What Welder, Notcher and Bender to buy? WILLIAM MISH THAT MEANS YOU TOO!

[live24wheel]

Yeah im in the market... I was thinking a Millermatic 175... What do you guys think. Im not gonna be running a fab shop or anything. I will probabaly end up building my own buggy. What do you guys use for the above and what would be best for the money?

Thanks,
Tom

[jeepin_in_az]

I have the Model 3 bender from M-Tech Supply. You can see it on their web site. www.mtechsupply.com I have the 1.25" and 1.75" dies, degree ring, full air over hydro. It has only been used 3 or 4 times. I also have a stand that it is mounted on with 4 big casters on it.

$1700 and it's yours.

[Stone Dragon]

I am by no means a fab shop specialist, but I have bent some pipe. The model 3 is great. I have a friend who is nice enough to loan me his. Old school pull on the bar and put your back into it type. It takes a bit of math to make it work correctly, but its cool. About $600-$700 with one die...... and worth it. I use a HF notcher in the bench top drillpress and it is fine...... $70. I don't know about that model welder, but Miller make a fine product. I run a 95A HF special with a 10% duty cycle on high.... and it works:cool: .... but I would advise everyone who is fad'in any sizeable projects to shy away from them, and invest alittle more into something like the 175...... or whatever. Just my .02



Mike's bender is a good deal.... It sounds like alot, but it is a good deal.

[xFallen]

Yeah im in the market... I was thinking a Millermatic 175... What do you guys think. Im not gonna be running a fab shop or anything. I will probabaly end up building my own buggy. What do you guys use for the above and what would be best for the money?

Thanks,
Tom

For what you're after, you won't go wrong with the Millermatic 180 (new model -- marketing BS) or a used Millermatic 175.

[live24wheel]

Yeah all I want is a manual bender. I need the workout anyway. As far as welder, I have a HF cheapy. Just that Cheapy. I do all my main welding (not that much) with my Ready Welder. I need a good welder that can burn 1/4" with no problem. I will look at the HF notcher though!

[live24wheel]

For what you're after, you won't go wrong with the Millermatic 180 (new model -- marketing BS) or a used Millermatic 175.

Yeah thats what Nick had at the shop and dang I loved that thing! It welded really smooth. Thats what I will probabaly look for. What about benders now? Im guessing M-tech. Who know where William Mish is? I wanna know what kind of bindddder he has!

[SHNIPE]

lol MIsh doesnt use a bender... have you seen how big that guy is? he just uses his hands!

[Phx Cobra]

lol MIsh doesnt use a bender... have you seen how big that guy is? he just uses his hands!

Or sticks the tube between his head muscles.

[4 Wheelers Supply]

Tommy boy you better start with this one first...


http://i16.tinypic.com/2j346lc.jpg


This is the very same unit that Mish started with... and look at the guy now! :D




I use a Mtech manual for my personal stuff and it works really well. Good luck Tommy

[live24wheel]

Wohhh there, easy on the Tommy! haha that bender is so cute!

[papajeep]

Just got the Model 3 from M-tech, lovin it. Also picked up a miller DVI. wonderfull machine. (have a lincoln 135 for sale still):)

[jeepin_in_az]

Yeah all I want is a manual bender. I need the workout anyway.


You might want to try the manual out first from someone that has one. It isn't bad for small thin stuff, but once you start bending thicker metal, you will upgrade to the hydro.

Ask Monkeybars about that...

[Mike 77 CJ5]

Sorry to highjack this thread guys, BUT, would anyone be interested in helping me put a cage in my CJ5. I can weld a little but no acsess to a bender

Thanks

Mike

[xFallen]

Yeah thats what Nick had at the shop and dang I loved that thing! It welded really smooth. Thats what I will probabaly look for. What about benders now? Im guessing M-tech. Who know where William Mish is? I wanna know what kind of bindddder he has!

