Welder Needed

[shakenfake]

Looking for a lower end mig welder to use in the shop.

MIG180 180-Amp MIG Welder With Spool Gun

The MIG180 mig welder includes upgraded Tweco 100 Style torch and American style connection. Order online today from PrimeWeld to get free shipping.

primeweld.com

MIG 170 Professional Welder with 120/240V Input

Amazing deals on this Mig 170 Professional Welder at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Mostly stuck between these two I think. They are priced at about what I want to pay and I think they will be powerful enough to do what I want. Currently I do not have a bottle so I am stuck using flux core for the time being. It is not in the cards for me to get a Miller or a Lincoln even though I did consider it. I would rather save that money and put it towards a bottle of gas and other things.
The MIGMax 215 from HF is something that I am familiar with as I have welded with its no longer available little brother the MIGMax 170(? I think it was, maybe 140) and so I have an idea of how the machine functions.

MIGMax™ 215 Industrial Welder with 120/240V Input

Amazing deals on this Migmax 215 Industrial Mig Welder at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Mainly just tired of borrowing welders or waiting on people to weld for me. Ready to just get my own equipment lol


Anybody have any suggestions? I am not opposed to 3-in-1s but I do not think they are the right machine for what I am doing.

 

[Lt CHEG]

ProjectFarm just did a review of a number of welders and the YesWelder did really well for the money. I think it came in 3rd overall despite the $300-$350 price if I remember correctly. A $2300 Lincoln came in first place and a higher end Harbor Freight Vulcan priced at around $1100 came in second, but the YesWelder was a very close 3rd for a fraction of the price.

 

[Zewnten]

Used the harbor frieght vulcan welder for some 1/4 angle iron. With decent rod it worked fine but I only used it once so can't comment on life.

 

[finn]

Primeweld. They have a 160, I believe, an 180, and a 285. Maybe more.

Bottles are available online, either filled or empty. If you aren’t planning to do a lot of welding, consider buying a filled 80 cu ft bottle.

 

[shakenfake]

@Lt CHEG Only thing about YesWelder is that it screams Chinese. Not that the other two I linked aren't but I hear the support for the primeweld is awesome and HarborFreight is HF, I can just walk in and get a refund/return no problem.

@finn Yeah Amazon has bottles. I would be doing a 125 as that is the best bang for the buck. I also would like to go ahead and try to find a dual 110/220 machine. I have capability for 220 but I am not always next to the outlet. Need an extension cord...

 

[BTL-A4]

I'm the market as well, and a welder pointed me to the Eastwood #33980 ($550). It's dual voltage. I was told to get 240v since you need all the power you can get, but dual voltage is nice; you can use it on regular outlets.

Used welders are all $500+, but why buy used when you get can a decent new one for the same price.

 

[bb29510]

neither, go tractor supply and look at the hobarts

 

[shakenfake]

@bb29510 Interesting. Made in USA piques my interest… My buddy uses a Hobart 140 and that is what he recommended me as well. At the dual voltage price point though I may just choose to purchase the 140.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/hobart-handler-210mvp-mig-welder

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/hobart-handler-140-mig-wire-welder

Hmmm I have a fat made in USA bias so that Hobart looks really good now. However I would lose some capability going with the cheaper one and not having dual voltage.
Someone talk me in or out of needing it. All of what I do is basically automotive, welding brackets, bolt extraction, random household stuff here and there. Is the higher voltage really needed? Main concern is getting something too weak.

 

[Michael_in_DE]

Primeweld has an almost cult following. 99.9% of users love them, and rave about the support. I started with an older 110 Lincoln flux core and then bought a primeweld mig 180. I have put about an hour total of small jobs with it. Absolutely love it. And then it broke 2 days ago. I won't go into the details, but basically I called primeweld. American answered the phone right away. Long story short they gave a return tag and said they will have it back to me in 1-2 business days.

PW also gives you the aluminum gun too.

Whatever you do get the bigger machine. Nobody later said, boy, I sure bought too much of a welder.

btw pw also sells bottles. PW also sells nice refurbs.

 

[strutaeng]

I've got a 240V Ironman 210 that I bought in 2009 when I was just learning to weld. It has served me very well and I've built a lot of projects with it, using MIG and flux-cored.

I bought an older Idealarc at some point to learn stick.

Recently I bought a Century flux core inverter welder because I had to borrow my BIL's 120v welder more than twice. The Century is decent, but when I go back the Ironman I can really tell the difference in weld arc smoothness.

