Advice on a build

bigben800 · 12-01-2013, 08:07 PM

Hey guys thinking of building a trailer mounted offset. Obviously need to get a welder. I was wondering what type do you guys recommend. The smoker will be mobile, so I would think the welds on the firebox, as well as the foundation and trailer itself need to be pretty heavy duty. Do I need to use the stick or can I use mig on the whole shabang? I am not a very experienced welder if that helps anything. Thanks!!

Smoke Dawg · 12-01-2013, 09:54 PM

You will be happier with a mig welder than a stick. Miller and Lincoln both make great small welders than can weld 1/4". If you don't weld much you can get away with a 120 volt low duty unit. Get the gas bottle either C02 or 75/25 will work. With C02 you can use it on your kegerator also!

bigben800 · 12-02-2013, 12:15 AM

I like the kegerator idea!!! Thanks. I have seen a lot of video and mig looks like it would be better for a beginner. I know a lot of it has to do with the operator but one of those units will suffice to weld up the trailer as well?

Bludawg · 12-02-2013, 12:39 AM

You get what you pay for and you paying for duty cycle(the amount of time you can weld without overheating the welder) don't waste your money on 120v hobby rig for building a Trailer pit. Go for a220v they run smoother for the money Hobart makes a decent machine that won't get into the beer money.

Diesel Dave · 12-02-2013, 05:44 AM

Mig 220v is the way to go.If you're fabricating the trailer you want to be sure you have good penetration. And the trailer should be thicker than 1/4" so the 120 won't do the job.
As Smoke dawg said get the gas 75/25, the flux core isn't all that great in my opinion and that mix gives you a more stable gas envelope to keep your welds clean.

Good luck

awscwi · 12-02-2013, 08:58 AM

Miller 211 will do you nicely!

ButtBurner · 12-02-2013, 09:07 AM

just rememeber if you get a 220v model you will need a 220v outlet to plug the sucker into

TuscaloosaQ · 12-02-2013, 09:36 AM

I am with the 220 volt mig using .035 solid wire and 75%Argon 25%Co2. The duty cycle on a smaller welder is very low prolly 20% which means you can weld 2 minutes out of 10 continuously.

Bluehawg · 12-02-2013, 10:14 AM

Yep, the wire will be fine if you stay with solid core wire with gas mix OR dual shield flux core ( not the same as the innershield gasless fluxcore) The dual shield uses flux within the wire as well as shielding gas. The el cheapo flux core (innershield that is gasless) isn't as clean, reliable and I wouldn't trust it putting a trailer frame together.

Just my opinion though.

STCL01 · 12-02-2013, 10:18 AM

How thick is your material going to be for your pit? Are you a hobbyist that will use the welder again for other projects? A good 220v MIG is going to cost you a grand. It is more versatile and you will be happier with it. I'm just thinking that if you are going to spend money on a trailer, the pit material, a welder, and the accessories for the welder with consumables, you are getting close to the price of purchasing one.

Now don't get me wrong, I like to do my own stuff. My wife still just shakes her head, but I have gotten to the point where my money is less valuable than my time.

Stick works better on thicker material, but it takes some practice. A good 120v welder with a decent duty cycle will handle up to about 1/4". Flux core will get you better penetration than gas, but the welds are not as clean. Remember that if you are welding outside the wind can be a factor with gas shielding and flux core may be your only option, unless you also have a stick to use as a backup.

If you go 120v you may have to weld it grind it out and make another pass to get the penetration that you need. It can be done, it just takes more time and effort.

If you are set on doing it then I'd see if I couldn't find me a friend or an acquaintance with some equipment that would let me try it out to see what I liked best. Then get it an practice. Remember that just because something is stuck together and looks good that it may not be a good weld. You will have a lot of forces in effect on a trailer mounted rig, and it needs to be right.

So if you are set on it, I would get the 220v MIG. Go with 75/25 mix.

12-01-2013, 08:07 PM	#1
bigben800 Got Wood. Join Date: 10-22-13 Location: Panama City, Fl	Advice on a build Hey guys thinking of building a trailer mounted offset. Obviously need to get a welder. I was wondering what type do you guys recommend. The smoker will be mobile, so I would think the welds on the firebox, as well as the foundation and trailer itself need to be pretty heavy duty. Do I need to use the stick or can I use mig on the whole shabang? I am not a very experienced welder if that helps anything. Thanks!!

