Welder for beginner
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L L6
Mig vs. stick
Both power sources will work just fine given the application. On one hand with a stick welder you will spend a lot less money on it and it is easier to find one that will plug into a 110 outlet if need be. With that being said there will be a lot more restrictions when it comes to application use. As a qualified welder and fabricator I shouldn’t be saying this but if you aren’t going to follow the structural steel welding codes (D1.1) all you have to do it buy a cheap stick welder and be halfway decent with a flap wheel or grinder. I reccomend an inverter power source but it is the most costly. On the other hand there is MIG welding. It is relatively easy to lay some metal down when it comes to MIG welding but there are so many more components that will also need more maintenance such as always keeping your gas full, stocking up on wire along with extra costly components for your gun and wire feeding set up with components for your and with maintenance comes money. At the end of the day, for all of us, it doesn’t matter how much we want to spend it matters how much we can spend and quality power sources are very expensive. So if you plan on just buying the cheap and minimal option a stick welder will do you just fine. If you have your heart set on a MIG welder I am a fan of Miller xmt 350 mpa, it is a common power source that is an industry standard but I would like to advise that they will cost around five grand.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 905
Likes: 8
From: New Hampshire
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
I’ve been looking into the same thing. I was thinking going fluxcore for small jobs. Rust repair, body panels etc etc, but have been leaning more towards stick recently. Still undecided. I don’t have a garage to store gas tanks or a climate controlled shop. I have a shade tree and a will be getting a prebuilt carport. So my machine would have to be somewhat mobile. Also inexpensive.
I think I would have to upgrade my breaker box with a dedicated circuit as well. Not to sure yet.
If if I decide to go with flux I was considering this machine:
I think I would have to upgrade my breaker box with a dedicated circuit as well. Not to sure yet.
If if I decide to go with flux I was considering this machine:
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 469
From: Southern OH
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I have one of these and it works great, it will do stick, mig, flux core, or tig if you buy and extra attachment. I have only used it as a mig welder and it is easy to setup and can do some good welds. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...nverter-welder
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
Stick welding sheet metal. Like using a snow shovel to swat flies. Yeah, you might hit and kill it eventually, but the aftermath is gonna be ugly.
Also advising on a 5k power source is pointless, he's looking to stick metal together not start a fab shop.
Bottom line here, for any beginner looking to stick 2 pieces of metal together, a wire feed unit is what you want, but...you need to pay attention to certain things, like voltage, duty cycle, MIG capability as well as flux core, consumables, what kind of drive wheels, etc....
My suggestion is get the best welder you can afford, make sure it has metal drive wheels, get a dual voltage setup to run on 220 or 110, and MIG capable, with a decent duty cycle. Lots of low cost machines that fit that bill. I will also recommend to stick with bigger name companies, easier to get replacement parts.
Also advising on a 5k power source is pointless, he's looking to stick metal together not start a fab shop.
Bottom line here, for any beginner looking to stick 2 pieces of metal together, a wire feed unit is what you want, but...you need to pay attention to certain things, like voltage, duty cycle, MIG capability as well as flux core, consumables, what kind of drive wheels, etc....
My suggestion is get the best welder you can afford, make sure it has metal drive wheels, get a dual voltage setup to run on 220 or 110, and MIG capable, with a decent duty cycle. Lots of low cost machines that fit that bill. I will also recommend to stick with bigger name companies, easier to get replacement parts.
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
FWIW, I work in a fab shop using professional equipment, but my home unit is a Miller 211, perfect machine for the house and garage. Found mine brand new in box on CL with a factory warranty for 900 bucks.
Shop around, be patient, the right deal is out there
Shop around, be patient, the right deal is out there
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
I have one of these and it works great, it will do stick, mig, flux core, or tig if you buy and extra attachment. I have only used it as a mig welder and it is easy to setup and can do some good welds. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...nverter-welder
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 469
From: Southern OH
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
It mig welds as good as any other 120v mig I have seen. I haven't used the other settings, I have a Lincoln 240v stick welder If I need to stick weld.
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
Which backs up exactly what I'm saying...you have a multi process machine that you only use for one thing. You default to the dedicated rig when you need to.
I'm not dissing them, they can be useful, but limited in what it can do. Especially at 120v.
Which is why I suggest a dual voltage MIG capable unit with a decent duty cycle. Extremely versatile, and will handle most anything in a home shop, while being easy to learn on.
I'm not dissing them, they can be useful, but limited in what it can do. Especially at 120v.
Which is why I suggest a dual voltage MIG capable unit with a decent duty cycle. Extremely versatile, and will handle most anything in a home shop, while being easy to learn on.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 469
From: Southern OH
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
So far the Metal Man welder I posted in the link has worked great for me. I used it to weld on my 2x6 metal rockers and support, rear shock mounts, and some sheet metal patches on the body and floor pans. Even it being a 120v it has no problem welding 3/16" steel, and I didn't even have it turned up all the way. I know there are probably much better welders out there, but for the price you can't beat it. It's done everything I have needed so far. I use Lincoln wire with 75/25 argon.
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
https://www.zena.net/htdocs/FAQ/dutycycle.shtml
How much a welding machine can weld continuously within a 10 minute period, so a machine with a40% duty cycle can only weld continuously for 4 minutes. The higher the number, the better.
How much a welding machine can weld continuously within a 10 minute period, so a machine with a40% duty cycle can only weld continuously for 4 minutes. The higher the number, the better.
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 7,517
Likes: 1,626
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Is this even worth considering?
https://newhaven.craigslist.org/tls/6901839359.html
Also how do you tell if a tank is still good, not expired, can still be filled, not rented, or anything else I might have not realized?
https://newhaven.craigslist.org/tls/6901839359.html
Also how do you tell if a tank is still good, not expired, can still be filled, not rented, or anything else I might have not realized?
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
Is this even worth considering?
https://newhaven.craigslist.org/tls/6901839359.html
Also how do you tell if a tank is still good, not expired, can still be filled, not rented, or anything else I might have not realized?
https://newhaven.craigslist.org/tls/6901839359.html
Also how do you tell if a tank is still good, not expired, can still be filled, not rented, or anything else I might have not realized?
EDIT: Great write up on the Miller 135 here https://welditmyself.com/millermatic-135/
Last edited by Rogue4x4; Jun 1, 2019 at 08:35 AM.