View Full Version : need a welder to weld the floor of my jeep, which welder to get?
nelson84
10-24-2010, 08:42 PM
I am looking to buy a cheap welder to patch the floor of my jeep that I can plug into a 110 outlet. I was looking at welders that come as a package with a video on how to do it. Do I get the wire fed welder or the stick welder? I will be welding the floor of a jeep a missing piece of the frame and there is a crack at the back that needs welding on the body. I don't need anything to fancy. Any suggestions????
socoj2
10-24-2010, 08:43 PM
IF you dont know what you are doing. And the frame needs welding. Get it professionally done.
IF you dont know what you are doing. And the frame needs welding. Get it professionally done.
Agreed. Frames on vehicles are not a beginner project. Have someone who knows what they are doing weld that.
Sheet metal body work and floor pans are something that could be done, but don't expect great results without a fair amount of practice. Thin steel with mig, especially on extra thin rusted metal will be difficult. You will need to cut out and remove the bad areas, then clean up the remaining metal with a sanding disk (which thins the metal and makes it harder to do). Body work is usually do out of position, usually horizontal and vertical. You will need to practice in those positions on similar thickness material to have a chance at doing a good job with this.
Stay away from cheap FC only machines, They really are not suited to thin sheet metal work. Also most bottom end gas migs often have erratic feed mechanisms that will make thin material a PITA. If you are serious, expect to drop a decent chunk of change on a good name brand machine from Miller, Lincoln or Hobart. Also understand small 110v migs are really only good for metal 1/8" and less, so you will quickly out grow the machine if you find you like this. A 220v machine is really a better choice in the long run, or a 110/220v machine like Millers MM211. However you will spend more for one of these.
nelson84
10-25-2010, 05:19 PM
So I should just pay a welder $400 to weld up my jeep.
Broccoli1
10-25-2010, 05:26 PM
So I should just pay a welder $400 to weld up my jeep.
For the Frame- yes
You can do just about everything else as a beginner.
socoj2
10-25-2010, 07:56 PM
So I should just pay a welder $400 to weld up my jeep.
Hard to say to the extent of what he is doing.
If its $400 for the sheet work and the frame welding that sounds pretty good.
bert the welder
10-25-2010, 09:57 PM
You really should get a professional to do it. You really can't just watch a video and have at it. Maybe if you start with lawn ornaments.
DougAustinTX
10-25-2010, 10:27 PM
If money is the issue, I would use a 90 amp Harbor Freight mig unit with .023 flux core for the body panels ($120) and a stick welder (220v) for the frame work ($200 on Craigslist for a Lincoln tombstone). I have done car rebuild/restorations since I was in college ( a LONG time ago) and I was doing it with much worse equipment than the Harbor Freight stuff. Never had anything fall off and kill someone. Just don't try to weld anything load bearing with the little mig.
Doug
nelson84
10-26-2010, 09:35 PM
If money is the issue, I would use a 90 amp Harbor Freight mig unit with .023 flux core for the body panels ($120) and a stick welder (220v) for the frame work ($200 on Craigslist for a Lincoln tombstone). I have done car rebuild/restorations since I was in college ( a LONG time ago) and I was doing it with much worse equipment than the Harbor Freight stuff. Never had anything fall off and kill someone. Just don't try to weld anything load bearing with the little mig.
Doug
What is the difference between a 90 amp and a 140 amp? Can I weld thicker metel with the 140 compared to the 90 amp? In my jeep magazine the harbor freight 90 amp is on sale for $89. But I was looking at a lincoln 140 amp wire fed for $395. Would the 140 amp weld the frame?
WillieB
10-27-2010, 02:43 AM
Best you practice a bit before you start welding on frames. An experienced craftsman could do the job with a cheap welder but a beginner probably couldn't do it safely with a top of the line machine.
socoj2
10-27-2010, 07:11 AM
What is the difference between a 90 amp and a 140 amp? Can I weld thicker metel with the 140 compared to the 90 amp? In my jeep magazine the harbor freight 90 amp is on sale for $89. But I was looking at a lincoln 140 amp wire fed for $395. Would the 140 amp weld the frame?
DO NOT weld on the frame yourself.
If you are in Georgia let me know me or someone else in the jeep club can take a look atn point you in the right direction.
nelson84
10-27-2010, 09:28 AM
I think I will get the 140 amp lincoln, what is a beter brand lincoln or miller?
bert the welder
10-27-2010, 01:01 PM
What is the difference between a 90 amp and a 140 amp? Can I weld thicker metel with the 140 compared to the 90 amp?
Seriously Chief, if you're asking this you really need to reconsider. Not trying to be a dik, but when that frame lets go it could kill you, a friend, or someone you don't know. Patching floor tin is one thing. The frame is serious. Get the cheap welder, practice, and try the floor tin but take the frame to a shop.
Broccoli1
10-27-2010, 01:23 PM
I think I will get the 140 amp lincoln, what is a beter brand lincoln or miller?
The Lincoln @ $395.00 is probably the tapped model, which is not a bad choice. and to get the Continuous Voltage option you add $$.
Miller doesn't offer a lower end model so the price reflects that.
MM140 - $690.00
Lincoln's equivalent 140 is the PowerMig 140 @ 650.00
nelson84
10-27-2010, 08:14 PM
The Lincoln @ $395.00 is probably the tapped model, which is not a bad choice. and to get the Continuous Voltage option you add $$.
Miller doesn't offer a lower end model so the price reflects that.
MM140 - $690.00
Lincoln's equivalent 140 is the PowerMig 140 @ 650.00
How do you tell if it is continuous voltage or not? How long do you have to wait for the welder to be ready to weld again? How long will this lincoln welder run for? Does it quit in the middle of something or just quits when you stop welding and you have to wait for it to go again?
What would you recommend for a welder for a guy like me that will use it for the floor pan and some body panels on my jeep and a little exhaust work on my vette?
I just don't want to buy a welder and then turn around and have to buy another one.
How do you tell if it is continuous voltage or not? How long do you have to wait for the welder to be ready to weld again? How long will this lincoln welder run for? Does it quit in the middle of something or just quits when you stop welding and you have to wait for it to go again?
What would you recommend for a welder for a guy like me that will use it for the floor pan and some body panels on my jeep and a little exhaust work on my vette?
I just don't want to buy a welder and then turn around and have to buy another one.
If you want to get a machine and not need to upgrade soon, get a 220v machine. Most are rated for 3/8" steel, and many can have a spoolgun added later to run alum if you choose. A bigger machine can be turned down to run thinner metal, but you are limited with a small 110v machine on how thick you can weld.
The best of both worlds is Millers MM211. It can be used as a 140 amp welder on 110v and do up to 1/8" steel, and also can be plugged into 220v and do up to 3/8" on that. The down side is that it costs more than a 220v only machine. The up side is that if you want to take it to a friends house and all he's got is 110v, you at least have a machine that will do something. Overall this is probably the best hobbyist machine out there right now, with the widest capabilities. You'll find any number of posts from guys here who have bought MM211's lately and been very happy.
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