I have had to pay in the last 3 weeks to get things welded and I need one time to time on the tractor and my dad's equipment so I found a small one on CL with some extras I guess I will check out. I talked to seller this evening and will go look at it tomorrow evening. I have been watching it for 2 weeks and a couple days ago he dropped down $100 from the original price. I did some research on it and found only 2 bad reviews out of 38. It sells new for $460 new plus $90 for regulator and gauge and around $50 shipping. It welds with solid, flux core or aluminum wire. The seller has 2 spools of each, auto darken shield, gloves, cart and hammer. I never told him I research it but everything added up because he said he paid around $600 for it, $70 for the shield and run about 1 spool of the gasless wire thru it and it has sat ever since he completed that small project over a year ago. Pictures of it look like new and seems like a good deal at $300 as long as it works and he had no problem demonstrating for me tomorrow so if all checks out I guess I will have to break down and buy it.
Might be a good deal. I bought my first many years ago at Horrible Fart in Ilinois. Actually my wife bought it because she loves me. It takes the gas bottle. Built my own cart on wheels and use the middle size bottle. Later here I bought another cheapo that uses the flux core wire at Horrible Fart in Florida. Easier to use. Both were under $200 each but they are general use machines. Son and I have no problems. We still use the Sears stick welder I bought in 1964.
I had a Miller mig but it was in my dad's garage when Katrina hit and I haven't had one since. I have a Lincoln "cracker box" for stick welding but haven't used it in years. I went and checked this one out, the seller run a bead with it and asked if I wanted to try. Well it has been a very long time since I welded and even longer since I used flux core wire, when I finished I wasn't sure if I welded the metal together or if my bubble gum I was chewing fell out my mouth onto the metal! It was a really nice older man I bought it from and he didn't say a thing until I said that, then he lost it! He showed me all his wood working projects he does, Airplanes, birds and windmills that the props turn or wings turn in the wind. They were pretty neat. My dad and I ended up visiting with him for a half hour or so.
Bubble gum welds are good. At least the material flows well. Mine look like the pigeon crap on the statue in Lee Circle. I bought a new Matco wire welder years ago. Hadn't even used it yet when a thief blew the rear window out of my blazer and stole it along with all my body and air tools. I replaced the tools but never the welder. I gas weld everything now. I do have a stick welder and haven't used it in years.
That is the first time I heard it put like that I will never be able to drive past Lee Circle again with out laughing!
If you take it apart and let it dry out, it should work. I've got an ESAB and it sat at my ex in-laws for several years. It didn't take direct rainfall, as far as I know. But, my ex father in-law stored it in a sheltered space outdoors under the porch. When I went and got it home, It welded some. Then, blew fuses, depite having functioned without problems previous. So, I can rule out wear and tear. As soon as I get some open floor space, I'm taking it apart, bit by bit, and looking for any moisture. Then, I'll wire brush any exposed electrical contacts
Yeah the Miller definitely got some moisture and mud! About 27FT. of moisture! It is long gone for about 9 years now.
I just bought a small MIG too. I've done OXY/Acetylene welding and braising lots of times, but never ARC, TIG, MIG or Plasma, so I've been digging around for resources. One was a $30 book from HP Books "Welder's Handbook". Outstanding! More for the metallurgy info, but the techniques are well done with lots off pics, and almost all of the examples are automotive, except for the headers on his small airplane. Got the book at Home Depot in the tools department, locally. I just found this British site on Welding. Also well done: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/mig.htm But it covers TIG and others too. And... two tools that will come in handy: Drill-mounted spot weld cutter: http://www.babcotools.ca/Tools/BLR11082 Or the ones I bought: http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/Drill-Bits/2-pc-Spot-Weld-Cutters/3410034.p And a nibbler: http://www.thetoolstore.ca/viewItema.asp?add=yes&idProduct=7483 This one is made in the USA, but the Canadian branch has no inventory, and their SRP is over $70! EBAY has them too. They make a clean cut, much better than tin shears or snips, especially on straight panels. Used them in aircraft panel repairs. And... I found some good info with videos on drilling out old spot welds: This Father/Son blog has a lot: http://www.mymustangrestoration.com/ http://www.mymustangrestoration.com/8-steps-to-drill-spot-welds-and-remove-a-quarter-panel/ I'll start drilling out the old panels tomorrow.
I bought a Miller MIG a number of years ago. I also wanted a plasma cutter, until I got the welder. I found out I could cut pretty well with the welder. I got better at welding with practice, but I bet I can still cut with it!
Learned a couple of things: 1. Hit all the spot welds that I need to cut with a good punch (sharp and pointed) or the spot weld cutter will wander through God's green acres. 2. The jigsaw blades don't like crumpled sheet metal. Sawzall blades just wallow in it. Anyway, I had to go and get some grinding, rough grit sand paper and discs, and shorter cutting blades for the sawzall. I'll post pics in my project thread over here, tomorrow morning: http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=711&page=42
