Bill

How thick of metal needs to be used for what applications?

I've been playing around with my little MiG, and can seem to get decent penetration on anything less than 1/8"(not sure if it's actually 1/8" or 11ga, I just used a tape). I figure that if I can get at both sides, I could do up to 3/16".

So based on this, what could I actually build myself? Are 12ga tubes and 11ga plate actually thick enough to be able to build anything useful? I'd like to be able to build myself a set of sliders, and maybe a bumper. But if I would just be wasting my time/money, I'll focus on small projects till I can pony up for a 220V welder(and the garage to go with it)

Etype R

My bumpers and sliders are built with .120 wall tubing and 1/4" steel plate brackets. 11 and 12 gauge are plenty thick for tube work.

rx7vert

I have been welding 1 1/2" ID .150 wall black pipe with my little millermatic 135 Using solid wire with 75/25 gas shielding and it has done pretty well. I think it puts out 90-100 amps without wanting to shut off. I made my flatbed with it, and everything has held together well.

crolison

my sliders and the tubes on my bumper are all .120, and i have some 16ga, and some 3/16 on there too, but the winch part is all .25.