also check www.weldingdepot.com

btw, pretty much any welder that can do mild can do stainless with a gas change.

Thanks man, I'll check it out.

Is there anything else I need besides the helmet and gloves?

look in your area for a mig welder.. on craigslist.. you can find htemfor $200-300 and piping for an exhaust should cost about $50 if you get it from the right place. You don't need to take it to a shop.. you can do it yourself.. its honestly cake.

This is a much better machine in the same price range.

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpis...lder&Submit=Go

I have used both welders, and I own the welder above (but in a discontinued 180A version, mine has the same power output as above though and the same manual.) It is the same welder with some minor control board differences.

It will make nice welds with good wire and gas, and yes, it will weld a 1/4" thickness steel plate in one pass to another, but is able to weld thin wall mild steel as well.

Mark

I've got a harbor freight $100 flux-core and a $3800 Snap-On MIG (I got it for $0) both of which are 110v.

The flux-core is nice but only has high/low amp settings and even with it on low, its easy to burn through stuff. Also, fluxcore leaves a good bit of spatter and is sensitive to dirty metal. It's done 3 exhausts and 3 sets of intercooler piping as well as other misc. work and keeps on ticking. It's lasted way longer than I expected and I've never had a weld break.

The snap-on kicks ass and is waay overkill for anything I'll ever use it for. I built my manifold with it.

I'd try and find a nice used lincoln with gas hookup upgrade.

Found this locally on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Chicago-MIG-100-...QQcmdZViewItem

Does it look like it will do the job? For $50 I really don't care if it lasts only once and I have to trash it to make some nicer welds.

Probably for some light duty welds it will work, but on anything .125 wall or thicker maybe not... Now if you make box with a nice steel bottom and purge it with CO2 you could even weld stainless in it. ;)

Mark

thats the one i have. you can get them brand new for like 120 though

Anti-sputter spray, wire, the tank regulator, gas.

Btw, my uncle is a professional welder and he use to teach how to weld at an aviation academy. He told me that one time the academy bought a bunch of cheap chicago electric welders. Well, these welders were useless bc none of them feed the wire constantly, I mean the rate the wire came out of the tip was not the same all the time while they were welding. He say it was impossible to get a good nice weld.
So the moral of the story is be aware when buying cheap welders. Consider a welder an investment, a good one will last you all your life you wont regret spending a little more money.
Look at Lincoln.
I have a Schumacher 180amps 220volts welder, I bought it used for $200 with tank and regulator. It is not as good as Lincoln but its not bad either. Look at used ones

Yeah I have heard loncoln, miller, and hobart are all good. Just waiting for something to pop up on craigslist and I will go after it.

+1 I've had 2 migs, 1 was on the cheaper side (flux + ability to go to gas) and couldn't do frame rails (max was 1/8" and that was a PITA) ended up giving that one to a friend for light bodywork, 2nd is a Lincoln (same as above). I love the Lincoln - used it heavily for light to 1/4" stock and never had an issue - think heavy trailer repairs and farm work. You can get replacement parts at any National Welders. I'd try to score a used one - go MIG, flux is a bitch and gets on everything around your welding area not to mention you!