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Welders

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Re: welders

I think you have many opinions here on what you could do on the car. Perhaps you should think of the future. I found that after I had a welder and learned to weld, I found other projects to work on which I found fun/interesting. I also have friends that bring their stuff over. I was welding on a Porshe 912 the other day for a friend. I also have 2.5 acres and lots of tools/hobbies. So having a welder has been good for me.
Jerry
 
Re: welders

My suggestion would be a Miller 140 MIG welder and try to find it on sale. It will cost more than the Harbor Freight, but the Miller will actually have some resale value whereas the HF model, basically zero. Not to mention significantly more righteous to use. If you later decide it isn't for you, you can recover half or maybe more of your investment.

The 140 is (obviously) a 140amp unit, conventional wisdom is that you need 1 amp per .001" of steel, therefore it can easily do up to 1/8" plate. It is a 110V unit, so you can plug it into a wall outlet, which is terribly convenient. Some have suggested a 200+amp 220V unit talking about duty cycles. If you are cycling out a 110V (quality) welder on a Healey chassis or body, you are putting WAY too much heat into it locally. You will end up with a pretty twisted Healey, in my opinion.

I am by no means an expert, but I decided when I sold my TIG setup that anything thicker than what the 140 MIG could do should really be done by a professional anyway.

Later,
Wally
 
Re: welders

I second the Lincoln or Miller Welders. I use a small Lincoln with feed and heat settings and gas. Have used it for 20 years without problems, I've seen Millers in use and they are excellent.
 
Re: welders

Yes. They used some Lincoln equipment at the Tech College where I took all my welding classes and they were also very good.

Not sure if this makes a difference to you or not but Miller welders are still made in the USA, relatively close by here in Appleton, WI. Lincoln welders are made in Mexico. At least this was the case 6-8 years ago when I purchased mine and I am confident that is still correct. If this is important to you, double check as this info is several years old now. I remember hearing the Miller helmets were made overseas however.
 
Re: welders

I hate to say it but some of you guys seem if you don't buy a 3000 dollar welder it won't work not looking to go into business just make a few spot welds in ny these guys are expensive and this is not rocket science surprised at all the negatevity
 
Re: welders

rjc157 said:
I hate to say it but some of you guys seem if you don't buy a 3000 dollar welder it won't work not looking to go into business just make a few spot welds in ny these guys are expensive and this is not rocket science surprised at all the negatevity
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Not negativity RJC, just reality. I for one know that the cheapie welders are very difficult to get working properly (with decent weld penetration) for a novice. An experienced welder can compensate a fair bit for their shortcomings but it is a learned thing. See if you can find somebody local with one who'll let you have a go on it, they are very much an acquired taste. Andy.
 
Re: welders

No need to spend 3000. You can pick up the previously recommended miller 140 for around 800.00. It is more expensive than the HF cheepo but if you are a hobbyist, it will most likely be the last welder you will buy. It is the size I have been using for 10 years now and I am a bit more than a hobbyist. I can not imagine needing another one any time in the next ten years either. I just spent 4 hours using it today trouble free.
 
Re: welders

I bought a Miller Diversion TIG when they first came out a few years ago. I ended up buying it from a local welding supply shop, who gave me almost the exact same price (within $40-$50 on a $1500 unit) of the lowest ebay mass volume guys and actually lower than most of the mail order places. This was a real surprise. He also let me try one out before I bought it. You're going to need to get the gas bottle locally anyway and a lot of times they discount the gas if you buy the welder from them, i.e. the first fill of gas is free (usually $30-$40).

Come to think of it I also bought the Miller MIG welder locally from a Linde Gas supply, which I got on closeout. Same deal, I had been researching them online then saw the same price in the store so I kept it local.

Yeah, the comment about spending $3000 is a little out of touch. You can get into a Miller TIG (home/hobbyist unit) fully loaded for well under $2K these days and the MIG about half that.
 
Re: welders

healeyblue said:
No need to spend 3000. You can pick up the previously recommended miller 140 for around 800.00. It is more expensive than the HF cheepo but if you are a hobbyist, it will most likely be the last welder you will buy. It is the size I have been using for 10 years now and I am a bit more than a hobbyist. I can not imagine needing another one any time in the next ten years either. I just spent 4 hours using it today trouble free.
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What'cha working on now, Jim? You know we're all fascinated with your projects :smile:

Bob_Spidell said:
I bought a Miller TIG from Indiana Oxygen. Best price I could find; no problems with purchase or delivery. They have the Miller 140 (and a promotion from Miller).

https://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.com/miller-millermatic-140-mig-welding-pkg-with-auto-set-907335

NFI--just a happy customer.
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I've bought 2 or 3 of my machines from them (all Miller; 252 MIG, Dynasty 200 DX TIG, and maybe the <<old style 625>> plasma came from them too). I will also vouch for IOC being a good value for the money, and they're generally complete, ready to weld packages__save for the gas, which is expected to be obtained locally.

