http://b2b.airgas.com/browse/product.aspx?Msg=RecID&recIds=308070

AirGas is not more than 2 miles from my home, and they have tanks and all that good stuff. I've read here more than once that buying local is a good idea, so this might be a good way to go.

I'm looking at getting a MIG sometime soon. I want to learn how to weld so I can at least to patch panels on my fenders and do other stuff around the house and car.

I like old cars, and this probably won't be my last one, and all the classic chevy car's see to rust down on the fenders. That's be one less thing I'd have to pay a body shop to do. Hopefully I'll learn how to do floors and eventually quarters also.

Is the Millermatic 135 good enough to work on my car? Oh yeah, that cart comes free If I buy it before the end of January....

Thanks guys.

Hello, I assume 135 means 135amps and that is plenty of power for sheetmetal and most general welding. Just make sure you don't buy a gasless unit, they weld ok but not as nice as one w/gas. Mig welding is easy to learn, just start w/a lot of scrap. Also see if it can be adapted to tig welding that is a nice option for further down the road. Good luck graemlins/waving.gif

Millermatic 135 in MY eyes is hands down the BEST welder for your needs.

Most collision repair shops Ive been in have millermatics 135 as their main welders...Eric

Enrique,

I recently purchased my first welder for starting to redo my 1970 that needs floors, trunk and quarters. I'm the type that researches things 10x more than I should before spending significant money. Anyways, here are my recommendations:

- Stick with Miller
- If you can afford it and if you have a 230v power available, step up to the MM175. The extra power is always nice and the duty cycle is much higher than the MM135. The MM135 is nice if you need portability though... and it's big enough for what you want to do.
- For bodywork, your going to want C25 shielding gas. AirGas will sell you up to a 125cf cylinder. Go with as large as you can afford as the refills cost pretty much the same regardless of whether it's a 40cf or 125cf cylinder. (labor to refill is what you pay for, not the cf) They do deal in larger than 125cf, but you have to sign a lease with them.. which you don't want to do.


After a month of deliberating, I went with a MM210 and 125cf C25. I picked up the welder online (due to cost) and gas, wire and other supplies locally at AirGas. Providing a link below to the company I ordered from... MUCH cheaper than AirGas, free delivery and was great to work with. For the MM135, your talking $550 delivered versus $710 + tax. For my MM210, there was $400 difference.. and I just couldn't justify buying the welder itself locally (and I really wanted to!).

http://stores.ebay.com/Welding-Supplies-from-IOC_W0QQsspagenameZl2QQtZkm


Also, make sure you pickup a good helmet (auto dimming is nice for a beginner) - Miller Big Window Elite is awesome. Also, a respirator as mentioned in the "It's only your health" thread here.

--Brian

Thanks. Actually, if I buy it before the end of January, I get the mig and the cart for 640+ tax, that's only a 90 dollar difference and I'm sure the carts are more than that from what I've seen.

I'll have to ask my dad if we have a hi-voltage line, I'm pretty sure we do but I dought I can afford the bigger welder.

I agree with Gordo, Go for the 220/230v. You won't regret it.Especially if it's not going to be your last project car. You next car may require frame work in which the 135 is borderline for that type of work. As for getting a new cart, do what most new welder owners do. Pick up some L-channel and weld-up your own. Best way to learn.
Good Luck

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'65

That's true about the frame work. But I also doubt I'd trust my amatuer welding, no matter how good I think I am, to hold my frame together.

That's a good Idea about the cart tho, thanks, I might just do that.

I'd like to get the bigger welder, but I'm in college so funds are not unlimited, and I don't have the kind of income that supports that kind of shopping, lol.

Thanks all.