12-01-2013, 09:54 PM	#2
Smoke Dawg Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-22-13 Location: Montana Name/Nickname : IMF	You will be happier with a mig welder than a stick. Miller and Lincoln both make great small welders than can weld 1/4". If you don't weld much you can get away with a 120 volt low duty unit. Get the gas bottle either C02 or 75/25 will work. With C02 you can use it on your kegerator also! __________________ A bunch of stuff to build a Fire so I can hang out and Smoke, Grill, or cook with! More stuff for Cutting, Grinding, Stuffing, Canning and so on! Double down Zero Club Champion Only Brethren to win a TD with all the votes! IMBAS Certified Moink Baller

12-02-2013, 12:39 AM	#4
Bludawg somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-04-09 Location: Jonesboro,Tx	You get what you pay for and you paying for duty cycle(the amount of time you can weld without overheating the welder) don't waste your money on 120v hobby rig for building a Trailer pit. Go for a220v they run smoother for the money Hobart makes a decent machine that won't get into the beer money. __________________ I'm a Proxy Vegetarian> Cows eat grass & I eat cows.

12-02-2013, 05:44 AM	#5
Diesel Dave Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-23-13 Location: In the woods	Mig 220v is the way to go.If you're fabricating the trailer you want to be sure you have good penetration. And the trailer should be thicker than 1/4" so the 120 won't do the job. As Smoke dawg said get the gas 75/25, the flux core isn't all that great in my opinion and that mix gives you a more stable gas envelope to keep your welds clean. Good luck __________________ [B][COLOR=Blue]Help us raise funds to feed our Veterans and Homeless [/COLOR][/B][COLOR=Blue][COLOR=Black][URL="https://www.gofundme.com/2s8fv5qs"][B][COLOR=Red]HERE[/COLOR][/B][/URL][/COLOR][/COLOR] Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring ― Marilyn Monroe

12-02-2013, 08:58 AM	#6
awscwi Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-30-11 Location: Chapin, SC	Miller 211 will do you nicely! __________________ Humphrey's Down East Beast / XLarge BGE / Hunsaker Drum / Blackstone Mafia

12-02-2013, 12:15 AM	#3
bigben800 Got Wood. Join Date: 10-22-13 Location: Panama City, Fl	I like the kegerator idea!!! Thanks. I have seen a lot of video and mig looks like it would be better for a beginner. I know a lot of it has to do with the operator but one of those units will suffice to weld up the trailer as well?

12-02-2013, 09:07 AM	#7
ButtBurner Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-18-12 Location: Dearborn Mi, Manton Mi	just rememeber if you get a 220v model you will need a 220v outlet to plug the sucker into __________________ Michigan Custom 'Que "Serving Those Who Have Served US" Shirley Fabrication Custom Smoker Member Great Lakes BBQ Assn ServSafe Food Handler Certified [URL]https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michigan-Custom-Que/327994370697180?sk=timeline[/URL]

12-02-2013, 09:36 AM	#8
TuscaloosaQ Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-11-11 Location: Tuscaloosa Alabama	I am with the 220 volt mig using .035 solid wire and 75%Argon 25%Co2. The duty cycle on a smaller welder is very low prolly 20% which means you can weld 2 minutes out of 10 continuously. __________________ TuscaloosaQ Check out our website at ShirleyFabrication.com Like our Facebook Page Facebook.com/ShirleyFabrication
	1 members found this post helpful.

12-02-2013, 10:14 AM	#9
Bluehawg Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-07-11 Location: Richton, MS	Yep, the wire will be fine if you stay with solid core wire with gas mix OR dual shield flux core ( not the same as the innershield gasless fluxcore) The dual shield uses flux within the wire as well as shielding gas. The el cheapo flux core (innershield that is gasless) isn't as clean, reliable and I wouldn't trust it putting a trailer frame together. Just my opinion though. __________________ BBQ ADDICT and Ag Teacher

12-02-2013, 10:18 AM	#10
STCL01 On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-02-12 Location: Lufkin, TX	How thick is your material going to be for your pit? Are you a hobbyist that will use the welder again for other projects? A good 220v MIG is going to cost you a grand. It is more versatile and you will be happier with it. I'm just thinking that if you are going to spend money on a trailer, the pit material, a welder, and the accessories for the welder with consumables, you are getting close to the price of purchasing one. Now don't get me wrong, I like to do my own stuff. My wife still just shakes her head, but I have gotten to the point where my money is less valuable than my time. Stick works better on thicker material, but it takes some practice. A good 120v welder with a decent duty cycle will handle up to about 1/4". Flux core will get you better penetration than gas, but the welds are not as clean. Remember that if you are welding outside the wind can be a factor with gas shielding and flux core may be your only option, unless you also have a stick to use as a backup. If you go 120v you may have to weld it grind it out and make another pass to get the penetration that you need. It can be done, it just takes more time and effort. If you are set on doing it then I'd see if I couldn't find me a friend or an acquaintance with some equipment that would let me try it out to see what I liked best. Then get it an practice. Remember that just because something is stuck together and looks good that it may not be a good weld. You will have a lot of forces in effect on a trailer mounted rig, and it needs to be right. So if you are set on it, I would get the 220v MIG. Go with 75/25 mix.