I've got sort of the same dilemma. I want a MIG too and from what I know, Miller has an excellent reputation, just expensive. My brother used to work for a national hardware chain and said that the Campbell Hausfield welder was not the best (they did a lot of warranty and returns). I was looking at the new Lincoln flux core wire feed welder but was told that if I ever wanted to weld aluminum, I'd need the gas so I'm holding out til I can afford a "good" MIG welder.

Good Luck
Brian

 

/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif The Hobart Handler is the best for the job that you are talking about. We had a big discussion on the Jeep BBS about this. A close frioend who has a welding supply chose the Hobart Handler (599 bucks) for his rentawelder fleet to rent to guys who wanna build their own Jeep trailer, stuff like that. They are a EXCELLENT machine./wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif

CJDave
Quadra-Trac modified by the crack moonguy/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif transfer case team.

 

Miller(the best-MO) and Hobart make exelent equipment.
the lower end Lincoln is ok, there top end stuff is exelent
but pricey. Most of the 220v buzz box MIG come to run
flux core and can be easly upgraded to gas. Side by side
the flux core will give a stronger weld than gas shielding.
Later

HAWG WILD
I USE TO BE SCHIZOPHRENIC, BUT NOW WE ARE FINE /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

 

I have one of those small Lincoln welders with the flex core wire. It works pretty good for the body work and small repairs that I do. Cost me around $Canadian. To upgrade to gas the adapter cost about $150. For what it costs to me it was worth it. But I would rather have one of the larger ones if I had the money

Zooman

/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif78 Chevy 3/4 in the rough

 

That welder only cost 1 Canadian, eh /wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif? So for the nicer welders you would have to round up 2 or 3 Canadians? We use cash here in the states /wwwthreads_images/icons/laugh.gif.

Evan/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif
Contagious Off-Road

 

Sorry Zooman, I forgot there's Canadians like me here. I was looking at the Lincoln at Canadian Tire. I think it's only around $350-$400. But that's the flux core wire feed. It's not supposed to be upgradeable to gas from what I read so I'll wait til I can afford a better one this summer (hopefully a Miller).

Take Care
Brian
Still in search of the TBI KING!!

 

As off the wall as this sounds I've actually used JB Weld to connect exhaust parts together. I had an FZR 600 in Hawaii and the guy I bought it from punched 6 big holes in the muffler and it sounded like crap. I used the JB to fill in all the holes and it worked great. So instead of using clamps when I swapped out mufflers once I used JB weld! Trading Canadians for parts and tools, huh? ARe the Canadians new or used?

 

If it's the miller 90 or 130 (both the same machine just different names
) buy it, they cost around $500 new. Great machine up to 3/16 inch steel.

 

Well I am pretty sure it that is the same welder I have. It was the most expensive one at Canadian Tire. And Shaggy that would be around $400 canadians that is almost as good as american money. It says that it can weld up to 1/4 inch with multiple passes. Works good for me anyway.
Good luck.

Zooman

/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif78 Chevy 3/4 in the rough

 

Hey Guys/Gals

Got a new perspective on this the weekend and wanted to run it by you. I was told that I'm better off buying the flux cored wire feed and saving the money by not buying the gas welder. The reason I was told this is that in terms of needing the gas to weld aluminum, most amateurs are not capable of welding aluminum anyway (the difficulty in doing a proper weld), so save the money, buy the flux cored wire feed and the rare occasion I need to weld aluminum, take it to a professional shop.

What do you think?

Thanks
Brian
Still in search of the TBI KING!!

 

I got the welder on Friday. It appears to have been used in a body shop for awhile as there is a ton of crap caked in there. I cleaned up quite abit of it with my wife's vacuum and and old toothbrush. Figure the dirt might hold in extra heat. I am going to get a new spool of multi purpose wire this week. THe only thing that might need replaced is the wire speed switch. The switch was pretty dirty and doesn't make good contact at the lower speed settings which results in intermitent wire feed. BTW it is a Cricket (model # unknown) Miller and I picked it up for $160.

 

Where the MIG welder comes in handy is body work. Flux core wire can't generally weld the really thin stuff nearly as well as the MIG can. MIG wire is a smaller diameter due to lack of need for flux in the center of the wire. Thus it will do smaller work better. If body work is in your future, get a MIG welder that will work with flux core wire (basically one where you can switch the polarity of the wire and the ground...

Tim
/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif '79 Suburban 4x4 454, 35x12.5s
/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif '85 S15 4x4 2.8l, 235/75's