I'm probably repeating myself, but the Miller 140 (as Jim recommends) is likely your best bet; I used one of their 175s for a long time, but I just plain and simple, wanted a new machine. I sold the Millermatic 175 on Craig's list in one (1) night and got $450.00 for it (I'm certain that I bought it for less than $600.00 about 6-7 years earlier). Buy a decent machine, keep it clean and it'll have good resale value.
 
Re: welders

Randy Forbes said:
What'cha working on now, Jim? You know we're all fascinated with your projects :smile:

Working on a 1964 Porsche 356 coupe. I do a little at a time. Should be done with all the metal work by the end of the summer. Not my car, a customers car. Working on finishing up the engine bay and starting on the front end. I am replacing the entire nose sheetmetal, but first will be replacing all the metal behind it.
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Re: welders

Yes, I can see that one keeping you busy. It's nice though, to work on cars you're familiar with; I'm sure you've perfected your skills with as many as you've done. It's like me and the Z3/Ms; I've done so many, I can spot the least little thing out of place__like the wrong fastener. I'm very critical of mechanics (especially bodymen) that've worked on the car before me, if they don't put everything back the way they're supposed to! Owner installed modifications are a mixed bag__can't be too critical, as they're the ones paying me ;)

I don't think any of your Healey friends on here would mind if you posted the ocasional "off topic" progress pictures of what you're working on; I think you have a pretty good fan-base here.
 
Re: welders

Like Randy said, would love to see more progress photos on the 356 C. Had a 1965 C Coupe and other than Healey's, my favorite car. Just let me at that project with my HF 90 amp flux mig welder and I could make it Swiss cheese with all the burn throughs in no time !
 
Re: welders

The 356 Registry is the place to see welding jobs! There seems to be dozens of projects that have MAJOR welding repairs. And they are not simple cars to repair. I take my hat off to them all.

I'd like to follow Jim's progress too though :smile:
 
Re: welders

Practice each day. When you are worn out, consumed, and worried. Hit it twice as hard. Make each bar test quality. Continuously invest as much energy as you can on prep. It makes EVERYTHING go less demanding. On test day never state I will consume it out on the hot pass. On the off chance that you see slag crush it. I have seen to numerous individuals come up short a test over this. My two pennies, for what it's value.
 
Re: welders

Hey Guys , I'm with Randy on this one . Last year I picked up a Hobart 140 and it works great for the work we need to do . If you start out with a 200 , you'll probably be blowing holes in everything you try to repair . Be real careful , pick up some 18 gauge sheet steel to practice butt welds and look up some youtube videos .
Just a thought , BobbyR
 
The main problem with welding is: no practice. Get some sample metal as stated above and practice. I have not welded in a while, a little rusty, so I am doing floorboards and fenderwell patches on a 64 Valiant. Thin metal, unlike the 57 Jag. Cold rolled vs stamped steel. Figure i'll get the rhythm back before I hit the new patch panels for the Jag. You will get used to what you have.
 
Hope J. Strother said:
I would suggest a Handheld, 120VAC MIG pack, it's a great little machine. I have one in my shop for doing small jobs where I can't take my big welding machines https://topreviewedten.com/best-mig-welder/. Others may disagree but my experience with it so far is that I am very impressed by it.
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Looks good to me. My only issue is the funky face shield--not a helmet--they 'throw in' with the kit (toss it). You want an autodarkening helmet; being able to see your work is at least half of the 'trick.' Harbor Freight has them at less than $50; no idea if they're any good (lens looks kinda small). They also have a decent little cart:

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding-cart-61316.html

My welding instructor is adamant about wearing safety glasses, even under your helmet. He said he had a friend lose vision in one eye when a small glob of hot slag--more common with stick welding, but still--flew up and hit his eye.
 
If you are **** bent on getting a welder, get a MIG or TIG but definitely not Arch welder unless you are welding thick sections. But getting a mobile welder in is the way to go if you are not going to be welding again for the foreseeable future.

:cheers:

Bob
 
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