welding?

All you need for custom truck work is a mig welder. And you dont even need a $1500 one at that. A Miller 135 runs off of 110 thats your house wall plug. and thye weld just as good as a big ass welder. And if you go by a local shop and look chances are there will be a 135 sittin in there. They only run about $600 shipped.

got my hobart 180 for $575 out the door with a 40 CF bottle of C25 gas. Spent like $70 on a cart and $150 wiring my garage for 220 and i was all set.

The biggest draw back with a tig is that you have to have very tight clearances when mating two pieces together. A mig on the other hand will fill as you weld. On body restorations you will really need both. Sometimes on body you will use the tig for a better penetration without warping panels but in really tight places that you cant really weld or need to fill use a mig. Both machines will require alot of practice when bought. I use a esab 203 running .030 with a 75/25 mix. Now on a tig you will need to have to outfit your machine with the proper nozzels, tungsten, filler rod, and gas. You can weld everything but chromoly with my machine useing the spoolgun for aluminum or just regular outfit for staninless or carbon steel. Not only will your tig cost being 2000.00 plus your accessories for welding. Mig you can outfit for less and do just about the same, just not as nice. Just my .02

Get a multipurpose welder

Originally posted by Stormstyles



The biggest draw back with a tig is that you have to have very tight clearances when mating two pieces together. A mig on the other hand will fill as you weld. On body restorations you will really need both. Sometimes on body you will use the tig for a better penetration without warping panels but in really tight places that you cant really weld or need to fill use a mig. Both machines will require alot of practice when bought. I use a esab 203 running .030 with a 75/25 mix. Now on a tig you will need to have to outfit your machine with the proper nozzels, tungsten, filler rod, and gas. You can weld everything but chromoly with my machine useing the spoolgun for aluminum or just regular outfit for staninless or carbon steel. Not only will your tig cost being 2000.00 plus your accessories for welding. Mig you can outfit for less and do just about the same, just not as nice. Just my .02

One of the reasons I bought the tig is because you need the metal to fit real well...it'll keep me from putting crap on my truck and force me to make better fitting pieces.

I use a Miller 175 with .030 wire and 75/25 gas mix. Works great and the unit is about 3 years old. Got it out the door with bottle/cart for about $800.00. I run it on 220 (it can run on 110, but the 220 is more effecient) The thing is bullet proof and has worked great since i bought it. I'm getting a new Miller 180SD tig , Miller 251 mig and a Miller 625 plasma (already have a 375 plasma) on Monday though. Hobart is owned by Miller, but not everything is interchangable. Miller consumables are EASY to get at any welding supply store.

Originally posted by draggin20s



One of the reasons I bought the tig is because you need the metal to fit real well...it'll keep me from putting crap on my truck and force me to make better fitting pieces.

Partly the same reason for me too. And the ability to weld various materials.

I just got a miller dvi, and love it. i also run .035 with mix 75/25. its amazing what a good machine will let you do. i dont have much experience on a tig machine , but i think miller makes a 110 tig machine for about 900$,maybe someone else might know more about it

I agree with you steve. My problem is not having the money to spend on a tig is the biggest reason not having but am in agreeance though. I was just explaining how the fitment should be for a tig for a beginner. So probably if your not familiar with using a tig and your a beginner than you should probably stick with a mig. Thats all.

Is ebay a good source for getting millers???has anybody got screwed buying welders on ebay????