mig Welder recommendation?

[zze86]

Looking at purchasing a mig welder for my 16-yo son to do start playing with a welder doing light automotive work like sheet metal and exhaust tubing. I think the most useful features will be clear and easy settings that he can quickly get started with. I've been considering the Hobart Handler 140 or Lincoln Electric 140 simply because they seem to be the go-to for the hobbyist, but wondered if there may be alternatives out there with better bang for the buck like from Amazon or Harbor Freight that may be able to grow with him a bit more.

TIA!

 

[Forgottonia]

Lincoln makes a nice little 120 volt MIG welder.

 

[KenB]

Big advantages to the Hobart and Lincoln are resale value and parts availability.

 

[Josh the IH guy]

I love my Eastwood 175. I have welded A LOT with it. I've built several sets of bumpers out if 3/16, a flatbed for my truck, mostly 3/16 and 1/4, and some stuff on my tractor, up to 5/8 on the bucket hooks. I had a Millermatic, and a Miller thunderbolt. I've sold them both, because I am always using the Eastwood. I'd definitely buy one again.

 

[gayler]

I like my Vulcan from Harbor freight

 

[bluesboy]

Lincoln. Been using red machines since I was 15 I'm 61 now.

 

[Adk Mike]

I have a Hobart 140. I’ve had it 15 years . Probably no better than a Lincoln . But I have enjoyed t. And I’m surprised what it can do.

 

[Kenskip1]

I have the Lincoln Pro Mig 140. It's a better welder than I am. This would be a great addition to your sons future. I use the gas and have good results. I fabricated this stand with it.

 

[sponfit]

Whatever brand you end up with, I'd recommend one with infinite adjustability vs the stepped A B C D settings

 

[FTG-05]

I have the Lincoln Pro Mig 140. It's a better welder than I am. This would be a great addition to your sons future. I use the gas and have good results. I fabricated this stand with it.

Same here. Excellent welder. Goes well with my Lincoln SP-175 Plus.

 

[wickjanas]

Looking at purchasing a mig welder for my 16-yo son to do start playing with a welder doing light automotive work like sheet metal and exhaust tubing. I think the most useful features will be clear and easy settings that he can quickly get started with. I've been considering the Hobart Handler 140 or Lincoln Electric 140 simply because they seem to be the go-to for the hobbyist, but wondered if there may be alternatives out there with better bang for the buck like from Amazon or Harbor Freight that may be able to grow with him a bit more.

TIA!

Yes you can buy any of them, you also can Forney 140 easy weld 180 st 120/230, because it's also easy to use and here some features

1. POWERFUL- Welds up to 1/2" Mild Steel - amperage range: 10-90 amps for 120 volts; 10 -180 amps for 230 volts
2. DUAL VOLTAGE-120/230 input power and adapter
3. VERSATILE- Easy Start Technology makes every strike easy and eliminates the frustration of your electrode sticking.
I am using this Forney 140 https://bestmigwelders.org/forney-easy-weld/140-mp-review/ and bought it after reading this review.

 

[PugetDude]

Skip the baby steps and buy a Miller 211 with Autoset.

 

[409425hp]

Like he said,the 211 auto set is a great welder.
That’s what I have in my shop.

 

[ch612T]

Eastwood -- just bought a 140 amp with $25 off and free shipping over Labor Day. I could not justify the added expense of a red or blue one. Also, this is (Eastwood) an inverter style and the red/blue is a transformer style.

 

[BukitCase]

I can sorta agree on expense reasons, but

"the red/blue is a transformer style"

Might wanna do a TINY bit of research before making statements like that

Miller Electric MIG Welders | Miller Wire Feed Welders For Sale

Find the perfect Miller electric MIG welder for your welding needs. Shop a wide selection of Miller wire feed welders for unmatched precision and quality.

store.cyberweld.com

An anwered question from Cyberweld's site -

"Millermatic 141 MIG Welder 907612 is an inverter based machine"​

... Steve

 

[jhelrey]

I have a Vulcan 215 MIG. Love it. I had an Easy Flux 125 prior.

 

[PCustoms]

Get one that you can get parts and consumables for.

On a Sunday.

