Mig Welders

[Runner94]

Hello to all. I've been researching the smaller 110 volt AC mig welders on the market. Clarke, Lincoln, Hobart, and Miller. I have a pretty good idea which one I might buy. I thought I would throw it out here and see what others have to say.

This will be for home use and really nothing too big. I do what the gas option as I would like to try my hand at aluminum and stainless. :

Any help?

 

[Rollman]

I've used Lincolns weld pack 125 its a flux core mig welder that converts to gas if you want it. The nice part about the 125 is you can use it on a 15 amp breaker and don't have to worry about tripping it alot. I like the Hobarts as well , they draw more amps so its needs to be on a bigger breaker. If your lucky maybe a local dealer might have some demo's setup for you to try . Thats how I got to run the small Hobart. Good luck

 

[OI812]

Make sure you look at the duty cycles on them. I have used them in the past, and they didn't have a very big duty cycle. You may only get a few minutes of welding before they kick out. Just be aware of it.

Make sure you have a good source of power, long wire runs means more resistance, and less power to run it.

Maybe the electician on the site could chime in here.

 

[330Scott]

I am also looking into purchasing a MIG welder. It was suggested to me that I take a welding class at our local community college before buying a welder partially so that I can try out different models and to hear some real world experience by actual welders & not just a salemans hype. Plus I am having fun in the class cutting stuff up with an oxy torch.

I have done quite a bit of research & it appears that a company named Indiana Oxygen Company has the best internet pricing around. Their ebay store has a ton of buy it now items that ship for free & if you don't live in Indiana, do not include sales tax.

As an example, the Lincoln Electric SP135 Plus sells for ~$565 + 6% sales tax here in Des Moines, while the same unit from IOC will be delivered to my front door for $528. No question on who I will be buying from.

One of the features that you might want to seriously consider is whether or not an infinite voltage control is important to you. Personally I want it which has eliminated quite a few models of MIG welders from my list. Currently I am considering either the Lincoln SP135 Plus or the Millermatic 135. If I had a spare $400-$500 I would probably go with the Millermatic DVI (Dual Voltage Input) because I have 220 in my shop & only 110 in my garage.

Anyway, that's my 2-cents. Enjoy your welder.

 

[sca037]

I've been using a small Century MIG welder for several years now, and it's been great. It came as a gasless / convertible model, and I got the inert gas hardware almost right away. Most of my welding has been light automotive stuff, and it's been superb for that. I had done some welding (stick & MIG) before, so it was pretty easy to get up to speed with the heat ranges and wire speed settings.

Have fun!
Brian

 

[52 M37]

One thing you should keep in mind is how much will you actually be using it.
I also have a Century Mig welder and I am quite pleased with it. I am a welder by trade and use this little machine quite a bit at home.

I am looking to upgrade though. It's a little more difficult to get parts for an odd name piece of equipment. I will be looking to get one that I can easily get a longer lead for. I also need one that can easily change over to weld aluminum.

Just my 2¢
Rich

 

[Runner94]

Thanks to all. All the issues that you have brought up I have been researching. My use level will probably be around the house and light auto use. I'm still looking and watching here to hear from more Garage Junkies.

 

[ampegor]

The miller, lincoln and Hobart are all good machines and choosing one over the other is a matter of personal choice. The 110V units ( I have a lincoln sp100) are good little welders but are not suited to welding anything much thicker than 1/8 inch and are no good for welding aluminum. If you want to wled aluminum with a mig get a unit that will take a spool gun. For more info try weldingweb.com. I would buy from the three brand above as spare parts and consumables can be found anywhere.

Just my 2 cents
Andy

 

[ESB]

I dont want to start a new post so I figured I'd chime in on this one.

What size would yall recomend for welding on the frames of trucks.
Ive been using stick forever but would like to buy a mig.

IM guessing like 175 and higher.

 

[whackygoat]

here's the one I have. It comes with everything. it's brand name and it's cheap! I did a lot of researching before coming across this deal.

http://www.autopn.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=195&idproduct=19002

 

[LowNFToy]

i use a Miller 135, i got it at Airgas.. but check out http://stores.ebay.com/Welding-Supplies-from-IOC

that ebay store has some good deals, they have the 135 and 175, plus some good deals on plasma cutters.. free shipping. some of the welders come with carts, ect.

 

[DynoDave]

I have an Airco Mini-Pro 125. It's a small 110V Mig. It's worked flawlessly since purchasing it 10+ years ago. I love it, but if I was doing it over again, I'd buy a larger 220V unit. Mine is great for body work and small jobs, but can't handle the heavy stuff.

 

[BreeStephany]

I prefer Miller and Lincoln. I have a Miller 210 mig welder and an older Lincoln Idealarc AC/DC stick welder, but have used Miller's suitcase Passport inverter based mig welders (110V / 220V) . I use my welders for home use, but tend to over fabricate and most times find
myself welding 1/4" to 3/4" plate commonly.

