purchasing mig welder for sheet metal fix

[72fordjah]

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/ ... _200311005

think this will do the job?

[Galaxie64]

ITs got enough juice for sheet I use a 125 and it burns right through it even on the low setting if you aren't real careful. I have a 200AMP I don't even try on sheet.

[flyboy2610]

That should work fine, but if you are going to weld outdoors, you may want to use flux core wire, unless you weld on a very calm day. Mig welding on a breezy day will lead to a lot of porosity in your welds as the shielding gas will tend to get blown away. For Mig welding sheet metal, go with .023-.025 wire. For flux core with sheet metal, use the .030 wire.
Have you done much welding yet?

[FoMoCo]

It your welding sheet metal and worried about burning through try using a chuck of copper by pressing it against the back side of the weld. This will soak up the heat and the weld wont stick to it.

Nick

[72fordjah]

thanks for the good info. I use a miller 200amp mig at work. we weld sheet metal with it somtimes. most of the time I use tig, I prefer tig on things I can bring in the shop. I just wanted to make sure this thing had enough juice to do what I wanted. I shouldnt have a problem with burn through I weld enough on this type of stuff, although the occational burn through can hit you at times . I am a machinist and welder for the airforce. I should be able to weld the truck up in less than a day. just want to take it all apart and see what type of metal I will need, then I can use all the machines and tools I need at work to form and fabricate parts. I really hope this turnes out as well as I think it will. Im spending a good deal on this old truck .

I am new to the whole flux core wire. so thanks for that info. Im usually welding in the shop and if im outside I'll use stick. I will be outside because I have no garage, unless one of my friends wants to let me use theres which I doubt, so I guess Ill be using the flux core. how bad is the smoke on flux core?

[flyboy2610]

It's not really that bad. You just have to clean your helmet more often. If you can, you might put a fan close by to DRAW the smoke AWAY from you. As a welder, you know what a breeze blowing onto your weld will do!
Good luck and have fun!

[ken's1971]

Love the look of the beater fordjah, reminds me of mine before i painted it. think i'll put some pictures of it in a gallery.

[layedout72]

flux core = even hotter than mig.

[Kurt Combs]

I was a welder for 12 years, from 1969 to 1981. I used a mig on sheetmetal for the last five, so I have some experience in this area. I just bought a mig on line that has four heat settings and variable wire speed. I bought the smallest wire I could get and a mixed gas. I welded outside and had almost no problem with the gas being blown away, but it was a calm day. I replace the whole driver's side floor. I think I would prefer CO2 gas, but the welding supply guy thought I was nuts. I have learned they know what generally works, but sometimes they lack imagination. Anyway, I would want a welder with the specification in that advertisement plus wire speed control and gas flow that goes on and off with the mig gun's control. If it has all that, it will work just fine for sheetmetal. Just remember, go like hell and make it sound like bacon frying.

[71 LONG BED]

Hey, 72fordjah, I thought you were down at the Mexican border? Are you back already? If so that was nice and quick! Good to hear from ya!