Thinking of a Mig

[fug]

Yeah ... the thought me learning to weld is somewhat frightening since I tend to find all kinds of ways injure myself in the garage  :lol: A job isn't really done until blood has been spilled.

Anyhow I see that Can Tire has the Lincoln Electric Mig 15 on sale.  click here

Would I be happy with this?  Is it overkill?  Not enough?  I'd like to be able to make mods to my own bumpers.. maybe some suspension stuff... attempt some fabrication etc.

[Giffer]

i dont really know much about welders but i was looking at buying one of these and was told no!! my boddy gave me no real reason, just a over exagerated NO!! but like i said a cant really say much/anything about welders, i was just passing on the exact works of a buddy of mine whose owned a welding shop for the last 10 years.

[BlackYJ]

You need a combination MIG/TIG welder.  GO BIG OR GO HOME!!

I know Lincoln makes good welders

[Tuna]

I'd be interested to know too.  It seems Lincoln has been around for a while so it seems like it should be a decent machine.  I would only want it for occasional use.  Maybe your friend doesn't like it because it doesn't have enough power?

[mudslinginjoel]

hey guys,I'm a welder by trade,and if your looking for something to keep,it has to be something other then 115v!,we use 3 phase at work(high current),and for some reaason we have two 115v migs....and we find there garbage for anything over 1/8.If you find a 230v mig,you could make some strong bumpers,roll cages,rock sliders etc....,but with a 115v,you could patch body panels.....bodywork....I know these 230v machines cost more,but I know a guy who had experince,and he build a bumper with a 115v which ripped apart when he tried to winch out of a hole.Luckily his winch line was tied to a tree,and not one of over rigs.You need the penetration,which 115v doesn't give you.Also if your gonna keep it,buy a lincon,or miller,they cost a little more,but replacement parts are available,and resonable.If you buy the $400 princess auto,itaily welder,when something goes,you buy a new machine........joel

[fug]

The Lincoln machine at Can Tire is a 230V so I'd assume you could get the penetration you needed to do a decent job on bumpers etc.  I've heard the name Lincoln Electric more than once  Is there any chance this is some how a "lower end" unit?

Scott.. if you want to front me the cash for a MIG/TIG setup I promise you can come over and use it anytime you want  

[mudslinginjoel]

I don't think it would be any better of worse then a machine at "air liqide" I think the only reason it may be better priced is because its a smaller machine,which in turn has a smaller duty cycle.(DUTY CYCLE-lets say the machine is good for 200amps-60% duty cycle,this means you can burn 200amps for six minutes,then the machine needs to cool for 4 minutes.Duty cycles work on ten mintue cycles,so the machine can cool down.Now if your using around 100amps,that would be 120%,so you could weld till your knuckles turned blue.)A buddy of mine bought a smaller machine,and he doesn't watch out for the duty cycle,and his machine turns off when it over heats,and won't turn back on till it has completely cooled down(like 15 mins or so).So thats good in a way,but it may be hard on the machine.But if your just gonna use it to fab on your jeep(I didn't notice earily it was a 230v)I'm sure that machine will be just fine.Plus lincon's have warrentys,and a good reputation.The main factors for keeping a machine in good shape is to keep it clean,try to mount it high,don't send your grinding sparks at it,and blow it out once in a while. (blow it out with LOW pressure)-if ever you have questions in the future,don't be a fraid to ask -joel

[RckyMtnTJ]

Milan has one for sale in the Other For Sale section.  I would post a link, but there is no link at the top of the page to copy/paste.

[superles]

Buy a miller, bust warranty and have a local repair shop (Kristian Electric) You can call there and based on what they see in repairs can determine the best option. Talk to Jordan. I nedd a plasma cutter and that's what I've done. My Miller mig is 8 years old and going strong.

[Vinman]

I've got that little 230V mig (with bottle) and I think it's a great little welder for home use for the price.
You can easily burn through 1/4 steel if you want.
You will have to spend significantly more to get a better welder, ie the Miller 210 is pretty close to 3 times the cost.

Vince

[superles]

I bought a Hobart for around 700 in a 230v fas a second unit in the shop and it seems pretty good for the money.

[frenchy]

Milan has one for sale in the Other For Sale section.  I would post a link, but there is no link at the top of the page to copy/paste.

http://www.calgaryjeep.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5053

[cLAY]

That unit is similar in output to my Miller 175.

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.asp?p=9735

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_175/

However it doesn't have a lot of the "smart" technology that the Miller has like short circuit protection. This is really nice to have for a begginning welder. Also it comes ready for gas, the Lincoln needs an extra kit. And you WILL want to run gas. I ran flux core wire in mine once when the gas ran out on a weekend, not nearly as nice a weld.

I'd price out what the gas kit will cost to add on and then call some local welding shops and price out what the Miller175 will run ya.

BTW either of these Migs will be plenty big enough to build byumpers with. I've built bumpers and a front D44 for my XJ with my mig. We have a Millar 250 at work and I've never gone over 2/3 power with it , of course anything over 1/2"steel I usually use a stick for.  :wink:

[calltrex]

I just bought a bottle with gold mix and was $400

You can buy a small bottle but probably wont last very long.

[Gearhead]

Miller M175 in my workshop too , for light fab work it's great.
  I used to have a Miller M135 which for a 110 volt machine was nice , it's more suited to body work , sheet metal and material smaller than 1/8".

The M175 is sized well for bumpers n'  stuff