griffin

Looking to get a welder that will mostly be for doing body work on the Jeep
and some other bits of metal work in the shop. What do you guys recommend?
The budget is about $500 CDN + $100 for the gas bottle. I'm thinking mig,
220V with gas feed. Don't know much else about what to look for and what to
stay away from. Been looking at Deca, Lincoln, and a few others. Any input
would be great!

Rusted

I have been doing all of my body work with a 120V Lincoln mig welder. It has
been perfect for all of the sheet metal and lighter welds (like seat
brackets). But even working on sheet metal I have it cranked up to 3/4
power. I am getting ready to buy my own and have picked out the 220V
Millermatic 175 (Lincoln makes a similar model as well). It will do
everything that the small 120V will do, plus weld anything else on a jeep
that I would ever need to weld. So far I have not ran into any one who
welds like I plan to and purchased the 175 and wished they stepped up to the
210 model. The best prices I have seen so far is at cyberweld.com (free
shipping as well), but the welders are $700US, so you may have to save up a
bit longer.



"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:pkNNd.313551$6l.74599@pd7tw2no...
> Looking to get a welder that will mostly be for doing body work on the
> Jeep
> and some other bits of metal work in the shop. What do you guys recommend?
> The budget is about $500 CDN + $100 for the gas bottle. I'm thinking mig,
> 220V with gas feed. Don't know much else about what to look for and what
> to
> stay away from. Been looking at Deca, Lincoln, and a few others. Any input
> would be great!
>
>

Rusted

I have been doing all of my body work with a 120V Lincoln mig welder. It has
been perfect for all of the sheet metal and lighter welds (like seat
brackets). But even working on sheet metal I have it cranked up to 3/4
power. I am getting ready to buy my own and have picked out the 220V
Millermatic 175 (Lincoln makes a similar model as well). It will do
everything that the small 120V will do, plus weld anything else on a jeep
that I would ever need to weld. So far I have not ran into any one who
welds like I plan to and purchased the 175 and wished they stepped up to the
210 model. The best prices I have seen so far is at cyberweld.com (free
shipping as well), but the welders are $700US, so you may have to save up a
bit longer.



"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:pkNNd.313551$6l.74599@pd7tw2no...
> Looking to get a welder that will mostly be for doing body work on the
> Jeep
> and some other bits of metal work in the shop. What do you guys recommend?
> The budget is about $500 CDN + $100 for the gas bottle. I'm thinking mig,
> 220V with gas feed. Don't know much else about what to look for and what
> to
> stay away from. Been looking at Deca, Lincoln, and a few others. Any input
> would be great!
>
>

Rusted

I have been doing all of my body work with a 120V Lincoln mig welder. It has
been perfect for all of the sheet metal and lighter welds (like seat
brackets). But even working on sheet metal I have it cranked up to 3/4
power. I am getting ready to buy my own and have picked out the 220V
Millermatic 175 (Lincoln makes a similar model as well). It will do
everything that the small 120V will do, plus weld anything else on a jeep
that I would ever need to weld. So far I have not ran into any one who
welds like I plan to and purchased the 175 and wished they stepped up to the
210 model. The best prices I have seen so far is at cyberweld.com (free
shipping as well), but the welders are $700US, so you may have to save up a
bit longer.



"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:pkNNd.313551$6l.74599@pd7tw2no...
> Looking to get a welder that will mostly be for doing body work on the
> Jeep
> and some other bits of metal work in the shop. What do you guys recommend?
> The budget is about $500 CDN + $100 for the gas bottle. I'm thinking mig,
> 220V with gas feed. Don't know much else about what to look for and what
> to
> stay away from. Been looking at Deca, Lincoln, and a few others. Any input
> would be great!
>
>

Cherokee-Ltd

You'll have to up your budget a bit to get a respectable machine.

I went through the low budget welder search a few months ago and I wouldn't
buy the Deca for half the price. Avoid the Lincoln Mig-Pak 10 and 15 because
you have to buy the gas hook up separately at Canadian Tire (extra $100).
Consider nothing less than the Hobart 140 or Lincoln SP135T for 110 machines
and Hobart 180 or Lincoln 175T for 220 machines. You won't get a comparable
Miller machine in the same price range up here. The Lincolns have a "Plus"
series in the 135 and 175 which offers continually variable voltage control.
This is nice but I couldn't justify the price difference. If you're prepared
to pay the difference, consider the Millers.. they have continuously
variable voltage and are just a bit more than the Lincoln Plus series. Not
to mention, they have a better resale value if you are looking to upgrade in
the future.

