MIG Welder

[rjkoop]

So I'm thinking about tackling the welding of new floor pans into my 1981 Spider. There's a guy at work who's done lots of welding before and he can help. And the cost of getting somebody to do the pans might be more than a new MIG welder.

So I'm looking at getting a MIG welder. Any thoughts on what type to buy? In Ottawa there is a company called Princess Auto that sells these.

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/categor ... wire-Feeds

Would any of these be ok for floor pan welding and other various (hopefully basic) welding jobs?

[4uall]

My cousin just purchased the Lincoln welder (for aluminum) and he highly recommended the spool adapter (makes things easier)

[narfire]

I have the Lincoln 180 welder. Worked great for the welding I did in making a kiln cart. I had never welded before but after reading for a bit ,went at it and turned out not too bad for first time.
I understand the cheap ones Princess Auto sells are just that...don't be surprised if you have to take it back half way through a project. A friend buys the Princess Auto "Power-Fist" electric tools and usually gets perhaps a week or two before taking the thing back.
Check CL and see if there is an estate sale or perhaps a fellow is downsizing and having to move where the welder can't follow. I saved a few hundred on a good used one with the gas bottle as the PO went to a bigger welder.
Chris

[azruss]

the cheap welder looks alot like what harbor freight sells. you have 4 temp setting. the issue is the motor drive, hose and nozzle are such poor quality it is very difficult to get a consistent wire speed. the 20% duty cycle means you will spend a lot of time waiting for the welder to get back on line. Do yourself a favor and get one that uses a gas bottle. You get a much cleaner weld and much less cleanup than with flux wire. I have a Lincoln 180 at work and it works great. I guess it should at 3 times the price.

[rjkoop]

I think I found a used one for sale in Ottawa.

http://ottawa.en.craigslist.ca/tls/3431638964.html

[4uall]

That ad should read
STOLEN Lincoln Electric Weld-Pak 180 HD Wire Feed WELDER --- BRAND NEW - $600 (ottawa) where is the real photo, why brand new, how was it acquired etc etc etc

[rjkoop]

No kidding. It used to be hot items were sold out of the back of a truck in a parking lot ('Hey buddy. Wanna buy some great speakers real cheap?')... Now there's Craigslist!

[4uall]

That being said..............................no harm in checking it out LOL

[4uall]

*ahem

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell- ... Z437149260

[rjkoop]

Nice. Thanks

[narfire]

Good point in making sure you're not going to get a stolen welder. Ask for reciepts and also look for drivers licence scribed into it or identification scratched out.
What is the seperate bottle and reg worth?

[mgbgtn]

I bought a Miller 140 and found that it was ideal for sheet metal and steel upto .250". It also works well in filling in holes in thin metal where a larger welder cann't be turned down low enough. I bought mine from a welding outlet and bought my own tank. The cheaper Lincon welders are built in China and if you compare to the American welders you can see the differance in quality. Also buy yourself an auto darkining helmet, they are worth their weight in gold.