is a 70 amp welder big enough?

isaac338 · 07-11-2007, 06:10 PM

Canadian Tire has a 70 amp mig on sale for $300, including a gas kit. I want to buy a welder for some basic body work, but I might do things like weld up some sliders, or patch some rust spots in my frame (maybe near the rear for a trailer hitch).

Is a 70 amp welder gonna do it or is it a waste of money? I can't afford anything bigger so it's this or nothing, really.

Thanks for the advice.

***waskillywabbit*** · 07-11-2007, 07:08 PM

18-gauge to 3/16" thick if you use flux core wire on the thicker stuff

isaac338 · 07-11-2007, 07:52 PM

how thick's the frame on a 4runner? i'll probably only need to weld a few small patches in the very rear of the frame.

is it worth it?

NCSU-4runner · 07-11-2007, 08:04 PM

thats plenty for sheetmetal and maybe some minor frame repair, i wouldn't try to highlift off sliders that were welded on with something that small. pony up two hundred more and get a 140.

isaac338 · 07-12-2007, 06:13 AM

I read some threads on WeldingWeb and it seems to be frowned upon. Looks like I'm saving my pennies for a mig pak

44Runner · 07-22-2007, 10:30 AM

if you are going to invest in a MIG welder the cheapest I would go is the Hobart Handler 187. Great welder and good for 99% of people. Can do everything you want to do with it with ease and is capable of building a full tube buggy if you wanted. One thing I find SUPER annoying about cheap MIGs is generally if the switch is on the wire is hot. A good welder the wire is only hot when the trigger is held down. IMHO any box than is 115 volt is a waste of money. 230 is the only way to go.

70 amps is definitely not enough and is a waste of money. You should be looking for AT LEAST twice that...

razrwild · 08-12-2007, 04:01 PM

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...=8125&D=welder
what about something like this?
they also have a 115v that's rated for 5/16th but i'm fairly new to welders and home depot has these on sale most all the time

JamesD · 08-12-2007, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waskillywabbit

18-gauge to 3/16" thick if you use flux core wire on the thicker stuff

Can you explain why? I never understood why you wouldn't want to have the gas.

James

***waskillywabbit*** · 08-12-2007, 07:04 PM

Most wire welders will use bare wire with a shielding gas, very clean, or a wire coated with flux (built in shielding gas), pretty messy.

My Pro MIG 135 will weld up to about 20 gauge single pass with the bare wire and shielding gas or up to 5/15" thk single pass with the flux core.

It just really depends on what you are welding on...on an axle, I want nice clean welds so I will use MIG (preferably my MM 251) but for something like welding up a piece of busted farm equipment, flux core.

44Runner · 08-13-2007, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waskillywabbit

Most wire welders will use bare wire with a shielding gas, very clean, or a wire coated with flux (built in shielding gas), pretty messy.

My Pro MIG 135 will weld up to about 20 gauge single pass with the bare wire and shielding gas or up to 5/15" thk single pass with the flux core.

It just really depends on what you are welding on...on an axle, I want nice clean welds so I will use MIG (preferably my MM 251) but for something like welding up a piece of busted farm equipment, flux core.

This is kind of true. The wire isn't "coated" like a stick welding rod, the flux is in the middle of the wire, hence flux "core" wire.

The whole answer to your question is actually pretty complex. I'm sure you could read for days on the net about welding and how to go about it.

Flux core wire does have some advantages over solid wire. There are two basic types of flux core as well. One is made to be used with a sheilding gas and one is made to be used on its own. One large advantage of self sheilded wire is it can be used outdoors of course.

I use solid wire because I weld in a garage, don't do much out of position and I work with clean metal. If this was not the case I would be looking at some form of flux core...