The 110 machines above will perform any bodywork you choose to do and it's
easy to learn how to use them. They will also weld thicker materials (1/4"
multiple pass with regular wire, single pass with flux core). There is no
doubt the 220 machines will provide cleaner single pass welds on thicker
materials using regular wire so consider what you have planned for this
welder beyond bodywork.

You'll be lucky to find a small bottle for $100 (maybe empty). Before buying
a bottle consider the fill cost. Fill costs include labour, the labour is
the same for a small bottle as it is a big bottle. A small bottle will cost
roughly $30 to fill and last one long day while a big bottle will cost
$50ish but you get 4x as much. Look at all your options for gas, including
renting. I can rent a big bottle for $60/yr + fills but I elected to buy the
medium bottle ($190 on exchange program). I can fill it anywhere and
exchange it from the point of purchase when it expires. The renting option
is a good deal but I bought the 110 machine with portability in mind and the
big bottles are too much to lug around-hence the purchase of the medium
bottle (twice the capacity of the small, half of the large).

Plan on spending $800 for a 110 machine with bottle purchase or upwards of
$1000 for 220. Don't waste $600 on anything less than Miller, Hobart or
Lincoln.

I use a Lincoln 135T ($500 open box deal) CAR40 Bottle ($190) and a Princess
Auto Mig Cart ($55 on sale) and I have been extremely happy with the setup
after exchanging the small bottle for the medium. After welding in new
floors, I feel the setup has paid for itself.
-Brian

"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:pkNNd.313551$6l.74599@pd7tw2no...
> Looking to get a welder that will mostly be for doing body work on the
> Jeep
> and some other bits of metal work in the shop. What do you guys recommend?
> The budget is about $500 CDN + $100 for the gas bottle. I'm thinking mig,
> 220V with gas feed. Don't know much else about what to look for and what
> to
> stay away from. Been looking at Deca, Lincoln, and a few others. Any input
> would be great!
>
>

Cherokee-Ltd

You'll have to up your budget a bit to get a respectable machine.

I went through the low budget welder search a few months ago and I wouldn't
buy the Deca for half the price. Avoid the Lincoln Mig-Pak 10 and 15 because
you have to buy the gas hook up separately at Canadian Tire (extra $100).
Consider nothing less than the Hobart 140 or Lincoln SP135T for 110 machines
and Hobart 180 or Lincoln 175T for 220 machines. You won't get a comparable
Miller machine in the same price range up here. The Lincolns have a "Plus"
series in the 135 and 175 which offers continually variable voltage control.
This is nice but I couldn't justify the price difference. If you're prepared
to pay the difference, consider the Millers.. they have continuously
variable voltage and are just a bit more than the Lincoln Plus series. Not
to mention, they have a better resale value if you are looking to upgrade in
the future.

The 110 machines above will perform any bodywork you choose to do and it's
easy to learn how to use them. They will also weld thicker materials (1/4"
multiple pass with regular wire, single pass with flux core). There is no
doubt the 220 machines will provide cleaner single pass welds on thicker
materials using regular wire so consider what you have planned for this
welder beyond bodywork.

You'll be lucky to find a small bottle for $100 (maybe empty). Before buying
a bottle consider the fill cost. Fill costs include labour, the labour is
the same for a small bottle as it is a big bottle. A small bottle will cost
roughly $30 to fill and last one long day while a big bottle will cost
$50ish but you get 4x as much. Look at all your options for gas, including
renting. I can rent a big bottle for $60/yr + fills but I elected to buy the
medium bottle ($190 on exchange program). I can fill it anywhere and
exchange it from the point of purchase when it expires. The renting option
is a good deal but I bought the 110 machine with portability in mind and the
big bottles are too much to lug around-hence the purchase of the medium
bottle (twice the capacity of the small, half of the large).

Plan on spending $800 for a 110 machine with bottle purchase or upwards of
$1000 for 220. Don't waste $600 on anything less than Miller, Hobart or
Lincoln.

I use a Lincoln 135T ($500 open box deal) CAR40 Bottle ($190) and a Princess
Auto Mig Cart ($55 on sale) and I have been extremely happy with the setup
after exchanging the small bottle for the medium. After welding in new
floors, I feel the setup has paid for itself.
-Brian

"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:pkNNd.313551$6l.74599@pd7tw2no...
> Looking to get a welder that will mostly be for doing body work on the
> Jeep
> and some other bits of metal work in the shop. What do you guys recommend?
> The budget is about $500 CDN + $100 for the gas bottle. I'm thinking mig,
> 220V with gas feed. Don't know much else about what to look for and what
> to
> stay away from. Been looking at Deca, Lincoln, and a few others. Any input
> would be great!
>
>

Cherokee-Ltd

You'll have to up your budget a bit to get a respectable machine.

