Help with MIG Welder Purchase

[slackdaddy1]

Cant remember, where you in Ohio? W PA ?
did a quick CL search,,
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tls/d/lincoln-sp-125-plus-mig-welder/6475413068.html
asking 350,, wave 275 under his nose

 

[Lelandwelds]

Swingarc would be really cool but not at this time.

I had many customers when I was a Salesman who rigged up a regular feeder on a jib crane/articulated arm/ overgrown engine hoist/barn door track/little red wagon. They could cover a huge area and enjoyed fewer gun feeding issues. Occasionally they needed to stand on the table to swap a spool.

Only two had genuine Swingarc users. They both ran torsion wound 500 lb drums.

I feel pulsed is a solution looking for a problem (except aerospace).

I hated aluminum mig. Those BBs hurt all out of proportion to their size.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I think the Miller 211 might be out of my price range. At $1200 new then I have to get the tank it will be close to $1500 when all is said and done. I dont believe I will use it enough to justify paying that much.

You can always buy for less than MSRP. Call around locally. I anticipate near $1200 with bottle and tax depending on your market. Find a private seller with an 80 or 141 for cheap. Start out with Flux cored. Give up alcohol for six months. Nail down some overtime. Sell of some surplus ratchets.

The MM211 is supposed to be an exceptional machine.

 

[dis00]

I live less than 20 miles from an Eastwood store so getting repair, replacement parts or warranty issues I shouldn't have a problem with that.

I'm looking to spend less than $1000 including welder and tank. I already have a helmet and gloves. I will look at getting a cart at a later date.

 

[Makoto]

Well you are obviously the mig welding expert
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6939771&postcount=20
But for the sake of discussion for the rest of us,

$500-$1000 for a welder doesn't have to mean people are only doing production welding, some people just want a quality machine that they aren't going to have to worry about when they go to use them. I might go a few weeks without touching my Miller 211, other times its used constantly for weeks, but either way, I can count on it working when I do use it. Buying a ************* or too small of a machine is going to cause a lot more regret than buying a quality, capable machine that maybe costs a forgettable amount more.

for the record, I also liked my Hobart 140

You really should re-read what I write before taking cheap potshots like that.

 

[Bretny]

100 lbs of wire in 8yrs (12lbs/yr) is nothing, I do 100lbs of wire in 6 months. My Hobart crapped out the high voltage setting in 6 months while doing bracketry on an offroad jeep. I was pissed to say the least. Now I only run it with 030 Flux core. Its welds are OK, but as has been stated... Infinite adjustment is what one needs to effectively weld panels.

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So 6months would have been in warrenty still.

 

[WittHay]

Ive been looking at some of the used machines in my area and found a few

Millermatic 135 for $475
Hobart Handler 210 MVP for $500

Couldn't find any Lincoln 100-SP's. You mentioned they were old. Do they make a current model?

The current model for the good Lincoln is Power Mig 140 and the Miller is Millermatic 141. They are expensive for what they can do, $800 for a 110 volt welder. Imports are going to be half that price or less. Besides the Eastwood check out Everlast or maybe the HF Vulcan.

Just make sure the welder is user friendly, harder to weld sheet metal than frames or larger stuff

 

[nbruno]

So 6months would have been in warrenty still.

That is correct, I believe their warranty is 3 years. It still doesn't detract from the fact that it's a lower quality machine.

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[dis00]

The current model for the good Lincoln is Power Mig 140 and the Miller is Millermatic 141. They are expensive for what they can do, $800 for a 110 volt welder. Imports are going to be half that price or less. Besides the Eastwood check out Everlast or maybe the HF Vulcan.

Just make sure the welder is user friendly, harder to weld sheet metal than frames or larger stuff

I actually watched youtube video of an Everlast machine which had multiple welding types. Looked impressive. I can't remember the model number bu it was over 2k...

I had a quick look at the HF Vulcan just out of curiosity (I didn't even look there originally due to my current cheapo unit) but noticed the 12 month risk free trial which would be a nice thing to have with everything you buy... I believe I saw a post about those machine so I'll check that out along with the Everlast machines

 

[f575gtc]

I have the Eastwood bigger unit the 175 amp one and it works very well, I accidentally broke the plastic assembly on the wire feed and they sent me one free of charge they have decent support on their parts.

 

[Showkey]

That is correct, I believe their warranty is 3 years. It still doesn't detract from the fact that it's a lower quality machine.

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I have the Eastwood bigger unit the 175 amp one and it works very well, I accidentally broke the plastic assembly on the wire feed and they sent me one free of charge they have decent support on their parts.

One could argue the Eastwood isfar from a low quality machine.

My 175 is three years old..........very pleased and would buy again .......currently looking at their TIG and thinking I need their scroll compressor too.

 

[sberry]

By reliable accounts the Eastwood works pretty well. It used to be the cost/quality spread made the better machines a no brainer, again like hand tools the cost has dropped and the machines are getting a lot better.

 

[Fender1325]

I work in a restoration shop. At the shop we have both Miller and Lincoln. At home I have a Hobart handler 140. All three machines are 110v units. They all do the job just fine. From favorite to least favorite - Hobart, Miller, Lincoln. Perhaps I like my own Hobart because it's likely the youngest machine. It just works great on sheet metal. Good strong arc. The Miller is quite a used machine. Gets the job done. The Lincoln also works although I must admit I don't care for the "A, B, C, D" power settings. I don't know why. The chart seemed limited for metal thickness settings. That's just my opinion. I didn't really like it much.

They'll all work fine. But you can't go wrong with Hobart. Excellent customer service and they work great. Get a bottle of 75/25 gas and get welding.