I highly recommend Hobarts. They are watered down version of Miller, tailored more for like the DIYers, farmers and ranchers, but they are solid machines.

 

[Sumboodie]

Toddly on the YouTubes just did a review on a few welders.

 

[Wamsutta]

Get ahold of the MIG gun of each machine while you are looking at them. The MIG guns are not interchangeable between brands. If you hate the MIG gun that came with your machine, you're stuck with it unless by the rare chance a competitor makes a gun that is plug and play with a competitor's brand. I lucked out. I bought a Miller machine thinking I could just swap out the MIG gun if I didn't like it. It just so happened that I liked a Lincoln gun and it just so happened that Lincoln has a gun with an electrical connector that will adapt to my machine. The point is, I should've researched that out BEFORE buying the machine.

The Miller gun is called the MDX 100. For some strange reason, Miller found it necessary to put finger grooves into that handle. Finger grooves do not match everybody's hand! Every time I've bought a product in the past that had finger grooves, it never did feel right. I remember buying a folding Buck knife one time that had finger grooves in the handle. It never did feel right in my hand and I wasn't too upset when somebody stole it. I just wished I wasn't out the $40.

 

[fletcher94]

I have used a Vulcan multi process a few times. It’s a lot better than the old harbor freight machines. Still it lacks quality, parts availability an service. Duty cycle is poor as well. If you’re just using it a little in your garage it might get you buy. If your planning to make money with it ide step up to miller or Lincoln.

 

[dnschmidt]

Primeweld is definitely in first place. Everlast in second.

 

[Joemctag]

Looking for a lower end mig welder to use in the shop.

MIG180 180-Amp MIG Welder With Spool Gun

The MIG180 mig welder includes upgraded Tweco 100 Style torch and American style connection. Order online today from PrimeWeld to get free shipping.

primeweld.com

MIG 170 Professional Welder with 120/240V Input

Amazing deals on this Mig 170 Professional Welder at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Mostly stuck between these two I think. They are priced at about what I want to pay and I think they will be powerful enough to do what I want. Currently I do not have a bottle so I am stuck using flux core for the time being. It is not in the cards for me to get a Miller or a Lincoln even though I did consider it. I would rather save that money and put it towards a bottle of gas and other things.
The MIGMax 215 from HF is something that I am familiar with as I have welded with its no longer available little brother the MIGMax 170(? I think it was, maybe 140) and so I have an idea of how the machine functions.

MIGMax™ 215 Industrial Welder with 120/240V Input

Amazing deals on this Migmax 215 Industrial Mig Welder at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Mainly just tired of borrowing welders or waiting on people to weld for me. Ready to just get my own equipment lol


Anybody have any suggestions? I am not opposed to 3-in-1s but I do not think they are the right machine for what I am doing.

They’re actually kind of portable but if it stays in your shop, hook it up to 240.
Forget the flux core. You won’t like it. Do you just not want to spend more money with gas?

 

[Joemctag]

Forgot to mention: MIG is for indoors. I even turn the shop fan away when I’m welding because it blows the gas away some. If you NEED to weld outside, that might be a reason for flux core or stick, which will take longer to get good at. But otherwise, forget fluxcore.

 

[nadogail]

I am a Hobart fan, as I understand them they come off the same line as a Miller, but are
Marketed at a lower price point.

 

[Sumboodie]

Forgot to mention: MIG is for indoors. I even turn the shop fan away when I’m welding because it blows the gas away some. If you NEED to weld outside, that might be a reason for flux core or stick, which will take longer to get good at. But otherwise, forget fluxcore.

I weld outdoors mostly. It's not an issue unless there's a strong breeze.
Then I get good at timing between the "gusts"

 

[Sumboodie]

And I'm sure depends on property size.
New owner probably less likely to cause issues if it's a 20ft shed on his 100 acres vs a 100x100 postage stamp lot!

 

[driftpin]

I bought a Harbor Freight Vulcan Omnipro 220 multi-process welder with partial payment from the Harbor Freight class-action settlement $. I haven't used it much, but I had someone who's a pro welder come help me with getting steel MIG welded. It was a vintage GM car frame, and when he volunteered I told him, "you can use my equipment it's HFT, but I'm not proficient in its use, so if you can help set it up, you don't need to bring your stuff."

