Do I need a MIG Welder?

GPintheMitten · Jan 4, 2014

I'm getting ready to fab up a cab for my tractor. I plan on using 1/8" wall 1 1/4" square tube for the structure.

I've done some welding but not a lot. I have an old AC/DC Lincoln stick arc welder. Most of my welding has been on thicker material and it has held up good. But I'm concerned about blowing thru this thinner material.

Can I dial down my old stick welder to make this work?

If so, what rod, polarity and setting would you recommend.

Are the 120 volt 100 amp or so MIG welders like Everlast, Harbor Freight and Longevity offer good for this type of project? Are they good welders? Or should I get something bigger or different brand?

Thanks.

Shield Arc · Jan 4, 2014

A Mig welder will make this project childs play.

Some .023" or .030" wire with C-25 gas. It can be done with a stick welder. I'd use 3/32-inch 7018, at about 70 to 75-amps. But for a project like yours I'd Mig weld it hands down!:thumbsup:

rsallen · Jan 4, 2014

Just a question; Would you buy a mig for one project?
I know migs are good for more than one deal but if you just wanted to deal with one thing, would you buy a mig for it?

brin · Jan 4, 2014

Go to You Tube and search for Harbor Freight or Northern Tool Mig Welders and you can watch reviews of all of them...very helpful in making a decision..

Shield Arc · Jan 4, 2014

rsallen said:
Just a question; Would you buy a mig for one project?
I know migs are good for more than one deal but if you just wanted to deal with one thing, would you buy a mig for it?

If you're only going to have one project in your whole life, it would be cheaper to have someone else weld it up for you. But depending on the size of the project, maybe buying a welder would be cheaper.:confused3:

GPintheMitten · Jan 4, 2014

If I do get a mig, I'm sure I would have other uses for it.

I might try and stick a couple of pieces together with my stick and see how it goes. Maybe with some practice I'll figure it out with my stick. But for tack welding pieces while I'm fabbing pieces in place it might be a problem.

I don't want it to be ugly.

A lot of my welds look pretty ugly and I end up doing a lot of grinding and rewelding. Eventually I get things stuck together strongly I think and the ugly is not in places that show a lot.

sixdogs · Jan 4, 2014

Buy the MIG and buy a good one. Lincoln or Miller. It will do the job and change your life with the things you can do with it. This welding forum has some really smart guys with lots of experience that are very helpful.

GPintheMitten · Jan 4, 2014

Shield Arc said:
A Mig welder will make this project childs play. Some .023" or .030" wire with C-25 gas. It can be done with a stick welder. I'd use 3/32-inch 7018, at about 70 to 75-amps. But for a project like yours I'd Mig weld it hands down!:thumbsup:

Am I right that I can use flux core without C-25 gas if I want to start out without buying the gas, and maybe add the gas later?

Shield Arc · Jan 4, 2014

You realize there are two types of flux core? There is self shielded flux core, which doesn't need gas. Then there is dual shield flux core which uses C-25, or 100% CO2. For this project I'd use straight Mig, with C-25.

GPintheMitten · Jan 4, 2014

Shield Arc said:
You realize there are two types of flux core? There is self shielded flux core, which doesn't need gas. Then there is dual shield flux core which uses C-25, or 100% CO2. For this project I'd use straight Mig, with C-25.

OK, thanks. I didn't know that. This is new to me and frankly more than a little confusing. I've been reading the posts about Everlast and see that several members here have purchased from them. It seems not so much from Longevity. I don't really know why. I also don't know whether I need to go with Lincoln or Miller like sixdogs is suggesting. I don't think I want to spend $700 to $1100 ... hard to justify in my mind.

I was thinking about the Longevity 140 for $350 plus gas cylinder and consumables. http://www.longevity-inc.com/migweld-140

sixdogs · Jan 4, 2014

MIG with gas makes an amateur like me look pretty good. Flux core was much more difficult for a newbie like me.

rsallen · Jan 4, 2014

My first mig was a little Hobart. 'Loaned' it out to a good friend after buying what I thought was going to be the cat a** to replace it. Used/abused it many years, I want it back.
Now at this point I can only say what NOT to buy.

GPintheMitten · Jan 4, 2014

sixdogs said:
MIG with gas makes an amateur like me look pretty good. Flux core was much more difficult for a newbie like me.

Yah, I'm thinking that MIG would help me get better results as well.

bandaidmd · Jan 4, 2014

Do you "need" a mig for 1/8"? ,heck no that old tombstone made a legend of itself melting rod into 1/8" mild steel.
Now on the other hand do you "want" a MiG ? thats a heck yeah, cleaner and faster for sure but not more or less capable than what you already own for this and many other projects..

GPintheMitten · Jan 4, 2014

rsallen said:
My first mig was a little Hobart. 'Loaned' it out to a good friend after buying what I thought was going to be the cat a** to replace it. I want it back.
Now at this point I can only say what NOT to buy.

Not sure what you are meaning? Are you saying not to buy Hobart?

rsallen · Jan 4, 2014

No.
I just didn't want to say on the open forum what I did buy.
I had no, zero problems with Hobart period. It was a nice little welder and did everything I needed or wanted with patience.
At the time I think I paid about $550 for it, today I think you buy the same for about $350 or $400.

Shield Arc · Jan 4, 2014

GPintheMitten said:
OK, thanks. I didn't know that. This is new to me and frankly more than a little confusing. I've been reading the posts about Everlast and see that several members here have purchased from them. It seems not so much from Longevity. I don't really know why. I also don't know whether I need to go with Lincoln or Miller like sixdogs is suggesting. I don't think I want to spend $700 to $1100 ... hard to justify in my mind.

I was thinking about the Longevity 140 for $350 plus gas cylinder and consumables. MIGWELD 140 - MIG Welders (GMAW) | Longevity Global Inc

I'll PM you.

rsallen · Jan 4, 2014

Me too Shield, I want to move on from the piece of sh*t I did buy.

Markcuda · Jan 4, 2014

I just didn't want to say on the open forum what I did buy.

I think you should tell us.
This is what discussion forums are for, right?

rsallen · Jan 4, 2014

If you insist,
Systematic through Snap-on.
The wire feed is a joke, the hand set is a tinker toy and it uses gas faster than wire and yes there are no leaks to speak of.
Thankfully I don't have a lot of money in it so it won't take me too too very long to recover from a very bad buy.