looking to buy a welder

[tpolley]

i am looking to buy a welder. i want a 230v mig welder. i don't have alot of cash right now. i did a craigslist search and found 2 lincoln mig welders, one was $450 and the other was $600. while i wouldn't mind paying $450 for a used lincoln, thats about as much as i would want to spend and it wouldn't leave room to buy the other shop necessities.

you all probably know where i'm going with this

i'm looking at these two from horrible freight.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93793

and

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97503

the first one is a 160amp the second is a 120 amp. the 120 amp welder has 2 toggle switches to change amperage. i don't really like that. i prefer the variable knob on the 160 amp welder. does it make a difference?

also, i've heard that the wire feed on harbor freight welders are pretty rough.

the 18-20% duty cycle seems kinda short.

what are y'alls thoughts?

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Find a buddy with a welder that he will let you use until you find a good one on CL or until you save up enough cash to get a new one from Miller, Lincoln or Hobart. I waited and bought a Miller local from the dealer after trying two different HF welders out. No comparison between them.

 

[tpolley]

Find a buddy with a welder that he will let you use until you find a good one on CL or until you save up enough cash

thats a small problem. i am the buddy with the welder. up untill now ive been using my dads 230v lincoln stick welder or his craftsman 120v mig. i'd like to have my own for a change.

 

[Major Ramifications]

You might try some pawn shops in your area. My favorite is http://www.cashamerica.com/

Keep the phone numbers for the welders you are looking at on C/L, and call back in a couple of weeks or more to see if they still have them. The prices should get better if they do.

 

[back2class]

I would get a 110v machine long before I would get any off brand HF machine. Do you know you need a 220v machine or are you just going by what you read on some websites. Most of the posts I have read are written by people that either don't have a welder, never used a 110v unit or weld all day long. I can hardly imagine a hobby user haveing any real need for a 220 machine and NO NEW WELDER NEEDS A 220 MIG. If you already have a welder and are doing so much work it's time for an upgrade then maybe. But if you do so little welding that you don't already have one then I promise you will be more than well served witha 110.

Yes, in some ways a 220 machine is a little better than a good 110v but to then go with a machine that is way worse choice than a quality 110v is a mistake.

Since money is a factor, unless you are doing production or welding heavy industrial equiptment like backhoes a 110 will do a great job.

I have a 110v mig on the farm and it is more welder than I need. I keep a 220 arc around but I almost never use it and have no need for a 220 mig because I don't weld all day long and that is the real advantage of the 220 with better duty cycle.

It may not be you, but I am sick of guys being mislead into going broke for a 220 machine because of what they read on similar sites. And guys weighing in how great their 220 is having never even run a 110

 

[back2class]

Pardon my rant. I have owned an off brand mig before. Italian. Worked great untill it broke down. Then parts were expensive and rare and all the shortcuts in quality showed up like plastic parts when metal should have been used. DONT DO A NON BRAND NAME WELDER or any style or size.

 

[tpolley]

i just came from harbor freight. i was far from impressed with their welders.

i'm not totaly against a 110v machine. 90% of the time i think a 110v machine would suit me fine. i work with 1/4, 3/8 and occasionally some 1/2 inch mild steel.

okay, here's a question, say i am welding a **** joint on 3/8 steel. maybe i'm welding a square tube of 3/8 steel to a 1/2 inch plate. no way to bevel the joint. would the weld be just as strong if i lay down 6 smaller beads with a 110v welder vs 3 larger beads with a 220 machine and cranked up the heat? i know there are a million variables. lets just say its a perfect world and i've been welding for 30plus years and know exactly what i'm doing (that ain't the case).

here's a clark 110 machine i may be interested in.
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/tls/1544734559.html

 

[nissan_crawler]

i just came from harbor freight. i was far from impressed with their welders.

i'm not totaly against a 110v machine. 90% of the time i think a 110v machine would suit me fine. i work with 1/4, 3/8 and occasionally some 1/2 inch mild steel.

okay, here's a question, say i am welding a **** joint on 3/8 steel. maybe i'm welding a square tube of 3/8 steel to a 1/2 inch plate. no way to bevel the joint. would the weld be just as strong if i lay down 6 smaller beads with a 110v welder vs 3 larger beads with a 220 machine and cranked up the heat? i know there are a million variables. lets just say its a perfect world and i've been welding for 30plus years and know exactly what i'm doing (that ain't the case).

here's a clark 110 machine i may be interested in.
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/tls/1544734559.html

No, it wouldn't be as strong. 1/4" is getting past the capabilities of the higher end 110 machines. People say they will do it, I've yet to see that be the truth after cutting the weld apart.