***** when you are in the middle of something and need to wait for Amazon or the local welding shop.

 

[409425hp]

I use cyber weld for everything but the gases.Best prices,and as long as you order before 12 it goes out that day.I am in the northeast,most of the time I get the order the next day.

 

[TheLoamRanger]

I bought a Hobart 190 back in January and have put quite a few hours on it so far on a Jeep rebuild (overall limited MIG experience before hand, much more TIG experience). I like it - simple and effective, with very good setup instructions (might be worth taking a quick look at each manual online). While I really like my Hobart, I would have seriously considered the newer Eastwood 140/180 series inverter machines if they were available at the time. Having an inverter would be super convenient - lighter weight, 120/240V input capability, etc.

I think the Hobart and Lincoln you listed are both going to be great options and will last forever being transformer machines. One tricky thing to know, is that not all Lincoln 140s are the same. The 140s from Home Depot are a fair bit different than the 140s from your local welding shop.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Around here the same shop does factory repair on the boards for all the brands. But it's nice to be able to pick up the consumables anywhere. So it's Miller.

 

[finn]

I have HTP mig and inverter Tig machines and an older Miller mig. All great machines, although the Miller apparently spent its youth in a paint and body shop, so it’s well worn.

If I was starting new I would go for something with autoset, like some of the newer Millers.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I have a Campbell housefield i got from menards probably 10 years ago. Its a flux core or you can run gas with it. I do NOT recommend it. Sometimes it works good and sometimes it doesn’t. I thought part of the problem was me till I used a century mig and WOW what a difference! I think I would stick with a name brand for the most part. I think the cheapest I would buy would be an eastwood. To me for what the new hf welders cost you might just as well spend a bit more and get a brand name

 

[corn chip]

having a digital readout would be a good feature if you plan to climb the ladder to expert level and really want to tweek the settings. otherwise nonreadout infinite dials work fine for general use

 

[409425hp]

Make sure you look at the duty cycle of whatever machine you plan on purchasing.This is the amount of time the machine can run without overheating.I don’t know what the others are but the Miller 211 is 40%.So in a 10 min period the machine can weld for 4 mins.

 

[BOOT]

My Eastwood 175 is real finicky feed and I wouldn't recommend them, can't wait to get a better mig someday.

 

[sk farmer]

Make sure you look at the duty cycle of whatever machine you plan on purchasing.This is the amount of time the machine can run without overheating.I don’t know what the others are but the Miller 211 is 40%.So in a 10 min period the machine can weld for 4 mins.

if you are going to throw out numbers you need throw all of them out. the 40% you speak of is at 150 amps. lower amperages allow longer duty cycles. 150 amps is also more than any of the 140 class machines will put out and of course their duty cycle will be much less at full output.

i have said this before and stand by it. real welders need at least 220 or more volts and people claim they need a 140 class as they don't have 220. most people don't know that 140 class welders should be on a dedicated 20 amp circuit and they don't have that either.

i have used the **** out of my 211 wide open and have never had it overheat. doesn't mean it can't or won't it is a hell of a machine but i would never, ever want less machine.

sometime in the near future i hope to have either a 215 or 220 multiprocess.

 

[wafrederick]

Hobart is owned by Miller,the cheaper line of Miller

 

[jonshonda]

I didn't realize welders like the Miller 211 were so expensive. I would love to get into welding for fun as well, but $2k is a bit steep for me as a beginner.

 

[finn]

Tractor Supply has a 190 Hobart gas capable welder for something like $750.

If you are just starting and on a budget, get a 120v welder for even less. I find that I rarely pull out my 240v Miller. 95% of what I do is with my 120v HTP.

Typical GJ recommendation is to buy he most feature laden, most expensive, and most capable tool out there. I have never seen someone here volunteer to pay for it though.

Buy what your budget allows and upgrade later if you really get into welding. I would bet that a fairly large percentage of welder sales are for units that are never really used, for one reason or another.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

The Miller 211 has never ending recommendations. A MIG is for sheet metal and production. If that's what you are looking to do, get the good stuff. If you just want to stick steel together and learn to puddle , a used buzzbox can be had for $100. The Lincoln tombstone, it's even DC now, run around $500 new here. I've never liked welding with AC machines or for that matter the old gas generator welders, either.

