To save money, and for various other reasons, I'd like to buy a mig welder and weld in my own patch panels. I'm shopping around for one of the small welders, like the Lincoln 135, or other 110v units. I've done a search on what was previously written in this forum about mig welders, but I'm wondering if anybody has anything to add to what has been written.

I'd like to hear from those who have bought one of these smaller welders and have successfully taught themselves to use it and have gotten good results. What unit did you buy? Are you satisfied with it? How long did it take to get good results? Any other advice?

i purchased a Hobart 135. never used a mig before. im real pleased with the stuff i have done to date. here is what works for me. i dont see very well so i use a bright neon light placed close to the piece im working on (incondecant lights explode when the hot slag hits them) this allows me to see the patch joint and allows me to follow it well. when putting a patch in, i pre fit the piece "Very" well. then i tack it down in one place. then move to another place, align the joint, and tack, move again, etc. once the piece is tacked every where, i fill the spaces in allowing the metal to cool. once the welding is done i use a high speed air grinder with a carbide burr to grind the welds down. this does not heat the metal as badly as a heavy sanding disk is a angle grinder. once the welds are ground down well then i use the angle grinder to touch thigs up. this meathod works well for me and produces perfect butt welds. HTH Dave

Do a search for MRTINSR's mig welding basics on here I learned more about mig than any book with that post. Also practice!!!! First!!!

You use your car as a testing ground and you will be sorry! I have a Lincoln SP135 PLUS that has infinate voltage control, which means you can set the heat anywhere like a radio volume, instead of just setting A,B,C or D( I bought it online for %539 tax and shipping free!)

Also the Welders handbook on Amazon is awsome! Get some thin wire for sheet metal ie... .030 or .023 and use gas that flux core is for windy conditions on a building, it is very dirty! Also wear a P100 pink resperator (about $18) or get ready for parkinsons disease or worse! Read the first post it's just your friggen health! ;)

Ive always borrowed or rented the 110 unit Lincolns, the smaller ones. They work perfect for my floor panel redo. I need something small for my garage, small and cheap! I hate the thought of cheap tools, but harbor frieght has a MIG for $109 it has limited settings for voltage, not sure about the wire feed levels, and the duty cycle is probably like 10% which I could handle, this would only be for spot welds and touching up areas here and there. Anyone use the cheapies?

I too have one of the smaller lincolns. Bought it a few years ago at home depot. It was pretty bad at first, this was the only welding I had ever done, but once I figured out how it was supposed to work it got better and better. Then I threw a curve at myself and bought the gas conversion. Only way to go if you're doing anything light guage. I've been doing it for maybe a year and a half now, and have gotten many compliments on my welding, twice from bodyshop guys, and about a month ago while I was helping a friend build a set piece. He had a friend thats certified, and does every kind of welding known to man stop by, and he told me my welds looked awesome, and asked if how long I've been doing it. Said they were textbook. Made me feel really good. Alot of getting started is figuring out the settings and how they affect your welds. What I did was took a piece of 22guage and varies wire speed while welding.
Best of luck, sorry if that was convuluted!

First off, I'm new to this site and have to say that I find it very refreshing to see so many helpful posts providing useful information instead of giving the person asking the question a hard time. Ok, back to the welding question. I'm from Ohio, and worked for Honda of America in Marysville for 1 year on the final weld line in the Motorcycle plant. We also used the smaller sized Lincolns. I had never welded prior to that, but learned very fast. Best advice (like others have mentioned) is to practice a lot. Pick up some scrap metal and just get accustomed to welding different types of metals at different settings. Another good tip is to pick up a good mask as well. The self-dimming versions are very nice. Some people wear ear plugs as well. Good luck.

I bought a Lincoln Pro Mig 135 last year and have improved my welding over time. I am not using the gas at this point as I am not welding in visible patch panels ....YET. :confused: I have been able to do all of my welding with the .030 flux core wire up to this point.
This is a great welder. I also built a cart for it which provided me with some good practice.
http://users.ev1.net/~jaaustin/chevelle/welder1.jpg

its easy, get one, you will be glad you did. it opens up all sorts of abilities for yourself.

I'll chime in since I am a new MIG welder too. I bought a Hobart 135. I have built a go kart and welded on the mower deck a time or two, and a few other things I had laying in the garage. Gets better every time I use it. This has been all flux core.

I picked up a short bottle and will try the gas on some sheet metal next, using the thinner solid wire. I'm working up to working on the floor and inner rear wheel wells of my 70 Chevelle.

I use a self-dimming helmet and a welding apron (keeps the sparks off your lap). Fun stuff.

I always think of Tim Taylor (Home Improvement) when I weld, arrgh, argh, huh?

Don't be afraid to put the grinder to it.

