How big a welder do I need?

[Shafty]

How big of a mig welder would I need for welding a c-notch, shock mounts, etc. I don't think I'll be welding anything thicker than 1/4 inch. The Millermatic challenger 172 and Hobart handler 175 are about the biggest I can afford. Would one of these work? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Ron]

Anything in the 175 to 200 amp range should have sufficient output. More importantly, get one that has good fine adjustment controls on voltage for MIG work as this controls the transfer mode of the molten filler material and significantly influences the weld quality.

Both Miller and Hobart are good general purpose machines. [sig][/sig]