Need Welder advice

I'm looking at getting a gas sheilded MIG some time soon. I'm going to want to weld sheet metal and some thicker stuff for when I put the mustang II front end in the car. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but I'm kind of forced to buy it from sears right now because I have $350 in gift cards. I also have another $200 in cash, but I'd like to save some of that for a grill maybe. Anyway, here's the real kicker. I either have to use my gift cards in store or wait until June to use them on line for their "catalog/online exclusive" deals. Sucks!! The best one I've seen in the stores is the variable speed and voltage craftsmans with the cart for $350. I don't know if I'm just not going high enough up the chain of command there or what, but they refuse to order anything for me. So, I'm looking for some sage advice on what my next step should be.

 

I have that welder from sears, haven't gotten the gas set up yet, using it as a wire feed flux core welder right now, and I'm very happy with it, nice and portable, and if you prepare the area first, you can weld up to 1/4 in one pass, but I would make a few. You can't run a real long bead, but it does work pretty nice

 

How does it do at welding sheet metal and other thin stuff? I just don't want to have to worry about burning holes in anything.

 

on the low setting, A, at like 6 speed, it works very well, That's mostly what I use it for, just takes a little practice like anything else

 

I was told to reverse the polarity if you are welding thin stuff.
When you convert to gas, you reverse it anyway...
Dave

 

Burning hole in sheet metal is an art that I have perfected. Its easy to do at almost any setting. Its a balance between enough heat to penetrate and not enough to burn through along with time and speed. Basically you just have to practice. You definately want to convert to gas for sheet metal.

 

my wife works at sears. she thinks you can order from catalog and del to store, but will try to check tomorrow as i get it you cant order from catalog & pay with gift cards, so would like to order into store so can use gift cards? we'll see what we can find out.

 

I rented one from Home Depot, sounds like the same thing you are looking at. Used it to weld up my cut shock towers. It could burn through the thin metal on the inner fenders, if I let it, but I set it hot to burn into the thicker flat plate. It spattered a lot, but once I ground down the spatter, it looked like a good weld. I have experience with arc welding, and this was my first wire feed, and I figured it out pretty quick and it was quite easy. I would get one for my next welding job, if I didn't have access to an arc welder handy. I needed the wire feed because of the tight areas I was trying to reach (inner fenders with engine still in the car, heads removed).

 

Thanks for all of the advice!! This weekend I might have time to go down to the Sears in Greenwood. They're the best/biggest one around. Maybe they'll actually take the time to try and help me out. Hopefully they just have a good selection and I won't have to worry about it.

They said I could order it from the catalog and have it shipped to their store for free shipping, but I couldn't use my gift cards. Sounded like they just weren't too interested in helping me out.

I've done some wire welding before, but it didn't turn out too well. We welded a new dog house onto a firebird and there was lots and lots of grinding involved. Is there a book or video that you would recommend that has some good tips or pointers? Or, is this just a trial and erro kind of thing that I need to just dive into?

 

my spouse couldnt find out much about using the gift cards on a phone order, but most people inthe store were surprised that you couldnt give the num on the gift card on the phone. i know they take the empl disc card num on the phone. how did you make out at the store?

 

Well.... I'm not really to the right point in the project to need a welder just yet. I am in the right point of my life to need a big ass gas grill though, so that's what I got instead. I'll just save up some cash and buy all of my sheet metal and welder all at once. Thanks for all of the advice. I'm leaning towards running a 220 line and spending the money on a nice mig that won't limit the thickness of stock I can weld.

 

I put a 220 to my garage...haven't been able to live without it since. I have my 6' tall air compressor in there and I use it for everything from inflating basketballs, blowing the dust and doghair out of my vacuum cleaner, to cutting shock towers. This weekend, I ran the open line up the vent exhaust tube from my clothes dryer which exits throught the roof, and blew out all the years of lint (the only "snow" we got in southeast Texas this year...all over the yard!).

I would use a welder pretty often if I had it, but I use my compressor EVERY day!

I also use my gas grill almost every day, so good purchase

 

I would say Miller is the best.

 

Nick, you look more like a "Bud" man to me ...frank...