buy a Miller but it's out of my budget for now. Looking for under $150. 

 

I would like an honest opinion on one of these below. What I'm most curious about is roughly how thick I can weld. 

http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/arc-welders/70-amp-arc-welder-68888.html

 

Thanks again.

[rightisright 3]

Be careful with cheap Chinese welders.  When they break, and they will, they are a bitch to get parts for.

[glockncolts 50]

Guys... I appreciate the input but I hate mig welders. I don't mean to be "that" guy that asks advice then tells everyone no, but I've never had luck with the things. I realize that they are vastly superior to stick welding, but I never had success with them. I know how easy it is to burn through sheet metal with an arc welder, and that a mig would be a better choice. 

 

Also.... I forgot to mention that I'm cheap. I would love to buy a Miller but it's out of my budget for now. Looking for under $150. 

 

I would like an honest opinion on one of these below. What I'm most curious about is roughly how thick I can weld. 

http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/arc-welders/70-amp-arc-welder-68888.html

 

Thanks again.

You can weld as thick a plate as you want. Just takes multiple passes the thicker the plate..

[M1152 713]

Generally speaking Stick welders are considered Arc Welder and vice versa.  There are two types of Arc (Stick) welders. First is AC which it good for flat and horizontal only but out of position is possible but takes some practice and isn’t going to be pretty or x-ray quality. You will rarely see AC only welders now days, most folks have AC/DC welders. AC/DC Arc welders are more common and used for out of position welding. For just filling holes in light gauge stuff that you will grind off the Mig outfit from Harbor would could do it for you but Harbor Fright tools are hit or miss...  If you are going weld for ¼ inch or bigger you probably want some capability of doing at least 125 amps or more because you could dial it back for the smaller stuff. IMO Mig outfits are probably easiest to learn for the novice welder.  Half the battle with getting a good bead laid down is having clean base metal and correct heat setting. Remember with Mig the stick-out (length from nozzle to the puddle) impacts the heat setting so you want to keep be consistent with that distance. I no longer do it for a living but I’ve done Tig, Mig, Innershield and Stick. Stick is and always will be my favorite process

 

 

[johngo1 0]

True Blue Miller! You can get a basic millermatic 140 auto set pretty cheap. Check out cyberweld.com they are located here in Jersey and have pretty good prices and service.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

 

[Porthole 15]

Inexpensive - quality - horrible freight - pick one

 

If you go inexpensive don't forget to look at the duty cycle. Welding for 1 minute and waiting 10 can be a drag.

[glockncolts 50]

Guys, he is stuck on getting a stick welder to patch light sheetmetal on cars. Welder for sale cheap if we are patient....

[johngo1 0]

Good luck doing light sheet metal with a stick welder. IMO Mig or TIG is the best way to go. Not saying it can't be done but it's extremely difficult with stick without burning through the thin sheet.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

 

[Golf battery 1,223]

Yeah and pin and weld. That wasnt in your mind was it?

[Golf battery 1,223]

I want to figure out what and how to silver solder. I went online and couldnt find any good leads on it.

[Melgamatic 66]

Welding light sheet metal with anything is difficult without a lot of practice.  Continuous practice.  I have a very large and very high end Miller MIG welder with an aluminum spool gun, and although I've been good in the past, it takes me a few hours of practice to get good enough again anytime I need to weld something.

 

Welding light sheet metal with a stick welder is a punishment they deal out in hell, I think.

[djg0770 481]

IMO no ARC machine you buy in that price range will have the adjustability to drop the current enough to adequately weld sheet metal.

 

Ok.

U no like mig.

 

How about a gas welder?

[maintenanceguy 510]

I would like an honest opinion on one of these below. What I'm most curious about is roughly how thick I can weld. 

http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/arc-welders/70-amp-arc-welder-68888.html

 

Thanks again.

 

I would be comfortable with 3/16" steel if all I had was 70A.  I want a little more for 1/4" steel.    The welder says it has a 20% duty cycle.  That means 1 minute on and 4 minutes off. 

[CMJeepster 2,778]

I bought a 1965 Mustang...

Pics?

[Oakridgefirearms 224]

 

 

Welding light sheet metal with a stick welder is a punishment they deal out in hell, I think.

THIS^^^^^^^^

 

Get a MIG, you'll do nothing but burn though light sheet metal with a stick welder.

[302w 83]

True Blue Miller! You can get a basic millermatic 140 auto set pretty cheap. Check out cyberweld.com they are located here in Jersey and have pretty good prices and service.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

Dude.... What do you consider cheap? The cheapest on that website is $750. I don't need the Snap-On of Welders when I'm going to use this once every three years. I buy brand name on stuff I use often, or I have a genuine need for. I have absolutely NO need for an expensive welder. I would love a quality Miller welder along with an auto tinting mask, and a lathe, and a Bridgeport mill but I can't afford this stuff. 