I went through the low budget welder search a few months ago and I wouldn't
buy the Deca for half the price. Avoid the Lincoln Mig-Pak 10 and 15 because
you have to buy the gas hook up separately at Canadian Tire (extra $100).
Consider nothing less than the Hobart 140 or Lincoln SP135T for 110 machines
and Hobart 180 or Lincoln 175T for 220 machines. You won't get a comparable
Miller machine in the same price range up here. The Lincolns have a "Plus"
series in the 135 and 175 which offers continually variable voltage control.
This is nice but I couldn't justify the price difference. If you're prepared
to pay the difference, consider the Millers.. they have continuously
variable voltage and are just a bit more than the Lincoln Plus series. Not
to mention, they have a better resale value if you are looking to upgrade in
the future.

The 110 machines above will perform any bodywork you choose to do and it's
easy to learn how to use them. They will also weld thicker materials (1/4"
multiple pass with regular wire, single pass with flux core). There is no
doubt the 220 machines will provide cleaner single pass welds on thicker
materials using regular wire so consider what you have planned for this
welder beyond bodywork.

You'll be lucky to find a small bottle for $100 (maybe empty). Before buying
a bottle consider the fill cost. Fill costs include labour, the labour is
the same for a small bottle as it is a big bottle. A small bottle will cost
roughly $30 to fill and last one long day while a big bottle will cost
$50ish but you get 4x as much. Look at all your options for gas, including
renting. I can rent a big bottle for $60/yr + fills but I elected to buy the
medium bottle ($190 on exchange program). I can fill it anywhere and
exchange it from the point of purchase when it expires. The renting option
is a good deal but I bought the 110 machine with portability in mind and the
big bottles are too much to lug around-hence the purchase of the medium
bottle (twice the capacity of the small, half of the large).

Plan on spending $800 for a 110 machine with bottle purchase or upwards of
$1000 for 220. Don't waste $600 on anything less than Miller, Hobart or
Lincoln.

I use a Lincoln 135T ($500 open box deal) CAR40 Bottle ($190) and a Princess
Auto Mig Cart ($55 on sale) and I have been extremely happy with the setup
after exchanging the small bottle for the medium. After welding in new
floors, I feel the setup has paid for itself.
-Brian

"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:pkNNd.313551$6l.74599@pd7tw2no...
> Looking to get a welder that will mostly be for doing body work on the
> Jeep
> and some other bits of metal work in the shop. What do you guys recommend?
> The budget is about $500 CDN + $100 for the gas bottle. I'm thinking mig,
> 220V with gas feed. Don't know much else about what to look for and what
> to
> stay away from. Been looking at Deca, Lincoln, and a few others. Any input
> would be great!
>
>

HarryS

You will find a 120vac mig welder with optional gas hook-up will be all you
need I have use one for many years anything bigger you just blow holes in
the metal this is the model I use.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00920668000
HarryS

"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:pkNNd.313551$6l.74599@pd7tw2no...
> Looking to get a welder that will mostly be for doing body work on the
> Jeep
> and some other bits of metal work in the shop. What do you guys recommend?
> The budget is about $500 CDN + $100 for the gas bottle. I'm thinking mig,
> 220V with gas feed. Don't know much else about what to look for and what
> to
> stay away from. Been looking at Deca, Lincoln, and a few others. Any input
> would be great!
>
>

HarryS

You will find a 120vac mig welder with optional gas hook-up will be all you
need I have use one for many years anything bigger you just blow holes in
the metal this is the model I use.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00920668000
HarryS

"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:pkNNd.313551$6l.74599@pd7tw2no...
> Looking to get a welder that will mostly be for doing body work on the
> Jeep
> and some other bits of metal work in the shop. What do you guys recommend?
> The budget is about $500 CDN + $100 for the gas bottle. I'm thinking mig,
> 220V with gas feed. Don't know much else about what to look for and what
> to
> stay away from. Been looking at Deca, Lincoln, and a few others. Any input
> would be great!
>
>

HarryS

You will find a 120vac mig welder with optional gas hook-up will be all you
need I have use one for many years anything bigger you just blow holes in
the metal this is the model I use.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00920668000
HarryS

"griffin" <gryffy@DELTHISshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:pkNNd.313551$6l.74599@pd7tw2no...
> Looking to get a welder that will mostly be for doing body work on the
> Jeep
> and some other bits of metal work in the shop. What do you guys recommend?
> The budget is about $500 CDN + $100 for the gas bottle. I'm thinking mig,
> 220V with gas feed. Don't know much else about what to look for and what
> to
> stay away from. Been looking at Deca, Lincoln, and a few others. Any input
> would be great!
>
>