Well, I just got my tax return and I'm in the market for a MIG. Anybody have any sugestions ? I was looking at a Lincoln 125, but I'd like to get some opinions. I need to do the floor pans and trunk floor on my Duster, maybe the lower quarter panels if I learn to weld a little better. I need something that runs on 120V as I don't have 220V in my garage.
Thanks, Ron-slantasaurus

_________________
There are 3 things that will live forever, cockroaches, Keith Richards, and Slant Six Dusters !!!

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/slantasaurus/

take a look around

The 110 unit I have in the shop is a Lincoln 135 SP. It works great for sheetmetal but struggles with structural areas such as installing floor and trunk pans to rails and supports. It will work but the metal must be clean and good fitting to get penetration.
I assume you are in a rental? I lived in a rental house that didn't have 220. Almost all homes have a 220 plug for stoves and clothes dryers. Just get a heavy gauge (depends on length) cord and a plug/outlet and make yourself a 220 hookup in the garage. My garage was attached though. I don't think I would string a cord much over 50 ft. but just ask an electrician for his advice.

_________________
Chris'
Autobody
Restoration
Service

I have a Lincoln Weld Pak 3200 Hp, runs on 110, welds up to 1/4" steel. At first I tried welding without gas ( flux core wire ) it wasn't that great. There is a big difference between welding with gas and without.
To run my welder I made a big exstention cord. I bought 50' of 8g - 3 core wire . I happen to have a seperate 20 amp breaker. I ran 12g romex wire to a box close to the baesment door. I installed a 110v twist lock outlet. On one end of the big ext cord I put a 110v male twist lock end. On the other end I put a large metal electrical box, with a 110, 20 amp duplex outlet and another twist lock outlet (in case I want to make the ext cord longer).
I do not have a garage, so I do everything outside weather permitting. If it's not raining or snowing I'm outside, even welding in 25 degree weather

I live in a rental property, very cool land lord !

thanks jeff

I use a buddy's Lincoln, forget the type but it uses gas or no gas...
I've used flux core and for the Lincoln you have to use the .035 wire, anything skinnier gets balled up in the feed in the welder...also your metal has to be very clean and prepped with a grinder and a wire wheel on a hand grinder...no real susbstitute for gas, but flux core can be faster when doing lots of major welding on thick metals (like 16 ga up to 1/4"...or putting O2 sensors in while the exhaust pipe is still in the car...or areas where the gas cloud can't hang around- like fixing that busted k-member on the fly during a particularly windy rainy day....)


-D.Idiot

I have a century mig that runs on 120. So far it has been great. I was ready to get the lincoln but ended up getting a better deal on the century as a a complete outfit with the mig conversion and cart. The one I have came with a Tweco gun, which makes tips easy to find. They may not all come that way though. Using gas is much nicer and makes really clean welds, but as pointed out flux core can have it's advantages too. I keep both on hand.

Thanks for the input guys. I have been told the flux core was a waste of time and didn't work very well. I wanted to go shopping today, but my garage door broke and I have to wait to get it fixed, so maybe next weekend.

_________________
There are 3 things that will live forever, cockroaches, Keith Richards, and Slant Six Dusters !!!

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/slantasaurus/

take a look around

Just so you know, Miller and Hobart are actually the same company!
I have a Millermatic 185, 220 v. MIG and I love it! I burned up a Century and 2 Astros before I bought my Miller. Only thing Ive had to do to it other than swap empty wire spools and gas bottles for full was to change the liner once. The Miller/Hobart 110 V. units are better made than the Century or Astro. So's the Lincoln. Seems that from what Ive experienced, as well as heard around the steel mill, if you want a stick welder go Lincoln, for a MIG go with a Miller!(or Hobart) I see youre in Illinois, any where near farm and Fleet?? they have a couple nice Hobarts, the Clarke units they sell are cheaper but I dont know much about them, so I'd probably steer clear.

Thanks for the advice volaredon, I didn't even think obout F&F. I've seen the Clarke at another place, but kinda questioned it too. I've also seen some "made in China" stuff that was really questionable.

_________________
There are 3 things that will live forever, cockroaches, Keith Richards, and Slant Six Dusters !!!

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y128/slantasaurus/

take a look around

Ron, I have a small 110 MIG. I tried it with the flux core and it does not work very well.

_________________
Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

One of the prizes Aaron won last year with his Ag Mechanics project at the San Antonio Livestock Show was a Lincoln SP 100T MIG. He hasn't really done much with it, since we haven't gotten a gas bottle, yet. Two weeks ago at the Houston Livestock Show, he won another cool welder with this year's project he built. It is a Thermal Arc ArcMaster 160S stick/TIG welder. It didn't come supplied with the optional TIG torch, so we're anxious to get one and see how well it works. This 120V welder is a VERY small, compact, and portable unit in a plastic carrying case.

I would suggest that you go to a couple of welding supply shops and tell them what your needs are. They should be able to explain the pros or cons and give you some suggestions. Even if it hurts a little in the beginning, don't scrimp on cost and settle for something less than what you need. Spend the little extra and get a quality unit that will last longer and won't limit your capabilities.

My two cents,
Jerry

Jerry

_________________
There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.