I bought a Miller 135 with variable controls when I started my resto in the fall of 2002. Taught myself to weld and installed 2 rear quarters plus numerous other patches throughout the car. I am now welding in panels for a friend of mine. I love makin sparks with this thing and weld every chance I get. You won't regret doing it yourself. The satisfaction knowing you did it yourself can't be beat

Jerry

Originally posted by blumont:
I bought a Miller 135 with variable controls when I started my resto in the fall of 2002. Taught myself to weld and installed 2 rear quarters plus numerous other patches throughout the car. I am now welding in panels for a friend of mine. I love makin sparks with this thing and weld every chance I get. You won't regret doing it yourself. The satisfaction knowing you did it yourself can't be beat

Jerry Jerry, can you provide a little info related to your procedure and equipment for welding the thin sheetmetal like quarters and such? I am hesitant at this point, but only because it is an unknown. I assume you are using gas ? How would you compare using gas and using just flux core wire ?

John, The first thing I did was use the search option here at TC. There is a ton of info on here. I basically got my ideas from 70isfine (his website showing his procedures) I varied them a bit but the outcome was great. If you want a detailed description on the way I did it I can email you if you like as to not plug up this post.There are lots of people here who will also help you out.
I have only used gas (argon mix) for all sheet metal I have welded along with .023 wire. The welders actually come with instructions on where to have the voltage and wire speed settings to get started. Then as you gain experience you can adjust accordingly

Jerry

I got one of those Lincoln Pro-Mig 135s too.
Ive worked its a$$ off a couple of times & it never missed a beat.

Consider getting a 220 volt model if you can. Less hassle with breakers, etc. and (in my opinion) you can weld longer with the 220 machines. Plus if you want to work with some heavier metal you'll get better penetration on it. I've got a pretty cheap Clarke 180 220 model, it's been a great little machine. It would be nice to have more variation on the heat controls but I've made do with it just fine.

As far as learning how to weld, just start doing it. Make a welder cart, other odds and ends things you'll get the hang of it pretty quick.

Originally posted by blumont:
John, The first thing I did was use the search option here at TC. There is a ton of info on here. I basically got my ideas from 70isfine (his website showing his procedures) I varied them a bit but the outcome was great. If you want a detailed description on the way I did it I can email you if you like as to not plug up this post.There are lots of people here who will also help you out.
I have only used gas (argon mix) for all sheet metal I have welded along with .023 wire. The welders actually come with instructions on where to have the voltage and wire speed settings to get started. Then as you gain experience you can adjust accordingly

Jerry Thanks Jerry graemlins/thumbsup.gif

At work ( Auto assembly plant ) we have been useing the small 120v Lincoln welders for years making repairs on the Underbodies with great success, Image having 10 -15 differant people playing with and abusing the welder and it still worked for 3-4 yrs. When welding sheet metal it is great to have someone else there to assist. I have always spot welded the panel in place as was stated and then go along and do welds 3-4" at a time and either have the other guy follow thru after I stop and blow compressed air over it to cool it down, another guy I know perfers to have someone on the other side of the panel following his weld with a Brass hammer to absorb the heat. He will do the whole seam non stop so that really does work well. I taught my wife how to mig weld, after about 10 minutes of practice, she was handwriting her name on steel with it. I myself have only used the Flux core wire once.. and I will NEVER use it again !!! Also its a good idea to get a welder that will hold a 33 or 44 lb spool as the price of the wire drops dramatically, if you dont find one you like, consider making a spool holder for it. around here 11 lb spools are over 2 $ a lb. 44 lb spools are around 1 $ a lb.

MIG School is now in session. Report to MARTINSR's GMAW Academy (http://www.chevelles.com/forum/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=006730#000000)

Seriously, this is the best link at which to start.

Reid

Definitely read MARTINSR's posts - he is a great teacher! I have a Hobart Handler 125. I love it, great machine. I just upgraded to a MillerMatic 185, and future plans call for a TIG, too. Definitely use gas, and buy as much welder as you can afford. Miller has a great student training package for $25:
http://www.millerwelds.com/education/tools/index.html#training Scroll all the way to the bottom. I'd probably pop for the instructer's package, it's only $10 more. Here is a good site:
http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/index.php?s=
And another site I just learned about:
http://www.weldingweb.com/
Auto-darkening helmets are great too - but don't buy a cheapo-jobber: your eyes are worth investing good money in! Good luck, and have fun - you'll be glad to own a MIG, you'll wonder how you ever got by without it!

Thanks for all of your responses! I feel alot better about buying one of these welders knowing that some of you have done the same thing and taught yourselves. I printed out MartinSr's post on mig welding, as well as some past posts by others - lots of good information. Someone had a good suggestion to check out a local welding supply house - I'll do that this week. If they don't have anything good to offer, I'll go to the online places.

