When I bought my 180 lincoln I thought I was getting a good all around machine. Well, I wouldn't want to weld a frame with it. Even though it's 220 volt it still spits out a nice looking cold weld. You either have to preheat with a torch or multiple passes allowing the first pass to heat the metal. I have always been dissapointed with that machine. Works good on sheet metal. Not enough juice for 1/8 and more in my opinion. Sure it can work but it isn't safe to me.
My 250 takes over and does a nice job on 1/8" and thicker but it sucks on sheet metal.
Theres almost 3 grand in two welders that are very limiting for resto. Fab work is different but I can gas weld most everything the others can do and a lot more. Plus I have a cut off torch, silver solder and brazing capabilities. I'm probably in a different boat than most as enjoy restoring cars that don't have a catalog full of parts.
I was stick welding when I was 12 years old on the farm but in college we learned gas welding first. Just learning to push a puddle helps on all types of welding. Have you checked a local community college or trade school for welding classes? You can learn a lot from those places.
My 250 takes over and does a nice job on 1/8" and thicker but it sucks on sheet metal.
Theres almost 3 grand in two welders that are very limiting for resto. Fab work is different but I can gas weld most everything the others can do and a lot more. Plus I have a cut off torch, silver solder and brazing capabilities. I'm probably in a different boat than most as enjoy restoring cars that don't have a catalog full of parts.
I was stick welding when I was 12 years old on the farm but in college we learned gas welding first. Just learning to push a puddle helps on all types of welding. Have you checked a local community college or trade school for welding classes? You can learn a lot from those places.