Looking for advice on a MIG welder...

[geologist]

While I won't be welding Russian fighter jets together, I will be welding sheet and tubing. I'll likely be buying used since I can't afford to drop a grand or so at the moment (vehicle replacement is a slightly bigger problem for now).



Ideas?

I'm thinking something like a Lincoln Handy MIG might be a good place to start.

 

[koditten]

You might as well buy a new MIG unit. Used ones sell at close to 80% of their value. Unless you fall into a distressed sale, you might as well get a warrenty.

The only advantage of going used is you may get a few extras, like tank of gas, partial roll or wire or a welding helmet.

Or maybe the hunt is what you enjoy the most.

Good luck

KO

 

[Gamble]

I had the lincoln weldpak 140 from home depot for $524. Helmet that came with it sucked, but other than that I LOVED it.
I didn't use it for awhile so I sold it and have been kicking myself in the *** for a long time. I did end up scoring a used hobart handler 140 mig welder for $280 though so I'm happy with that.
Depends on what you want to spend (don't forget safety gear, and gas) and if you want 110v or 220v.

If I could afford a new one, I would choose the millermatic 140 with autoset without thinking twice about it.

Now though like Koditten said, people ask way to much for used welders. Some clown on Cl in chicago is asking $1200 for a millermatic 135 with a cart and cheap helmet. WTF. But it never hurts to see what's out there and what people will take for an offer or trade.

 

[MoonRise]

Ideas?

Sure.

Make sure you get 'enough' machine for the thickness of metal you will be welding.

Because until you get up into the 252-class machines that can do "spray transfer", you can be limited as to the thickness of the metal you can weld.

Welding rather 'thin' stuff can be difficult as well. Still from the standpoint of power, but from the other end of things. Namely, getting the power down far enough and then being able to control that power (heat). As well as dealing with the warpage/distortion issue inherent with welding thin stuff.

Don't worry about the jets. They mostly use GTAW aka TIG for any welding, because of the 'control' issue.

Although the 120V GMAW machines are certainly handy and useful within their limits, those power limits can be rather limiting. No real pun intended.

For GMAW aka MIG, 120V machines will usually 'top-out' at 14-16 gauge steel sheetmetal.

Same machine, if it can run FCAW, can usually run up to about 1/4 inch thick or so (FCAW runs 'hotter' than solid-wire GMAW). But you will still be 'limited' as the 'small' diameter small FCAW wires that can run in the lower-powered and lower voltage machines are 'limited' in choice/selection.

Within their limits, the machines are fine.

Move up to the 180-class machines (240V power input) and you have extended the thickness limit a bit further upwards. Solid-wire GMAW up to about 3/16 inch thick or so, and FCAW-S up to 5/16 inch (multi-pass, partially based on machine power as well as wire limitations such as Lincoln's NR-211 workpiece thickness limit of 5/16 inch MAX for wires 0.045 and smaller, YMMV with other wires) or so.

All the 'extras' to get started in welding can add up to a bit of money. Allow for that. Gloves, helmet, grinder(s), etc, etc.

So I would really-really recommend going with a 240V powered unit. Hobart Handler 187 (now redone as the HH190) has a good rep, Lincoln 180, Miller 180, etc.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/wirefeed/handler190/

Looks like TSC has it on sale for $650. YMMV.

 

[ZRX61]

Hobart Handler 187 (now redone as the HH190) has a good rep,

http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/wirefeed/handler190/

Looks like TSC has it on sale for $650. YMMV.

That.

I want one even though I already have a Miller 210.

 

[bad_idea]

I have a Hobart Handler 187 I bought last August at Northern Tool. I LOVE THIS MACHINE. Love it. Can't talk it up enough. I work in ship repair for a living (U.S. Navy ships), we have some very nice machines at work. I'm not going to blow smoke saying the HH 187 is better or even equivalent to the machines at work, I mean to say I have used some quality (read expensive) machines to compare to.

I have welded a good amount of 1/4" with this machine and it welds great. I have also welded a fair amount of 18 gauge with it. The recommended settings on the inside of the cover are spot on. I have ran 3 rolls of wire through the machine since August and haven't been disappointed yet.

Buy this machine! You won't regret it. Shop around for your argon bottle though. I called two weld shops in town, one quoted $130 full and the other one quoted $230 plus $30 to fill. I bought my bottle and it cost $15 or so to refill. For a 80 cf bottle of 75% argon/ 25% co2. A tank of gas lasts about as long as an 8" roll of wire.

 

[dwp99]

Try looking for a Millermatic 200. I just picked one up for $475.

 

[srmofo]

Ideas?


So I would really-really recommend going with a 240V powered unit. Hobart Handler 187 (now redone as the HH190) has a good rep, Lincoln 180, Miller 180, etc.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/wirefeed/handler190/

Looks like TSC has it on sale for $650. YMMV.

or for a little more $$ you can jump up to a larger more capable machine here.
http://www.farmandfleet.com/product...pingengine&utm_source=googlebase#.T-TFMMVQT90

Mine should be here tomorrow. In the past I have been using a cheap craftsman 120v fluxcore or borrowing my buddies millermatic 212. More recently I picked up a Miller diversion 165.

I couldnt pass up this price considering the price of most used machines. The deals are out there if you patience though. Ive waited almost 3 years to buy my diversion. I got it BNIB for $600. More recently I was a day late buck short for a hobart 187 for $300. I think my buddy picked up his miller for $900 with tank

One things for sure, learning on a cheap junky machines sure makes it easy to weld on nicer machines.

 

[csargents1546]

I have an older Lincoln 3200HD, got it from HD about 8 years ago. For most projects it is just the right size. I have welded thicker stock, had to do multiple passes.

 

[coolreed]

I bought Miller and glad I did. And I purchased a very good quality Miller helmet.
Solid investment.

 

[maxspeed96ct]

I purchased a little lincoln 100 amp MIG from craigslist for 75$. Runs fluxed core wire. Ive done up to 1/4" angle with it. But thats really pushing it, its honestly meant for 1/8" and smaller.

Its great for little exhaust projects and etc.

For exposed welds , the flux core splatters alittle more so it requires alittle more cleanup. Also the extra splatter ***** if your welding under the vehicle lol.

But its been great to me, one day when the funds are there I realy want to get a machine that can tig and a small portable dc stick machine .

 

[sberry]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155260

 

[1967lemans]

I have a lincoln 140 and have been happy with it. I use it mainly for body work. There are times I wish I had something a little bigger but, I have a stick welder for that. Some day I may upgrade.

 

[stioc]

I used to have a MM175 which was a good 220v machine. I sold it and then bought a new Hobart 140 (110v) which I find a lot handier as I can plug it in anywhere while making small repairs etc. I've built stands for bandsaw and such, tables, fixed a broken exhaust weld on a friend's Subaru STi, 'fixed' the bike pedal on my kid's bike that kept falling out due to the messed up threads- it ain't doing no where now lol, repaired a rusted-out battery and propane tank bracket on the travel trailer, made a motorcycle side-case bracket etc. Most of my welding has been on 16ga and 1/8" steel with the gas. I wouldn't trust doing structural welding (building a trailer etc) but not because of the welder but because of my own skills. Can I glue things together, sure, but will it hold when you're applying thousand+ lbs of pulling force on it...who knows? so my idea is to tack weld structural things and bring them to a certified welder.