what you pay for/cudaeh's adventures in welding

[The Ghoul]

Hey yall,
Just wondering if this welder would have enough power to do what I want.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MIG-100-90-AMP-ARC-WELDER-FLEX-WIRE-WELDING-KIT-No-Gas_W0QQitemZ4600483159QQcategoryZ35000QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I basically just want to use it to weld new sheet metal, exhaust systems and rool cage at the most thick.
Most of its use would be tack welding so the porosity from the flux core might not be too bad. 

[Daytona R/T SE]

I've used the flux core wire before...IT SUCKS!  Very dirty weld with lots of "bee-bee's" all over the place...don't waste your time ! GET THE GAS ! 

[is_it_EVER_done?]

I may be the least qualified person on earth to answer this question, but I'm certain you would not be happy with whatever that is, as it certainly isn't a welder! I know, because I purchased a "THUNDERZAP 10,000" - (I don't remember the actual name of the POS). It was a "no name" gasless mig. I practiced for countless hours, and had determined that welding was even more difficult than figuring out women!

I eventually had an opportunity to try a Miller, and discovered that within a few minutes, I could have welded WATER together if I wanted. I found out that my welding skills were pathetic, not because I'm inept, but because my THUNDERZAP was about as controllable (and useful) as a coat hanger hooked to a set of jumper cables!

After that revelation, I did a ton of research, rented a couple of 110 volt welders (name brands), and finally bought A "little girl" Lincoln 135 (kind of the BARBIE of welders) since it was on sale for cheap at my local "home labyrinth”. I got a gas kit off of E-gay for cheap, and now LIVE for welding.

I put my THUNDERZAP up for sale at a friend’s garage sale for $50.00 - got offered $10.00, and was actually embarrassed to take it.

Spend a little more and get a known (real) welder (with gas). I assure you its money well, well, spent, -- just don’t expect to be able to fabricate a roll cage with it, or ANY 110 volt welder. Other than that, you will be quite happy.

[The Ghoul]

the roll cage is a bit ambitious of a goal but I will need to cross that bridge eventually weather by my self with my own gear or with my brother in law at his work when the boss ant lookin.
I’ve used and know the differences between gas and flux and I have no issues using flux for tack welds...
My worry is that the amperage is a little light for even sheet metal.

[jaak]

I bought one just like it, it sucks

[Ghoste]

I've worked as a welder and my best advice would be this.  Take a look around at what the professional shops are using.  A welding shop is a relatively easy business to get into so if you look in the doors of even the marginal players, you tend to see the same equipment.  This is a case where if there was a chance to do reasonable work for less investment, these guys would do it.  Not in all cases, but many.
I'm not saying to buy the same gear as someone doing it every day for a living.  I'm saying that even the crummy shops tend to try and spend a little more on equipment.  It's my indirect way of answering "get what you pay for".

[The Ghoul]

darn, not what I was I wanted to hear.
Basically I'm a broke white boy and I thought this would be a good cheap way around one of the obstacles holding me up . You guys are right though, a good welder will be allot easier to use and last me a good long time.
Geeze my kids are going to have it so easy if they get into cars, Ill have all the tools for them . None of this “I need to replace sheet metal” “guess I have to save up the $500 for a decent welder."
"I have to paint some panels" " guess I have to get a good compressor and spray gun"
Thank you all for the input I guess I get too caught up in the impulse buys.

[Silver R/T]

get lincoln but if you can afford get hobart, best one ive used

[nh_mopar_fan]

Anyone familiar with this welder?

http://boston.craigslist.org/zip/123003233.html

[mopar_madman]

If your looking for a cheaper one that works I have a astro 110 gas mig I've had for 5 years works fine. I only use it for panel repair and replacement but it works fine I believe it was under $300

[Silver R/T]

Anyone familiar with this welder?

http://boston.craigslist.org/zip/123003233.html

yes if you need to do spot welding done...but this would work too
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45689

[The Ghoul]

I just took a look at sears. They have a linclon gass or flux mig 110v 135amp max welder for $350. As soon as I find a job and pay off them credit cards, Im all over that like ugly on the roling stones.
Thanks for talking me outta the junk. After I started watching eaby fighting the urge to bid. I noticed any name brand welder in that amp range was going for $200 min so I might as well pay the extra $150 and have something I know is a quality tool.

