Standard 7018 rod should be at approx 90 amps, give or take. That's 3/16 rod, if I remember right. An 1/8" rod would be considerably lower. 6013 is a really easy rod to use as well, they call it "Farmer Rod" around here!

I haven't welded in a few years, and a lot of the production shops have gone away from rod for flux core/gas shielded MIG. My advice, stick with the skinny rod and play around. A self darkening helmet is a good investment as well, helps you aim your strike with the rod a lot better.

 

You wont need to run gas if you use flux cored wire. Just a fair warning..flux core sucks and I will never go back to it. Its good and cheap for learning and small projects though.

 

Wish I woulda asked first but only well.... I guess I'll get the mig when I'm ready to do all the welding on my axles, for now the arc is good enough to brush up..... Thanks for all the great info guys! Can't wait to get welding again!

 

This ^^
I made the transition to a good hood from Miller. Even has the magnifier inserts for my old eyes. No more fog syndrome on my readers. I can weld again!

 

My first welding was with flux core, 100 amp welder. Second lesson was a Lincoln 140 A with gas. Wow, what a difference. Get gas if you can.

 

You may be able to do it. There's a trick that hardly anyone does that makes your welds much stronger and easier to lay down. Heat the metal that you are welding first. I use MAP gas. If you heat the metal first you also avoid cold starts to some degree. Like someone mentioned above, get some metal that is the same thickness to practice on and if you see good penetration then you are good to go. Practice, practice, practice.

 

Lol I just saw your sig....so tired of the "plasti dip mods"!!

 

Let me help a few out here,MIG is the hardest to get metal to metal contact.Flux core is just like running 7018 with a buzz box,but you have roll of wire instead changing rod.Using gas with solid wire will not only help you see the weld better,you have no slag to clean up.If you guys want good welds on your rigs,buy a 200 buzz box,50lbs of 6010 and when you can lay out some nice smooth welds then you got it.This coming a JKer with over 30yrs of welding

 

How do you guys feel about this unit https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...JMBEPMCMAg4Hg?


or if you have any suggestions link it up please.

 

are you a first time welder or do you have past experience?

If you are new, this is going to be overkill. Buy yourself a cheap 110v wire feed with some flux core. It will teach you the basics of welding and help you identify flaws in your technique.

If you have past experience, I would still say this is overkill. A box that flip-flops between 110-220v is nice, but you have to ask yourself what kind of work you see yourself doing. Do you really plan on doing a lot of stick or tig welding? The majority of work will be done with a mig unless you plan on working with a lot of aluminum. Figure out your intentions before forking over close to 2k on a machine with features you may never use.