Talk to me about welders

[bbaldwin237]

I know this has been asked and discussed before, but all of the ones I found were a little older and info may change with prices, market, experiences, etc. I'm looking to pick up a welder for Jeep/vehicle use. I haven't touched a welder since auto body class in high school over 15 years ago. That was all very basic practice type stuff and I did alright with it, but never did anything difficult.

I don't currently have 240 in my garage but have space in the panel and my brother-in-law is an electrician (legitimate) and will put the outlet in for material cost whenever I'm ready. Or I'll run a cord to the laundry room next to the garage! lol

I'd like to stay around $700-1000. Ideally can find a setup with gas (at least a tank) and cart in that range. I've heard some great things about the Titanium and Vulcan welders from Harbor Freight for hobbyist use. They're easy to find at food prices new and used in my area.

I'm primarily interested in MIG though I think I would enjoy learning TIG and stick in the future. A multi-process is enticing, but I'm afraid that it might be a case of being ok and all three processes, without being good at any of them. Realistically I'm thinking of the ability to weld up to 1/2" would be nice, but I'm open to real world experiences for those working on stuff at home. I'm hoping to pick something up soon as I have a forecasted fab project later in the year, or beginning of next year, that will require plenty of welding. I'm wanting to get a lot of practice in over the next several months.

I'd love to hear some input on models. Specifically features to look for or avoid and models that may want to be avoided. I'm sure that even recommended brands probably have models that aren't good.

 

[sab]

I'm not a fan of multi-process welders. If there is a cost savings, it's minimal, and I like having two separate machines. More than once, I've used both TIG and MIG on the same project, and being able to switch back and forth quickly was nice.

Also, call me a snob, but I like the red or blue brands exclusively for welders. My MIG is a Miller and my TIG is a Lincoln. I think they're well worth the extra cost. My MIG is nearly 35 years old, and most (but not all) parts for it are still available. I don't think you'll get that with the off-brands. I'd buy a used red or blue machine before buying a new off-brand. For MIG, look for an old Millermatic 250. A sold performer made for a long time, and most parts are still available for it.

 

[gasiorv]

For jeep and most around the house and hobby projects, a good MIG welder will be your go to for 95% of the projects. The other 5% a TIG would be nice to have but you can find your way around it. I would recommend a name brand 220v MIG with gas. Miller and Lincoln are definitely worth the money, back before COVID I got a Hobart (made by Miller) for $700 but I think it is up around $1200 now.

Every once in a while you may need to do some welding outside in the wind and away from the 220v. A cheap 110v flux core welder will suffice for these one off small jobs, but I wouldn't get one to have in the shop to use full time.

Also, for jeep and around the house/hobby you most likely will never be welding anything thicker than 1/4", with most of it being 3/16 or thinner.

 

[bbaldwin237]

For jeep and most around the house and hobby projects, a good MIG welder will be your go to for 95% of the projects. The other 5% a TIG would be nice to have but you can find your way around it. I would recommend a name brand 220v MIG with gas. Miller and Lincoln are definitely worth the money, back before COVID I got a Hobart (made by Miller) for $700 but I think it is up around $1200 now.

Every once in a while you may need to do some welding outside in the wind and away from the 220v. A cheap 110v flux core welder will suffice for these one off small jobs, but I wouldn't get one to have in the shop to use full time.

Also, for jeep and around the house/hobby you most likely will never be welding anything thicker than 1/4", with most of it being 3/16 or thinner.

Realistically I figure 1/4" but thought having the ability to stretch up to 1/2" would be nice. Definitely not a necessary criteria in my book.

 

[TJ4Jim]

Been using my Hobart 140 (made by miller) 110v for over 25 years now and it's done everything on my TJ, pretty much anything beyond 1/4" mild steel you're into 240V.

 

[JMT]

I know this has been asked and discussed before, but all of the ones I found were a little older and info may change with prices, market, experiences, etc. I'm looking to pick up a welder for Jeep/vehicle use. I haven't touched a welder since auto body class in high school over 15 years ago. That was all very basic practice type stuff and I did alright with it, but never did anything difficult.

