COSXJFAN

Yeah, Pong, I have had that issue as well. It happens when welding outdoors too. I just get the settings adjusted for the environment that I'm working in, and it seems to work great!! If you are going from outside to inside, or changing light levels often throughout your welding, they can be a major PITA!!

flaash74

Any suggestions for a first welding project on my xj? I dont want to start with something that is going to cost alot because of the potential I would have to repeat it several times. Tubular vs. flat, large vs small, thick vs thin ect... I am going to purchase a used welder when I find something similar to the suggestions from these postings, anything I should be on the lookout for?

COSXJFAN

Just start small. You can't expect a lot from yourself on your first welding project. I'd say something like a cargo rack, or an organizer for the rear cargo area. Something NON structural and simple will bolster your confidence, and make you a better welder. If you dive into an intense project, you may burn out, and lose interest in the project all together. So for a first project, and a few more after, follow the K.I.S.S. philosophy. HTH!!

PingPong

If you have never really welded before.. Go to your local community college, or vocational center and take a semester of welding. It will teach you all the basics. ALso you will learn on someone elses stuff so no outlay of cash while you burn up supplies. Believe me...I took 3 semesters of it, and got a piece of paper saying I can weld. I used more in consumables in 1 semester then my tuitition was for 3. Also got to weld using processes that I can not aford to buy the equipment for. Like "tig". I also made several sets of rock rails for profit using school supplies


I say learn using SMAW (stick) and you can weld anything once shown how to operate the machine. Also concentrate on learning vertical, and overhead. Those are probrbably the two positions you will use most when working on a jeep, or building anything.

COSXJFAN

Great suggestion Pong!! A local CC is a GREAT place to start, and I actually want to take some TIG courses once my daughter is out of the house, but right now....no time!!

jusper88

TIG is pretty easy on Stainless...Aluminum is easy with practise...Mild steel I recommend using MIG instead...I did mild steel with TIG and you have to spend most of your time on prepping dirty metal...Even if it is fresh outta a shop...It is usually still to dirty...Also keep in mind that when welding stainless you CANNOT allow any iron oxides touch a stainless metal...otherwise you'll compromise the "Stainless" or rust free aspect of a really expensive piece of metal!

PingPong

The only reason I learned to tig was so can weld moly tubing, and aluminum. I know I can weld aluminum with the right gas and wire in a "mig" but tigging is so much cooler

1990cherokee

I have the experience, and i have that self darking helmet already. I just ready to buy but i am not looking at spending a couple grand and i cant just re-wire my house since i am renting it. So thats why i ask. i like that extension cord idea. i will just shop around.

PingPong

I built my extention cord yrs ago... I used the 10/3 wire and male and female plug. MIne is 100 feet long, so Now that my garage is wired.. I still use it cause dont like welding in garage if I can help it. It cost like 130 when I made it.

jusper88

Your best bet is to hit up a Hardware Store or electrician just to make sure everything is done properly...I'm not doubting you or Ping Pong...but working at hardware store got me to realize how some people are...X-mas holidays brought customers on asking for a double male extension for X-mas lights...thats a big NO NO when messing with electricity!

thsarge

Extension cord from the dryer? Not a bad idea. You'll lose some amperage, but man, if it were close to the garage, probably wouldn't make much difference. You could also tap into the oven...it has 50 amp breakers.

Again, though, if your service connect is on the garage, all you have to do is pop out any two 110 breakers that are side by side, and replace them with 30 amp units. You could run your 10/3 right off the terminals into the garage and you'd basically get the same thing. OR, just disconnect the leads from the dryer breakers and tie in there. Of course, you'll have to reconnect the dryer leads every day, but if you're going for inexpensive in a rental house, you can't beat that.

The lincoln 220v 180 amp units sell at Home Depot for about $600. Go with that...that's really the best recommendation. If you need anything bigger, you can get a SMAW (stick) buzzbox off craigslist for $120.

PingPong

YOu are exactly right about his. I did a bunch of research, and talked to an electrician before doing it. The consensus was the wire is bigger then what is needed to carry the current/amps. Only thing is.. you have to be make sure it says in good shape.

I never just hook my stuff up to the wall. I am always using my extention cord with the welder or the Plasma cutter.

Dan Fredrickson

Buy the biggest you can afford and buy it off Craigslist....Test it before you pay for it, buy Miller, Lincoln, ESAB, or Hobart....You will always want more power than you have.

I own 9 welders and am happy with them all, I bought all of them used except the Lincoln 135+ when I needed a 110 box immediately. All the rest are at least 250 amps (2 Lincoln, 2 Miller, & 1 ESAB) but the 350's (2 Lincoln's) are great when you really need power! My TIG is a 8 year old Miller 300 amp (1 of the first invertor type) and it welds tremendously.

And to correct some missinformation on this thread. Flux core will weld better than gas, pure and simple. The result may be messy but it allows a smaller machine to get better penetration, higher than the amperage would suggest.

And stay away from those Home Depot models, they leave of some of the most important features of the welding shop models....

1990cherokee

Yah i was actually looking at this one. I just have to figure out how to do the extension cord then i will most likely get this one. So to just clearify this would be able to run off a dryer breaker no problem and still give me plenty of penetration to do my welds for the cage and sliders and ext. right?

you say that but you also said lincoln is a good product, so i am kinda confused man?