Jeeeeep

Hey Guys,

I have some welding experience from my high school ag days. I am wanting to have the abiliy to weld roll cage tubing and fab some pretty tough bumpers. What are yalls suggestions for an affordable gas-welding setup?

Also... any pointers for tube benders???

pops96

im a welder goin through my cert school now. for a good back yard welder a hobart 125 with the gas set up will burn up to 3/6 and it wont put a hole in your pocket like a lincone and miller

Mike1998XJ

You could look on Craigslist for a welder. Take a look there and see what you can find, maybe post it here and we can give you an opinion. I say a decent welder at the best price with gas is the best one for you.
I have a Lincoln SP135 plus with gas and I really like it. No problems ever... Mines 110v... I would most likely get a 220v if I had it to do over, just because... I haven't found anything I can't weld with mine, it's just that 220v gives you more flexibility down the road if you get into bigger stuff.
Here is a good link to a bender you can build yourself. Air over hydraulic. No manually bending the tube! Most people say they cost around $300 to build and work very nice for rollcages and so on. Many guys on naxja have built them and give them praise.

http://www.gottrikes.com/Tube_Bender.htm

offroadnut36

I've only ever heard good things about the JD2 and JD3 benders.

I can't really say much for welding, because the only welders I've ever used were Lincoln and Hobart. I've used a Lincoln Power MIG 220 and a Lincold TIG 220(both great welders but very very expensive). The Hobart I used was a 110 flux core, I forget the specific model though. It was nice too.

Jeeeeep

Thanks guys! I'll keep my eyes open on craigslist.

caged

i have a small 110v lincoln mig. it's ok for small stuff, or just tacking. but for bumpers and such, i use a 220 miller stick.
i also have a 220v lincoln wire matic 255 that burns nice.

as for benders, making one is the best value option. but those jd2 model 3 and 4 are nice.

pro tools makes a nice bender also, for a decent price.

Rysam

look on craigslist, yeah i know its getting cliche' now but it's true. I just picked up an $1800 lincoln Powermig200 for $1000. 4 of us(family) split it so the final cost was 250 ea.
this thing has only had 1" thick of wire used from the first spool ever installed on it and the bottle was still full! no dirt from the vents even. yeah 1k is spendy, but my $250 has already payed for itself several times.

Jeeeeep

What about this one??

http://huntsville.craigslist.org/tls/1702503750.html

caged

with that one, you're quite limited. not bad tho for a starter unit.

keep it in mind, but keep looking for now. you'll find a good deal. unless you only want 110/115v

do you have 220v service? other than your stove/dryer plug.
you'll want 220v 50 amp. stoves/dryer are usually only 30 amp.

PingPong

Ok I have the Protools 105HD. Its an awesome bender. The only problem I have.. is the dies are expensive. So what I have done is bought what I use the most. Then if some one wants work done in another size tube have them buy the die and trade work for the die.


As for a welder buy the biggest highest duty cycle welder you can afford. You wil out grow small 110fluxcore welders quickly. The old/new tombstone style "stick" welders are very versatile, and wil serve you well once you learn how to use them properly.

RENIXBEAST

For thick steel I use an old 70's lincoln stick welder. On the lowest setting it burns through 1/2. For smaller stuf I have a lincoln 110v Home Depot 350$ gas mig.

posjeepxj

Whats your budget for one?

nick_n_ii

A few months back I just bought a Hobart Handler 187 and I love it, easy to use and will do anything that I'll ever need to weld.

hghgrad

I've got a small Lincoln 140. Works great, I've never had a weld break and I've used it on every fab project I've done in the past few years.

I'd probably go to a 220 unit if I had to do over. I've never needed a bigger welder, but I have the feeling I will in the future.

posjeepxj

I used one and it performs quite well

I need to know what you are planning on spending before i can recomend a welder for the price