 

[jonshonda]

The Miller 211 has never ending recommendations. A MIG is for sheet metal and production. If that's what you are looking to do, get the good stuff. If you just want to stick steel together and learn to puddle , a used buzzbox can be had for $100. The Lincoln tombstone, it's even DC now, run around $500 new here. I've never liked welding with AC machines or for that matter the old gas generator welders, either.

Would you say that a decent stick welder will need to be 240v, or could a 120v work well?

Can you elaborate on the DC vs AC?

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I have never used a 110V welder, so I don't even know if they work ! I wanted to weld stainless, A MIG takes Tri-mix gas for stainless, rather than buying another bottle, as I had a box or two ESAB 3/32 stick I'ld look for a stick machine. Something like Lincoln tombstone, used or new. They take 50 amp plugs. My Miller 250x MIG takes a 50 amp plug, too, but I run it off a 40 amp stove plug. I found a new 200amp Wave TIG/stick for $900 Canadian dollars . A very good price, but that was a fairly bare machine.Bottle, flow meter, pedal,, stinger, another clamp and longer leads were added. It has a 50amp plug, too. I've run it off that stove plug flat out doing aluminum TIG with no problem. My youngest son has Hobart industrial power unit with a Miller MIG wire feed. He runs it off a 30amp dryer plug. His wife can't do laundry when he's welding. He like me , made an extension cord adapter.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

i replaced my lincoln weld pak 100(gas converted) with a vulcan mig max 215 4 years ago. still completely happy with it.

 

[gearhead1]

I had a Lincoln weld-pak 100, traded it to a friend for other stuff. Then got a Millermatic 180. If I was looking now, I’d look at a Hobart.

I have a PrimeWeld TIG 225x which has been great. 3 year guarantee, 24 hour support. If you don’t want to spend the money on a Miller, Lincoln, Hobart, I’d consider PrimeWeld. Their warranty is better than HF.

 

[joesregalproject]

I really like my Hobart Handler 140. I run it with gas and .024 wire. I need to spend some more time with it dialing it in, but it is a great machine.

 

[mike93lx]

Would you say that a decent stick welder will need to be 240v, or could a 120v work well?

Can you elaborate on the DC vs AC?

Generally you can weld up to 120ish amps on 120v. That's enough to do a lot, but you are possibly going to run into duty cycle issues if you are near that.

You can get a 240v inverter stick welder for short money and it won't weight a million pounds like a Lincoln 225

 

[mizzoutrover]

I have never used a 110V welder, so I don't even know if they work ! I wanted to weld stainless, A MIG takes Tri-mix gas for stainless, rather than buying another bottle, as I had a box or two ESAB 3/32 stick I'ld look for a stick machine. Something like Lincoln tombstone, used or new. They take 50 amp plugs. My Miller 250x MIG takes a 50 amp plug, too, but I run it off a 40 amp stove plug. I found a new 200amp Wave TIG/stick for $900 Canadian dollars . A very good price, but that was a fairly bare machine.Bottle, flow meter, pedal,, stinger, another clamp and longer leads were added. It has a 50amp plug, too. I've run it off that stove plug flat out doing aluminum TIG with no problem. My youngest son has Hobart industrial power unit with a Miller MIG wire feed. He runs it off a 30amp dryer plug. His wife can't do laundry when he's welding. He like me , made an extension cord adapter.

you can get flux core wire for stainless steel

 

[AP514]

To: OP
Your original post (Lincoln) is a great choice go for it ! !
Enough said..................

 

[corn chip]

I didn't realize welders like the Miller 211 were so expensive. I would love to get into welding for fun as well, but $2k is a bit steep for me as a beginner.

$1675 is the going rate for a 211. for whatever reason the price is creeping up. couple months ago they were 1500 range. 7months ago they were 1350 so i picked one up. not sure what the price of a comparable lincoln is. keep a eye out in the next 2months when they have holiday specials. thats probly your best chance to snag something at a reasonable price

 

[PugetDude]

$1675 is the going rate for a 211. for whatever reason the price is creeping up. couple months ago they were 1500 range. 7months ago they were 1350 so i picked one up. not sure what the price of a comparable lincoln is. keep a eye out in the next 2months when they have holiday specials. thats probly your best chance to snag something at a reasonable price

Went to buy a 150ft argon bottle for my new TIG last week. Price jumped $80 for the bottle; fill price unchanged.