Mig welder questions

[cdrewferd]

I'm looking to get a welder. I am going to be building all the armor for my 4Runner. This includes front bumper, front skid, belly skid, gas tank skid and rear bumper with swing out. Most of the steel is going to be 3/16. There is a lot of welding going to happen as there are a ton of joints in the front bumper alone.

Here's my question. How big of a welder do I need? I know some guys go with the Hobart 140s, and those look nice. I want to make sure that I don't limit myself my getting a smaller welder.

I am really looking at the Millermatic 211 with MVP. I like the fact that it'll run off of 110 or 220. This would be perfect for me as I could tack things together in my driveway, then move to the back yard where there is a 220 outlet for a hot tub. This would save me from having to run 220 right away, but I would eventually put a 220 outlet in the garage so I didn't have to move around all the time. I can also get a pretty good deal locally on a new unit, so that's helping this one move to the top of the list.

Can you guys give me your recomendations and experienced feedback?

 

[Doc2012]

My brother had the millermatic and it's awesome. Use that one.

 

[MStudt]

For most things on a 4runner; slider, bumpers, and anything under 1/4". A Hobart 140 will be plenty for you. If you want to go over 1/4", start looking around the 180 range. I've had a Lincoln 140 for about 8 years now and haven't run into an issue yet. Another way to cheat is to bevel the edges of the material your welding together. This will give you penetration further through the material, and then make a second pass over the first widening your bead. You can also heat the material before for better penetration as well. Mine is also only a 110, which is great because you can use it anywhere. Also, going MIG is the way to go. Don't stick with the fluxcore crap. True MIG will give you more penetration, and better welds. Stick with the big brands to; Hobart, Lincoln, and Miller.

IMO, unless you're going over 1/4" I don't see the need to go above a 140.

 

[flatboy]

The Miller 211 is a awesome machine, we've had a couple t work and they run nice. I'd buy one for my house if my old old old millermatic cp200 quit working.

 

[Kurtis]

I bought a Harbor Frieght POS to learn on. Eventually I upgraded and bought a Millermatic 210. It's been great.

My advice on buying a welder: Buy a better one than you ever think you will need. I bought my Miller because I know it's go to be around a long time and will be on of the tools that my kids will use someday.

Just my .02

 

[Nelsonmd]

I bought a Harbor Frieght POS to learn on. Eventually I upgraded and bought a Millermatic 210. It's been great.

My advice on buying a welder: Buy a better one than you ever think you will need. I bought my Miller because I know it's go to be around a long time and will be on of the tools that my kids will use someday.

Just my .02

I have the cheap HF 90 amp as well, and I actually think it's a great welder to start out on. If you are just starting out, it's fine to start cheap to get you into it, then you can be better informed about buying a more expensive welder. That thing has gotten me alot of welding experience and some great projects for under $200 all included (welder, wire, helmet, apron, etc.), and unlike most of my other HF tools, it hasn't broken yet after a few years of welding. If you know 100% that you want to do some heavy welding, then sure, it's not worth buying a smaller one first if you know it's inadequate.

For the OP, if you are going to weld armor, I think you should run that 220 to the garage now, or at least weld everything in your back yard, because that 220V is going to do alot better than your 120 (that is assuming the amperage is similarly higher for the 220).

 

[tacojeff]

My advice on buying a welder: Buy a better one than you ever think you will need.
Just my .02

I couldn't agree more. If money is in the budget, don't cheap out. I had a old Century 180 220v machine and built all my armor and bumpers. Only paid $225 for it and got what I paid for. It was just barely big enough to handle 3/16", when I did the mounting plates out of 1/4" was a major stretch. I found myself always having it turned to the highest settings. When I did all the finish welding I had to have a fan propped against it to keep it cool enough because of the low duty cycle.

Now I just got a Millermatic 212 and it not only can weld just about anything, $1000 upgrade, but worth every penny IMO.

 

[cdrewferd]

My brother had the millermatic and it's awesome. Use that one.

My brother uses Miller and is pushing the blue brand hard.

