The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop mig welder

I'm looking to buy a mig welder mostly to do the floors and body panels. I never mig welded and don't know anything about it. Home Depot has a Lincoln Weld Pak125HD for $419 & a Lincoln Electric Handy mw for $286 - includes gas reg & hose,the 125HD does not.I want to save money ,but at the same time need a good easy to use welder.I appreciate any advice as to what features to get , what size to get, what will be easier to use, what brand. I have stick welded on a good day, can braze & solder.

Jon,
There are a couple recent threads on the subject:

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...amp;Words=mig&Search=true#Post839178

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=835285&page=1

Dave Evans
52_3100

Thanks for the info.

Spend the extra for gas. And practice before trying the floor pans or you might end up paying a pro to fix your mistakes. Ask me how I know.

I second what jomichael said about practice. Welding in the floor pans and other patch panels can be tricky and you can damage them. I also agree with spending the extra for the gas. I'm working on installing patch panels in my cab right now and I just tack up a little everyday, not wanting to burn a hole or warp the panels. I have a Miller 135 unit.

I found that cheap a$$ harbor freight wire feed worked great for my cab corners and other light gauge needs.
Its so dirty that all I could do is hit one spot at a time and then while I'm wire brushing and cleaning the surrounding area getting ready for the next 1 or 2 second session its cooling down
On the plus side I worry very little about too much heat build up and warping... on the down side I go through wire brushes a lot faster....

Thank you, guys, I appreciate the wisdom. Sounds like the gas makes a better weld, and practise on scrap is a very smart idea.I looked up Miller and see Millermatic 140 - must be the next generation from the 135 - I'm leaning that way.Thanks for the warping tip-I'll take all the tips on how to weld floors and body panels I can get. I've been pouring through the posts in this section. Thanks again.

Jon,
If you didn't see it already, take a look at the post from MP&C here:
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=841569&page=2
And follow the link to the metalmeet.com site. Tons of great tips in that thread.
Dave Evans
52_3100

Dave, thanks for posting that link.

Jon, here's another that may give some helpful hints on welding sheetmetal..

Welding in Patch Panels




.

Geez, that guy knows his stuff.

That's the post that started me thinking maybe as a total novice to body work I could actually do this and the next thing I knew I'd decide to attempt doing my cab corners and that exact patch on both my fenders.


MP and C... With all the visuals and the do's and don'ts you provide you kinda remove the "what if's" that were holding me back I don't know whether to cuss you out or thank you for getting me started down this road.

Glad I could help!

JonGilroy, I just bought a Hobart Handler 140, and it works well. (My old Daytona MIG died after 20 years.) I tried the gasless wire, and it is sloppy, leaving splatter all over. Back to ArCO2.
Good luck!

use .23 wire with ArCO2. stitch is important. and like they say practice, practice,....... .

daren