Any Welders in here????
Aug 15, 2005 | 03:42 PM
#11
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From: Behind the TIG welder
Originally Posted by kbracing96
I agree, Stick with the Miller I have used that particular machine a lot and it is sweet. Just like he said, Spool guns work descent, just not as perddy as a tig.
Ya I knew I would have a hard time chosing between a Miller and a Lincoln, I've used both and liked both. Thanks for helping,
Miller it is. (or will be.)
Aug 16, 2005 | 04:01 PM
#13
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From: Behind the TIG welder
Originally Posted by 1slow4.8
Also there are tons of welding books out there, I taught myself from just reading and doing so I highly recommend getting one or two. There is more to welding than just point and click. Good luck.
I took welding all through high school (built the goal post for our school, a ton of pannels, a bike trailer and a few other projects.) I also took welding in college, and still have to lay a bead every now and then at work. Not saying I'm a great welder, I just know you can't go buy a welder and expect to beable to weld upside down. I hope to learn to weld aluminum using books. I played with a TIG in high school but was far from being able to put down a good bead. Do you have any good links for buying such books?
Aug 16, 2005 | 06:40 PM
#14
14 Second Truck Club
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From: Houma, Louisiana
I'm no welder but i have fussed 
a few pieces of metal together with my mig welder (cheepo $150 130 amp Chigago Electric Mig) I haven't tried welding Aluminum with it yet..It works great for welding cats back together
a few pieces of metal together with my mig welder (cheepo $150 130 amp Chigago Electric Mig) I haven't tried welding Aluminum with it yet..It works great for welding cats back together
Aug 16, 2005 | 07:19 PM
#15
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2005
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From: bay area,CA
Originally Posted by Wilde Racing
I took welding all through high school (built the goal post for our school, a ton of pannels, a bike trailer and a few other projects.) I also took welding in college, and still have to lay a bead every now and then at work. Not saying I'm a great welder, I just know you can't go buy a welder and expect to beable to weld upside down. I hope to learn to weld aluminum using books. I played with a TIG in high school but was far from being able to put down a good bead. Do you have any good links for buying such books?
Aug 17, 2005 | 10:47 AM
#16
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From: Behind the TIG welder
Thanks 1slow4.8. 
Ya Jerry, my Cats will be my first project. Then Exhaust for the wifes truck.
Originally Posted by JERRY2500
I'm no welder but i have fussed a few pieces of metal together with my mig welder (cheepo $150 130 amp Chigago Electric Mig) I haven't tried welding Aluminum with it yet..It works great for welding cats back together
a few pieces of metal together with my mig welder (cheepo $150 130 amp Chigago Electric Mig) I haven't tried welding Aluminum with it yet..It works great for welding cats back together Ya Jerry, my Cats will be my first project. Then Exhaust for the wifes truck.
Aug 21, 2005 | 01:40 AM
#17
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From: sulphur, la
Originally Posted by kbracing96
I've worked in welding and machine shop, and also work for and built NASCAR racecars. I can weld with any type of welder and used many different welders and have a LOT of hood time. In my opinion, Miller makes the best welders, followed by Lincoln and Hobart.
As far as home welders, I think a good Mig for home use is a Millermatic 135. It's a 120v machine and welds up 1/4 in a single pass, and welds 1/2 well, if you v the material and make several passes. I have one of these little welders in my shop and love it to death. Very smooth and can be had for 5-600 bucks new online and sometimes less used on ebay. If your wanting something a little bigger, then you can step up to a 230v machine like a Millermatic 175 (about $800). Mig welder really don't work to well for welding aluminum for reasons mentioned above. You really need a tig for that. The tig will also weld stainless really well. A good tig would be an Econotig from Miller.
Looking at dutycycle, you really don't need to worry much about that being a hobby welder, you will probably never use the machine continuously enough to thermo out one of these welders. That's more for a production type rating.
One thing for sure, even if you don't buy a Miller, STAY AWAY FROM the cheep Clark and Campbell Hausefield Type welders!!! Let me know if you have any more question, I'm glad to help!
As far as home welders, I think a good Mig for home use is a Millermatic 135. It's a 120v machine and welds up 1/4 in a single pass, and welds 1/2 well, if you v the material and make several passes. I have one of these little welders in my shop and love it to death. Very smooth and can be had for 5-600 bucks new online and sometimes less used on ebay. If your wanting something a little bigger, then you can step up to a 230v machine like a Millermatic 175 (about $800). Mig welder really don't work to well for welding aluminum for reasons mentioned above. You really need a tig for that. The tig will also weld stainless really well. A good tig would be an Econotig from Miller.
Looking at dutycycle, you really don't need to worry much about that being a hobby welder, you will probably never use the machine continuously enough to thermo out one of these welders. That's more for a production type rating.
One thing for sure, even if you don't buy a Miller, STAY AWAY FROM the cheep Clark and Campbell Hausefield Type welders!!! Let me know if you have any more question, I'm glad to help!
Aug 22, 2005 | 07:31 PM
#18
You can mig over a 1/4" thick material. Use to weld 3" material all day long. If you are going to do any welding on aluminum or stainless, especially pipe, I would go with a tig setup. Welding aluminum mig is a tricky process that can cause a tremendous amount of repair time if you get the smallest amount of porosity. Nothing like spending a twenty minutes fixing a 3 second weld and getting frecking aluminum shaving all over the place.
I welded on a lot of things, from fence gates to fast frigates to aluminum patrol boats. Mig is great for production and plate work. Tig is great for pipe and finish work.
Oh yeah, I was a production welder, fabricator, and shipfitter for 8 years. Use to burn a box a rods in 8 hours or a large roll and a half of wire in the same. And that was after building it.
I welded on a lot of things, from fence gates to fast frigates to aluminum patrol boats. Mig is great for production and plate work. Tig is great for pipe and finish work.
Oh yeah, I was a production welder, fabricator, and shipfitter for 8 years. Use to burn a box a rods in 8 hours or a large roll and a half of wire in the same. And that was after building it.
Aug 22, 2005 | 08:12 PM
#19
Teching In
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From: Prince Edward Island, Canada
a Miller 210 or 251 will weld 1/2" no problem and they are spool gun ready right out of the box so aluminum will be absolutley no problem i have a Miller 175 myself and I love it but wish i had have waited and got the 210.
Aug 27, 2005 | 05:08 PM
#20
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From: From Houma La. Living n Ellisville Miss.
Originally Posted by kbracing96
I agree, Stick with the Miller I have used that particular machine a lot and it is sweet. Just like he said, Spool guns work descent, just not as perddy as a tig.
I HAVE WELDED FOR 11 YEARS AND IF YOU CLEAN THE MATERIAL GOOD I CAN MAKE A SQUIRT GUN WELD LOOK AS GO AS TIG IF YOU KNOW WHAT AND HOW TO DO IT.
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