Low Cost MIG Welder

[GeoBruin]

Don't need knowledge of imports if you buy a used Miller. Just sayin.

And you need knowledge of how the previous owner abused the welder if you buy a new import.

 

[JRC3]

Don't need knowledge of imports if you buy a used Miller. Just sayin.

And I bet you go right out to your garage loaded with import tools after shopping at Wallyworld for a cartload of import **** and later unlace your imported shoes to plan the Saturday bbq on your imported grill...

 

[Komet]

And I bet you go right out to your garage loaded with import tools after shopping at Wallyworld for a cartload of import **** and later unlace your imported shoes to plan the Saturday bbq on your imported grill...

I sure do. But I have American made tools too. My Miller is one of them. I'm not saying the import stuff is bad, I'm saying the used market is a viable alternative and you might be able to score a higher quality machine for the same money.

 

[Jswain]

I sure do. But I have American made tools too. My Miller is one of them. I'm not saying the import stuff is bad, I'm saying the used market is a viable alternative and you might be able to score a higher quality machine for the same money.

Agreed, and in 10 years from now if you want to upgrade you can probably sell red or blue for what you bought it for, and fairly quick

 

[JRC3]

I sure do. But I have American made tools too. My Miller is one of them. I'm not saying the import stuff is bad, I'm saying the used market is a viable alternative and you might be able to score a higher quality machine for the same money.

I've highlighted the key word. If you do find a deal it requires luck in the first place, but then it requires unscheduled time to follow through at the sellers leisure and the possibility of buying a problem that requires more time and money.

This thread seems themed for a the guy who has a few things to do a year. It's like the difference between a Snap-On and a HF rolling tool chest.

 

[Komet]

I've highlighted the key word. If you do find a deal it requires luck in the first place, but then it requires unscheduled time to follow through at the sellers leisure and the possibility of buying a problem that requires more time and money.

This thread seems themed for a the guy who has a few things to do a year. It's like the difference between a Snap-On and a HF rolling tool chest.

Well, if you have such an aversion to effort in order to land a good deal, I guess your Chinese welder might still work after it's dropkicked off a freight truck. Used market does have a risk factor, judgement-incapable persons be warned.

For what it's worth, I'd also be buying used Snap-on tool chests if they were the same price as new HF.

 

[JRC3]

For what it's worth, I'd also be buying used Snap-on tool chests if they were the same price as new HF.

I've highlighted the key word once again. Post up all those $300 200-250 amp Millers and I'll return my Amazon welder, I do have 30 days to try it out or money back. And a one year warranty.

 

[Jswain]

I've highlighted the key word once again. Post up all those $300 200-250 amp Millers and I'll return my Amazon welder, I do have 30 days to try it out or money back. And a one year warranty.

Post your "250 amp" Amazon welder welding 3/8 or 1/2 plate, if you think it's generating the same heat as a miller 250 you've never used a miller 250

I bet the 1,000,000,000 lumen $6.88 flashlights are as rated and the 50,000,000,000,000,000 million volt stun guns too

 

[JRC3]

Good days, sirs.

 

[finn]

Well, if you have such an aversion to effort in order to land a good deal, I guess your Chinese welder might still work after it's dropkicked off a freight truck. Used market does have a risk factor, judgement-incapable persons be warned.

For what it's worth, I'd also be buying used Snap-on tool chests if they were the same price as new HF.

I’ve been looking to replace my Millermatic 175 with something more modern. The fan is on its last legs and a replacement is about $100, plus, I never liked how the feed is jumpy, even with a new liner, and it’s just not a smooth machine.

Nothing decent used within 150 miles in the last month.

Where do you guys come up with these mythical deals on used equipment?

I ran into the same thing in Tucson and Phoenix last fall. The used market is populated with overpriced abused junk unless you have the time to waste searching for months. Time you’re never going to get back.
Used is not a viable option most of the time.

