Ok, so I've been playing with cars for a while now, and I know about a lot of different stuff, but I've been lacking one skill:

WELDING :D

I'm looking for some advice from the experts. How to start? What welder to buy? How much I should spend? Etc.

I have a decent budget to get a decent welder, and I would rather spend the money now than have to buy a better one later. I still want a good deal though. I'm looking to redo the frame on my CJ and do some custom work on it, so I would need a powerful one? I really don't know.

So let's hear it! :beer:

you want to get a welder that will do up to 3/8 inch - then it should easily be able to handle 1/4 inch which is what you'll most likely use as the heaviest for a vehicle.

GO 22o volt
hmmmm I just checked my favorite's folder for links and the welding ones are missing.... DAMN

anyways go 220 volt

get a deal on a gas attachment for your welder the same time you buy it

that way you can weld with just electric or gas and see which way you want it.

do a search in General 4x4 discussion for more infor

220 volt and nothing less than 200 amp. Also stick with Miller, Lincoln, or Hobart. The welder will be about $1000-1700 depending on what you buy. I bought a Miller Vintage last year for $1610 and after tax, 2 spools of wire, new bottle, and some extra tips it was $1900. It will weld up to 300 amps and does't have a bunch of bells and whistles so it works great for me. A welder last a long time so buy a good one now and like the other guy said one that will do at least 3/8" single pass. Take a look at this site and there are other good welding supply stors online. This place is giving free spool guns on some purchaces and that is sweet.
http://www.welders-direct.com/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WD&Product_Code=907046

Originally posted by 66CJdean
220 volt and nothing less than 200 amp. Also stick with Miller, Lincoln, or Hobart.

So, about what would I be spending would you think? Any recomended places to get good deals?

I bought a Hobart 175 a couple of years ago. Miller now makes the Hobart line so the gun is the proven Millermatic. I also bought some wire, tips, and a mid-sized bottle (I forget which one, but it is about 4 feet high) for about $700. The prices seem to have climbed a bit since I bought mine though. Expect to pay about $800 for this set up now.

you have until the end of the month to get one of the miller specials. you can pick up a miller 210 with a spoolmatic gun for 1125 delivered. that is a deal, easy to use and learn. it will do every thing you need. it is a great set up for a home/small shop fabricator. but you better hurry, i have one on the way myself. i have used just about every type of machine out there and this is the best 220v single phase unit for the money. the guns are not that great but will last you a life time, unless you get in to it full time. i have a hobart tr250hf tig machine that is a great all around machine but not for beginners. and takes alot of power as in 105 amps. check out welders-direct.com mike

It may be a good idea to take a welding class at a local JC. You will learn the basics of to weld. More importantly you will learn a bit about how, why, etc. it works. This knowledge is great to have and helps out when you are having problems IMO anyway. Getting good at welding takes practice.

I will agree with all advise you have gotten! JC's are good starting points to recieve some skill training , and have exposure to other welding processes.
I also say BUY that Miller 210 w/ free spoolgun NOW!!! You have only three more days till the spoolgun is no longer included this dealer is even cheaper than welders- direct --www.brwelder.com
PS the spoolgun would cost you an extra $400 all by itself!
good deal good machine you wont be sorry.
good luck ,
weldpro

Sounds like the machine has been chosen for you - it sure sounds a great deal....even though I'm a Lincoln man;)

So all I'll add is, spend some time reading through all the articles at www.lincolnelectric.com...they have a good little MIG handbook in downloadable .pdf

Don't know if the "blue guys" have anything similar?

Originally posted by BillaVista
Sounds like the machine has been chosen for you - it sure sounds a great deal....even though I'm a Lincoln man;)


Looks like a great machine. Anything else you think I should get with it? Would I need any accesories?

>>"How to start? What welder to buy? How much I should spend?"

WOW! Where do I start to tell you were to start???

What do you know about welders?
What do you know about steel and other metals?
What are you looking to weld?
Have you considered where you are going to get your stock?
What are you going to use to cut, notch, etc. stock to length?

Welding first starts with education then a lot of money.

Perhaps if you let us know what you are looking to do, we can manage your expectations more.

What do you know about welders?
Little to nothing.
What do you know about steel and other metals?
Um, could you please repeat the question? I guess not much.
What are you looking to weld?
Looking to do a ground up restore/fab of my CJ project. Starting with the frame up.
Have you considered where you are going to get your stock?
Do you mean the peices of metal I'm going to weld? Or do you mean cattle? :D
What are you going to use to cut, notch, etc. stock to length?
I have an oxy accetaline(sp?) torch, Sawzall, and various Air powerd cutting tools.

Any help?

Of course buy a book. And read as much as you can.
This will insure that you are welding correctly.

Looks like you will be doing both sheet metal work (2/16 and under)
and frame work (1/8" to 1/4").

One way to go would be to get a used stick welder for the frame welding, and get a 110V mig for the sheet metal work. You should be able to get both items for $200-300 used.

Stick welder takes bit longer to learn on then a mig.

Torches will help you cut old parts off the truck, but you will still need to use something to cut the stock (steel flat bar and tubing) to meet your needs.

You can use a miter saw with a metal blade ($100+), but is not as good at a chop saw ($150+).

I use a miter saw for the small stuff and a horizontal band saw ($139.00) with a metal cutting blade for the larger pieces.

You will have to look around for places that will sell you your steel flat bar and tubing. Some steel supply shops have a $25+ min purchase;
There stock also comes in 20-24 foot lengths and they charge you about $3 a cut.
Try to us a truck and have them cut down to 10 and 12-foot lengths.
If you have them cut them to 4’ lengths it is going to add up quick.

Any specific questions please ask.

The first thing I would do is take a " First Time Welder's " course at a CC or a VC to see if you like welding and are going to be able to pick it up, then go buy a machine with at least a little bit of knowledge to back you up. I'm normally a Miller Man myself, but this is what I use at home because the rest of my gear is engine driven( Miller Pipepro 304 ): ESAB Multimaster 260 - 300 Amps in Tig, Stick, or Mig. http://www.esab.com/ecat/images/mm260.jpg most likely more than you want to spend - the Miller 210 goes for about $1150, and this one is about $1900, but has a lot more process options available to you. If you are only wanting to do GMAW (Mig) go with the 210.

I orderd my Miller 210 with spool gun on Oct 30th and it just got here yetserday. Order now and have 6-8 weeks to get the $$ together! Welders direct said they can't keep them in stock!

As to what to get with the welder I would say get some .035 wire and a bottle of 75/25 Argon/Co2 mix gas. If you don't have a helmet then I woud just get a $25 Jackson helmet with a 4.5" faceplate and #10 tint. Good welding is more about good metal prep than it is about learning how to weld if you ask me. A good machine will make you look like a pro in just a few hours of welding and getting a few questions answered on what problems you might come across.
Now a pointer on if you do get the miller with the spool gun. When you go to use the spool gun for aluminum you will need a bottle of 99.999% argon and here is the tip use the next size up tip than the size wire you are running. So if you buy a 1lb spool of .030 4340 aluminum wire use a .035 tip. Trust me:emb3:

A good deal I've found on a welding helmet is at tools plus (www.toolsplus1.com)

$77 for a autodarkening helmet. It's a cheap helmet, but it works. Just got one for christmas. It'll keep you from having to learn the helmet flip, and is real helpful when you're welding in ackward spots. Funny thing is, I just bought myself a 4x5 helmet and this one shows up under the tree.

Easy