98Camarod

iTrader: (43)

What would be a good welder to start welding with? I'd like to learn how to weld. Well let me say, I'd like to try welding and see how it goes. Which welder would be good for lets say, a hot side of a turbo kit. I guess mild steel or aluminum. They are welded with a MIG welder right? I'd like to learn about the different types of welding and which metals are welded with what if anyone has a link to pass on. A friend of the family is a good welder and I never really appreciated what it really takes to do that. Too bad hes hours away now....damn military

98Camarod

iTrader: (43)

Also what could I expect to pay to get a halfway decent setup?

Full-Force

iTrader: (11)

Lincoln Pro Mig 140 is a good welder for all around. Runs off 110 and welds up to 5/16". Thicker than anything most people work on thats car related.

around 500 bucks at Lowes

98Camarod

iTrader: (43)

thats a mighty fine price. I wasn't expecting that. There is no gas used with the welder? Can it be converted to use gas if it doesn't use it?

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

don't waste your money on lincoln. get a Hobart or Miller. if it costs less than $1000, it's either used or junk, IMHO. im a welder by profession, so i have pretty high standards. if you're just wanting to "mess around" with a welder, you're looking at either wasting your time, or wasting your money. if you're serious about it, you need to get a decent machine and reserve a lot time for studying, both in the shop and in the books.

as for turbo parts, you'll want a TIG, i would anyway...a Miller Synchrowave 200 would be a kickass little TIG rig for you, otherwise look for a Millermatic 251 MIG. Ebay and craigslist are good places to look for decent machines. if you really want to learn and get good, buy a good machine. you make it pay for itself VERY fast if you want to.

98Camarod

iTrader: (43)

Are there any performing units that work well with 110? I dont have a 220 plug in anywhere around me.

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

i personally have VERY little experience with 110v welders, but a buddy's dad has a little Miller 110v MIG (i forget the model #), and it seems to do just fine....

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

you might look into thist one: http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...c_180_autoset/

98Camarod

iTrader: (43)

Thats a little better pricing. I'm assuming you have to buy the bottle separately? What else do you have to buy along with the welder?

TurboZ28408

iTrader: (18)

mig welders wont weld aluminum unless you have the proper setup/spool gun

at that point you might as well buy a tig.

xfactor_pitbulls

iTrader: (16)

Firstly you can weld aluminum with 6061 and other alloys of aluminum wire through a mig machine.dum You just have to have a teflon liner and run straight argon or 95-97% argon/helium mix.

I tell EVERYONE, its very easy to add a 220v circuit, if you have the slots in your main breaker. A 180-210 amp mig machine is a world better for versatility and arc control than a 220v setup. A machine I would highly recommend would be a hobart handler 210. Its an ideal machine that a weekend warrior uses 5 times in a couple years and throws on craigslist. I have a handler 250, (2) Miller 251s, and an older Promatic 350 pulse. I run
.045 wire in the handler at 85% capacity all day long for over 2 years and yet to even blow a fuse.

2000_SS........I like how you lump Miller and Hobart together as a rung below lincoln. Miller and Lincoln have comparable units in every catagory and I own alittle of both in many welders. If you want a good starter TIG unit, look at the dynasty 200. I actually like it better than my syncrowave 350 and idealarc 350 for lower amp DC, stainless by far. Both are fantastic machines, but the inverter stuff has wicked arc stability and wave shape control.

modracer18

Miller 130XP 110v MIG is a good quality starter unit, it was my first welder and can be found used and very reasonably priced in the $500 range with the gas regulator+bottle. Don't personally like flux cored wire welding. I'd say if you're looking to fab/weld turbo stuff it's best done in stainless and Tig is the best way to go there. I've got a Miller Dynasty 200DX Tig that I use for almost everything but expect that setup to be upwards of 3k and Tig is difficult to learn.

98Camarod

iTrader: (43)

I'm probably going to have to go to a welding class to get the access to both welders. I live in base housing and modifying the home is a no no.

Ls1Bait

I bought a Miller Dynasty 200dx stick and tig welder about 6 months ago (and love it), dc and ac current. You will need the ac to do aluminum and if you want to do turbo headers and stuff like that you will want to get tig machine. I just finished my stick (SMAW) welding classes at the community college and passed all the bend test. I start my tig and mig classes in january and cant wait to learn more about it. You really can do some impressive stuff with my machine, I just need alot of practice lol. Look for welding classes in your area to get started so you dont get frustrated at it. Good luck

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

i'm just saying, from personal INDUSTRIAL experience, i will never trust a Lincoln welder. they simply don't stand up to what i do day in and day out. a little mig or tig at home might be a different story, but i have yet to see one that will run 200amps+ through 1/16 flux core and not burn up in a couple months, not sure why our Miller's have no issues, other than the idiots that use them on night shift

FWIW, we had a little Lincoln TIG (can't remember model, but it was old) at UMR that we used on the FSAE car. it did just fine. there's no way you could ever get me to give up my 250DX though.

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

welding school will be your best bet. there's lots of advise and opinions, and product reviews, available on the internet, but you're only hope of learning anything is to put a hood on and have at it.

98Camarod

iTrader: (43)

You have to drop some serious bones for a nice unit

xfactor_pitbulls

iTrader: (16)

I hear you. What are you building running 1/16" flux core? BTW I ******* hate flux core. I run dual shield spray when I can, but most of what we are doing is 6010/7018/8010 in the field and ER70S wire in the shop. Structural steel.

00bluews6

iTrader: (3)

http://www.hobartwelders.com/product...ed/handler140/

this is the one i have i have used the **** out of it it is a bad *** welder and would be easy for a first timer to tune in and it is a 110v

i am a welder by profession also and wold never get a lincoln. hobart is made by miller it is just a cheaper version you can get a 140 or 145 hobart for like 450-600 new depending where you buy

98Camarod

iTrader: (43)

Where do you get the inert gas from along with the bottle? All of the welders seem to come with just the gauges to run the gas.