 

[Komet]

It was Craigslist for me, I'll admit I was very fortunate and I didn't even spend long searching for a local deal less than 30 minutes away. 100% agree 9/10 used machines aren't worth anybody's time, but you only need that 1. Everybody talks about their awesome Craftsman drill presses they scored for almost free but I searched for at least a week for a good used drill press and eventually went Chinese new because I had holes to drill. So I get it. But I still think the opportunity to score a deal warrants the search.

 

[JRC3]

Found a great deal on extension cords. 10% coupon code too, just ordered one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7W9QQNC/?tag=atomicindus08-20 For some reason TGJF seems to open that link at https://www.superoffers...com ...so copy/past the link in another tab.

​

 

[Jswain]

I’ve been looking to replace my Millermatic 175 with something more modern. The fan is on its last legs and a replacement is about $100, plus, I never liked how the feed is jumpy, even with a new liner, and it’s just not a smooth machine.

Nothing decent used within 150 miles in the last month.

Where do you guys come up with these mythical deals on used equipment?

I ran into the same thing in Tucson and Phoenix last fall. The used market is populated with overpriced abused junk unless you have the time to waste searching for months. Time you’re never going to get back.
Used is not a viable option most of the time.

It's like everything in life, if you put in some effort you may reap the benefits. I'm usually never in a rush to buy something as I try and plan for the future. Keep some cash around so you're ready for deals to pop up. The things I am looking for I save the search and it notifies me if there are new ads which match that description.

Takes maybe a few minutes a day, saves me thousands of dollars a year. Location is a big one as well. You'll rarely find a deal randomly looking, especially in a well populated area good deals are gone very fast.

 

[speed bump]

Don't need knowledge of imports if you buy a used Miller. Just sayin.

Just need to know which ones ****, which ones you can still get parts for, and that your $500 welder may need $300+ parts that may or may not be available tomorrow. Don't get me wrong my Millermatic 200 is a tank but unless you just need to burn a lot of 0.35 or heavier wire an import inverter machine will do the same thing.

On the tig front you likely aren't even going to be close to the same features unless you get a smoking deal on a newer synchrowave or a dynasty.

 

[JRC3]

Found a great deal on extension cords. 10% coupon code too, just ordered one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7W9QQNC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'm pleased with this cord. Came with some extras too.

 

[finn]

It's like everything in life, if you put in some effort you may reap the benefits. I'm usually never in a rush to buy something as I try and plan for the future. Keep some cash around so you're ready for deals to pop up. The things I am looking for I save the search and it notifies me if there are new ads which match that description.

Takes maybe a few minutes a day, saves me thousands of dollars a year. Location is a big one as well. You'll rarely find a deal randomly looking, especially in a well populated area good deals are gone very fast.

As you get older, you realize that time is something you can never get back.

Saving that hypothetical thousands isn’t in the cards.

Look at EBay. That ancient mm175 i have is currently there for $650-1100, and it’s probably been out of production for twenty years and wasn’t that great to start with. The $650 unit looks ragged. Then there’s shipping. The only others I have found on other venues are around 200 miles away, which, all in, is a six hour round trip. The 211s are listed for close to new price, plus shipping, with no warranty.

A brand new MM 211 is around 1500 or less. delivered, after rebate from a couple of online retailers ($1565 locally from AWS). My local welding supplier (AWS) also has the Lincoln Power Mig for $1499, and that’s Lincoln’s nationally advertised price.

The real question is whether those two welders are better in a material way than a (more capable) Primeweld Mig 285 for $999mor a 180 for less than $600.

Going from $1500 new down to ~$1000 old and obsolete, plus six hours of drive time isn’t saving thousands in my book.

 

[Jswain]

As you get older, you realize that time is something you can never get back.

Saving that hypothetical thousands isn’t in the cards.

Look at EBay. That ancient mm175 i have is currently there for $650-1100, and it’s probably been out of production for twenty years and wasn’t that great to start with. The $650 unit looks ragged. Then there’s shipping. The only others I have found on other venues are around 200 miles away, which, all in, is a six hour round trip. The 211s are listed for close to new price, plus shipping, with no warranty.

A brand new MM 211 is around 1500 or less. delivered, after rebate from a couple of online retailers ($1565 locally from AWS). My local welding supplier (AWS) also has the Lincoln Power Mig for $1499, and that’s Lincoln’s nationally advertised price.

