Best welder for the price?

[Gavin.reid]

I'm looking for a welder for a reasonable price. I will not be doing any insane amount of welding. I plan on welding an exhaust together and changing the positions of a bumper for a different truck to put on nine not welding anything think then 3/16 inches maybe 1/4 inch
Thanks

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[matt_i]

I would choose red or blue Mig, small case ~130-ish amps. A 230v input is nice so people don't always want to borrow it. However I think many of the new ones may be autoranging.

 

[byoungblood]

For that size metal, a stick welder would probably be the best bang for your buck. A little more learning curve, but if you get a 230v one it will weld anything you could throw at it...except thinner metals.

You can usually find old Lincoln AC buzzboxes for around $100, and if you're a bit more patient, an AC/DC (Lincoln or Miller) stick welder for about $100-150 more than that. I think many hobby welders are turned off by stick welding so the welders tend to be a little less expensive used.

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I got the 120v 90a HF Flux Core welder that a lot of people buy, for like $80 on black friday. So far I love it. For a beginner it seems fine. Welds are a little messy but strong ,then again, i'm a beginner.

 

[aka Larry]

Too many variables here.

What's your budget? Do you know how to weld? To be clear, being able to tack to pieces of metal together is not 'welding'. Your range of thickness of welding from exhaust pipe (thin) to 1/4" steel (thick) is quite broad also.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Also, do you have 220V service available? How about a dryer outlet? Are you talking brand new or used?

 

[EdT]

Above suggestion about the "Tombstone" stick welders is right on for the heavier stuff, but I don't think you'll be doing a lot of exhaust pipe with it. I have done a fair number of special exhaust parts and I can make a functional weld with good penetration and all with a small MIG machine, but the welds don't look "nice" which may not be important to you, or it may. As I have moved into more stainless parts, I bought an Eastwood 200 amp TIG machine and it has worked out fine as a learning tool and I have made my investment back several times over. Now that I understand the process better, I know what features to look for on my next machine. For instance, I think pulse would help a lot on some of the thin stuff I work on. Whatever welder you choose, I think you will find that it takes practice to get adequate and a lot of practice to get competent/good. IMHO some folks have a knack for it and some don't; that helps a lot too. Exhaust tubing takes a delicate touch and, at least for me, a lot of test pieces to learn the best set up and what to watch out for and part positioning which is important. If you can't see what you're welding, it is unlikely to end up like you want it to. On that topic, get a decent auto darkening helmet. It makes a world of difference. For me, even a cheapo HF auto darkening helmet was a huge step up from a fixed density helmet. Get the best one you feel like affording.

 

[kkroger]

I'd go Miller 211 or Hobart 210 both are dual voltage and similar capabilities....
the Hobart is a smidge cheaper. Fleet and Farm had a good deal on them.
If you want more *** to it, take a look at the Hobart Ironman 235...
Lot of power for a smidge more than the Miller 211.

 

[jp828108]

I'd go Miller 211 or Hobart 210 both are dual voltage and similar capabilities....
the Hobart is a smidge cheaper. Fleet and Farm had a good deal on them.
If you want more *** to it, take a look at the Hobart Ironman 235...
Lot of power for a smidge more than the Miller 211.

I started off with a well used small Hobart Handler welder. It was a 110 only. Found a great deal on a Hobart 210. Haven't done much welding with it yet, but it seems to be a decent unit. Nice thing about a MIG welder is you can pretty much check the chart and match the settings and go to town pretty easy after a few youtube videos. Practice of course helps, but they are pretty user friendly.

 

[Gavin.reid]

Too many variables here.

What's your budget? Do you know how to weld? To be clear, being able to tack to pieces of metal together is not 'welding'. Your range of thickness of welding from exhaust pipe (thin) to 1/4" steel (thick) is quite broad also.

Nope never welded before! But I want to learn and 600 dollar budget. Biggest I would do would be more like 3/16


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[SteveH-CO]

You get what you pay for, for the most part. I find welding to be a lot of fun, and use mine far more than I expected to. I'm fixing auto bodies, snow shovels, ornamental things, trowel handles, lawn mowers, stuff for my church, etc. If you're a cheapskate/recycler kind of person, you'll have a lot of fun with it.

Also, rookie welders benefit from better machines. Most people I have met with inexpensive/cheap welders either never use them, or chronically complain that they wish they had a better welder.

I would buy a good, used 220v wire feed welder with gas shielding, and if that's too much $$, take your few small jobs to a local exhaust shop and most of those guys will do light welding on the side for a few dollars.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Too many variables here.

What's your budget? Do you know how to weld? To be clear, being able to tack to pieces of metal together is not 'welding'. Your range of thickness of welding from exhaust pipe (thin) to 1/4" steel (thick) is quite broad also.

All of the above are correct !


Wild *** Guess, Get a dual voltage MIG that can use flux core or gas. Can't go wrong with Lincoln or Miller. Good reviews on Eastwood also.

