Choosing a welder?

[sberry]

One thing that didn't get mentioned (I don't think) that you can read a lot about on weldingweb is that the box store (Lowes, Home Depot) units are build specifically for the stores and are made with lower quality construction and parts to meet a price point. Now I can't say this is true myself, but a lot of people say that. I do know that it happens with some other items with large retailers, so it wouldn't surprise me. If that is true, then I'd skip buying your welder at Lowes/Home Depot.

They are essentially the same machine with a different jacket and model number. They lost a lot of confidence over that but they had to do it due to the dealers etc, so,,,,,,,,,,

I really wouldn't worry about alum especially right off the bat other than one might want a mig spool gun ready, its a small priced feature and in reality I have a real use for it and its replaced the tig for real repair work.

Its a steel world, the 230 mig was designed by experts for this crowd, they look at you guys picture on the wall when they design it. 4 cylinder ranger pickup,,,, or hi output 6 cyl. 20A at 120V or 22 at 240, all the losses in the machine the same, twice the user power, over it and its usually on a circuit where its half loaded vs maxed out.

Here is some 3/16 and 1/4 work with a 175=200 compact. 120V cant do this at this level. Can turn it up hot enough to make ripples go away in second pic. Important for building brackets etc. Aint no doubt its melted together and at twice the speed which is half the gas.

 

[NUTTSGT]

In this case, a little extra is another $500..... I figure a 110 volt is going to run me 550 with a tank. $500 is a lot of money at my house

Not necessarily, it depends on how much bigger you want to go. For a home/hobby garage, I think one of these would be perfectly fine.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/hobart-handlerreg;-190-mig-welder-spool-gun-ready

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/hobart-handler-190-mig-welder-with-spool-gun-package


I wouldn't count the price of the tank in a welder comparison if you don't want to use flux core wire. If you want to use gas shielding, doesn't matter what welder you buy, you'll have the same investment in the tank.


My point is that if you're willing to make the investment in a welder, buy the better one in your first purchase. Put your money back for a few months and wait till after Christmas. Put your welding supplies on the Christmas list for the wife to get you. Once Christmas has passed, start looking hard and wait till tax refunds come in, if you can wait or if you get a refund.

Another option is wait for the Black Fridays ads to come out.

 

[sberry]

When its all done about 200 more than a 120. Not bad pot odds.

 

[Chaznsc]

Thanks guys. I've decided to just stay with my stick welder.

 

[CNGsaves]

Any good comments about the little Eastwood Mig 135 welder??

Here's one that I could drive and pickup for $300 that includes a small bottle, and near new condition.
http://topeka.craigslist.org/tls/4153510476.html

Deal or skip??

 

[sberry]

Don't let this scare you, getting a feeder like this is almost a must have in todays sheet metal world, it is the real workhorse of a small shop. I am a career trade welder, have them all but to tell the truth if I wasn't in business could do 99% of it with a baby feeder and on the rare occasion I needed alum would find a friend or someone that hung their shingle out at a reasonable rate.

 

[brucer]

Any good comments about the little Eastwood Mig 135 welder??

Here's one that I could drive and pickup for $300 that includes a small bottle, and near new condition.
http://topeka.craigslist.org/tls/4153510476.html

Deal or skip??

Skip.. You can buy that same machine brand new for $319 from Eastwood with free shipping.. The bottle isnt worth much actually.. The only way I would buy a 110v mig is if I were using it for sheet metal use only...

 

[readhead]

If your stick machine is DC you can TIG with it.

 

[sgs]

Earlier this year I upgraded my mig and got the Miller 211 dual voltage auto set. Its been great so far. Running it on 220 but nice to have that 110 just in case I am someplace minus 220. Haven't used the auto set option yet. I feel like a pro when I twist the knobs myself.

Gordon S.

 

[Riverside]

I generally agree that 220 is much more desirable than 110, but my first welder was a Snap-On FM140A and it is a decent 110 welder. The components are much heavier than most 110 welders, allowing it to have a 100% duty cycle. Ten years or so ago, I bought an old used one with a tank for $500, if I remember correctly. As I understand, not all Snap-On welders are good, but the ones made by Systematics are. If you do your research, and you don't mind a degree of risk, you can save some money by buying a used welder. I also owned an old Millermatic 200. It was very nice, despite its age. My primary welder now is a CobraMig 260 with a push-pull gun.

 

[allanjs]

Keep in eye on your local Craigslist adds.