Dan_s_young

iTrader: (1)

Hey guys
This is kind of a general question im looking for a light duty mig welder at home... I'm going to be using it to mig weld my exhaust joints together and weld in some new pieces of sheet metal where rust took over.

I am wondering if this welder would be adequte for the light duty work I would actually be using it for... http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortmen...romSearch=true

Like I said its not going to be used for anything major, I don't see where it says the duty cycle of it.. But the price is right and I just need one to do some minor work...

We are currently doing mig welding at school and I want to do some at home work and fix the rust spots on my car (about time)...

Thanks for the help!

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Since I don't have a Canadian postal code, I'm not going try to get into the site. My personal view is, buy the best tool that you can, especially on major purchases that you will use for years to come. If you need to save up for a better one, and can, do it. There is nothing more frustrating than spending hard earned cash on something, then realising that you could have bought a better one, that would do so much more, if you had just waited a bit and saved.

I bought a mig last summer, a Lincoln 135 if iirc, it was about 500. What I really wanted was a tig, but those start at 1k and go up.

Dan_s_young

iTrader: (1)

oops, sorry forgot about the postal code thing here is what it looks like and heres the specs...

70 A wire-feed welder
Infinite wire speed control
High-efficiency transformer
Includes wire-feed welder, gas regulator, gas hose, two hose clamps, welding shield, one spool of flux-core wire, hammer/brush, quick-start guide and instruction manual
Uses MIG (gas) or flux-core (gasless) wires
Heat selection dial with four settings



And its on sale for $300 from its normal price of $450.

I should also mention that I only have a normal power outlet for a welder no 220 volt =(

darkfrost

iTrader: (1)

Is that mask for real?

it just looks really funny, lol.

No idea on the welder though...sorry.

RustyRotary

iTrader: (2)

Looks good, though I'd get a real mask too. That "shield" might be fine for somebody who's not doing the welding, but personally I'd prefer to have my other hand free instead of holding that joke lol

Slammed_GSL

iTrader: (14)

I use the Firepower FP130, it's the one of the best 110v MigWelders you can get. Made in the USA instead of China.....U get what U pay for. Buy the best and you will be making money on the side doing this for your buddies.

MattG

iTrader: (2)

Thats what I do. I have a lil hobart handler 125. It is the best lil welder ever. I paid a lil under 300 for it. It came w/hood,wire,gloves..etc. I love it. Weld stuff for my friends all the time.

Jon_Valjean

Hmm.. 70amp is a little low really. I have a 190amp and I weld panel steel with the lowest amperage setting. It's nice to be able to crank it right up and weld 1/2" plate tho.

70amp will be more than enough for exhaust tube and any general repair you wish to do on your RX7, but for something structural you might want to get at least 120amp, or invest in a cheap stick welder.

(unless I've got this completely wrong - we're 240volt in NZ, not sure if that alters the amperage comparison??)

robs_seven

iTrader: (1)

The best small mig you can get personally is a millermatic 135, its 110volt gas ready mig welder. im telling you a 70 amp will not be enough, you say now im just going to weld little stuff but then you start thinking of things to make and things you need to fix ad a 70 fluxcore will not make you happy. i got a buddy that got a 70 amp flux core from harbor frieght and i would not spent the money. buy you welder once and get a good one it will last forever. miller are more expensive but parts are easy to get, also the hobarts are good just i wanted a little more juice.

Paradox

iTrader: (1)

lol. i was just looking at welders from canadian tire a few days ago and was in the same boat as you. i saw those deals and was going to buy one right away, but then i started to wonder how thick of metal i'll be wanting to weld in the future...

none the less im still undecided, but if you're just doing body work or exhaust stuff that'll work great!

robs_seven

iTrader: (1)

with a mig welder with gas not flux core you can weld basically paper and you can turn up the amps to 120 or 135 amp depending on your welder and your can weld up to 1/4 and if carfull 5/16. anything bigger then that you need a stick but i doubt that many rotorheads need anything that big. so my suggestion is get a good welder that will last forever and get one that versatile in thickness and make sure it can use gas, its so much cleaner and easier and shop around for parts, if you cant find parts for a miller get a hobart and if you cant find parts for a hobart get a miller, cause not all parts are interchangable. they are both good welders

dj55b

iTrader: (2)

hey dan ...