His replay was, "OK but I don't think much of HFT!" Well, come take a look, and see if you can use it. I had both a 120 c.f. Ar bottle and an 80 c.f Ar/CO2 bottle, and ER70 spool wire in .030" and .035" and 3/32" TIG 36" sticks, same alloy. A TIG torch, a MIG torch, and a spool gun. It also comes with stick welding capacity, and all processes are 120V/240V. I had 240V 1 Ph, available, so ready to go.

He showed up, we set up the machine with a spool of ER70 and used the MIG torch. He brought some rebar to check the settings, and pronounced it ready to go. The machine has a LED screen, you set it for the process, the thickness of material, and it suggests inches/minute, and what heat (volts) for your choice of process.

Take a look, he had no circuits 'pop' and was able to do what needed to be done quickly and easily: two probably 1/4" thick engine mounts to the frame engine cradle, a frame cross-bar for the rear suspension, and a cross-bar and Z-mounts for the transmission tail support. The duty time never came into play.



When he was done, he said he was impressed with the HFT multi-process welder's performance. He said it did well, and was easy to adjust. He ended up dialing-down the 'heat' (volts) and the wire feed speed. I had gloves for him, but he didn't use 'em, unlike OJ, these would've fit him.

I saw this on my internet, not from Harbor Freight, but an independent seller, I think I'd buy one instead as an 'Inside Track' club HFT member, at HFT, and maybe spring for the extended warranty, too, so if something came-up, it's an exchange for a new piece.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1959780574...1291&msclkid=1f2e79df571b1a7e97321cce49e19411
$919, free shipping, but no returns

https://www.harborfreight.com/omnip...iprocess-welder-with-120240v-input-57812.html
$1,000 for Inside Track members ($30/1 year) at the HFT store or online. Regular non-member price $1,150. Today was the last day of the 'anything $50+ is 10% off' and that would have included this welder. I used that to buy this:

Adjustable Steel Welding Table

Amazing deals on this Adjustable Steel Welding Table at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

It was $80. I don't have room for anything bigger in my 2-car garage.

The welder saw me paying attention to his methods, and he showed me some basic techniques. I have some scrap steel, from a leaf spring stack, so I'll try things myself.

 

[jonesg]

Primeweld 180 all day long, support service and warranty is outstanding.
$550 and includes an alum spoolgun, can't beat that.
Jody of welding tips and tricks was so impressed he now sells them.

I would avoid those large lcd screens, that will become a weak point.

I have a yeswelder mig, nice little machine but it will be replaced with a primewelder with spoolgun.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Project Farm reviewed 7 different MIG Welders from $189 - $230

The welds were done by a professional and he also rated the machines.

 

[shakenfake]

@Joemctag I do not always weld in the shop. I have had quite a few instances I need to help a friend weld or do something somewhere else in the world. I have used flux core many times and although it is a bit messier I did not mind it on the Vulcan I was using. I also weld outdoors sometimes. I have never tried stick welding and feel as if I would be terrible at it. I think I made an attempt once and just blew through what I was doing.

@driftpin Yeah my experience with the Vulcan has been good so far. I do not wear a glove on my right hand (hand holding the gun) but most of the time I will wear a glove on my left hand. Yes I have been burned but it is just more comfortable that way.

@jonesg I agree with you on the screens.


It looks like everyone is almost about equal in terms of what they recommend. Seems like Hobart, Primeweld and the Vulcan are the top three choices with about an even spread. I like the fact that Hobart and Vulcan are sold in a real store. I like the fact that Hobart is made in USA and seems to be the hobbyist Miller. The Primeweld price point is unbeatable though. Primeweld and Hobart both have a 3 year warranty (doubt I will need it) compared to Vulcan's measly 90 days. Primeweld's support team sounds awesome though, have yet to hear anything about Hobarts.
Based on what I wrote above I think I have narrowed it down to Hobart or Primeweld. I think if I was going to spend the money I might as well shell out a couple hundred and get a Hobart over the Vulcan. Ah decisions decisions...

 

[steel 35]

Mine is a 210.

 

[pancholasvegas]

Have had a lot of luck with my EastWood Mig 180. Dual Voltage (110/220), Gas/Flux Core, Tack Settings & 4T setting as well. I'm nothing less than impressed with my Eastwood product. For what it is worth, the Vulcan line-up from HF is nice as well. I have a ProTIG 205 Vulcan and love the machine.
I can't recommend just biting the bullet and picking up the bottle, as well. Everyone says that they want to start off with fluxcore and get a bottle eventually, but it is much better experience with the shielding gas. Plus, flux-core wire is much more expensive. The difference between the two is night & day. I understand most people want to "Practice," and "Learn," without the gas and just use the fluxcore so they can get right into it. I wouldn't waste my time running without gas.