[squeakfinder]

Another thing to think about is duty cycle. I eventually burned up a wire feed welder I had gotten from sears. I think it was my fault from welding continuously without giving the welder a break. Allthough the Hobart 135 I have now I've been real happy with. I do wish the cable was a little longer, it made it kind of clumsy welding the trunk floor into the 68 I'm working on. Buying one local will also help in case you have problem with it, so you won't have to drive so far. Flux core wire is OK for somethings but body work isn't one them. The nice thing about shielding gas is you can weld over a weld without stopping to clean off slag.

[The Ghoul]

well It looks like I just got serrious about this.
I went down to sears with a big paycheck in had  the last of which that I will be seeing in a while but thats another story.
The sears brand 10% duity cycle 90 amp max welder with cart and $50 optional gass converstion package, for $380. Or the linclon 20% duity cycle, longer cables and gass kit included for $499 (it was missmarked the last time I looked at it).
The linclon came home with me. I cant wate to start burning some metal!!
Im going to set it all up tomarrow and start playing around with some of the scrap metal I have kicking around.
Im a little dissapointed that it only turns left, see right on the side "NASCAR"

[squeakfinder]

Your gonna have fun with it. I think of them as glue guns!   

[The Ghoul]

well first impressions a little dissapointed.
I think its because I was using the wire that came with the welder (solid wire) without shield gass but i had to keep the thing cranked in order to get any pennatration into the metal. Higest heat setting and #8 on the feed (on a scale of 10) and it still sounded crackely to me, but i finaly got two pieces of sheet to stick together without breaking appart.  Tomarrow im going down to sears and getting some flux core and a good mask.

[Duey]

Cudaheh, the only thing worse than flux core is trying to get solid to work without the gas...it's just not going to happen.  Run gas, you won't regret it.  I pitched the flux-crap that came with my Lincoln athe second I opened the box.  My intro to welding was making the cart for my set up....it holds, and I learned a lot from making it, lthough it's a good thing I got myself a DeWalt 5" 12A grinder...   I also bought my gas tank, since I go through a fairbit and it's cheaper in the long run getting a fill rather than renting a tank and swapping to get filled...

Cheers,
Duey

p.s. hint about sheet metal, tack weld spread out along the sheet, otherwise you'll bend the sheet like tinfoil with the heat.

[squeakfinder]

The shielding gas keeps the weld from oxidizing before it cools down and solidifies. Please don't take offence, but I think you need to read the instructions that came with your welder. I'll have to look but I'm thinking the flux core wire won't work with sheet metal (18 or 22 gauge) because you have to have the amperage turned up to the point of burning threw it. Thats seems odd to me that you got a roll of solid wire with that welder. The two wirefeed welders I've owned came with a roll of flux core, but then again, who knows. Also, the polarity on your welder will need to be switched around when changing from one wire to the other.

[The Ghoul]

turns out (get ready for a shock) im an idiot!
When going through the instruction manual I set up the polarity (as instructed) for flux core (which is what I thought was supplied with the welder) and neglected to change it before using it. I laied about 4 beads down on old sheet metal.... How bad did I screw up the welder?
I still havent threaded up the flux wire to see if that was the issue.

I cannot afford the shield gass at this point (tanks are expensive, even rental). so im going to use the flux stuff that came with untill I can afford the other stuff. Man I hope I dident screw any thing up. if so I can always bring it back as defective.

I will be more than happy if i thread in the flux core and start burning thru the scrap metal, that means its at least working.

[Duey]

Cudaeh, I don't think it screws anything up, per se...I think it wouldrun a hot tip that might get eaten up faster than normal.  You should get a jar of welding tip paste...makes the tips that the wire feeds through last much longer.  I also coat the inside of the gas shroud when I weld gas. 

