welder question

I'm looking for my first welder, and I think I may have found the perfect one its a lincoln electric handy mig at sears
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...eyword=welders
its a great price and it comes mig gas ready, the only question is that it only welds up to 1/8 in where as some others go up to 1/4, i know this is enough for body work but if i ever want to weld frame or chassis pieces is this still big enough? I cant see myself welding anything other than body sheetmetal, but you never know. what do you guys think?

They are a great little welder for bodywork and LIGHT fabrication. I do not recomend them for chassis work, as they are limited in how much penetration you can get on the welds, and your life will be riding on the strength of the chassis welds. Others on this forum will immediately jump on and contradict me, but as a design engineer, and certified welder I believe that the minimum requirement for safe chassis welds is a welder with capability of welding at 130 Amps, and a continuous duty cycle.---Brian.

Yeah, I figured it wouldnt be quite enough for structural frame and chassis welding, but I can't see myself doing anything other than patch panels, replacing quarters and filling holes. I dont mind upgrading in a couple of years if and when my skills and needs increase. The other welders I was comparing it to were a clarke and a hobart handler 140, but everyone told me to stick with either a miller or a lincoln and the price is 299.00 about 150 cheaper than the others. I just wanted to make sure it's going to work for what I want to do.

You will weld more stuff once you get used to it, and i agree with brian, you need a bigger welder. the lincoln models that can do 1/2" stuff is only a few hundred more , but worth the extra money because you will find yourself welding everything in the future.

Also keep a look at the duty cycle, and the operating voltage. If you go up in the performance you will also most likely change the operating voltage and the versatility of it.

the duty cycle is 20% @70 amps, the amp output is 35 -88, what does this mean and is this good?

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Originally Posted by rob1

the duty cycle is 20% @70 amps, the amp output is 35 -88, what does this mean and is this good?

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I know it has a lot to do with welding time and amp draw. so here is the best way I was able to explain it.

(Duty cycle is a welding equipment specification which defines the number of minutes, within a 10 minute period, during which a given welder can safely produce a particular welding current.

For example, a 150 amp. welder with a 30% duty cycle must be "rested" for at least 7 minutes after 3 minutes of continuous welding. (When you are paying an employee for welding, anything less than 100% duty wastes money.)Quote"

Being someone who use to weld for a living our machines could run all day and night and some times they did.

In your case you shouldn't have to worry to much about that, but what about when you decide to weld on a frame? And something also to think about is a availability of being able to just plug in to a 110 receptical, my mig welder is a 175 and it a singal phase 230 volts, so not as easy to hook up in a friends garage.

Thanks for the education guys, that's what I needed to know. It sounds like when price, quality and capability are taken into account this might be the perfect welder for me, if and when I need to do anything heavier than bodywork, I won't feel bad about upgrading although I don't think that will be for a while. When I get it, I'm sure i'll have more questions, thanks

I have a Miller Matic 250 for sale if interested for 1000 dollars. No scratches on the machine and the machine looks new. weld up to 1/2"