Need some help choosing a starting welder

[Broncobowsher]

Oh how I love the bottomless budget of this board. I am sometimes guilty of it as well.

OK, back to the original constraints. About $500 budget, no 220V. Adding 220V would eat into the welder budget. Normally I always tell everyone to get 220V, but this time there is enough information that I will not. But I will ask if there is a nearby dryer or stove plug that you could use. If so then look for 220V and be done with it.

110V machines will limit you to 130~140 amp.
Don't expect aluminium welding. What welding aluminium it can do is generally thicker stock.
You do want gas shielding

Yes I know this is a budget buster, but it is nice. http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_passport_plus/ OK enough teaser, back to the constraints...

Now when shopping for a welder, the continous adjsutment is better then the tapped adjustemnt. Here is a comparison page from Lincoln I pulled http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/lecocompare.aspx?59618=on&42420=on showing the same welder (those are suggested retail prices, never pay that much) but with different power controls.

I thought I have seen good deals at http://www.parkermetalworking.com/ in the past, but I didn't see any MIG machines there today. I have heard a good things about that place, know one picky guy that liked his plasma he got there. Read a few good reviews about his stuff on the Pirate site.

Miller (my preference), Lincoln (what I learned on), Hobart al make good machines.
Avoid the typical stuff from your cheap tool store (Harbor Freight) as the few people that I know who have had them hate them. I have tried one once, never again.

 

[Broncobowsher]

OK, you have 220V available, scratch the 110V machine. Go 220V

 

[Madgyver]

If you want to plug in and weld then go with the Lincoln 120v model with gas at Home Depot, That will keep you under $500. After using it you will know if you need more as you go on with your projects.. It all depends on what you're planning to do..

I have a Lincoln Weldpak (120v) with fluxcore wire it's good for on site jobs and small tasks because of its portability. I built my twin stick with it.

I have a Miller 175 (cost a little more than $500.) and I now use it all the time after I set up seperate breaker box for 220v right after the electric meter in the garage.. It lets me plug in other tools as well, Plasma, TIG etc...

You can see the 220 Miller unit in the 2nd pic.. TIG and Plasma machines in the 3rd..

 

[cobra70]

if you have 220v go with the miller 180 or 212. Miller has a 1 lb spool gun that will work with it and then you can weld aluminum also

 

[HotWheels]

I love my Hobart Handler 135. It did everything I needed it to for my frame off.

 

[Dave]

About 20 years ago I bought a Hansen MIG 160. Its a professional grade machine designed for sheet metal work. It's 220, has a 100% duty cycle, a nice light weight flexible cord and a perfect sized pistol. It has spot weld cycles, stitch weld cycles, etc. I does a very nice job with anything under 3/16". Turns out that about 10% of my welding projects are sheet metal or thin walled tubing. Most of the time I end up dragging the stick machine out. I always wish that I had a 210 Amp machine. Anyone wanna trade.

 

[vt89gtvert]

I have a chance to pick-up a hobart 135 for $250, but it is a 2.5 hour drive to pick-up. I am figuring $50 in gas (Probibly be more like $30).

Should I make the run, or just let it go?

 

[Dave]

If it comes with a tank and regulator, jump on it. Make sure you get the tank transfered to your name or a bill of sale.

 

[bigbadktm]

spend a little money and look into the miller passport. its a 110/220 capable machine, portable, and accepts a spoolgun for aluminum. it runs on painball co2 tanks and is beeter than most larger units. if you look at millers charts, it is just in front of the 252 welder. I got mine brand new on craigslist for $1100. do a search on ebay for weldingsuppliesatioc, he has some pretty smokin deals.

 

[vt89gtvert]

spend a little money and look into the miller passport. its a 110/220 capable machine, portable, and accepts a spoolgun for aluminum. it runs on painball co2 tanks and is beeter than most larger units. if you look at millers charts, it is just in front of the 252 welder. I got mine brand new on craigslist for $1100. do a search on ebay for weldingsuppliesatioc, he has some pretty smokin deals.

I am a little more of a limited budget then that welder will fit into. I am looking more along the lines of $3-400 range max, and found the price of the 135 fits that range a little better. WOuld like to get a 220 unit later, but can't really spend the dough for one just yet.

 

[tinytim02]

I recently picked up my first welder. Debated a lot over 220 vs. 110. Wanted something decent and simple I could learn on, but that would also be able to do more as my skills increase. Price was also a big factor.

Ended up picking up a brand-new Lincoln 175 220v machine on ebay. With shipping it was $435. Then I had 3 220v lines put in at the house (about $175). I think I got a decent welder I'll be able to grow into and added enough 220v power to handle future shop upgrades like air, plasma cutter, etc.

 

[FSRBIKER]

I wish electricians worked so cheaply in NJ.

I recently picked up my first welder. Debated a lot over 220 vs. 110. Wanted something decent and simple I could learn on, but that would also be able to do more as my skills increase. Price was also a big factor.

Ended up picking up a brand-new Lincoln 175 220v machine on ebay. With shipping it was $435. Then I had 3 220v lines put in at the house (about $175). I think I got a decent welder I'll be able to grow into and added enough 220v power to handle future shop upgrades like air, plasma cutter, etc.

 

[Tuff68]

200V too much ?

Will a 220V welder ( Lincoln 180C ) be too much for thin body panels.
So say the 220's can't be turned down enough to keep from burning through on the thiner materials.
Thanks,

 

[FSRBIKER]

It's not about being a 220V welder it's about the machine itself(my Miller Challenger 172 is fine with body panels) AND also using the correct wire size.

 

[22213evl]

wow all this talk about hi tech, new age welders makes me feel old %)
I learned on oxy-accet, then a lincoln crackerbox, then a miller 440 mig.
welding structural steel. my stepfather has a hobart handler he loves it.
my buddy has the harbor freight thingy, it's good in a pinch but lacks adjustability.
you can find 220 plugs at the flea market, or craigslist for next to nothin
make yourself a cord (10 gauge min) plug into dryer (30 amp)or if possible
the stove outlet (50 amp)

 

[bigbadktm]

for those others looking to get a 110 but can't decide between the 110, and 220, check out the miller DVI2. it and the passport have the option of running on both. the DVI doesn't have as good of a bead as the passport, but it is cheaper.

yeah i was in the same boat looking for a cheap welder, so I sold my motorcycle to pay for it, and bought a nice one instead. hobart is a great welder and is also made by miller, check em out.