The real question is whether those two welders are better in a material way than a (more capable) Primeweld Mig 285 for $999mor a 180 for less than $600.

Going from $1500 new down to ~$1000 old and obsolete, plus six hours of drive time isn’t saving thousands in my book.

But you spend $1500 on a miller today and in 10 years what is it worth? 75% if you take decent care of it, probably easily & a fast sale

Spend $1000 on a prime weld and what is it worth in 10 years? 25-50% IF you are lucky

So, as someone like yourself who doesn't want to deal with "ancient ****" when you're looking to upgrade to the latest and greatest you will find you spent less $$ running the Miller those 10 years.

 

[finn]

But you spend $1500 on a miller today and in 10 years what is it worth? 75% if you take decent care of it, probably easily & a fast sale

Spend $1000 on a prime weld and what is it worth in 10 years? 25-50% IF you are lucky

So, as someone like yourself who doesn't want to deal with "ancient ****" when you're looking to upgrade to the latest and greatest you will find you spent less $$ running the Miller those 10 years.

In ten years, I doubt that I will care what anything I buy tomorrow is worth. My investments are in the stock market, and to a lesser extent, real estate, not tools and gadgets, which I consider consumables, and among the things my kids will have to figure out what to do with.

Besides, that extra $500, compounded over ten years probably makes it a wash at best. Having said that, I’m obviously struggling with the cost / value tradeoff.

By the way, I haven’t decided to get either the Miller or the Primeweld, although I am happy with my Primeweld Tig machine (and both my HTP Tig and 120v mig, machines as well as my Miller plasma cutter). All I know so far is that the Millermatic is going to be replaced soon.

The other thing to remember is that this thread is asking about recommendations for low cost welders. That’s not well defined, but I dare say that maybe $1k, or even $500 might be the upper limit.

 

[jonesg]

The other thing to remember is that this thread is asking about recommendations for low cost welders. That’s not well defined, but I dare say that maybe $1k, or even $500 might be the upper limit.

I would say low cost excludes miller, nothing wrong with that.

 

[Jswain]

I would say low cost excludes miller, nothing wrong with that.

Depends what you pay for the Miller. If you buy a used miller for $1000 it's the same $1000 that the alphamig or (insert brand here) costs you.

Difference being in 10 years you can still sell the Miller for $1000 and maybe the offshore unit for $300

Looks like the Miller is a low cost unit, MUCH lower then the alternative. Everyone bitching about the high resale prices on a miller....is a good reason to own one

Don't forget the (insert brand here) also still has to be functional in 10 years, because if not then the cost/year grows even further from the "expensive" miller

 

[finn]

Depends what you pay for the Miller. If you buy a used miller for $1000 it's the same $1000 that the alphamig or (insert brand here) costs you.

Difference being in 10 years you can still sell the Miller for $1000 and maybe the offshore unit for $300

Looks like the Miller is a low cost unit, MUCH lower then the alternative. Everyone bitching about the high resale prices on a miller....is a good reason to own one

Don't forget the (insert brand here) also still has to be functional in 10 years, because if not then the cost/year grows even further from the "expensive" miller

Yup. The mythical used Miller for $1000. It’s a unicorn.

 

[jonesg]

Depends what you pay for the Miller. If you buy a used miller for $1000 it's the same $1000 that the alphamig or (insert brand here) costs you.

Difference being in 10 years you can still sell the Miller for $1000 and maybe the offshore unit for $300

Looks like the Miller is a low cost unit, MUCH lower then the alternative. Everyone bitching about the high resale prices on a miller....is a good reason to own one

Don't forget the (insert brand here) also still has to be functional in 10 years, because if not then the cost/year grows even further from the "expensive" miller

then go buy a miller.

 

[Jswain]

then go buy a miller.

Good advice

 

[finn]

Well, I finally found the unicorn. A 2015 Millermatic 211 transformer model that I don’t think ever had a gas bottle hooked to it for $1700. It’s pristine, but almost eight years old, and five years past warranty expiration.

