welder-bender

I think that mig is one of the easiest personally and any manual bender would be best given the price. If you have never done either then I would just look into paying someone to build you one. It would be cheaper in the long run instead of buying both a welder and a bender then the tube (extra since you will mess up) and all the other consumables. That is just my $.02
 
Get a mig welder use some pipe from the scrap yard and get a harbor freight cheap-o bender with the bottle jack. Since you are making an exo-cage then that should work great for you.

:beer:
 
I have the Lincolin 135 and works good up to 1/4" steel.
 
hmmm, Id be a little concerned buiding a save my ass system, if you aren't comfortable doing a SAS.

Just my $.02
 
4x4luvon32 said:
ok i never welded or bent any tubeing before now i want to put a cage around the outeside of one of my trucks can any one tell me what kind would be best to get to do what i need to and be easy for me to learn from ?:confused:
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This is not to bust on you, but instead of buying this equipment, pay someone with the clause of 'helping' (or ojt) to learn the craft of welding/bending. Why buy the welder/bender then find out you don't like something in the process of building your cage. Learn first, invest second. Then enjoy the blue light thru a green screen. :rolleyes:
 
4x4luvon32 said:
well thats true but i was figured it would be cheaper but i got one price that was cheaper then i thought but i do want to learn how to do it so may be i ask to watch and help while there doing it. and as far as the SAS im planing on letting someone else do that i have no idea how to.
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I expect a good welder would cost more than it would to pay someone to do it right for you.
 
I say buy yourself a decent Lincoln welder and prctice on some scrap. Once you are laying a decent weld move on to something else and build what you need. If you never try, you will never learn. It would be a different story if it were a roll cage. However, exterior sheet metal can be replaced.
 
i love my lincoln pro-mig 175 from lowes.... $600 plus the $150 i paid for my 40 CF unimix tank
 
lincoln or hobart...or other? Which do you prefer and why?
 
I have a miller 210 mig. You do not really need one that big or expensive. I personally don't like welding with a 135, but alot of people have them and like them. Lincoln, hobart, and miller are all good brands. I would suggest buying a 175 for the cost.
 
If you ever want to learn BUY A WELDER NOW. Maybe still pay someone to build a cage for you.. That is the only thing I resent my father for...not buying me a welder when I turned 3 yrs old.. That bastard...Although I would have surly burned the house down. That selfish bastard...Never cared about me. I never wanted clothes or food or a good education or love... I just wanted to break stuff and fix it and break more. Oh that reminds me, I probably owe him 50,000$ for stuff I broke of his. I guess that makes him ok.
 
175/185 and similar 220v welders all good for cages. Avoid off stuff and cheap o's cuz ya cant get consumables or other replacement parts.

Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, all good stuff!

my $0.02 worth!:rolleyes:
 
I have a Lincoln and have used a Hobart before in the past. Both of them worked great to weld what ever I needed to weld up. I have used both to build rear bumpers and tire carriers made out of 3/16" tube steel I have also welded 1/2" steel but that took a bit burn through.
 
Welding suppliers will take welders in on trade. I got a Miller 210 that looked new for half price.
 
Try to get into a Community College Welding class or have a veteran welder tell you your welds are good before you try the cage.

A lot of times a Continuing Ed class will burn off more wire than a curriculum course.

If you know anybody that does stock cars/ drag racing they should have plenty of tips for cage welding.
 
One point about the SAS vs exo...the exo is ADDING strength, not "really" taking anything away, so even a crappy exo is stronger than nothing.

That said...a NON-crappy exo vs crappy exo could be the difference between a good day and a bad one.

Crappy SAS WILL lead to death, destruction and mayhem, so I agree, pay an expert...

Ok, all that said...I always throw this out there as a HMM... look up READYWELDERs. They are a portable MIG unit you can take on the trails with you and if you are like me, and a part time welder, they may be "good enough" for every task you will personally do at home too.

I supplemented my ReadyWelder with a 220v AC/DC Miller arc welder that I can weld with OR use as a powersource for my READYWELDER. (Make sure to get the right model readywelder, so you can do this) So for the cost of the 175 MIG units or close to it I have "three" welders (mig/home, mig/trail and stick/home)

I am NOT a readywelder dealer, but there is one here on the board, he is where I got mine and a great guy to boot, holler if interested and I will make sure to put you guys in touch if he doesnt jump in here already. UPNOVER is his screen name!
 
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