For most things on a 4runner; slider, bumpers, and anything under 1/4". A Hobart 140 will be plenty for you. If you want to go over 1/4", start looking around the 180 range. I've had a Lincoln 140 for about 8 years now and haven't run into an issue yet. Another way to cheat is to bevel the edges of the material your welding together. This will give you penetration further through the material, and then make a second pass over the first widening your bead. You can also heat the material before for better penetration as well. Mine is also only a 110, which is great because you can use it anywhere. Also, going MIG is the way to go. Don't stick with the fluxcore crap. True MIG will give you more penetration, and better welds. Stick with the big brands to; Hobart, Lincoln, and Miller.

IMO, unless you're going over 1/4" I don't see the need to go above a 140.

Here's my problem with a 140 system. If you look at them, you should only go to 3/16 with flux wire. If you're using gas then you shouldn't go over 1/8. Following these rules I would have to grind in a bevel, probably would anyway, but then I would have to multi-pass each weld. There's more than just a few welds on the front bumper I'm going to be welding. The 211 will save me time by not having to do any multi-pass, so it'll be saving me time and my time isn't cheap.

The Miller 211 is a awesome machine, we've had a couple t work and they run nice. I'd buy one for my house if my old old old millermatic cp200 quit working.

See, this is one reason why I'm looking at Miller. They seem to last if you take care of them.

I bought a Harbor Frieght POS to learn on. Eventually I upgraded and bought a Millermatic 210. It's been great.

My advice on buying a welder: Buy a better one than you ever think you will need. I bought my Miller because I know it's go to be around a long time and will be on of the tools that my kids will use someday.

Just my .02

That's why I was wanting to just get the 211 and not need another welder for a very long time.

I have the cheap HF 90 amp as well, and I actually think it's a great welder to start out on. If you are just starting out, it's fine to start cheap to get you into it, then you can be better informed about buying a more expensive welder. That thing has gotten me alot of welding experience and some great projects for under $200 all included (welder, wire, helmet, apron, etc.), and unlike most of my other HF tools, it hasn't broken yet after a few years of welding. If you know 100% that you want to do some heavy welding, then sure, it's not worth buying a smaller one first if you know it's inadequate.

For the OP, if you are going to weld armor, I think you should run that 220 to the garage now, or at least weld everything in your back yard, because that 220V is going to do alot better than your 120 (that is assuming the amperage is similarly higher for the 220).

I will probably run the 220 pretty quick. All I would do with the 110 is tack everything together, then do final welds with 220. Would be a lot easier to just do it all in one spot though.

I couldn't agree more. If money is in the budget, don't cheap out. I had a old Century 180 220v machine and built all my armor and bumpers. Only paid $225 for it and got what I paid for. It was just barely big enough to handle 3/16", when I did the mounting plates out of 1/4" was a major stretch. I found myself always having it turned to the highest settings. When I did all the finish welding I had to have a fan propped against it to keep it cool enough because of the low duty cycle.

Now I just got a Millermatic 212 and it not only can weld just about anything, $1000 upgrade, but worth every penny IMO.

Those 212's are nice, but dang are they expensive. Not really in my budget. The 211 is pushing it. I'm kinda thinking the 180 might be perfect, and I'll just run the 220 with the money that I save. It's almost $300 cheaper.

 

[Kurtis]

Just make sure you actually enjoy welding before you blow a bunch of money on a welder. If you aren't sure, test the waters with a Harbor Freight POS.

 

[TakeitApart]

The thing with the smaller welders is the duty cycle. It's easier to dial a bigger welder back than to wait on a smaller welder to cool down! I also agree with making sure you enjoy or can stand welding before a major purchase. You can check to see if your local community college or trade school offers a quick intro class to not only try it out, but you may learn something too, so even if you do like welding, you'll have more knowledge going in.

 

[packweco]

I've used both lincoln and miller in the 200 range, and honestly, they are both great. Both companies make great welders. Look for a good deal on something in the 200 range, and buy it.

Just depends on what your favorite color is

 

[Snowy21]

If you have the budget then go for the Miller, its a very nice unit. FWIW many of the guys on pirate build their trucks using a Hobart 140 without any issues for the budget minded type

 

[Relentless]

I own a ThermalArc 211i and strongly recommend the machine. It's multi voltage capable, and is a 3 in 1 machine. Mig, Tig, and stick capable. Comes mig and stick ready out of the box and has many more features over the other similar welders its size. They go for around $1100 online, check them out on cyberweld.
With my experience with the 211i, I plan on buying a couple of the 252i for my fab shop. We use our 211i daily for hours on end, I've had mine since December 2012.