Welding Spring Plates

[midnitewarya]

I'm about to purchase a welder. I have welded before, and know the basics. The main reason I'm buying the welder is to weld my spring plates and my shock mounts to my 14bff. In the future, I'd like to tube up a bumper. I have been seriuosly thinking about getting a Lincoln135. Is this enough welder to handle what I want to do? My spring plates are 3/8", so I'm pretty sure I'll get good penetration on them.

Thanks in advance,
Al

 

[midnitewarya]

bizump

 

[K5er4Life]

I would not trust the 135 to do that kind of welding. Its a 110v machine and doesnt have enough amperage to penetrate very heavy steel. I think the machine says it can do up to 5/16" but after using my friends 135 for a while I only use it for nothing more than 3/16" mild steel. With 3/8" I would not use that machine, you would not get the needed heat to penetrate nicely.

 

[mouse]

I just got a Lincoln 175 from Santa. It has shown me, so far, to be pretty strong. I've welded 3/8 inch no problem, set it to a higher heat and it was almost acting like a plasma cutter just blowing the metal out.

Invest in a good welder the first time, and you won't have to spend more money down the road.

 

[trailblazr81]

I would prefer the 175, but if you must do 110 volt or dont have the $$$ I think you should be ok with the 135 at its highest level. It says up to 5/16" with single pass. Tho I havent gone over 1/4" with mine. But if you ever want to do anything bigger you'll regret not getting the 175.

 

[Jonny-K5]

the 135 is rated for up tp 5/16" using flux core, with gas its only good to 1/4". the 175 models have the same thickness ratings as the 135, just longer duty cycles( if i remember correctly). if your going to buy a 220v welder you might as well get something like a miller 210. a few hundred more than the lincoln 175, and i think its at least rated @ 3/8ths thick using MIG. the 210 (or similar sized machine) is perfect for doing bumpers, repairs etc.

 

[midnitewarya]

Thanks for the help guys, I've picked the lincoln 175. I can a good deal on it through work.

 

[wetbackZO]

I got a MillerMatic 210 and it welds 3/8 in one pass...yeah baby!

 

[goldwing2000]

I bought a used 110v MIG for thin stuff (up to 1/4") and a new 220v stick welder for everything else (up to 1" thick if you do it right).

Total invested: $400