I don't currently have 240 in my garage but have space in the panel and my brother-in-law is an electrician (legitimate) and will put the outlet in for material cost whenever I'm ready. Or I'll run a cord to the laundry room next to the garage! lol

I'd like to stay around $700-1000. Ideally can find a setup with gas (at least a tank) and cart in that range. I've heard some great things about the Titanium and Vulcan welders from Harbor Freight for hobbyist use. They're easy to find at food prices new and used in my area.

I'm primarily interested in MIG though I think I would enjoy learning TIG and stick in the future. A multi-process is enticing, but I'm afraid that it might be a case of being ok and all three processes, without being good at any of them. Realistically I'm thinking of the ability to weld up to 1/2" would be nice, but I'm open to real world experiences for those working on stuff at home. I'm hoping to pick something up soon as I have a forecasted fab project later in the year, or beginning of next year, that will require plenty of welding. I'm wanting to get a lot of practice in over the next several months.

I'd love to hear some input on models. Specifically features to look for or avoid and models that may want to be avoided. I'm sure that even recommended brands probably have models that aren't good.

I got a Yes Welder 2-3 years ago to learn to weld. I still have it. The biggest hurdle is learning which takes practice. It runs on 110V or 220V. I definitely prefer 220V. There were charts on the web for wire size and steel thickness/gauge that serve as a starting point for your welder settings. One thing I don't like about it is I can't control wire speed. I've figured out how to make it work without it, but it would probably be a nice feature. I've welded up to 1/4" but most of it is 3/16" or less. It's super nice to have and I love getting an opportunity to weld. Having a lot of projects closer together is the thing that helped me improve the most.

$500 for the YesWelder with 0.030 wire
Welding jacket
Hood
75/25 Gas
Pliers
Gloves
Welding clamps
some 90* magnets
Welding fire blanket
Steel brush
Etc...

It's really fun, especially if I get a good weld. LOL

 

[gasiorv]

In the last 9 years of working on jeeps, samurais, buggies, and home projects etc... I have never had to weld anything thicker than 3/8" with 3/16" and 1/8" being the most common. Control arm brackets etc... tend to be 1/4", but everything else 3/16. If you have some thick axle tubes(mine are 1/2" thk) and are attaching 3/16 or 1/4 brackets to them, you got to focus the heat a little more onto the tube.

My MIG welder is set up with 0.035 wire and 75/25 gas and I pretty much know the settings based on the thickness of the material and hardly ever change wire thickness (unless I am welding sheet metal and I go with thinner wire). I just fire it up, set the settings according to the thicknesses and go to town.

 

[Abendage]

I had a Hobart 187 for about 15 years and had no complaints with it. I recently found the Hobart 210MVP on Marketplace for $400 and picked that up. The extra power is noticeable. Either one would be perfectly fine for Jeep use and at least in my area come up fairly frequently used. Even if you had to buy a cart and bottle they would be in your price range. I think for the price they are a great product for hobby use.

 

[gasiorv]

The thing about welding is that 90% of it is getting yourself into a comfortable position and seeing the puddle and what you are welding. A good helmet with a good auto darkening lense is key. With welding under the jeep sometimes the helmet is too big and you can't get your head where it needs to be, so a small mask with auto darkening goggles is good to have laying around. Welding on the bench is easier but even then I sometimes find myself in awkward positions because I am too lazy to stop and move the setup or myself, but it is worth stopping, resetting, and then restarting.

 

[JMT]

The thing about welding is that 90% of it is getting yourself into a comfortable position and seeing the puddle and what you are welding. A good helmet with a good auto darkening lense is key. With welding under the jeep sometimes the helmet is too big and you can't get your head where it needs to be, so a small mask with auto darkening goggles is good to have laying around. Welding on the bench is easier but even then I sometimes find myself in awkward positions because I am too lazy to stop and move the setup or myself, but it is worth stopping, resetting, and then restarting.