 

[aka Larry]

Nope never welded before! But I want to learn and 600 dollar budget. Biggest I would do would be more like 3/16

Some here would disagree, but I'd start with a course at a local CC before buying a welder. That's what I did, and it was worth every penny...and then some.

If you are wanting to skip that step, any of the 'big three' will be fine. In order of price/quality...1. Miller(blue) 2. Lincoln (red) 3. Hobart (yellow). With a $600 budget, you won't have to buy bottom of the barrel stuff like HF.

 

[kkroger]

Some here would disagree, but I'd start with a course at a local CC before buying a welder. That's what I did, and it was worth every penny...and then some.

If you are wanting to skip that step, any of the 'big three' will be fine. In order of price/quality...1. Miller(blue) 2. Lincoln (red) 3. Hobart (yellow). With a $600 budget, you won't have to buy bottom of the barrel stuff like HF.

Hobart ain't yella... ESAB is though...
https://www.farmandfleet.com/produc...-welder.html?gclid=CJ2B05zFmNICFYKCaQod2NMNiQ

 

[MarineScott]

I bought a Hobart Handler 140 from TSC for $459. Learning to weld and doing well with it. I was looking for American made and a good warranty which after research I chose a Hobart.

 

[Garagetime]

I have a Lincoln SP- 175 220 volt mig. It's almost 20 years old not one problem. Best $720 I ever spent on a welder. Just something to know. Lincoln welders sold at welding supply stores and Home Depot at not the same. I got a friend who bought one from Home Depot PK-180 $634. Still good welder,but he needed a part and found out . Home Depot or through Lincoln direct only. The local welding supply store could not get the part.

 

[sberry]

I have a Lincoln SP- 175 220 volt mig. It's almost 20 years old not one problem. Best $720 I ever spent on a welder. Just something to know. Lincoln welders sold at welding supply stores and Home Depot at not the same. I got a friend who bought one from Home Depot PK-180 $634. Still good welder,but he needed a part and found out . Home Depot or through Lincoln direct only. The local welding supply store could not get the part.

This is spot on. If a guy can do without the dual voltage **** the 240 units like this are very good and the SP is a super unit, very very good arc and tunes spot on for 030. The Hobarts are good too. This is a place its well worth stretching the budget some as is running a good circuit.
The original question was whats the best use of money and this is it. These are really 2x the welder of the 120v units and a hobby type can do most all of it with one. The red models with the taps from the box store are good and I really like them better then the infinite settings. So much easier to set perfect, same way each time.
This is still the machine I use most of the time.
I believe the parts are interchangeable, use the SP number instead of the bastardized box store number. I am not sure about recent but used to be the only difference was the jacket.

 

[Jazz1]

$600 budget means you will be able to buy parts if it ever breaks down. I would buy from local vendor. Miller, Hobart. Welder is one tool where name brand matters.

 

[BassProCamaro97]

Out of your price range but I love my Miller 211. Best advice I got was buy something out of your price range so you have room to grow.

 

[txvwnut]

I bought a Hobart Handler 140 from TSC for $459. Learning to weld and doing well with it. I was looking for American made and a good warranty which after research I chose a Hobart.

I second this, have one at work and it has taken a beating by all the "I can weld" users and hasn't given up yet. I think it's ten years old now and still welds as good as the day it came out of the box.

 

[Dr Stan]

I have a Miller 180 MIG for which I paid just under $1k brand new, but it does include the Torch Mate so I can weld aluminum. 'bout the only expensive tool I've purchased new and my price was the education discount price.

Check Craig's List, Flea Bay, Search Tempest, etc for a good used unit.

Any of the top of the line welders are your best bet. Miller, Hobart (I think it's now owned by Miller), Lincoln, ESAB, etc should be considered. Keep in mind the old adage "yas gets whats yas paid fer".

HF changes suppliers on many items as often as I change my underwear always looking to squeeze out the very last $.001. Consequently parts for equipment more than 1 year old can be extremely difficult to find.

 

[Stadger]

Hobart 140. Nobody who has one ever wants to sell it for some reason.

 

[sberry]

The 140 is a good machine, not sure if they make the 190 yet but it is a tapped 240 version for about 250 more. Its simple but its really about 2x the machine a smaller one is for 50% more money. The 140 isn't a stranger to Clist, I got a cousin just scored one like new, had 2# of wire thru it and the original gas bottle still 1/2 full for 150$ The 240V models are quite a bit harder to find used, people don't sell them. I got 2 in that class, one for 25 yrs and one for 10+.
They let yo go to 030 wire which lets it give up about twice the current. It makes a huge difference in capacity, can use it for light hitch and bumper work, about anything on a car or light truck. Here is some 1/4x3/16 time work and the 175-3=200 class will snack on this, would be tedious and way not as good from a 140.

 

[sberry]

There are 2 other deals in welders. AC/DC buzzer used and I would like to try the new 140 or 150 Everlast or similar DIV small inverter stick machines. At about 220 dollars or so I bet they may be ok. They are super good on 120v really. My Maxstar is great but it cost a grand now.