At work today another fellow asked "How can you have fun if you don't have a welder?" and the more I thought about it the more I had to agree. So I was wondering how many Z guys and gals were having fun with a welder in their shop?

I myself have a Hobart 140 MIG, probably around $700 invested, sounds like a lot but it has to have been one of my best shop investments. I haven't had it a year but I thing it is already paid for in the work it has done. I've replaced both doglegs and a rocker on my "rust free" Z, repaired a cracked frame rail from the oversized sway bar, built a lot of just old "stuff". I figure the body work alone would have probably cost me at least half that just to have somebody weld in the patch pannels.

But the big payback comes when you're having fun, just finished these and have probably less than $20 in materials for both front and rear strut bars. So anyway, anyone having fun with a welder??

I use my MIG whenever there's a need. Install my own mufflers, make stuff like strut bars, brackets, etc. Drill press, bench grinder, Mig, oxy-acetalyne (sp?); working on these older cars, I'd be lost without them.

I forgot to include gas, and now I wish I would have allowed multiple choices as I also have a buzzbox. I wanted to include a shot of my first MIG project that has really served me well this winter, my wood stove, got $50 in firebrick in it, got lucky the steel was free!

Well, we were talking about cars. I've use the mig to weld broken bed frames, wrought iron fences, and many other homeowner and hobby type things too. They are worth the cost if you know how to use them. All it takes is practice.

My MIG paid for itself also. Fixed my floors and built a rotisserie. Now I'm doing some fabrication on the window mechanisms. I'd like to learn how to TIG. Maybe for my next project.

I got a Hobart 125 MIG for Christmas. You are right, welding is fun stuff, even if you are just dicking around, creating stuff out of metal is enjoyable. It has not yet, but with all the stuff I plan to fix on my Z with it is will most definately pay for itself

Lincoln SP135. Bought it used for $300, paid for itself many times over. Had some fun building the cart. Can't wait until I have the $$ for a TIG.

Wayne

I have theree Welders,

a Century 90/100 amp MIG setup with gas and solid wire bought new from Sams 10 years ago for $400

A Victor Oxy/Acetelyne with 15 tips and a cutoff torch, A gift from a retired master tool maker. I also have a Meco Midget torch.

And a 240V Airco variable frequency/voltage/reversing Tig that will also stick weld, bought used 2 years ago for $500 added $100 in new parts and supplies. This is the kind you see hanging from a crane at a large construction site, it could weld the contenal shelf together!

But the coolest thing is the Thermal Dynamics 380 Plasma Cutter, Writing your name through a piece of steel plate is just too cool! But cutting out the entire floor on one side of the cockpit in less than 10 minutes is just sick! Now if I could just improve my writing! bought last year, $877

Will

I learnt to stick weld in highschool, but I'm still pretty bad at it. Better with a mig though. Don't know much about oxy-accetylyn. We have all three at home and they come in handy for fixing rust, repairing chassis. Even built a basic fitting to pull the rear stub axles out using a dent puller. Would have never got it off otherwise. Definately a good tool to have. A strut brace is next on my list. I definately like yours Lance. Could I get some info about it off you?

I bought my MIG some 13 years ago from Sam'S Club for about $195.00.

My wife was pi--ed, mad, that I wasted the money.

Since then I've repaired several of her things along with various Z items.

I bought a Lincoln SP135 about a year ago, and have done just a little bit of minor work on #215 with it, as well as a little practice on junk. Didn't have the confidence to go too much farther. Luckily, I found an 'adult education' welding class with 12 sessions of 3 hours each for $180 total! Spent 3 hours last night stick welding flat beads. Real ugly when I started, and pretty good (instructor's assessment - not mine!) by the end. Another 6 weeks of stick welding, and I'll do some MIG since that's what I really need, and maybe try a little TIG just so I have done it once. By summer, I ought to be confident enough to try the Z again! Bottom line is, no shop in my area would touch the rust work on my Z (floors, frame, rockers), so being able to weld....priceless!

i bought my mig at homedepot. not the best one they have but it does its work with ease.