I have NO welding experience, but would like to learn.
I know there are personal preferences involved, but generally what is the best type of welder to start with.
I have a chance to pick up a Miller 180 (stick) welder for cheap, but I don't know if that's what I should even begin with.
Honestly, I don't even know the difference between a MIG & a TIG.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks, Bob

 

Being a learning welder myself, I prefer a mig to start with. I have been working with an old pro and he can stick weld with the best of them, but mig is eaier to learn as you get started. I've tried tig, but I think its the hardest. Mig does require practice, but you can become better quicker using it. If you dont have a friend or teacher, I recommend checking out this site
How to MIG Weld | Expert Village Videos
These are free videos all about the basics and techniques of Mig welding.

 

Tig welding is used primarly for very thin material and very perfect(no flaw) type welds on things such as high pressure pipe in oil piplines and nuclear powerplants. I tis the best method for welding body panels together. It is a low heat. hi-test weld that offers the welder great control. Very slow and utalizing techneque similar to gas welding it is mainly used for root pass and thin material. It is the most difficult method to learn out of the three named.

Arc (stick) welding is a very strong form of welding that requires a moderate level of skill. In automotive use it is best used on frame welding and fabrication of flatbeds, brushgaurds, and hitches. Durable and strong. Reasonably easy to use it has a large heat output and high deposition rate. Some people can weld sheet metal with it. They learned how to do that by running stick for 25 years in all enviorments. The main benifit to sitick is its all weather ability. As long as the rod stays dry you can weld in a 50mph wind, the rain, and in some cases through oil/water/rust/grease.
Save that for heavy fab jobs or fixing shovels.

MIG or wire welding.

Easiest to learn and has high adaptability. I've welded stainless, alumanum and carbon steel with mig. Thicknesses ranging from 3" plate to 22 ga sheet steel.
Select the corect wire and gas, size is a factor, youll need to choose wisely.

.023 and .030 are usualy used for body welding use 95/5 gas.
.035 is a common fab wire. reasonable deposition with good heat control use a 90/10 gas.
.045 is for production work and heavy fab. High deposition and great penetration. 90/10 is commpon as are 75/25 and other mixed gases.

By a quality wire. Lincoln makes great products for wire. ESAB is ok too.
MIG would be best for the begining welder. 5 hours with a decent teacher and one can be reasonobly proficent in the flat position. Vertical, horizantal and overhead are more learned from personal techneque. That is the best bang for your buck. Videos and a teacher are helpful but practice, practice, practice. I've been a welder for 5 years now and I still dont know it all, and I do it for 40-50 hours a week.

Good luck and sorry for draging on.

 

Thank you guys!!
That's exactly what I wanted to know!!!
~Bob

 

Miller - Welding Resources & Education


Patrick Henry: “Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined...The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun.”

 

Some folks swear a 110 unit works well. I'm not a good welder, but if given the choice I would get a unit set up for 220v. If the one your looking at is cheap enough you might still want to pick it up. Could always sell it for a profit later on and trade up.

 

I would suggest the MIG for the many reasons stated above. Get the gas and stay away from flux core. You'll be happier with your final result.

 

Same set of circumstances, purchased metal from scrap yard to practice on. Found topic comes up frequently in the 'garage/workshop' however, members in this thread pretty much covered it. I was faced with delimma whether to purchase 110v or 220v unit, probably won't be welding anything too thick, basically floor pans and quarter panels. Like the convenience of the 110v but does have some limitations. In my situation, ended up running 220v, only because same issues come up in determining size compressor, and I wanted more CFM; otherwise, not sure would have put the money and effort for the welder. Anyhow, had an urge to chime in and add my $.02.

Came across an article in Classic Truck Mag. on MIG welding may find helpful. Seem to recall simular on MIG, and or TIG in one of my issues of CarCraft, can go to both websites and search their tech articles.

Mig Welding 101 - Classic Trucks

 

The 220 welders are neccisary if you want to weld anything over 16 Ga steel. The 110 welders have no arc heat and are usulay gasless.

The little 110 is fine and dandy for putting body panels in.

Try welding 1/4" plate and youll be disapointed.

 

The guy who taught me to weld said it like this "Kid it's just like driving, if you learn on a stick you can drive anything" so I learned on a stick.

 

Thanks again for all the good information.

I've been taking all your different insights and trying to decide on buying this unit as a starter. I agree after hearing from a few people on here and at work, the the MIG is the easiest to learn and use. I really liked the comment about "learn on a stick"...makes a lotta sense. I know as well, the 'ol..."you get what you pay for". So yeah, decisions, decisions.

I've been taking all your different insights and trying to decide if I should buy this unit as a starter. Or should I just wait and buy MIG. It seams like MIG would be more suited for my lack of skills at this point.

Here's the info I have on the unit available,
let me know if you think it's a good deal.
Thanks Everyone !!
~Bob

It reads:
I have for sale a Miller 180 Welder (stick). I purchased this used from a friend last fall and have not used. It was working the day I purchased it and has only collected dust in my garage - so all should still be good.
It says it is 230 volts and 37 amps, has the same style plug as an rv/camper.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v737/ynkstr/welder.jpg?t=1238455528">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v737/ynkstr/welder3.jpg?t=1238455984">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v737/ynkstr/welder2.jpg?t=1238456107">

 

You will find stick welding is a pain to do. You will get real good at it and then go to a mig and it requires a different way of welding. You almost have to relearn how to weld. The welds never look as nice as a nice mig weld. I've used all 3 and my choice is tig. I own both a tig and a mig and wouldn't even think about a stick welder. Old technology.

 

The transition from mig to stick is not difficult.

Arc welding is actualy simpler to do, and in many aplications easier. It is more difficult to be proficent and requires more technical knowledge than mig welding.

Here lets try this..

What is the correct use for these rods?
7014
7024
7018
6013
6011
6010
9018
What is the amprege used? On what thickness? AC/DC? Stick can be used on body metal. Its difficult though.

Mig its just 60 series mild wire 65/5 gas tune your heat and go. That welder shown is an AC only box and would be a good deal at $140 if it runs Miller is the best in the industry.

 

Yeah...his asking price is $125.00.

 

Id buy it in a heartbeat. Great for fixing shovels, frames, and other simple welding tasks around the house. Make him fire it up and weld a bit with it. Just make sure it works. A simaler lincoln welder would cost about $300 new and be a lower quality piece.
As a houshold maintannce welder it would be great. That is not a good piece for welding an auto body though.

If you buy it PM me and Ill be happy to awnser any questions you have.

Just make sure it runs.