For anything mig based, I have used Miller, Lincoln and Hobart machines, but have found Miller to perform the best out of all of the machines.

For stick based, I have found the older Lincoln Idealarc AC/DC machines to be awesome and available for a reasonable price ($300 ~ $600 depending on condition). For the money they are the best, but if I could afford it, I would switch it out for a Miller Syncrowave 250 any day.

I have used 110V welders before, and they do okay in a pinch and are reasonably priced, but I have found that you are often having to do multiple passes if you are doing anything over 1/8" - 1/4" mild steel.

Your best bet is to save up and look for a good used Miller or Lincoln 220V mig machine, just in case you decide to start welding anything somewhat heavy.

Just my two cents

 

[signcrafter]

I prefer Miller and Lincoln. I have a Miller 210 mig welder and an older Lincoln Idealarc AC/DC stick welder, but have used Miller's suitcase Passport inverter based mig welders (110V / 220V) . I use my welders for home use, but tend to over fabricate and most times find
myself welding 1/4" to 3/4" plate commonly.

For anything mig based, I have used Miller, Lincoln and Hobart machines, but have found Miller to perform the best out of all of the machines.

For stick based, I have found the older Lincoln Idealarc AC/DC machines to be awesome and available for a reasonable price ($300 ~ $600 depending on condition). For the money they are the best, but if I could afford it, I would switch it out for a Miller Syncrowave 250 any day.

I have used 110V welders before, and they do okay in a pinch and are reasonably priced, but I have found that you are often having to do multiple passes if you are doing anything over 1/8" - 1/4" mild steel.

Your best bet is to save up and look for a good used Miller or Lincoln 220V mig machine, just in case you decide to start welding anything somewhat heavy.

Just my two cents

I'm going to take a wild guess and assume the OP bought a welder sometime between his post and the last seven years!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

on a Hobart Handler 140 from me.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

I'm going to take a wild guess and assume the OP bought a welder sometime between his post and the last seven years!

He has probably figured out 7 years latter to upgrade from that 110V welder he bought then and is now very happy with his 5 year old 220v welder.....

 

[BreeStephany]

haha... nice... I really do need to pay more attention to the post dates

 

[jrlp]

Miller Passport. It's quite literally the BEST thing ever. It's absolutly amazing for mobile work, or if you don't have much room in your garage/shop. The newer versions allow you to do aluminum mig welding. I bought mine a few years ago (older blue version) and it's made me THOUSANDS. I think it paid for itself the first 2 weeks. It stays IN my truck with a 20lb and a 5lb tank of co2, and gets used at least once a week. Most of my work now days is tig at the shop, but it's mobile also (dynasty 200dx) and I do on-site stainless repair / fab weekly, and if it's not 100% pen welds, the Passport comes out with trimix and gets me done in 1/5th the time. It's quite literally the best thing ever! My only regret is not waiting for the newer version that does aluminum, but truthfully, it's not that big of a deal for me (since I tig). If you have the cash, you simply can't go wrong with the Passport. Hands down, no contest. It's quite simply that amazing. I put a 300A Bernard centerfire gun on it with a 15' liner on it, instead of the 10' cheesy stock M10 gun. You can find those Bernard guns for ~125 nib on ebay, but their true price is closer to 400. The version I got has the indexable head, and I carry 2 or 3 different length necks for it as well. For REAL thick steel, sometimes I even run dualshield in 035 for multipass fills, usually on buckets and such. I usually stick the root and hotpass, and just dualshield it on out.

Forgot to add, best thing:

it's an inverter based welder, and will run off 110v or 220. It comes with detachable plugs at the end of the cord, for 15 or 20A 110v plugs, and a 220 plug. Takes 10 seconds to switch the plug (it screws on) to change it. I think it has one of the highest current outputs on 110V on ANY machine as well, at least it did a year or two ago. My passport was in my toolbox when I had my accident.. it was bad enough the bed warped and went into the cab a good 4", the RKI box twisted and popped open, and the Passport flew out of the toolbox, over the cab, and landed 15' away. Only thing that was damaged was the gun's LINER. I replaced the liner for 15 bucks, and ran it to this day.

My hypertherm powermax 45 did the same thing. Clear out of the truck, and landed on the cement HARD. I think it actually bounced off the curb and landed (or hit) a lightpost 20-some feet away. It didn't require repair either...

 

[emeraldcoupe]

haha... nice... I really do need to pay more attention to the post dates

apparently so does jrlp

 

[jrlp]

apparently so does jrlp

Damn. I didn't see that, I was on my phone and just saw the last post date.. I feel dumb! lol.. but maybe someone will see my post and it will help others!