[Holey Moley 64]

Im looking at buying a mig for hanging body pannels and putting in braces. Thats all I forsee using it for.

I stopped at a welding supply shop today and asked a few questions about what would be appropriate. The information they gave me, along with what I have been reading on TC has led me to want a mig with these capabilities.

1. Gas compatable
2. Full adjustability on volts and speed
3. 120v plug in


With that in mind, these are two migs I am looking at buying.

http://allentown.craigslist.org/for/1445679409.html

http://cnj.craigslist.org/for/1429217819.html

Am I on the right track?

[rubadub]

It depends, these machines have a duty cycle, I would try to find out what kind of life these welders had, and does the lincoln also have variable voltage and a metal wire drive wheel instead of plastic.

If either one of these machines was used at a body shop or some place that welds a lot I would pass on them.

A lot of the metal in these car bodies is .034 thick, then you put 40 years of age on the metal, and some of it will be like pock marked or thinner once you clean it up.

Trying to weld this thinner metal can get nasty unless your a really good welder, I'm not a very good welder and I have welded up a bunch of sheet metal, and I still blow holes through it on occasion, and I have been using these 110 migs for over 20 years.

Do yourself a big favor and go get a new Miller 110 mig with gas, spend the extra dollars, you will be glad you did.

Rob

[70 SS LS-5]

I agree with Rob. In my opinion, buying a used welder is not a good idea. I'm sure people buy used welders every day with no problems but I have seen friends get stuck because they bought used. And I really wouldn't recommend it if you're not an experienced welder because IF there is something wrong with the used welder, you wouldn't know that the bad weld is being caused by you or the welder itself. The cost difference between those used units and a new one is not very much.

Mike

[GRUMPYVETTE]

Ive purchased several used welders, and had zero problems, but I always do a few test welds before I buy, one,If you can,t do that your best off avoiding the welder. and keep in mind ,that the main things you need to do, in deciding on a welder is making sure it meets your needs and that you have the electrical capacity to run it, stick to recently built name brands so you can get parts, anything over about 10 years old is usually hard to get parts for.
and stick to single phase 110volt or 220 volt welders as most shops don,t have three phase power

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/...4&p=6235#p6235

[ms minnesota]

The Miller is a good price with bottle and should have no problem being used. They have been very reliable. I believe the Lincoln machine is their retail line and not as good as their others. I would stay away from it.