Technical issues associated with welding floorboards.. - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kmaysob · #31 08-24-2006, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDmills

Can I weld alumnum with a MIG welder, provided I get the correct gas, and wire? If not, is there any other menthod other than a TIG welder??

you can but, the problem most have when using aluminum wire in a wire feed is, if you dont keep the hose completly strait the wire tends to break inside the liner

kmaysob · #32 08-24-2006, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryBible

The Home Depot stores in my area handle Lincoln, not Miller.

Miller makes a great wirefeed welder. The only trouble is that the 175 and 135 models have all adjustments infinitely adjustable making it tricky for a beginning weldor to work with. The Hobart Handler welder is made on the same assembly line as the Millermatic and has the same wirefeed mechanism. It is much better suited for a beginner and much the same as the Millermatic in quality and capability.

Have a great day,

by infinitely adjustable are you talking amps or voltage? infinitely adjustable voltage is a very nice feature.

milner351 · #33 05-13-2009, 07:10 PM

I have an old lincoln sp-200 200v mig - it is a big unit - and has held up to everything I've thrown at it - lots of room for adjustment and can use several different wire diameters by changing a few parts. There seems to be a packers / bears type rivalry between the Lincoln and the Miller fans - but I've used both and like both just the same. My welding instructor at the local community college has several major brands in the lab we practice in and encourages us to compare - for many jobs - there simply isn't a difference.

This is a place that spending more is worth it if you plan to play with cars the rest of your life!

whunter · #34 08-27-2012, 01:51 PM

for new members

Strife · #35 07-21-2013, 11:31 PM

I'm not so sure that I agree with the "don't buy used" comment on this thread. If you do, it is important to do your homework and bring a friend familiar with the equipment to make sure that it is complete and that it works. I bought a VERY good setup used on Craigslist; the trick is to have patience and pounce quickly as needed. What you are looking for is:

1. Skilled home users who are "graduating" to 220 or TIG (the guy I bought mine from can now TIG well enough, and had a flux wire freed already for outdoor use)

2. People who buy a setup but just don't get the hang of it (sometimes this equipment can be found nearly new). Green leafy cash talks a discount

3. People who are getting older, too old to do this work or who have passed on and their heirs are selling the estate

What you do NOT want;

1. Something that is EXTREMELY old (but Miller and Lincoln support products >30 years old) and not a well-known name;

2. Avoid off-brands who may have zero older equipment support

3. Used-up, beat-up commercial equipment

Let's be realistic; most of the people on this board are going to be using this equipment at 1/20th at most of the "duty cycle" that most commercial users would. So, good, used production-quality stuff like Miller's or Lincoln's will last a long time in a casual user's possession, and when it is time to sell it, it's possible to break even or make a small profit (I have already been offered more that I paid for my setup from someone who borrowed it).

Something else to watch for on a MIG or TIG is the tank, and who and how you will get your gas from. Some suppliers will not touch a used tank, or will charge quite a bit to test it and re-certify it. Others will rent you a tank with a very substantial deposit. I got a large commercial tank with a commercial bill of sale for it (important); I traded this into my supplier, and now I have one of their tanks with no deposit and it's their responsibility to maintain and test it.

jmk · #36 08-01-2013, 04:41 PM

I don't weld, and know very little beyond the theoretical chemistry behind it. Strife's last comment makes a lot of sense when talking about good commercial equipment. I have done that with Snap On tools over the years, and have a substantial collection. The professional stuff works better and makes the job easier. You don't strip bolts with the best, and the profiles of the wrenches and sockets are smaller. They work in tight places where consumer tools won't fit.

Lifetime replacement warranty is great also. I just got a free replacement to a box wrench that broke that my dad gave me when I was 8 years old, when I ran a bike shop out of my parents' garage.