I think that if you look in princess auto (there should be one around you somewhere) they will prob have a better one for about the same price ... i shop there quite a bit for my hand tools ... they also have a lifetime warranty on all there hands tools.

Rx7Kidd

like they are all saying, spend a little more money, in the long run its gonna make you happy, no reason in investing 300 in a welder that you will replace in a year or two because you wanna weld some bigger stuff.
but it will do the job with the exhaust.

capt murph

I recently purchased an inexpensive MIG welder which uses the flux core wire inplace of the gas bottle. They say they spatter more, and it does. A LOT more. It welds ok though.

I have been using a borrowed mig with gas. It needs some help, but I plan to get it working correctly (wire feed problem is latest fault), as it does a much cleaner job.

So if you plan to buy one , go gas, in my opinion.

MattG

iTrader: (2)

Yes, but if its hard for you to get the CO2 gas, just get a little wire brush and those flux core turn out just as good as with the shielding gas.

Montrealer

I would not bother with a 70 amp welder, a 135 should be good enough, but personally I cannot stand low duty cycles. I would save up and get a 175 amp. Take a look at the duty cycle at the amperage you are most likely to operate. If this satisfies your requirements, buy it, if not look for something Bigger.

I got myself a lincoln prescision tig 185 to do my SS exhaust, when I am welding exhaust it is well within the 100% duty cycle, for thicker stuff and aluminum I wish I had stronger...

robs_seven

iTrader: (1)

On aluminum and thicker stuff heat it up first with a torch then weld it with the same welder it will work wonders. aluminum despiress the heat so quickly it wont weld good so heat it then weld it and dont spend as much on a heavy duty welder

Lee Lyons

the best investment for my shop next to the 100 gallon compressor, was by far the 220 amp welder and ascedaline torch, what I can't weld with the welder I braze using the torch. Welders are expensive and I looked at a cheap on like you are as well but am sure as hell glad that I spent the a-lot of extra money for it. You don't really need 220 but I got a kick as deal from NAPA auto parts. You gotta look around, and believe me when I say that welder has gotton quite a workout!! Invest in a good welder not just for the small stuff you have to do tomorrow but for what you might have to do in the future, you want something that will last and do one hell of a job!

cds00bsmg

iTrader: (1)

yea, go with the millermatic 135. But if your really going to use the welder for a lot of stuff, just get a TIG.

Dan_s_young

iTrader: (1)

Like I said im really just looking for a light duty welder. What duty cycle % should I be looking for? With my school I get 20% off at princess auto so I am considering purchasing one from there. Is the brand Deca any good? What kind of price range do you guys think I should be looking at for a decent welder?

Thanks for the help guys I appreciate it..

crazyracer

I bought a lincoln 135 mig welder when i was fifteen and i still use it all the time (okay, i'm only 18 now). I find that the flux core actually penetrates deeper than the Argon Gas shield. It may sound hokey but i've tested it on all sorts of grades of steel. A 135 is fine for exhaust, but if you do stainless or aluminum you must have a tig welder. I bought mine new for 427 american bucks. If you are going to buy a welder, buy one you know has a good name. Lincoln, MILLER!, esab, Hobart (which is miller). they all have good reputations and back their waranties. Argon gas makes for a cleaner weld, but you got to buy a tank and get it filled (75 for tank, 30 to fill it 100% argon) If you go with 75-25 (75% argon, 25% co2) you save some money and still get good welds. 100% argon should be used for very important welds, and aluminum.