For small projects.

Say for fabbing up exhaust-related things and body work....maybe even build a busa/gixxer go-cart like i aspire to do one day. :)


Is this good enough to start with or should i get something with a gas option?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MIG-WIRE-FLUX-WELDER-90-AMP-FREE-SHIP-NEW_W0QQitemZ350046084609QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item350046084609

I would get one that uses gas. I have a flux core welder, it isnt even in the same catagory as a gas welder. The welds never look as clean with the flux core and it makes a mess, i find it welds kind of choppy aswell. If you want to make a go cart or what ever, i would go with something a bit more powerful than that boy scout welder. It would be fine for exhaust systems but i wouldnt trust anything that small for bigger jobs.

Thanks. I'll go with gas. If there's one thing i can't stand, it's structurally unsound ugly welds and every time i see one, i demand (inside my head ofcourse) to know who did that. I was looking at a snap on mig/tig machine but with a baby on the way, i'm positive the wrath of satan would burn into me through my girlfriend's wrath. Perhaps later on.....

Granted, some of the tables i made in shop class with a flux core had outstanding welds. Due to not wanting to burn through or undercut, i always used short bursts on med/low heat. Looked like a roll of coins. Srong enough for the purpose of holding up feet and coffee. I just wouldn't want to be the poor bastard to slam a shin into it at 1am going to the fridge to get a glass of milk....

If you're going to get a wire feed, Miller all the way. The other big player in the welder market would be Lincoln, but the feed wheel on the Lincolns is made of plastic whereas the Miller's is metal (I think brass). The downside to that is that the plastic will eventually wear down to the point that it will no longer feed. That and I think I remember something about the duty cycles on the Miller being longer. If you're going stick or TIG however, I understand that the Lincoln is the one to get. I don't stick or TIG though, so I don't have any experience with those.
Snap-On sounds expensive, just cause all their tools are over priced.

Originally posted by Keith2172
If you're going to get a wire feed, Miller all the way. The other big player in the welder market would be Lincoln, but the feed wheel on the Lincolns is made of plastic whereas the Miller's is metal (I think brass). The downside to that is that the plastic will eventually wear down to the point that it will no longer feed. That and I think I remember something about the duty cycles on the Miller being longer. If you're going stick or TIG however, I understand that the Lincoln is the one to get. I don't stick or TIG though, so I don't have any experience with those. Snap-On sounds expensive, just cause all their tools are over priced.

I would perfer tig, but they come with a price tag and i dont find them as usefull as a mig. Im not a fan of stick though. I think Mig would be the best all around welder for shop projects.

I have a snap-on mig and by no means do I think its over priced. People who claim a tool is over priced based on the name of it need to refrain from working on anything short of a big wheel for thier kid.

With a MIG you def want gas, you dont want flux. Keep in mind you will be limited to Mild Steel. You can weld alum or stainless but MIG does not produce a very nice weld on either. TIG is great but more time consuming and very expensive. My new TIG cost around 4300. retail with the Argon tank.

MIG is easy and fast to work with. Wire is cheap and can be had almost anywhere.

Sweet. Thanks Terry.

To the op, your work is only as good as your tools. I want my work to be solid and hold up.

How much is it for an argon bottle and a refill these days?

Originally posted by 2GeclipseRS
Sweet. Thanks Terry. To the op, your work is only as good as your tools. I want my work to be solid and hold up. How much is it for an argon bottle and a refill these days?

For a small one, its like $25 bucks around me.

Remember, you get what you pay for.

Terry is right, dont think a tool is overpriced just because of the name brand on it. There is a reason of the cost, its either good shit made by a good reputable company or its junk like Harbor Freight welders.

Tanks are rather expensive due to the cost of the steel (which is what you pay for) for a 125 Cu ft bottle your looking at 200.00+fill. To give you an idea of how big 125cuft is, 4' high and 6-7" round. You dont want a tiny tank otherwise you will be filling it all the time.

As far as gas you want a 75/25 argon/co2 mix. You can run 100% co2 like I do but it increases your penetration and makes welding thin gauge a little tricky. You can also use 100% argon. For gas you need to consider the gauge steel you will be welding and what gauge wire you will be using. If you just want something universal then go 75/25 and a .030 cu coated steel wire.

Terry