No, Nick had a 210. The 180 is what used to be the 175 but has been changed due to marketing pressures. Competing units from other brands are rated at 180A.

[Fire Ball]

My neighbor has a 140 and he tends to borrow my 180, and we both wish we had a 210. My 180 and my plasma cutter are on one cart and I have a 50 foot extension cord I can run both of them out to the street if need be. (220 volt) When you start getting into heavier steel (you will) it takes a lot of heat. A 180 mig with gas will do OK on up to like 3/16. Maybe 3/8 to 1/2 with flux core. I like the idea of getting the penetration I need when doing axles or other critical parts. the 140 can't do it, the 180 is barely adequate.

IMHO only

[rosshh]

My neighbor has a 140 and he tends to borrow my 180, and we both wish we had a 210. My 180 and my plasma cutter are on one cart and I have a 50 foot extension cord I can run both of them out to the street if need be. (220 volt) When you start getting into heavier steel (you will) it takes a lot of heat. A 180 mig with gas will do OK on up to like 3/16. Maybe 3/8 to 1/2 with flux core. I like the idea of getting the penetration I need when doing axles or other critical parts. the 140 can't do it, the 180 is barely adequate.

IMHO only

My hobart 140 on gas has done everything I have ever needed from tube and cage work, axle brackets, frame notching, shock mounts, sheet metal, bumpers, tire carriers etc..... all with good penetration. IMHO you dont need a higher dollar welder for general jeep fab (although I would like one ;) )

[Wildcat455]

Hey Tom,

I use a lincoln Weldpak 155 from Home Depot, but any 230VAC welder will give you the duty cycle you need.
I'm still running fluxcore wire... :rolleyes: someday, I might step up and buy a bottle... (I bought the gas conversion kit YEARS ago...) :rolleyes:

Notcher is the Harbor freight special, but I also notch with the chop saw and the sawzall...

Fo a bender, I use a JD3 from Mtech Supply in Mesa. I made my own handle for leverage out of Sprinkler pipe. (I work in fire protection).
I have 1 3/4" and 1 1/2" dies for this bender.

I have a Sawzall, Grinder ,Drill, Jigsaw, and Chop Saw.

With these tools, I built a buggy on my back patio.:rolleyes:

It's pretty lame... You might have seen it doing Raw Deal or something...:rolleyes:

I also built some other cool Shii... Wait, I can't say that here... :)

[xFallen]

My neighbor has a 140 and he tends to borrow my 180, and we both wish we had a 210. My 180 and my plasma cutter are on one cart and I have a 50 foot extension cord I can run both of them out to the street if need be. (220 volt) When you start getting into heavier steel (you will) it takes a lot of heat. A 180 mig with gas will do OK on up to like 3/16. Maybe 3/8 to 1/2 with flux core. I like the idea of getting the penetration I need when doing axles or other critical parts. the 140 can't do it, the 180 is barely adequate.

IMHO only

My Millermatic 175 does 1/4" plate easily and axle tubes without any grief so far. I am sure it would do more without any worries. I have an 8 gauge 220 extension for it which may help with less voltage drop. It pushes 0.030" wire and uses 75/25 mix. The Parker plasma cutter I picked up will do 1/2" convincingly.

[tyota]

No, Nick still has a 210. The 180 is what used to be the 175 but has been changed due to marketing pressures. Competing units from other brands are rated at 180A.

sorry for the correction

[Fire Ball]

My hobart 140 on gas has done everything I have ever needed from tube and cage work, axle brackets, frame notching, shock mounts, sheet metal, bumpers, tire carriers etc..... all with good penetration. IMHO you dont need a higher dollar welder for general jeep fab (although I would like one ;) )

DUDE, my wife reads these, don't rat me out, bigger welder is always better. And um safer too ;)

[shadow images]

Have miller millermatic 175 mig, syncrowave180sd , model 3 tubing bender from medford tools, and hf notcher. Have built a couple of cages for my race cars and these have been very more than adaquete for the job.