Building steel tub rack

[Oosti]

Hi,
I’ve never welded before (apart from some simple high school stuff years ago), and would like to start fabricating stuff as a hobby on the side.
I eventually want to build my own tray for my navara d22, but I think I’ll start with something simpler such as a rack that sits on the existing tub.
Now I have no experience in this, so I’ve done some reading and found that it would be best to use galvanised steel, and the best/easiest welding method for steel is MIG welding if I’m not mistaken.
I’m currently looking at purchasing a welder, but not really sure what I need. I’d be welding steel, not sure how thick? 3mm maybe? I’m trying to find one that’s not too expensive, but I don’t want to upgrade anytime soon, so I want to purchase one with enough power for future jobs too (steel tray eventually). How much amps/volts should the MIG welder have for that?

Anything helps,
Thanks.

 

[Petunia]

First off Volts will be 240 household domestic power, Amperage my choice would be 140 for reasons that may become apparent.

My first welder was a Kmart cheapy STICK welder, no amperage that I remember it may have been in the instructions but 1986 is a way way back then., it had a power cord, a work lead and an earth, no adjustment, nothing. It welded every thing from galv strapping say 1.8mm? to 25mm x 25mm solid, put two of those together and a ripper tip and towed it behind a tractor fully 500mm in the soil. Brilliant welder. Very affordable in those years.

I have used WIA STICK building a shed, it was 200amp. again anything from 1.8 to 150 x 100 5 mm wall. good welder. Budget - too much.

Used a STICK welder that Noak had on the ark, to fix a backhoe bucket, it blew up, backhoe owner had to go downtown and hire a welder so I could keep going ... Oh I remember that one well ... near bled out on that job only i was too pieced off. budget - no comment!

WIA MIG, the company bought it paid for the gas etc, loved it, bastard to get the dials right [wire feed and power] but once dialled in for each job, write the settings on the wall for next time each piece was ordered, 500 nuts on 500 washers, granted the mig hand piece was jigged, the washer jigged and same the nut. A jig conceived in my head and built from scrap, if I had one to show, you would tell me no way did you do that, a machine did that. Hand held a Be you tea full machine > Budget 1000$ +

Some piece of junk MIG, company supplied = gas , would not even weld truck gates properly NO stars

Don't know the brand, but a small 140 amp Inverter STICK that is no bigger than 250mm x 100mm yes that small. This one introduced me to Inverter Welders, and I LOVE them. this machine for its size welded Cane Train tracks. [smaller version of railway track] Like a PRO ... but it does have a duty cycle, I did trip it once ..... I was so impressed I sold my Kmart cheapy

I wandered into Aldi one day for six pack long life milk, and walked out with an Inverter STICK welder 140amp, for 120$, I humed and ha'd but said time to buy it is when you see it. I have failing eyesight and to weld now is getting harder all the time, yet with this one if I can see the line, its excellent. downside duty cycle Budget=Bought it how can you go wrong for 120$ ? 3 year guarantee.

I had a look at Buntings, a 150 amp MIG welder is 400 odd $, the 90 amp is CHEEP ... but I would try to make my budget stretch I don't like cheap MIGs, but I also LOVE Sticks. Migs all day doing the same repetitive work, gave me a headache noise fumes helmet clamp fire in your elbow least twice a run. Love the beautiful clean arc an inverter gives, less noise to from the arc compared to a non inverter.

General the thicker the more amps my rules shoot me. In a welding shop you will find a price range, and better service than likes of a Buntings, OH yes it will do that ... get it home an burn it .... Anecdote a guy wet to buy a Phase 3 welder, his exact words not mine ... when he got it home the plug was wrong, he took it back and exchanged it for a Phase 2 welder, his words not mine DUH single phase ya wally.

 

[Oosti]

First off Volts will be 240 household domestic power, Amperage my choice would be 140 for reasons that may become apparent.

My first welder was a Kmart cheapy STICK welder, no amperage that I remember it may have been in the instructions but 1986 is a way way back then., it had a power cord, a work lead and an earth, no adjustment, nothing. It welded every thing from galv strapping say 1.8mm? to 25mm x 25mm solid, put two of those together and a ripper tip and towed it behind a tractor fully 500mm in the soil. Brilliant welder. Very affordable in those years.

I have used WIA STICK building a shed, it was 200amp. again anything from 1.8 to 150 x 100 5 mm wall. good welder. Budget - too much.

Used a STICK welder that Noak had on the ark, to fix a backhoe bucket, it blew up, backhoe owner had to go downtown and hire a welder so I could keep going ... Oh I remember that one well ... near bled out on that job only i was too pieced off. budget - no comment!

WIA MIG, the company bought it paid for the gas etc, loved it, bastard to get the dials right [wire feed and power] but once dialled in for each job, write the settings on the wall for next time each piece was ordered, 500 nuts on 500 washers, granted the mig hand piece was jigged, the washer jigged and same the nut. A jig conceived in my head and built from scrap, if I had one to show, you would tell me no way did you do that, a machine did that. Hand held a Be you tea full machine > Budget 1000$ +

Some piece of junk MIG, company supplied = gas , would not even weld truck gates properly NO stars

Don't know the brand, but a small 140 amp Inverter STICK that is no bigger than 250mm x 100mm yes that small. This one introduced me to Inverter Welders, and I LOVE them. this machine for its size welded Cane Train tracks. [smaller version of railway track] Like a PRO ... but it does have a duty cycle, I did trip it once ..... I was so impressed I sold my Kmart cheapy

I wandered into Aldi one day for six pack long life milk, and walked out with an Inverter STICK welder 140amp, for 120$, I humed and ha'd but said time to buy it is when you see it. I have failing eyesight and to weld now is getting harder all the time, yet with this one if I can see the line, its excellent. downside duty cycle Budget=Bought it how can you go wrong for 120$ ? 3 year guarantee.

I had a look at Buntings, a 150 amp MIG welder is 400 odd $, the 90 amp is CHEEP ... but I would try to make my budget stretch I don't like cheap MIGs, but I also LOVE Sticks. Migs all day doing the same repetitive work, gave me a headache noise fumes helmet clamp fire in your elbow least twice a run. Love the beautiful clean arc an inverter gives, less noise to from the arc compared to a non inverter.

General the thicker the more amps my rules shoot me. In a welding shop you will find a price range, and better service than likes of a Buntings, OH yes it will do that ... get it home an burn it .... Anecdote a guy wet to buy a Phase 3 welder, his exact words not mine ... when he got it home the plug was wrong, he took it back and exchanged it for a Phase 2 welder, his words not mine DUH single phase ya wally.

Cheers for the reply mate!