Cheers,
Duey

[The Ghoul]

duey, thanks for the tip, The only welding I know is what i learned in a semester of class at community college and with airforce auto shop's welder that I lied and said I knew how to use when i wanted to weld my exhaust in my daily driver. so i know of tip past but never knew what it did or how it worked. 
I just took a more than casual glance at the cart you made.. I like it alot and as soon as I have the money I will make one up for my self! great job on that one!!

[BigBlockSam]

try to get the gas. it make it weld real smooth. i bought my lincoln at home depot . i think it was like $450. than the tank was $75 full. not to bad to get started. Rene

[The Ghoul]

yeah I am definetly going gass as soon as i can.
I got the flux wire and new tips and have been playing with sheet metal. I was able to weld chunks at 90degree angles to each other and side by side. I was able to smooth out the welds on the side by sides so they are seemless. so i decided to start to tackle some rust holes.
I started by cutting out the infected area, taking some thick construction paper and tracing out the hole left. then cut out the paper and traced it onto metal with a sharpie and cut it out. I then used magnets to hold it into place and then started to tack it in. ... thats where it got fun.
If you notice in the pictures at the top there is alot of pitted metal just under that overlapping metal on the cowl area.
the bottem was touch and go in order to get a good solid tack. the metal was tough to get weld on without burning thru (I assume thats what you guys ment about the flux core running hotter. the welder was set just the same as it was taking just the sheet metal together which was lowest heat and one of the lowest feed settings.
so I was able to faness the lower welds in but the upper ones sence going into pitted metal was a pain. I worked on it untill it got too cold to be outside so i gave up ... i think my next step is to talk to a firend of mine that parts out chagers and get a firewall clip from him and just replace higher.
I am verry encouraged with the progress I have made tho. It seems Im at a point in my tool collected that as I was working on it if i needed something I had it.. That is the first time that has ever happend!!

[Duey]

Cudaeh, thanks for the comments on the cart...it was fun making, and I learned a lot about fabricating from it: inside, outside welds, sheet, grid, layout, etc...

Looks like you're well on your way to doing decent body work...once you get bitten, it's hard to stop.  Just waiting to get redeployed before I start in on my corroded rear quarters...DOH!

Keep up the good work, you'll love working with gas...

Cheers,
Duey

p.s.  think about keeping a little notebook about all your welding...material, set-up (current, feed rate, gas flow, etc...).  It's nice to be able to go through your notes to see what worked best for you on the diufferent kinds of fab you'll be doing.

[4402tuff4u]

A supplier we deal with at work gave me a very good deal for a Millermatic 210. This machine is incredibly easy to use. It was my first time welding with a MIG and after an hour of practicing on scrap metal, I was butt welding two rear interior floor pans that I found to be too thin in the Charger. When I dropped off my Charger to the body shop, the head guy there said whoever welded those floor pans did a very nice job. Then I told him that it was me and the first time doing it. He agreed that the Millermatic is a good and easy machine. I did plug holes in the roof that were pitted from rust from the vinyl top. That was very tricky. As soon as I hit it with the mig the holes began to grow. Even if I cooled it down. I placed a copper backing strip and wala, it did the trick. Too bad your not close enough or I would lend you the welder. 

[The Ghoul]

yep, definetly dealing with very thin sheet metal. I patched the front side and it looks great, just need to fill a couple burn in divits and do a little metal beating to remove the wave it developed. I apparently got it too hot trying to get a decent tack.
now i have to address the intirror side. It seems the metal is still qute rotted behind that cowl metal. so im going to put in another patch and hope I dont have as much of a hassel with the metal ferther twards the center of the car.
the welder worked like a champ. I just tacked quick and moved.
when I ground down the tacks they left a crater around where they were, almost like where there was no metal placed from filler it burnt in, so I increased the wire feed and that seemed to place more filler in and cut down on the burn in.
My dad came thru for me big time.
apparently his work switched over to automatically darkening maskes so he snaged an old style one for me with a buch of clear lenses and 3 or 4 glasses!! made things much easier rather than using that stupid holding mask they gave me with the kit.
its supprising because my dad usualy never gets into my projects or any purchise I make over $200... seeing how as hes fronting me the $$ for school