07-11-2007, 06:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
isaac338 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Halifax, NS, Canada Posts: 796	is a 70 amp welder big enough? Canadian Tire has a 70 amp mig on sale for $300, including a gas kit. I want to buy a welder for some basic body work, but I might do things like weld up some sliders, or patch some rust spots in my frame (maybe near the rear for a trailer hitch). Is a 70 amp welder gonna do it or is it a waste of money? I can't afford anything bigger so it's this or nothing, really. Thanks for the advice. __________________ 1994 Xtracab pickup, 180,000km 1989 4Runner, 300,000km - sold

07-11-2007, 07:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
*waskillywabbit* Sponsoring Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 11,512	18-gauge to 3/16" thick if you use flux core wire on the thicker stuff __________________ WabFab Off-Road, LLC www.myspace.com/wabfab 6th Annual South East 4Runner Jamboree, May 22-25, 2009 WabFab Off-Road Salvation Army Online Kettle

07-11-2007, 07:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
isaac338 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Halifax, NS, Canada Posts: 796	how thick's the frame on a 4runner? i'll probably only need to weld a few small patches in the very rear of the frame. is it worth it? __________________ 1994 Xtracab pickup, 180,000km 1989 4Runner, 300,000km - sold

07-11-2007, 08:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
NCSU-4runner Contributing Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 1,599	thats plenty for sheetmetal and maybe some minor frame repair, i wouldn't try to highlift off sliders that were welded on with something that small. pony up two hundred more and get a 140. __________________ Jeremy, 94 4Runner Turbo Leaf Spring SAS front - Coilover 4link rear (starts December) / Supra Swap My Truck is featured on Supracharged.com - Home of the original Supra swap and Forum One of two things will happen, I will die, or the truck will be finished. I'm not sure which will be first. Last edited by NCSU-4runner : 07-11-2007 at 08:05 PM.

07-12-2007, 06:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
isaac338 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Halifax, NS, Canada Posts: 796	I read some threads on WeldingWeb and it seems to be frowned upon. Looks like I'm saving my pennies for a mig pak __________________ 1994 Xtracab pickup, 180,000km 1989 4Runner, 300,000km - sold

07-22-2007, 10:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
44Runner Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Mount Pleasant, SC Posts: 993	if you are going to invest in a MIG welder the cheapest I would go is the Hobart Handler 187. Great welder and good for 99% of people. Can do everything you want to do with it with ease and is capable of building a full tube buggy if you wanted. One thing I find SUPER annoying about cheap MIGs is generally if the switch is on the wire is hot. A good welder the wire is only hot when the trigger is held down. IMHO any box than is 115 volt is a waste of money. 230 is the only way to go. 70 amps is definitely not enough and is a waste of money. You should be looking for AT LEAST twice that... __________________ Buggy in progress - 22RE on pane, A340, 4.7, 8"s, 4Ds 1989 4Runner 3.slow 5spd and big plans... 2005 Ram 2500 4x4 CTD 6spd QC SWB Last edited by 44Runner : 07-22-2007 at 10:32 AM.

08-12-2007, 04:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
razrwild Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: dirty jersey Posts: 240	http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...=8125&D=welder what about something like this? they also have a 115v that's rated for 5/16th but i'm fairly new to welders and home depot has these on sale most all the time __________________ 89 4runner 22re 5spd bone stock 224k miles DD

08-12-2007, 07:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
*waskillywabbit* Sponsoring Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 11,512	Most wire welders will use bare wire with a shielding gas, very clean, or a wire coated with flux (built in shielding gas), pretty messy. My Pro MIG 135 will weld up to about 20 gauge single pass with the bare wire and shielding gas or up to 5/15" thk single pass with the flux core. It just really depends on what you are welding on...on an axle, I want nice clean welds so I will use MIG (preferably my MM 251) but for something like welding up a piece of busted farm equipment, flux core. __________________ WabFab Off-Road, LLC www.myspace.com/wabfab 6th Annual South East 4Runner Jamboree, May 22-25, 2009 WabFab Off-Road Salvation Army Online Kettle

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Bridgestone & Michellin 245/70/16 tires	kevin444	Axles/Suspensions/Tires/Wheels	0	10-19-2006 10:58 AM
4.30 & 265/75 16 = 4.10 & 265/70 16 ?	goldtaco9	95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners	23	02-06-2006 10:48 AM
60 or 70 Amp Alternator in '90 4Runner?	Optimus	95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners	2	03-13-2003 03:55 PM