Welder advice for my Dad

[Joe69]

I've been welding for 25+ years, but I need some advice. My 70 year old Dad told me the other day, that he's thinking about getting into welding. It'll be mostly yard art, etc. He asked me for some guidance.
His needs are a 115v flux core wire welder, that much I know. The problems I have, are he doesn't want to spend a ton of money on equipment, and I have never used a mig without gas.
My first instinct was a Hobart Handler 140, but he balked at the price. He doesn't want junk, but he wants to keep the price down too. I looked at menards, and they have a Campbell Hausfeld 115v unit for a couple hundred. The problem I see with it is it only has 3 heat settings. My Lincoln mig is infinitely variable, as is our Miller 252 at work. Will this cause him problems?
He's always been my hero, and I don't want to steer him wrong!
I've already told him not to go cheap on an auto darkening hood. I'll buy him a Speedglas before I let him do that.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[Joe69]

Oh, and I bought a 2# fc spool, and the appropriate tip for mine today. I'm going to play with the fc wire, so I can give him a better informed opinion.

Joe

 

[brownbagg]

stay with the hobart, tractor supply sells them

 

[sberry]

The cheap hood is fine but the cheap welder is ****. Those things are notorious. The least I might try is a Hobart EZ but this is a pitiful way to start. Cough up some jack and get a 240V 200 class compact mig and get started right.

 

[Joe69]

Guys, I've had a cheap hood, and I'm not trusting my dad's eyes to one. I gave mine away.
I've had a 115v Lincoln SP100 for 20+ years, and it's been great. Have I ever wanted for more, yes. BUT, I have a stick welder for heavy stuff.
Dad won't be building a car, he just wants to build some lawn art for my step mom.
My biggest concern is that with only 3 heat settings, he'll be burning through thin stuff. I'm always tweaking mine, but I build stuff that matters.
The 140 handler is up around $600. I think he'll throw in the towel before he spends that much.
I really want to help him, without breaking his fixed income bank.

Joe

 

[sqznby]

Tractor Supply just had a sale on the Hobart 190 for $660.
The 140 is also a great little welder. Northern Tool has coupons, $25 off, you should be able to grab one for $500 or less.

 

[Joe69]

My opinion is, if we go cheap on the welder and it doesn't work out, we're out $200. If we go cheap on the hood, we're out vision. Not gonna happen!

Joe

 

[Joe69]

Tractor Supply just had a sale on the Hobart 190 for $660.
The 140 is also a great little welder. Northern Tool has coupons, $25 off, you should be able to grab one for $500 or less.

Thanks, I just looked and the 140 is on sale for $449.
If I can talk the wife into it, maybe I'll just buy it for him.
I agree that the 140 is a great little welder, I have a friend that's had one for several years.

Joe

 

[Joe69]

I've been eyeballing the Miller 211 for a while, but can't justify it. I'm trying to talk myself into one, and giving Dad my old Lincoln. That is another option.

Joe

 

[Ign]

I agree, stay w the Hobart. Anything less is just wasting your $$

Crazy cheap .035 flux core (should be ESAB wire):
http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/details/0804926?

 

[csp]

Find a used welder. I just bought a used MM185 which I happen to know the history of. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it even if I didn't know the history.

 

[zkling]

Stick welder buzz box? I thought it was a requirement that all old guys are proficient with a stick welder.

If the material can be welded with a stick I would go that route, that way he wouldn't have to worry about much of settings, wire, feed motor, liners, etc.

I've been eyeballing the Miller 211 for a while, but can't justify it. I'm trying to talk myself into one, and giving Dad my old Lincoln. That is another option.

Joe

Great idea. You know the history of the machine.

 

[mopar65]

the hobart210 mvp is basically the same as the miller 211 without the auto settings which if you have been welding for awhile you could get that for yourself and give pops the old Lincoln.i bought the Hobart 210 from local farm store on sale for $775. its a great machine

 

[BD1]

Look at the Hobart 210, great value for the money and reasonable . Here's another post that is similar. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=279687

Here's the Farm and Fleet sale that ends Feb. 8,
http://www.farmandfleet.com/products/678611-hobart-handler-210mvp-mig-welder.html#.VNYH9fnF_T9

Is this near you ? http://dayton.craigslist.org/tls/4880943301.html
lincon arc welder - $100 (laura)

Maybe check with local supplier on a MILLER 140 Autoset, they might deal since the 141 is out. I got one for $700.00 even.

 

[DonPowers]

I've been eyeballing the Miller 211 for a while, but can't justify it. I'm trying to talk myself into one, and giving Dad my old Lincoln. That is another option.

Joe

The miller 211 is a nice little machine, bought one a few years ago. Was initially considering one of the smaller machines but some pipe fitter friends talked me into it mostly because of the duty cycle.

 

[rockwithjason]

he wants too many things. either he wants to part with the money to get started or he doesn't. he will QUICKLY hate the flux core on small material anyway. spend the cash on a handler machine and some gas and get going. even a used machine is ok for him, doesn't have to be a brand new unit.

 

[lilredex]

Just get a used Lincoln buzz box for $75-100, they are all over the place, and will weld all his stuff...even sheet metal with some care and practice. That way you are out nothing...you can resell it for more if no likee.

 

[454ragtop]

CL here is loaded with welders, a lot of which look pretty much unused. I think a lot of guys buy those little migs with big plans, which end up not happening. I have 3 welders, an Airco 140 mig , a Lincoln 250 mig, and a P&H? stick welder, all acquired used. For what you're looking for, just go try one out. Your dad might find out it isn't something he wants to do after a couple pieces, if you go used you can probably get most, if not all, your money back.
HTH, Jim

 

[DonPowers]

Forgot to mention, the Miller 211 comes with everything you need for gas except the bottle, don't know about the others.

