I really need to learn TIG. That is awesome work, Neal.

It says weld in the name, right? LMAO

 

Right?

Haha.... works for me!

 

I love me some TIG

 

Hello welders...Never done any welding but I really want to get into it, with the ultimate goal being to weld my own frame stiffeners into the Jeep, build rock sliders, the usual Jeep stuff. Anyone have any tips/advice on how to get started and good beginner setups?

 

I have been told to stay away from anything from Harbor Freight. I personally have a Lincoln Easy-Mig 140 it seems to be a very good entry level machine.

 

Couple of good series on youtube. Should be able to get a lot of good information from both of those channels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgGG-ifphkA&t=80s


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KrwmK7df-s

 

I've used my harbor freight welder for a lot, and made a lot of money with it. It's good for smaller task like lawn mower repairs and just recently welded bolts into the flare brackets to replace snapped studs. It's not the best, but it can do enough for my needs.

 

I got a Hobart Handler 140 from Northern Tool for about $500 a few Christmas' ago. Been a great welder! Plus it comes with gauges when I go to MIG.

 

Thanks everyone. Going to watch the videos and hopefully get myself some education.

 

A little word of advice, buy the best machine you can afford, that way you can grow into it and dont have to buy twice. That doesnt mean you have to buy a multi-thousand dollar machine, but buy once cry once.

If you dont already have 230v wired in your garage id look into a dual voltage machine like the Miller 211 or hobart 210MVP. That way for now you can run 120v and eventually move up to 230v. You'll definitely want to go to the higher voltage eventually.

 

I have had a Lincoln 110v mig for 25 years, one of the good ones from a welding shop. great machine for welding racks, uni body's etc. Bet when I needed to rebuild a horse trailer with 3/16" frame, it was not getting the penetration I wanted.


I was waffling between the miller and Hobart 220v machines. They are almost identical except the Hobart has 7 voltage selections while the Miller was infinite.
I bought the Hobart to save a few bucks, should have bout the miller.
When I weld, I keep adjusting the voltage UP until I am just about "burning through" . With the Hobart, with it's 7 finite voltage settings, I cant do this.

 

Years ago I went to the EAA (experimental Aircraft Assoc.) week long Fly In/Air Show at Lakeland Fl.
Lincoln had a tent set up with about 8 Tig welding stations and instructors so you could demo/learn. I think I spent all weekend in that tent
They had a show special of 999.00 for the SW175,, should have bought

 

a tig for a grand, i probably would have bought it too.

i think mine was around 2000-2500cdn for my lincoln precision tig 185, and it's basically an entry level tig.

 

Cool. I now live an hour away from there, and the Sun 'n Fun website says Lincoln is an exhibitor again this year. I think I might need to head over that way in April.

 

Some older 3G test bends I welded in school with a Lincoln tig/ arc ( no these did not pass, but the shop has to keep my bends that passed for 2 years I believe) and some tig on the bottom. My experience, the thicker the easier.... to a point haha. Yes there is white oxidization, our shop was notorious for being unfit and not clean enough for solid tig.... as well as our filler rod closet was the dustiest to and dirtiest thing known to man. Safe to say I never passed my 3G tig sadly. Wish I had some oxy/acetylene brazing photos, much better at that.