WELDER RECOMMENDATIONS

[wskirvin]

Once again, asking questions here has paid off. You guys always have the info i need. Thanks for the input. Still have to decide on exactly what to get, but I am leaning more towards a 220v model now for the versatility. I've kept an eye out locally for a good used welder but only ones coming up seem to be all the cheaper HF ones or the Lincoln weld pak 100/125's.

 

[Longroof79]

I think in the long run you'll be happier going with an upgraded welder.

 

[wskirvin]

I think in the long run you'll be happier going with an upgraded welder.

That's what I'm starting to figure out. good thing is, I have plenty of projects between me and my brother that they will definitely get its use.

 

[Longroof79]

That's what I'm starting to figure out. good thing is, I have plenty of projects between me and my brother that they will definitely get its use.

Good for you. I think that's a sensible decision. Had I not been trying to be cheap (economical) and bought a better welder to begin with, I think I would've been a lot happier. Sometimes you learn from your mistakes.

 

[Turbolq4]

I have a cheap HF wire feed. It makes chicken poo welds and has a hard time feeding smoothly. It sticks metal together for really cheap and makes me good at polishing ugly welds into half decent looking. When I get a decent welder it should be alot easier to make nice welds.

 

[wskirvin]

Good for you. I think that's a sensible decision. Had I not been trying to be cheap (economical) and bought a better welder to begin with, I think I would've been a lot happier. Sometimes you learn from your mistakes.

That is very true! I've learned the had way on this build already so instead of cheaping out on a major tool, i'm just getting something that i can learn with, but also grow with.

 

[bob64]

The bigger the machine the more opinions you have welding. You'll need atleast a 140 wire feed an gas is nice, it also gives you more variety of wire that you can use. Flux core is pretty basic wire. They make wire that has special compounds for welding rusty metals.

A 180 wire feed puts you in the middle and is capable of welding just about everything for less than a 250. I have both, the old Miller Thunderbolt 250 an a Miller 180, there great but l hardly ever fire up the 250 anymore an the 180 is easier to drag around.

You don't think you'll use it much well look for one of the big names used, or check out ebay for an off shore they have all kinds of reviews on u-tube about them an there dirt cheap with decent reviews. A couple fabricators reviewed them.

One thing l'll say is once you have a unit you'll use it alot more than you think.

 

[spicercars]

I had a Hobart 190 handler for many years and just upgraded to a Hobart 210 mvp . Both great welders and you can run them on 110v or 220v.

 

[pontiacgp]

Get a good helmet as well, can't make a nice weld if you have trouble seeing it

 

[Local Hero]

One option might be to start out with a used rig. But you have to be careful just like with anything else.

I started out with a middle of the road used machine that I got from a friend who was upgrading. It came with the machine itself, a cart, a 3/4 full bottle, helmet, and heavy gloves for $250. It was a good way to get started and it taught me to become a decent welder with a fair machine that I got over 10 years of use out of. Eventually the machine started needing some repairs and parts proved difficult to find simply because it was made overseas.

Eventually I invested in a Lincoln Easy Mig 180 which is the 220V version of the 140. When I built my home shop I pre-wired for an eventual 220 welder. At the time when I got it, it was the same price the 140 is now. I was able to reuse the same helmet, cart and argon bottle. But when I need parts, I can find them anywhere, especially the consumables since Lincoln is headquartered right here on the Northcoast, Cleveland, OH.