To mig or to arc

[lvdxd00]

I want to do some chassis work on my Land Rover, I belive the metal is about 2-3mm thick.
I have a 90amp mig, which from what I have read on this site isnt up to the job.
What would be better a 140amp mig or a 140amp arc.
Or am I just completely of the make.
Also cost of a welder is a big factor.

Thanks
Dave

 

[oilcooled :)]

arc would be fine with a 2.0 mill rod if u have a resonably skilled light hand in my opinion. it wud be very cost efective too :P

 

[Iain Westland]

##mig would be easier IMHO but its your budget that would dictate

Iain

 

[rtbcomp]

I've tried both on Landrover chassis and I would go for the MIG

 

[lvdxd00]

Thanks for the replys.
Budget is tight.
I am trying to replace the crossmember and the holes in the footwell.
Havnt done any arc welding in years though.
it was an oil filled.

Cheers
Dave

 

[Iain Westland]

loads of practice on the arc then, initial costs of mig can be prohibitive

 

[lvdxd00]

Is mig easier than arc welding?

Dave

 

[oilcooled :)]

if u arced before u will arc again, its much the same all depends on the machine ur hood ur position, nd ur skill, oil filled welder great job

 

[Iain Westland]

nope, at least not well, but out the box it can be.

Trouble is you need mig + gas and thats where it can get hard, diposables are a no no for what you need so its bottle rental/pub gas direction.

you al;so need to clean up a lot better prior to welding with mig

Iain

 

[Iain Westland]

it will be quite small patches too in weired areas so being a foot away with a stick could take some mastering

Iain

 

[lvdxd00]

There is this one on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MIG-WELDER-19....c0.m14&_trkparms=65:1|66:2|39:1|293:1|294:50
hope the link works.
what do you think

Dave

 

[Iain Westland]

Id look for a second hand clarke 160 ish, you will want a machine that goes down to 30A max especially as once you've started you will find all sorts of stuff to weld

Iain

 

[Tino]

As you already have a small M.I.G which should do for welding thin stuff, and with a tight budget I would go for a stick set, £50 + cost of some good rods. 2mm shouldn't be to difficult if you have stick welded before. Having said that your 90 amp M.I.G should just about do the job. It will probably over heat quite a bit though, so plenty of tea breaks.

 

[lvdxd00]

Having said that your 90 amp M.I.G should just about do the job. It will probably over heat quite a bit though, so plenty of tea breaks.

So you recon my 90 would be ok. Would it be possible to fit a cooling fan to it to extend welding duration?

 

[Iain Westland]

yep, anything from a computer 240V fan nicely made to fit through to a desk top fan strapped to the side with a cover taken off (not recomended but I have seen it done )

Dont expect a vast improvement when your pushing its limits though

Iain