sheet metal welding

Discussion in '1955-1959' started by gafcob, Oct 15, 2006.

  1. gafcob

    gafcob Member

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    What kind of welder should i buy for welding sheetmetal on my 55
     
  2. 65Chevylgstp

    65Chevylgstp Member

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    What seems to work best for me and my father is a MIG wire welder with shielding gas. But you dont necessarily have to run gas if you dont want to. You can get flux core wire welders. I would highly recommend when you do get a welder to practice on some scrap metal for a day or two first or at least until you feel comfortable. Also I will say that welding is definately not as hard as many make it out to be.
     
  3. gafcob

    gafcob Member

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    Thanks..I am looking at a MIG 120..I think thats the way i want to go, It has a Copper wound Transformer,120 amp,max thickness 1/8-3/16 and 4 heat settings. How does that sound? gaff
     
  4. bill55

    bill55 Member

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    I'd look at a miller 135, hobart or even a lincoln. Personally, I'd choose the miller. That's what I have and I use the .23 guage wire when welding sheetmetal patch panels or filling holes etc. You get what you pay for, just my 2cents.;)
     
  5. Mad Scientest

    Mad Scientest Member

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    I was in Colorado, then Germany now Iraq
    I have a lot of good results going with a mig CO2 gas plus it's a cleaner welder all around they work grate on eggsust leaks once you get good at managing your heat, and heat settings
     
  6. 65Chevylgstp

    65Chevylgstp Member

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    Bill is right about the "get what you pay for" quote. But if you cant afford steak you have to deal with hamburger. But it is possible to do good welding with more affordable welders with some practice. I will say lincoln is the name in welders if money is no object. I think the welder we have is a Century. It retailed for about four hundred bucks and has two different amp settings and is capable of running pretty much any type wire you need. Naturally smaller wire will be better for sheet metal.
     
  7. gafcob

    gafcob Member

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    Thanks Guys.. What about stick welders (arc)???
     
  8. cjoe001

    cjoe001 Member

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    stick welders are too hot for welding sheet metal for beginners...too much burn through and warpage. You will be much better off starting with a wirefeed welder
     
  9. gafcob

    gafcob Member

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    Thats great advice...Thanks alot...dont want to burn my truck up,I havent put enough 1000$$$$$$$ into it.....nothing seems to be working today, I just put in my new gas gauge and it seems to want to travel 1/2 way around the guage,so that i cannot see the guage when it should be on the full line. My brain is tired, It looks like i will be doing a lot of wiring as I just looked at the wiring Digram that??I Think Robert sent me...nothing is looking correct..(on MY Wiring) compared to the diagram,and My new fuel pump statred leaking out the top ...had to bring it back for a replacement...they cant get it to me till tues.Time for beer...ha ha ha
     
  10. Sledge Hammer

    Sledge Hammer Member

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    If the needle is pegged to one side, the ground connection is bad or the wiring is switched on the back of the guage. I've seen this before, but I can't remember which problem it was. Should be easy to fix. I have solved many a problem over a beer. I'll be sitting on the couch trying to put the problem behind me, and bling, it pops into my mind, problem fixed. It's better to walk away and come back fresh than slam the door and bust the door glass. Oh, done that too.
     
  11. gafcob

    gafcob Member

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    I worked with the ground wire,and the hook ups on the guage,and the hook up to the ignition..I ran out of options so i ordered a new sending unit..I hope that is it. I have the wire coming from the sending unit hooked up on the left hand side of the guage as the wiring diagram calls for,and then I have the right hand side wire hooked to the Ignition asthe diagram says???Is there another way I could hook up this guge? I am going to re-wire the ground before I install the new sending unit,and check the sending unit before I out it back in the tank,,,Any more Ideas ??? Thanks for the help. Gaff...oh ya, I tried the sending unit before I installed it and when I moved the float up and down nothing happened, then I checked the oms and it read 0...
     

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