I think a refurb hh187 from toolking.com would be down your alley. You're still going to have to bevel with 3/8, and 1/2", though.

 

[t100]

I've owned a MM130, best quality 110v machine you can find any where. No, it won't do 1/4". you won't believe how slow I need to go when doing a Tee joint on 3/16", even with flux core.

 

[back2class]

i just came from harbor freight. i was far from impressed with their welders.

i'm not totaly against a 110v machine. 90% of the time i think a 110v machine would suit me fine. i work with 1/4, 3/8 and occasionally some 1/2 inch mild steel.

okay, here's a question, say i am welding a **** joint on 3/8 steel. maybe i'm welding a square tube of 3/8 steel to a 1/2 inch plate. no way to bevel the joint. would the weld be just as strong if i lay down 6 smaller beads with a 110v welder vs 3 larger beads with a 220 machine and cranked up the heat? i know there are a million variables. lets just say its a perfect world and i've been welding for 30plus years and know exactly what i'm doing (that ain't the case).

here's a clark 110 machine i may be interested in.
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/tls/1544734559.html

I honestly can't give a real answer. The same energy delivered at the same speed should cause identical weld and the 220 is nowhere near 2x as powerful as the logic in your question infers. It's more in the duty cycle.

NO CLARKE. They are bankrupt and may be gone for good. My view is while they are an ok unit, they are a very bad choice because of support.

 

[speed bump]

What are the models on the Lincoln machines?

 

[twostory]

Everyone told me the same thing you hear on this thread. Buy a Miller, Lincoln or Hobart. Just keep looking in Craigslist until the right deal comes along. I know one guy with a HF welder, he hates it and wishes he would have spent the money on a Miller, Lincoln or Hobart.

I bought a Lincoln 180c (220 v) with a full gas tank for $400. I finally started playing with it, I can get the proper sizzle (and metal penetration) without too much trouble.

 

[GN4WHLN]

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.aspx?p=42422
I have this welder (they also have a 110v/140A model), it is part of thier light industrial line as opposed to the Pro Mig models sold at HD. It has a much better drive and what they term "Diamond Core" technology that provides a more forgiving arc. I was in the market for a new welder and Lincoln had a booth at the Winternationals a couple years back and I got to use one. The Line was new at the time and seemed to be replacing the SP series. I use this thing all the time and it has been a great welder. I also have the spool gun for it (Paid about $150) and have done some aluminum with ease I'm real happy with mine. I paid $695 for it, no tax, free shipping, right from a Lincoln werehouse. I bought it through Indiana Oxygen and Supply's ebay store. My neighbor liked mine so much he offloaded his old Century and bought the same thing - which is good because he was using up my gas!. One thing I like is that I can get consumable from HD or Lowes which is good whan it's 8:00 PM on a saturday and you need to get something finished.

Welders are one of those things where you get what you pay for and you can't go too big. A good welder is money well spent.

 

[sberry]

These brand name MIGs are all good, very good and worth the money, a best deal in the world of tools. For the price. performance difference the 230V units are far superior. You can get twice the current thru them, they still run from light wiring.
The companies involved in the business are extremely competitive in this niche machine, they have really worked hard to make it work so well and adequate for the nature of the work. Made for the home/hobby DIY crowd.

 

[sberry]

That Lincolns a lot of tool for 700$. They are so reliable and have such good warranties that vendors are willing to sell them on slim margins hoping to make out on consumables.

 

[Nuit Damnant]

been using my lincoln promig 175 for going on 7 years now, I believe it's been replaced since I bought it with a 180amp model. Never had any problem with it other than damage to the lead via someone stepping on it and breaking the liner where it meets the machine. I've welded TONS of stuff with it. From exhaust systems to motor mounts, alot of light fab work, it's done its job beautifully. Even used I'm sure as long as they've been taken care of that you'll be plenty happy with them. Just look for obvious signs of neglect and torture before you buy them. Ask them to demonstrate as well.

 

[tigmusky]

Find a buddy with a welder that he will let you use until you find a good one on CL or until you save up enough cash to get a new one from Miller, Lincoln or Hobart. I waited and bought a Miller local from the dealer after trying two different HF welders out. No comparison between them.

RIGHT ON!!!

I got my frist welder 20 years ago a miller 250 and still going strong.
Save up the cash to buy a good one. You can thank me later.

Daye