What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

I’ve been looking for about a week haha.

There was one that popped up for 750$, garage kept with a cover and some other stuff. It was on there for 23 minutes before I saw it and there were 4 people in front of me.

 

are you running gas? Looks like you need to slow the wire speed down and increase your amps.

If your running flux core..thats not fun to learn on.

Also you should not have done that as your first weld. Go buy some scrap 3/16 and just practice laying beads. Then do a few joints. Shouldn't have picked your first spot ever to weld in a join that you can barely grind out.

 

I called on mine within 5 mins of dude posting it. I was the first call..3 other ppl showed up while I was looking at it. Guy wanted $500, I just pulled the cash out of my pocket and wife backed the truck up..lol. there's a Facebook group for your pony. Might be a lead on parts and owners manual if you didn't get one. Adds to resell. And don't rhino line it. You'll kill the resell. Check out popupportal.com and there a better paint.

 

I'm running C25 gas. The chart on the door says the biggest steel it can handle is around 1/8 and the setting it recommend is max amperage and max power - keep in mind this is a cheap Lincoln Electric 120v from Home Depot so there's no fine adjustments for amperage or power. It's either LOW or HIGH and 1 or 2. I put the wire speed to 10 since the 1/8 steel uses 8, so I just assumed 10 would be good for 3/16.

 

Yeah not the welder for this project. Return it and find a bigger welder.

That thing is good for maybe body work and thats it.

 

Yeah that's what I thought. I bought it off Craigslist so I'm going to have to get another one. It worked wonders for my 1/8 angle iron I used for my Lexus seats.

What's the right kind of welding for this bumper - MIG, TIG, or Stick?

 

Any of you guys need some stock style extended ubolts? Bought these a while ago and realized I have zero use for them after the ubolt flip kit. Brand new, say $15 plus shipping, 50% off basically.

 

stick with a MIG for your first go. Its the hot glue gun of welding. Easy to learn.

I highly recommend one that runs off of 220.

Keep to gas too don't bother with the flux core.

you'll need something around 150-200amps.

 

I know Harbor Freight is pretty meh, but how are their Vulcan welders? I'm considering getting one. I can't afford a new Miller, although that would be nice.

I had a 240v drop ran for my 60 gal air compressor so it shouldn't be an issue running 240v.

 

good get something to run on the high voltage. That will help a lot.

I wouldn't go for that. If you can swing it, I've been using and Eastwood 175 for years. Only 500 bucks new and is a great little welder.

Otherwise, keep on CL

 

Go find a used Hobart handler 180 or 220 or Miller 211 on CL. Both good units you can usually find locally used. Pawn shops are a good place to search too. Theres gotta be a local welder just trying to scrape together some cash for vegan teriyaki and free range iced tea.

 

Man I wouldn't be surprised if that's a thing. I'm only half an hour from Berkeley, lol.

 

Is the polarity right?

 

Yep. Double checked as I was welding with Flux core to weld a wrench to my front differential to get a stupid seized Torx bolt off.

It's just not powerful enough, it can only weld up to 1/8 steel and I'm trying to to 3/16 steel.

 

So all the Miller/Hobart welders around here are the huge industrial sized ones that are either for construction or are the generator type welders that are gigantic.

Here are some choices that I've seen within my price range.

Eastwood MIG 175 - $400

Lincoln Electric SP-170T - $400

Lincolon Electric Weld-Pak 180HD (Brand New) - $500

All of these units are 240v and can weld 3/16 steel according to the specs. Which one would you recommend?

Any reason why I shouldn't swing for a Vulcan welder?

 

Airgas doesn't have a small Miller? If I still had my buzzbox, I'd Give it to you. But it's long gone

 

I was just there yesterday getting a tank of C25. They do have smaller Millers but you won't like how much they're charging for them.

 

Yea, they really love they're stuff..

 

I bought a 20cf tank from them outright for $98, and the C25 refills are $53. Keep in mind this is with the student discount they offered me.

There's a welding service company across the street. Part of me wants to just bring it there and have them do it, but the other part of me wants to just get a decent welder and do it myself. Either way I'm paying the same thing.

 

What about speedox? They used to have used units for sale. But it's been a few years since I've been in one