[rolltoptx]

I own a large horse facility that me and my ex husband built from the ground up. He used to build metal buildings for a living so everything is built out of metal. We are going through a divorce so now all the repair and construction falls upon me. I don't have the money to hire someone to do it for me.

He took most of the tools and the wire welder and I got left the large stick welder (which is a pain to start because it's old). I've read that MIG welding is the easiest to learn for beginners such as myself. I have very little experience but I love to tinker and build stuff and I have a lot of good metal leftovers to do projects with so I need to learn.

Right now I'm building a 8-12' tall metal lean-to roof to cover my outdoor wash rack using 11 gauge 4x4 steel posts and 6" c perlins. Anything I build in the future won't be bigger or thicker than that.

Can anyone recommend a wire welder that would get the job done that won't break the bank? I should also note that my current project is next to my small barn that only has 120 amp service.. But my large barn has 220.

Thank you!


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[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I've got a little Lincoln 140 amp, 120v suitcase sized wire feed that works Great on that sorta stuff,....

On #1, you can stitch up steel roofin' panels,...
Turn it up to #4 for heavier stuff, up to maybe 1/4"s stock,...

I got it for $500. out the door at my local weldin' supplier,...

Ya probably oughta stay away for the harbor freight grade welders,.....

 

[Fix'n it]

decide the thickest steel you will be welding. size the welder for this.
80cf bottles are a good compromise .

if i was buying now, this is what i would be looking at.
http://www.eastwood.com/welders/mig-welders.html

do you want to learn fast ? find someone that KNOWS how to weld show you.
then practice practice practice !!! weld some scrape together, put the piece in a vice and try to break it in half. and beat the crap out of it with a hammer.
learn what "cold welds" are.

 

[Mattia.R]

140 amp welder will be enough for 11 gauge steel sheet, they also usually operate off 115 volt household current, so you shouldn't have problems. Hobart and Lincoln are reasonably priced USA brands and should get the job done. Just don't buy chinese crap. Here you have some reviews that my help you out: https://www.drillselect.com/forum/power-and-hand-tools/metal-working/79-mig-welder