 

[MagKarl]

Get a used name brand welder off of Craig's List for a fraction of new price.

 

[Joe69]

The reason I said he needs a flux core welder, is he will be welding thinner stuff, outside in the wind. He's afraid of starting a fire in his workshop.

Joe

 

[erty67]

The reason I said he needs a flux core welder, is he will be welding thinner stuff, outside in the wind. He's afraid of starting a fire in his workshop.

Joe

Find him a Lincoln 100-140 on craigslist. I bought a clean Pro Mig for $100. They're out there for cheap.

 

[Bondo]

The reason I said he needs a flux core welder, is he will be welding thinner stuff, outside in the wind. He's afraid of starting a fire in his workshop.

Joe

Ayuh,..... The obvious answer, atleast to Me, is to loan Dad, yer 100 amp machine,....

Dad can get to weldin', Today if ya want,...
'n you've got an excuse to buy the wire-feed ya always wanted,......

 

[Malczewski]

Guys, I've had a cheap hood, and I'm not trusting my dad's eyes to one. I gave mine away.
I've had a 115v Lincoln SP100 for 20+ years, and it's been great. Have I ever wanted for more, yes. BUT, I have a stick welder for heavy stuff.
Dad won't be building a car, he just wants to build some lawn art for my step mom.
My biggest concern is that with only 3 heat settings, he'll be burning through thin stuff. I'm always tweaking mine, but I build stuff that matters.
The 140 handler is up around $600. I think he'll throw in the towel before he spends that much.
I really want to help him, without breaking his fixed income bank.

Joe

If that fastback(avatar) belongs to you.......ditch it and buy your dad a 210MP...and a drill press.....and a Bridgeport....and a Hardinge tool room lathe...and a golf cart.

 

[sqznby]

Thanks, I just looked and the 140 is on sale for $449.
If I can talk the wife into it, maybe I'll just buy it for him.
I agree that the 140 is a great little welder, I have a friend that's had one for several years.

Joe

Any time.
Yeah, you should be able to find one for a pretty good deal.
You really cant go wrong with a Hobart.
Hook your dad up
Good luck with what ever decision you make, I'm sure he'll be happy regardless.

 

[Joe69]

If that fastback(avatar) belongs to you.......ditch it and buy your dad a 210MP...and a drill press.....and a Bridgeport....and a Hardinge tool room lathe...and a golf cart.

Yeah, it's been mine for 26 years. It's not going anywhere.

Joe

 

[jrcampbe]

For yard art, have you considered an oxy-acetylene set up? It would seem like a very good outfit for that. He could cut with it, too. And heat and bend. You can weld just fine with them, and no chipping slag. It's slow and easy to see the puddle. Arc welding is cheaper for production, but for some yard sculpture, realistically, how much acetylene is he going to burn?

 

[Joe69]

It looks like I'll be buying myself a new welder, and giving my Dad my old Lincoln Sp100. We both win!

Joe

 

[Joe69]

Problem solved! I just treated myself to a new Miller 211. My old Lincoln is now Dad's new Lincoln.

I feel really good about it. Dad has always been there for me, and I rarely get the chance to repay him for it. He's really stoked. I'm going to see him in a couple of weeks, I'll take it to him then. I can't wait.

Thanks for all the good advice guys. I really didn't feel warm and fuzzy about the cheaper welders, I wouldn't want one. Dad and I both came out ahead.

Joe

 

[CNGsaves]

You do know this is GJ . . . . WHERE is that PIC of the new welder ???

Great job with the Win-Win of Miller 211 for you and Lincoln to your dad.

 

[DonPowers]

Congratulations, you will enjoy the new 211 as well as your dad with the Lincoln

 

[BD1]

Great son you are ! Nice choice on the 211, myself and others found that the .030 wire is the sweet spot for the 211.

 

[Joe69]

Great son you are ! Nice choice on the 211, myself and others found that the .030 wire is the sweet spot for the 211.

You do know this is GJ . . . . WHERE is that PIC of the new welder ???

Great job with the Win-Win of Miller 211 for you and Lincoln to your dad.

Here's a crappy cell phone pic. How does it do with .023, as I do a lot of thin sheet metal welding?

 

[Joe69]

I might as well post a pic of my old Lincoln. It's an SP-100 that I bought new in '93 or '94. It's been a great little welder. The only thing I've ever done to it is replace the welding wire and gas. It's still on the original tip. I just sometimes wished for more capacity. It should be perfect for my Dad.

The only problem now, is I'm stuck with a red cart. I built a red cart to hold the Lincoln, and my red Century stick welder, and a Blue cart to hold my Miller Diversion 180 tig welder and Miller 625 extreme plasma cutter. Now I'm going to have a blue welder atop a red cart, with a red welder underneath. Maybe I'll just repaint the cart black.

The gray cart is an old HF cheapie that I bought many years ago, that's going to Dad.

Joe

 

[BD1]

Can you add another shelf to the BLUE cart ? Nothing wrong with a three machine cart !

 

[zkling]

Great choice. You both end up with quality machines that should last a long time.

 

[454ragtop]

Solution seems obvious to me, you need a 2 tone cart.

 

[Joe69]

Solution seems obvious to me, you need a 2 tone cart.

If I had time, I'd just paint the Century welder, and the cart Blue. I planned on freshening up the paint on the welder anyway. One of these days.....

Joe

 

[Joe69]

I delivered the Lincoln welder to my Dad this weekend, and spent a little time teaching how to weld. I'm trying to talk him into switching from flux core to gas. I welded with the flux core, and don't much care for it after welding with gas all these years.

Joe