If you can, it's a good idea to purchase locally. Nice to establish a good relationship with a local guy, even if it costs a little more - easier to get help, advice, and service; plus you're supporting your area's economy. Also, lot's of these places will match the mail order places prices, or come close. Have fun, you'll love it.

I got my Lincoln Pro Mig-135 locally here at Lowes and the price was the same as most catalogue listings ( I think it was around $430). Apparently they sell the gas kit to go with it (I still need to get that), they have the wire, helmets, gloves, etc..... Any welding "how to's" I need I will get here (Chevelle Tech) so Lowe's is simply my vendor. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Welding is on of those things that you just need to "feel" out (speed, length of wire at feed, etc.). I don't think anyone can just up and learn how to weld by reading a book or talking to someone. Give it a shot. Best of luck!
graemlins/hurray.gif

I just did this, I invested in a Millermatic 175. It was more money than I wanted to spend, but I think it'll pay for itself in the long run and it'll last forever. I'm going to do some practice welding tonight. I've done alot of reading, but I'm basically teaching myself, I don't think there will be any better way to learn than to just do it smile.gif

Originally posted by 69boo307:
I just did this, I invested in a Millermatic 175. It was more money than I wanted to spend, but I think it'll pay for itself in the long run and it'll last forever. I'm going to do some practice welding tonight. I've done alot of reading, but I'm basically teaching myself, I don't think there will be any better way to learn than to just do it smile.gif You got it graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I'm with Brian, just got a Millermatic 175. It kicks butt compared to the cheap 120V welder I was using. It's just so much easier to weld with, mostly because the output voltage and wire speed are much more stable.

Lincoln had the 135T and 135 Plus if I'm not mistaken. The 135T has 5 heat settings and the 135 Plus had infinite heat settings. It's worth the extra for the infinite heat settings. Watch out for some of the hardware store welders (Depot, Lowes, whatever) because they can have cheaper Lincolns that have lower duty cycles and are ligher duty than what you'd get at a welding store.

I've been using a gas called Allmig. I think it's a tri-mix of CO2, Argon and O2? Works good.

Peter

Peter is absolutely right. If you decide to spend the extra cash, go with the Millermatic 175, otherwise you can find the Lincoln "Pro Mig 135" at one of your local warehouse stores like Lowes or Home Depot.

As Peter said though, you want to be sure and avoid the low end Lincoln "Weld Pak" machines you will find locally ay the warehouse stores. I hear that these are not worth buying and you will probably see them at Lowes, Home Depot, etc... graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I have the Lincoln Pro Mig 135 and its great it welds beautiful welds and im 16 and picked up welding really fast still a little shaky but im getting it real quick

Mig may be easy to use at first, but it's rather difficult to master...for structural welding. Sheetmetal you simply try to not burn holes and not warp the metal too badly. With thicker materials, say 1/8" and thicker, your job is more difficult to achieve proper penetration.

The problem with Mig is that you have wire feeding the entire time and it can cover up poor penetration due to improper technique. The bead may look good, but underneath theres little or no penetration in either parent materials.

It has taken me several years here recently to know proper technique as well as what to look for and also correct joint preparation for recommended penetration.

IMO, Mig is many times sold to beginner welders which are more prone to make technique mistakes and not know how to achieve the needed penetration. Adding to this fact is that 110v Mig machines are challenged in the fact that they lack the power needed to achieve decent penetration. The beginner welder may not know this and combining an underpowered machine with a novice using possible improper technique could be disasterous if there welding something structural like a roll bar/cage or a trailer hitch.

After moving up from two smaller 110v welders to a much better Miller 251 Millermatic, it's night and day how much better the bigger machine welds.

O.K. 10secBu, now you've got me scared. You say MIG is easy to learn but difficult to master? How do you know if you're making good welds? Obviously you practice first on metal scraps, and then, after the metal cools, bend the welded scraps to see if they break apart at the weld joint? How do you know if you've mastered MIG welding, and how long would it take to do it?

The last thing I want to do is spend the money on a welder and the related equipment and spend the time learning and welding only to have cracks show up on my weld lines on the bodywork. I plan on only welding patch panels, not structural parts. I'm leaning toward a Millermatic 135 (recommended by several people here) to get the job done.

I really don't want to buy a welder and do it myself, but I can't find a bodyshop that will do this work at a reasonable cost. Estimates for bodywork and paint are at $8000.00 on up. If I do the patch panels and other bodywork myself, I think I can get the car painted for under $4000.

66Malibu, To know if you are getting good penitration simply flip over your test piece and see if you are getting a small weld hump on the other side. Go to any body shop and get free practice scrap fenders or you will be very sorry!