That's all good advice ^^^. It takes patience to get in the best position to weld. I'll sometimes act out the weld before actually doing it to see if it's a good position to lay the bead right where I want it. He's right about seeing the puddle too. When you start seeing it then you've turned a corner. A good helmet is important, maybe more important than anything else. I need to buy a small mask after this post because welding under the Jeep with a helmet is one of the biggest pain in the asses ever. YOu also have to deal with all those little balls of steel when you're welding above yourself. That's when it's a good time to have something covering your ears too. Your whole head should be covered unless you like little balls of molten steel raining down and possibly going in your ears.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Thanks everyone, all great input! So maybe a 170 or 180 might be plenty. I think I saw a new Lincoln 180HD on marketplace for a pretty good deal, but can't remember how far away it was. I'll have to find it.

Since we're on the topic of helmets and masks, what are some good mask options? There's only about a million options and they range from cheap to several hundred (maybe more if I really dug) so you don't want to be going through multiple to get it right.

 

[Jamesval035]

The thing about welding is that 90% of it is getting yourself into a comfortable position and seeing the puddle and what you are welding. A good helmet with a good auto darkening lense is key. With welding under the jeep sometimes the helmet is too big and you can't get your head where it needs to be, so a small mask with auto darkening goggles is good to have laying around. Welding on the bench is easier but even then I sometimes find myself in awkward positions because I am too lazy to stop and move the setup or myself, but it is worth stopping, resetting, and then restarting.

What goggles do you use?
I 1000% agree with you on positioning. I could definitely use some decent goggles while I’m under the jeep welding. The helmet tends to hit everything underneath and not allow me to get into a decent position.

 

[macleanflood]

I bought a Everlast plasma cutter. Pretty happy with it.

Really considering one of their TIG welders. Or maybe MIG with a spool gun. I want to weld aluminum.

-Mac

 

[JMT]

Thanks everyone, all great input! So maybe a 170 or 180 might be plenty. I think I saw a new Lincoln 180HD on marketplace for a pretty good deal, but can't remember how far away it was. I'll have to find it.

Since we're on the topic of helmets and masks, what are some good mask options? There's only about a million options and they range from cheap to several hundred (maybe more if I really dug) so you don't want to be going through multiple to get it right.

Try this for a helmet. This is from AirborneTexasRanger

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/all-things-welding.75771/post-1636063

 

[macleanflood]

Any welder helmet that'll let you put a 1.25x cheater lense in it is worth it.

I'm using a Yes Welder helmet and it needs to go...it keeps triggering the auto darkness every time I look down and my high bay shop lights hit the inside.

-Mac

 

[gasiorv]

I have a Lincoln Viking hood that I use most of the time and like it for visibility.

When I need something smaller I got a cheap mask with goggles, this one.

I also keep that mask and goggle in my jeep for Trailside repairs.

I also have a full head fire resistant balaclava that I put on when needed to keep sparks from going in my ears, I hate that feeling!

 

[sab]

The thing about welding is that 90% of it is getting yourself into a comfortable position and seeing the puddle and what you are welding. A good helmet with a good auto darkening lense is key. With welding under the jeep sometimes the helmet is too big and you can't get your head where it needs to be, so a small mask with auto darkening goggles is good to have laying around. Welding on the bench is easier but even then I sometimes find myself in awkward positions because I am too lazy to stop and move the setup or myself, but it is worth stopping, resetting, and then restarting.

That's all good advice ^^^. It takes patience to get in the best position to weld. I'll sometimes act out the weld before actually doing it to see if it's a good position to lay the bead right where I want it. He's right about seeing the puddle too. When you start seeing it then you've turned a corner. A good helmet is important, maybe more important than anything else. I need to buy a small mask after this post because welding under the Jeep with a helmet is one of the biggest pain in the asses ever. YOu also have to deal with all those little balls of steel when you're welding above yourself. That's when it's a good time to have something covering your ears too. Your whole head should be covered unless you like little balls of molten steel raining down and possibly going in your ears.

I concur with these two wise fellers. As Victor mentioned, laziness is a problem. My welds are adequate, but usually a bit on the ugly side of the spectrum. They get uglier when I get lazy. Sometimes, I'm just lazy in re-positioning to continue to see the puddle well, but other times, I can't see the line between the parts I'm welding, and my bead strays off it, making it ugly and inadequate. Bringing in some work lights will solve that problem, but, man, is it difficult for me to get that through my thick noggin'! Patience and welding go hand-in-hand.