That’s $1151 more than a Primeweld 180, $699 more than a Primeweld 285. $301 more than a Lincoln Power Mig 215, and $200 more than a Miller 211, all of which are new inverter machines and have a three year warranty.

I think I’m going with the Lincoln or the more powerful Primeweld.

The Lincoln includes a new helmet and some consumables.

Screw used welders. Wast of time.

 

[N_Jay]

I'm pleased with this cord. Came with some extras too.

Got mine also.
Definitely a company I will use in the future,.

 

[N_Jay]

So how much worse is a $360 YesWelder (250Pro) than a $999 Primeweld, or a $1500 Miller/Hobart/Lincoln?

 

[finn]

So how much worse is a $360 YesWelder (250Pro) than a $999 Primeweld, or a $1500 Miller/Hobart/Lincoln?

Didn’t see that one on their site, but I don’t think, from what I do see, that Yes includes a regulator.

They also seem to have poor reviews compared to Primeweld,

No personal experience with them, though..

 

[jonesg]

So how much worse is a $360 YesWelder (250Pro) than a $999 Primeweld, or a $1500 Miller/Hobart/Lincoln?

3 different classes of machines and build. All have their places.

like ryobi, milwaukee and hilti, 3 classes, any of which can be suffice depending on your need or wants.

If you can afford snap tools even though you don't wrench professionally then miller makes complete sense for you.
I can afford a miller but bought yeswelder, its not about how much money I can afford to spend but what value I place on my money.

in retrospect the Primeweld would have been better value for my needs, maybe I'll get one next year.

 

[Jswain]

So how much worse is a $360 YesWelder (250Pro) than a $999 Primeweld, or a $1500 Miller/Hobart/Lincoln?

Hard to say how much "worse", its more of a matter of what you would like to gamble.

Maybe you spend $360 & get 5 years out of the yeswelder $72/year to have the welder

Or you step it up and get 10 years outta the $999 on the prime weld = $99/year to have the welder

You step it up again and get 20 years out of the big names = $75/year to have the welder, and the kicker is it's also probably still worth $1000+- to resell and buy another.

You think it's all chance, but the big names have been building welders that last 20+ years for a LONG time.

The burn would be if you spent $1000 on a welder and it failed after 5 years, now you just spent 3x what you would have/year then buying a big name in the first place.

Everybody bets differently.

 

[Jim greengo]

I am in the market for a low cost MIG Welder. I have a couple of projects looming where a welder would be needed. First is an exhaust manifold replacement on my 1999 F150. It is very likely that some of the bolts are going to break and I understand the easiest way to get them out is by welding a nut to the remnant to extract it. Second is repairing a wrecked 2007 Civic that will involve plug welding the core support. Finally, the aforementioned F150 has some rusty rockers and rust on the bed sides. I will be welding patch panels in to replace the rusted areas.

I am looking at a couple of different possibilities. First, the Eastwood MiG 90. It is 110v and can do both flux core as well as true MiG. It is currently $199. The second option is on Amazon. It is the Hynade MTG155D (FS). It is dual voltage, capable of both flux core and true MiG as well as stick and TiG. It also is $199.

I feel more confident in the quality of the welder from Eastwood. I like the dual voltage and flexibility of the Hynade.

Feedback/thoughts are appreciated.

FWIW - I would love to go out and buy a Lincoln or Miller MiG Welder. Sorry, but that just isn’t in the budget. Once the 3 projects I have lined up are done, I don’t know how much I will use a welder. Spending several hundreds or more than a thousand dollars just isn’t going to happen.

Have you priced the lincoln might welders at hd?

 

[N_Jay]

The other part of the equation is that solid state inverter technology is getting better all the time, so when my cheap welder fails, the next one (cheap or moderate) will be 2028 technology.
A lot depends on how much you trust the specifications.
Some of the expensive 220 to 250 amp machines did not have great duty cycles.

 

[N_Jay]

Fired it up.
Stick welding was easier than I remembered.
Probably due to inverter vs old transformer welder (circa 1965 welder in 1976)
Flux wire worked well, but I need lots of practice with both.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

N_Jay. Your new inverter machine may have the hot start feature on the stick setting. It really does make stick welding much easier/nicer.

