NEWS PARTS JEEP & 4x4 ATV & UTV

I think I'm going to buy a Welder...

642 Views 14 Replies 6 Participants Last post by lindy80cj7, Mar 17, 2000

103

Discussion Starter · Mar 15, 2000

I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

I was in Lowe's early this morning, and I came across some welders they have there. I talked to guy who works about them, and
the one he recommended (and said he owned) was a Campbell Hausfeld 309 (sp). I was going to have my full cage installed on my
CJ for $350. This welder is $310. I know that I would be learning but I think I could get the hang of it. I read the info on it and it says
it can weld from 20 gauge up to 3/8 inch. Would this be good enough to do the job? I figured I might as well spend my money on
something I can use again.

Alec

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G

· #2 · Mar 15, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

Alec - make sure you get a MIG welder with an external gas supply that is at least 125 amps or more with variable power setting and variable wire feed rate setting. I recently tried out a friend of a friend's flux-core wire feed and I think it is pretty useless junk. I REPEAT - DO NOT GET FLUX CORE!

Spend 5-600 dollars, and after 3 years when you have done umpteen mods and laid 17 miles of bead on your Jeep, you'll be writing back in to thank everyone. A welder is the best investment a true Jeeper can make.

FYI - I use a Daytona MIG 140 amp. It was $600 new and I bought it from my father used for $400. I consider this to be an excellent choice for your average Jeeper.

One last thing - getting the hang of it takes a while - it can be VERY frustrating when you first start out. A roll cage is not the best thing to start on. Build yourself some steering box braces and stuff to start out.

Chuck Hadley

103

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 16, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

I will definitley look at a few before I buy one...thanks for the input!

Alec

Dirt Dog

· #4 · Mar 16, 2000

2

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

Chuck hit the nail on the head on 2 things......

Spend the money and buy a GOOD unit. You will be happy for years to come.

2. The cage is not the place to learn.(or any other structural part)
You can do it I'm sure (I have faith/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif) but practice a bunch before you get to that. Also practice out of position (like over your head) because you will have to do that on the cage.

My $.02 BUY THE WELDER!/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif A good one.

"No officer I haven't been drinking , Thats just how my Jeep drives"

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291

· #5 · Mar 16, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

Just wanted to put my vote in for Lincoln welders. I use a 110V Lincoln wire feed with the gas attachments and the option for a kit to weld aluminum. Can do 1/4" thick no problem, and you can take it anywhere since it's 110V. Have it and the gas tank straped to a "creeper" (what mechanics use to roll under cars etc...) and it rolls anywhere I need it, I just bring a generator if I don't have 110V access. Bought it at Lowe's too!

/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif Big Ed
'88 YJ, 4" susp,3" body,33's,283 Chevy V8,TH350,4.11's,D30,D35c

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G

· #6 · Mar 16, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

What is so wrong with using flux-core wire? When I learned, I learned with flux-core wire. I can weld with a MIG with external gas supply, but learning with the flux core was pretty easy. Are the welds not as strong, ie. gas trapped in the weld? I've only used it to make seat brackets, nothing structural.

Robert87yj/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif
engine rebuild w/4.0 head done, now for the MPI

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G

· #7 · Mar 16, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

Yep, the flux is dirty. The extra money you spend on the flux you might as well by gas.

G

· #8 · Mar 16, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

i bought a miller millermatic 130xp and the gas kit it is a 110 type but seems to be ok
good luck
robp

G

· #9 · Mar 16, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

Don't count out the ones from Harbor Freight either. I bought a 150 amp from them and it was a nice unit. It was made by miller
in italy. After 10 yrs it's still working. Don't forget to look at the duty cycle to compare apples to apples.

LooseNut

· #10 · Mar 17, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

I recently bought a Hobart Handler 175 with the advice of CJDave. (He's never wrong). It's the 220 Volt model and I've been able to make some pretty decent looking welds already. Hopefully they're strong, also. Hobart also has a Handler 135 model that's 110 volts.

CJDave told me something that really made sense............You're talking about 200 more dollars or so for the better welder. Divide that $200 by the 30 years the welder will last and you see it's worth the extra money.

Loose nut behind the wheel
Another right-wing conservative.....
Born and raised in Jeep-Town

G

· #11 · Mar 17, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

I'm thinking that everyone is just assuming that you realize you have to buy extra equipment to go with that welder...i.e. welding helmet, thick leather gloves, welding leathers (unless you like the smell of burning clothing & skin), etc. The cost of these little things adds up. I just got an auto-darkening welding helmet. Expensive, but well worth the money, especially when stich-welding.

Trying to come up with a witty line to end all of my posts...

Dirt Dog

· #12 · Mar 17, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

FarmJeep I'm a headbanger so a regular helmet was no problem./wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif
I have an auto "darkening" helmet and I love it but I never use it in the field.
Keep in mind I paid more for this helmet than a 110 handler costs. They are $$$$$$$.

"No officer I haven't been drinking , Thats just how my Jeep drives"

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raymo

· #13 · Mar 17, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

Just a couple of notes to further beat the dead horse....

1) I bought the Lincoln 155 (230 volt unit) and it uses both flux core or MIG set-up if the optional gas hook-up is bought. It works great.

2) I bought it based on the recommendation of a friend who welds full time for a living building skyscrapers, structures, etc. He said to get one that can handle both flux core and gas. Flux core is great if there is ever a breeze. Also, the flux shouldn't be left in the weld if the bead is done properly. Some wire feed welders don't have the capability to handle flux cored wire.

3)I would go with a known company (Lincoln, Hobart, Century)so that you will easily be able to by parts over the years.

G

· #14 · Mar 17, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

About welding with flux core wire, I asked my dad last night about it. He fixed jets and welded parts for trucks in Vietnam, and makes a dam pretty weld for not having done it for many years. He says as long as you can keep a good, smooth bead, wire not feeding too fast, good motion, not pushing away from the work, not gapping because the wire isn't feeding fast enough, then the weld won't be "dirty." I remember a year or so ago when he was teaching me to weld, he always hit the welds with a thin hammer to see if there were bubbles of trapped gas in them. He did some example bad welds and the welds that weren't pretty didn't hold up to the hammer test. Does any one else use the hammer test?

Robert87yj/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif
engine rebuild w/4.0 head done, now for the MPI

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lindy80cj7

· #15 · Mar 17, 2000

Re: I think I\'m going to buy a Welder...

That is true if everything is perfect with flux core. It is not mig welding. I have used both and for the novice I have not seen anything
easier than mig.

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