I am looking to purchase a MIG Welder because I have some ereas that need to have metal replaced. Those common rust areas like the bottom of the fenders, floorboards, and a few other areas. I am a little confused on what minimum specs I should be looking for to do mainly auto body welding.

Brand?
Gas/No Gas?
Amperage?

 

I suggest that you need to have full MIG meaning gas. The flux core is a little too aggressive for sheet metal.

With that said I have the Lincoln 140c and really like it. It is a little on the pricey side but does work really well.

 

Check out Harbor Freight http://www.harborfreight.com/for some inexpensive options. This is another re-hash of 'the best' and the general consensus was a 220V unit first, argon gas (or others) capable and lots of practice.
Jim

 

Be sure to use a coupon if you choose to get the welder from harbor freight...here is a link
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ema...ges/coupon.jpg

 

So it looks like I would need a 220V plug in my garage in order to run a MIG welder. Sound right?

 

I've hooked up my arc welder directly to a 40amp circuit breaker in my breaker panel to do some welding on the opposite side from my garage. I don't recomend you do that, but a 220V dryer outlet works fine. Otherwise, look for a 110V weldingunit.
Jim

 

Is a 90Amp MIG welder adequate to do most metal body repair work?

 

Rule of thumb with mig welders....

1 amp for every thousandth of metal

Example... 1/8" steel is .125 or 125 thousandths, therefore you would need 125 amps...

90 amps will be fine for sheet-metal.

I would stick with a Lincoln SP-135T, SP135 plus (120V), SP175T or SP 175 plus (240V).
A Miller Millermatic 140 (120V) or 180(240V) are also great (I have an older version of a 180, a 172)

The best deal is probably a Hobart (miller) Handler 125, 140 (120V) or 187 (240V).

Make sure you get a gas machine, (unless you must weld outdoors, then go with flux core)

There is some real crap out there, especially with flux core machines. Stick with a name brand, and get one large enough to handle any future projects. If you have a 30 amp 240V electric drier receptacle in your garage it can power all of the small 240V machines, also if you get a 120V machine, make sure you plug it into a dedicated 20 amp receptacle (if your home is newer your washing machine receptacle should be fine)

Enjoy!
Peter

 

What is the standard/typical thickness of auto body metal?

 

24 gage sheetmetal is 0.0276"

18 gage sheetmetal is 0.0516"


Most automotive stuff is somewhere in that range