Minimum MIG Welder Requirements?

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

Hi -

I am thinking when the weather cools off I may make a stab at repairing many of the hidden but ugly rusty areas my vert. Looks like body off will be required given the rust locations.

The entire set of heater channels, the frame head bottom, the front bulkead/"firewall", repair/replace the napoleon's hat, rear bottom area and support on each side of back seat and where the body bolts to the pan, the supports that go back to the rear bumper.

Lots of fun for a (hopefully) cooler fall and winter.

I am looking to get the most cost effective minimum amperage MIG welder I can purchase that will still do the job. Not having much money - I want to invest the minimum to get the job done.

My question to this group - what is a good less expensive MIG set up that will run on 110 and will still do the work required on a bug? Since this is mostly hidden work, do I need the gas or can I use the flux wire only?

And most importantly, what amperage is the least I can get away with for the bug's body metal thickness.

Any advice would be helpful. Anybody selling a unit they don't use anymore might be interesting as well.

Thanks!

Administrator Post: 1323 Location: Lone Oak, Texas

Tractor Supply has a Campbell Hausfeld 115V Flux-Core Welder for $199.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/welding-metalworking/welders/mig-welding/mig-welders/campbell-hausfeld-reg-115-v-flux-core-welder-3811167

They use to have one called somthing with Farm in the title. Came with a regulator & hose so you could run gas if you wantd to convert it. That the one I was telling about I was using on the bug.

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

What gauge thickness is auto body steel?

Administrator Post: 1323 Location: Lone Oak, Texas

Close to 18 gauge - .05in - 1.27mm, maybe a bit higher ( thinner).

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

Is that thickness (or thiness) OK for flux coated wire welding?

I have read flux coated wire without the gas doesn't like thin metal (burns through) and you should go the MIG option by adding gas. Was curious if the normal thickness of the auto body metal was OK for the flux coated wire with no CO2 gas.

I was looking at the following wire flux welder without the MIG kit from Tractor Supply...it looked better able to handle thicker metal if needed.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/welding-metalworking/welders/mig-welding/mig-welders/hobart-handler-125-mig-convertible-wire-feed-welder-1048093

Administrator Post: 1323 Location: Lone Oak, Texas

Yea, best to have some scrap to play with so you can dial it in. I'm going to get some gas for mine when I get ready to work on the bus.

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

This is a great price for this unit - with the MIG gas kit included.

I wonder if this will handle the necessary thicknesses - but it looks like a fairly complete set.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00920580000P

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

This one looks even better - Century is owned by Lincoln now.

http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/weldingdepot/K2787-2.html?id=I6AC82nr

As soon as the wether cools down I will be starting on the rust, keep waiting for the temp to stay below 95 before I get started...

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

This one from Northern Tool looks good and the reviews on the link below are reasonably OK.

Product:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200332691_200332691

Reviews:

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=39524

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

Is it apparant to anyone that I am still shopping for the welder which means I have obviously not started the work?

:-)

Junior Expert Post: 118 Location: McKinney, TX

Wife bought me the Northern Tool MIG 135 for Valentine's Day (is that love or what?).

Now I just need time to try it out :-)