I am looking to get started into welding and i have a few questions

with the research ive done to weld roof racks and bumpers and basic repairs i would need:

- A mig welder
- A tube Bender

the questions i have on the welder is what power i need and what gauge steel range i would be need to be able to weld to make quality products



and for a tube bender i was just wondering if anyone knew of a good one thats relatively cheap

 

whats your budget for a welder and is your shop wired for 220?

why do you need a tube bender? if you really think youneed one google affordible bender

 

JD Suared makes a pretty cheap bender. I dont own one but a guy i used to work with has one and he likes it. Just remember the bender isnt that much its the dies that will cost you the real money. lol Now as far as buying a welder save some cash and get a Miller or even a Linchon. They will last you longer and parts are EVERYWHERE for them. Just go to their websites and look at the different models they have and it will tell you how thick they can do with what kind of wire. Do you have 220v or do you have to run 110v. Is it ganna be outside welding or inside? That all makes a differents in what you wanna buy. Hope this helps any. Welcome to the fourm!!!!!!!

 

x2 on buying a name brand.
I don't use MIG anymore because I was cheap, bought an off brand and it lasted just under a year. I sucked it up and bought a miller stick/tig which will do all of my light weight plus heavy duty stuff.
If Miller or Lincoln are a bit out of your price range, Hobart (made by miller) isn't a bad one to consider. Have talked to alot of people on here that have had great luck with them.

 

I have a lincoln 110 flux core. A lot of people don't like them, I love mine, maybe because that is what I learned with, but I have built everything from motorcycle frames to dunebuggies. Just another option.

 

i want the bender to build a street buggy frame eventually and muffler work


i just have a basic garage so im guessing it runs at 110?

 

also does craftsman make decent welders? i got there annual tool products magazine in the mail yesterday

 

I don't know yet about welders. But, I have been seeing one at Harbor Freight runs off 110 and is under a $100. Been thinking that I should pick one of those up and see if they come with comic book instructions on how to weld. LOL
If anyone knows these are junk or not please send me a knock in the head. Thanks

 

to weld anything of good quality and that can take abuse (brush guards/bumpers) what gauge must the welder be able to weld up too

 

You dont want the harbor freight one. It wont last and doesnt keep the voltage constant. your best bet is the miller, lincoln, or hobart. 110v lincoln flux core is what i built my bumper and welded up my floor with.

 

Thought so. Thanks for the confirmation!!

 

A friend of mine got that harbor frieght welder just to do muffler work, lasted 10 hrs. Then he got a Hobart, 145 i think. Wire feed 110. He's had that 2 yrs now. I dont know how heavy it will weld.

 

the harbor freight welders suck. my friend did the same and it lasted 5min and it burned up. Ive been welding for years and i loved my 110 Lincoln for small jobs. But since ive been out of work ive had to sell alot of my tools to pay bills.

 

Well I have been looking at a bender @ Tractor Supply... and I have a few people I know of that use that same one to bend tubing for frames and roll cages... I am not for sure what the max size and thickness is you can bend with it is though... that would be something you would have to look into... might get it myself just to start playing with bending and work on getting better prior to spending the big bucks on a nice setup... got to start messing around with welding myself... so I am in a similar boat as you as far as that goes...

 

craftsman welders a garbage. like everyone has been saying go with a miller, lincoln, or hobart.