 

 

Guys, he is stuck on getting a stick welder to patch light sheetmetal on cars. Welder for sale cheap if we are patient....

 

Real men don't sell tools, unless they drive a tool truck.

 

 

IMO nHow about a gas welder?

 

Gas welder as in an argon tank hooked up to a welder, or using an oxy-acetylene tank? I don't feel like getting the tanks, but I do love using them. For some reason I really enjoy brazing and I have a lot of experience with it. 

 

 

Pics?

 

I picked it up Saturday, and got it off of the trailer today but could only mess around with it for two hours and mostly just ripped out nasty carpeting. I'll get better pics and start a thread soon. 

 

 

 

 

The floors on this thing are surprisingly good. The passenger floor is near spotless and the drivers side is something I would not consider major. Underneath the car has light surface rust, but nothing bad that I can see. Frame rails are kosher too which is always a plus. The quarter panel rot in the pic is the worst part of the car and shouldn't be much of a patch job. Only bondo I can see is the front fenders, and probably the back window (can't see it, but I suspect it. Haven't tried a magnet). 

 

I wasn't in the market for a car, but I got a offer I couldn't refuse. I could easily sell it right now for a good deal more than what I paid for it.

[302w 83]

I forgot to add, I may consider a HF mig although I REALLY don't want one. I'll post the one I'm looking at below. Secondly, I realize that the floors look kinda crappy in the pic, but thats mostly crud sitting on them. Except for the obvious holes they are pretty solid and I can get away with patching. 

 

Edit: Forgot the links

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/mig-flux-welders/90-amp-flux-wire-welder-68887-8494.html

 

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/jobsmartreg%3B-125-amp-mig-fluxcore-welder

 

The HFT welder is about $90 (112 plus the famous HFT 20% coupon), 90 amp, 3/16 maximum diameter. The TSC is $130, 125 amp, 3/16 maximum diameter as well and same duty cycle. The TSC is probably a better welder although they're all low end chinese. 

 

I would assume more aperage=better at welding thick stuff, so the TSC welder welds 3/16 easy and HFT welds 3/16 like a dog. Home depot has a nice 1/4" rated one but its about $180 and out of budget. 

 

I know you all will suggest I get a better welder, but I want a Hi-Point, not a Glock or S&W or Colt. I will almost never use this.

[djg0770 481]

Gas as in Oxy/Acetylene

[glockncolts 50]

The Hf is a flux core welder meaning that the weld deposition of material is very light. You will burn right through sheet metal with it. If you can find a used one from craigslist that will weld hardwire with co/2 it will be better for you.

[Reddog87 0]

Just get someone to weld it for you. Thin sheet metal is not easy to weld , you would need a lot of practice to do it right.

[mustang69 505]

Dude.... What do you consider cheap? The cheapest on that website is $750. I don't need the Snap-On of Welders when I'm going to use this once every three years. I buy brand name on stuff I use often, or I have a genuine need for. I have absolutely NO need for an expensive welder. I would love a quality Miller welder along with an auto tinting mask, and a lathe, and a Bridgeport mill but I can't afford this stuff. 

 

 

 

Real men don't sell tools, unless they drive a tool truck.

 

 

 

Gas welder as in an argon tank hooked up to a welder, or using an oxy-acetylene tank? I don't feel like getting the tanks, but I do love using them. For some reason I really enjoy brazing and I have a lot of experience with it. 

 

 

 

I picked it up Saturday, and got it off of the trailer today but could only mess around with it for two hours and mostly just ripped out nasty carpeting. I'll get better pics and start a thread soon. 

 

 

 

 

The floors on this thing are surprisingly good. The passenger floor is near spotless and the drivers side is something I would not consider major. Underneath the car has light surface rust, but nothing bad that I can see. Frame rails are kosher too which is always a plus. The quarter panel rot in the pic is the worst part of the car and shouldn't be much of a patch job. Only bondo I can see is the front fenders, and probably the back window (can't see it, but I suspect it. Haven't tried a magnet). 

 

I wasn't in the market for a car, but I got a offer I couldn't refuse. I could easily sell it right now for a good deal more than what I paid for it.

Let me know if you need any parts for the restoration - I have a garage full of the small stuff and know where to get whatever you need.  The Mustang is one of the few cars you can buy brand new one piece at a time (though not all the pieces fit like they should).  The 65/66 are the easiest to customize too.