Age-related presbyopia has been difficult for me to deal with for the past 15 years, and the need to really see the puddle has had me spending lots of money on fancy prescription glasses with progressive lenses, as well as on high-quality welding helmets, which, especially for these old eyes, have been worth every penny. I've found the Lincoln helmets to be ideal for me. I have these two:

For most welding: https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en/Products/k3034-4

For welding in confined spaces, like under the LJ: https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en/Products/k4643-1

Don't discount the need for comfortable headgear in the helmet. A helmet that fits your head poorly will distract you from welding well. Both of those Lincoln options are very comfortable to wear for hours. The retail prices are scary, and street prices are substantially lower, but still on the high side. Just like welders, you get what you pay for. If you can afford the Lincoln stuff, it's worth it. If you can't, then you can't.

 

[gasiorv]

I have a similar Viking hood, minus the built-in light, and just add a LED light to mine when I need it. Yes, the initial sticker shock is tough to overcome, but it is probably the thing that improved my welding the most. I know guys who can use a cheap HF helmet and can run good beads all day long, but I am not one of them, I struggled with the cheaper helmets and I tried several (HF, Yes, other Amazon brands) before I went with the Viking and that money I wasted on those helmets could have just gone to buying a good helmet from the get go. Another thing is to don't be cheap and avoid changing the outer and inner protective lense covers. I find myself doing that trying to save a few bucks and it is just not worth it, if the Lense is dirty you can't see and the weld isn't as good. Just change the protective lense you cheap ass! (talking to myself on that last sentence).

As far as the cheater lense goes. My helmet takes the cheater lense and I have a few but I found that it is more of a pain than a benefit. It is great if you were always welding on the bench or in a fixture where your head is always the correct distance from the weld. But usually I am usually in a position where my head is too far away from the weld and thus it just makes it blurry. I just use my cheater glasses when I am welding close and take the glasses off when my head is in a position where it is far. It is much easier to put on and take off the cheater glasses then it is to install and remove the cheater lense.

 

[JMT]

@bbaldwin237. This is a bit of a shot in the dark (no pun intended ), but I'm hoping someone has some experience with a product like this. When I'm under the Jeep I always have to get light on my subject. That's a double-edged sword because positioning a light is often very challenging (hanging it over the axle, pinning it between the frame and tub) and then you can't have it shining at your hemet light sensor too soon or your helmet auto darkens before you start welding. Ugh.

I saw this after following up on Victor's suggestion of some welding goggles. This one has an LED light to shine on the work space. Don't know if it's good though, so I'm not recommending. Would love feedback if anyone has a pair like this.

https://a.co/d/07lF1czg

 

[JMT]

I concur with these two wise fellers. As Victor mentioned, laziness is a problem. My welds are adequate, but usually a bit on the ugly side of the spectrum. They get uglier when I get lazy. Sometimes, I'm just lazy in re-positioning to continue to see the puddle well, but other times, I can't see the line between the parts I'm welding, and my bead strays off it, making it ugly and inadequate. Bringing in some work lights will solve that problem, but, man, is it difficult for me to get that through my thick noggin'! Patience and welding go hand-in-hand.

Age-related presbyopia has been difficult for me to deal with for the past 15 years, and the need to really see the puddle has had me spending lots of money on fancy prescription glasses with progressive lenses, as well as on high-quality welding helmets, which, especially for these old eyes, have been worth every penny. I've found the Lincoln helmets to be ideal for me. I have these two:

For most welding: https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en/Products/k3034-5

For welding in confined spaces, like under the LJ: https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en/Products/k4643-1

Don't discount the need for comfortable headgear in the helmet. A helmet that fits your head poorly will distract you from welding well. Both of those Lincoln options are very comfortable to wear for hours. The retail prices are scary, and street prices are substantially lower, but still on the high side. Just like welders, you get what you pay for. If you can afford the Lincoln stuff, it's worth it. If you can't, then you can't.

Heck ya! Those are nice (and $$$$$). I wish the goggle version had an LED. I'm usually under the LJ when I need the goggles and that means it's pretty dark.

EDIT: Can purchase and LED light to work with the LE Goggles here:

https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en/Products/kp4647-1