 

[N_Jay]

I left most of the settings on default, I think hit start is default on, and anti-srick is default off.

I need to read up on what the settings do.

 

[cannuck]

I have watched this thread for the last week while also trying to decide how to replace my no longer supported ESAB AC push-pull aluminum machine.

In the little welder department: a few years back I had a job where I needed to carry a welder all summer up ladders and climbing structures to weld 3/16" SS gasket stops onto 1" steel plate. I bought a small Lincoln "body shop" 120/240 machine that should be roughly what these discount overseas machines in this thread are. I did fine playing around in the shop, but with no easy 240 on the jobsite there was just NO WAY it could burn into the plate with 120V on 20A breaker. I sold it at half price to a good friend who restores cars and he is DELIGHTED with its performance - so I guess the low buck machines have a place in this world. I finished that job with a Miller 211, put gas bottle on ground with a LONG hose and managed to make decent welds onto the 1" plate - all on 120V 20A at the other end of a 100' 12ga. extension cord. I would recommend a used 211 to anyone over import anything - once again because not just a fantastic welder, but support and resale are super easy.

I used to build boats, and can confirm you actually CAN weld aluminum with a push MIG gun. HATE spool guns with a passion, but if you are at all serious, a modern pulsed arc MIG with a push-pull gun is the only really good way to do that. I ended up replacing my old ESAB with a Miller 255 multi-process and alumaweld-pro light feeder.

Price is an interesting topic. Going back 4 years - probably when all of the videos I watched were recorded - high end machines were 1/2 of what they are today. Thought I would outsmart the border (because everyone knows we pay through the nose North of 49) so called some Miller dealers near our US office. They quoted me retail prices in USD about the same as what I ended up paying in Cdn funny money after negotiating with my account rep for a few days. So: a US machine bought 4 years ago SHOULD sell for its original price, but don't expect that from a recent purchase. Just to put this into perspective, my multiprocess machine, feeder and some accessories (no tig stuff) ran up a $10k bill - air cooled 60% duty cycle stuff. A 350A water cooled 100% duty cycle setup is more like $40k!

 

[Hohn]

you aint going to get 2018 new price on a 2023 used machine.
you'd be lucky to get 50%.

Bumping this thread because I was looking at used Millers and a high-mileage 212 Millermatic is posted on FBM for $2450.
They might depreciate, but I don't see anything like 50% loss of value any time soon.
Especially if it's like-for-like. As long as it's apples/apples (inverter for example) it seems like a Miller or lincoln doesn't lose a ton of value just for being well-used.
That's true for many industrial products designed for essentially infinite life when those products have abundant spare parts and such, and when the main wear items are consumables.

 

[jonesg]

Post your "250 amp" Amazon welder welding 3/8 or 1/2 plate, if you think it's generating the same heat as a miller 250 you've never used a miller 250

1/2 inch rebar lattice , welded with $350 chinese yeswelder running 6013 stick.
it was nice to be able to walk on the rebar when pouring the concrete.
this little machine does all I need.

 

[Jswain]

1/2 inch rebar lattice , welded with $350 chinese yeswelder running 6013 stick.
it was nice to be able to walk on the rebar when pouring the concrete.
this little machine does all I need.

But a $100 tombstone could stick that...you overpaid in that department by $250

I literally have one in the back of my truck now that I got for $2 because he wanted it out of his garage. Picked another one up two months ago for free, average of a dollhair each.

Show your yeswelder miggin 1/2" plate

 

[bb29510]

i got a miller 140, bought it brand new, one of the biggest POS i ever bought

 

[Wrench97]

But a $100 tombstone could stick that...you overpaid in that department by $250

I literally have one in the back of my truck now that I got for $2 because he wanted it out of his garage. Picked another one up two months ago for free, average of a dollhair each.

Show your yeswelder miggin 1/2" plate

I bought a Tombstone new in 1975 for $250, came with a helmet, hammer, gloves and a package of 6013................still have it still welds as good as it ever did.