Getting the right welder

Ok I want to do a few mods on my bike, and I need to buy a welder. I've welded professionally before, but not on a motorcycle. I am guessing tig or mig would be the way to go...Any other suggestions?

TIG would be the way to go for clean welds alone.
Increased concentrated weld puddles plus different types of metal as well as metal gauge/thicknesses that you could go down to versus MIG speak for itself... i.e. stainless but the price in ARGON these days is rather pricy...

Not to mention most fair to good Heli-Arc welders are 220Vac then need the tig rig then throw in tungsten electrodes, rod wire, regulator etc... can get spendy real quick.

If 99% of the work is frame related and being mild "Carbon" steel so a MIG unit is more then enough... The unit I got came with a regulator for ARGON bottles where Stainless and Aluminum are possibilities/options.

All mods made to my frame I used a little ass 110Vac MIG welder, no probs...

Truly depends on what your planning on in your fabrication and what your willing to spend, not only to purchase but in continued use...

OMR

Well i plan doing some real light fab work on the rear end. I plan on moving the seat up at an angle, and fab'n up a shock mount. I was going to be cheap and get a CH welder, but i figured I would just get me a lincoln mig..140. I almost made the mistake of buying a flux only machine...then I realized that would be like using a stick on the frame..because flux is so hot.

I've been using a Millermatic 135 on my bike, and it has worked out really well. That Lincoln 140 is very similar, and it ought to do the trick.

The 140 is good unit. Flux-core granted is hotter however that translates to increased penetration. I have used both solid and flux-core wire on my bike that I am building. The only real advantage to solid is that it creates less spatter. I personally don't care about the spatter cause I hit everyting lightly with a file to knock it off.

Go with the millermatic. They are nice little welders. If you go for the Lincoln, check out Eastwood co's welders as they appear to be Lincolns in blue paint.

I have had a Lincoln SP135 for the last 7 years and it has performed flawlessly. It is the predesessor to the 140. For light fab work on your frame it'll be more than enough. As OMR stated TIG would be awesome, but everyone I've seen is 2-3x the money and needs a 220v source. A 110v MIG box with a regulator and rheostaticaly controlled amperage would serve you well for your purpose.

I wish I could just use a stick welder...but I know I cant...But yeah I will be getting the Lincoln 140 here soon...i just saved up some money to get one of the big pipeline welders...it's older, and needs work...but it's for 500$

my hobart handler 175 came with the flux cored wire,but they also supply a regulator so all i had to do was add the bottle.

Adding a bottle comes naturally for PLUMMEN! Adding the bottle can help in many situations.

propane,mapp gas ,nitrous,argon or beer.i aint scurred of none of em! :laugh:

I paid $125.00 for my Lincoln mig at the pawnshop. I could not believe the price, not one scratch on it it was brand spanking new. Never got around to the adding the argon to it. Good little machine for my little projects.

My friend has the Hobart with the gas rig and he paid $100.00 for everthing.