 

[bb29510]

I am a Hobart fan, as I understand them they come off the same line as a Miller, but are
Marketed at a lower price point.

no, they do not come off the same line, the only thing in common is, they are both owned by the same parent company, but they are very good machines. i love my iron man

 

[bb29510]

with welding machine you got to know ohms law, when amp goes up voltage goes down, so to get the clean weld at a higher amp ypu need the 240 volt in reserves, the smaller 140 have no *** to do decent welds over anything but sheetmetal. and no it not brand name. all the little migs have this issue. i would not buy anything that wasnt 240. the great welding machines are 440 and three phase. it takes power to melt metal together

 

[finn]

with welding machine you got to know ohms law, when amp goes up voltage goes down, so to get the clean weld at a higher amp ypu need the 240 volt in reserves, the smaller 140 have no *** to do decent welds over anything but sheetmetal. and no it not brand name. all the little migs have this issue. i would not buy anything that wasnt 240. the great welding machines are 440 and three phase. it takes power to melt metal together

Not everyone does structural steel welding. I use my old HTP 120v transformer mig far more than my 240 vMiller multiprocess , previous Miller 240v mig, or either of my Tig machines.

 

[jonesg]

Have had a lot of luck with my EastWood Mig 180. Dual Voltage (110/220), Gas/Flux Core, Tack Settings & 4T setting as well. I'm nothing less than impressed with my Eastwood product. For what it is worth, the Vulcan line-up from HF is nice as well. I have a ProTIG 205 Vulcan and love the machine.
I can't recommend just biting the bullet and picking up the bottle, as well. Everyone says that they want to start off with fluxcore and get a bottle eventually, but it is much better experience with the shielding gas. Plus, flux-core wire is much more expensive. The difference between the two is night & day. I understand most people want to "Practice," and "Learn," without the gas and just use the fluxcore so they can get right into it. I wouldn't waste my time running without gas.

I have a tank of argon from my tig days but never run gas on the mig.
fluxcore runs hotter but I don't do sheet metal .
yeswelder flux wire is low spatter , I pay $42 for a 10 lb spool.

 

[jonesg]

it takes power to melt metal together

or technology, the future has been high freq for a while, the old heavy welders can be bought for peanuts.

 

[shakenfake]

I am hoping to acquire an ancient Miller to fix and resell. It is a 220 only and is much much to big for my use but I have quite a bit of practice with that machine and really like it. Just going to be too big and won't have it soon enough.

 

[strutaeng]

I am hoping to acquire an ancient Miller to fix and resell. It is a 220 only and is much much to big for my use but I have quite a bit of practice with that machine and really like it. Just going to be too big and won't have it soon enough.

You have the space for that welder? What's wrong with it? If it works (or can be fixed) I'd say just keep it. Those older machines are pretty reliable, not much goes wrong with them because they were overbuilt.


Or you thinking that it may not work for you because it won't be portable to take your buddy's shop for welding?

 

[shakenfake]

I do not have the space for it. If I have a car pulled into the shop it would be very cumbersome to move around. Also will take up a lot of precious space. Also if I ever have to weld somewhere not at home it would be a biatch to load up.

Interestingly enough I never checked Lincoln and they do offer a welder that seems to be in my price range and it seems that everyone says at some point you should just go red or blue. Also this is a multi process so if I did want to try something else other than mig I could.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lincoln-Electric/5013872807

Thanks guys for all the help and suggestions

 

[pancholasvegas]

I have a tank of argon from my tig days but never run gas on the mig.
fluxcore runs hotter but I don't do sheet metal .
yeswelder flux wire is low spatter , I pay $42 for a 10 lb spool.

My thinking on a home-based welding machine is that you need to be set-up to handle whatever comes your way, this would include sheet metal, which is much more of a hassle with fluxcore. I can't imagine limiting myself to only Fluxcore. The frustrations of learning welding in your home-environment, plus fighting with the flux core = reciepe for the welder to become a large dust-collector in the corner.

 

[jonesg]

I do not have the space for it. If I have a car pulled into the shop it would be very cumbersome to move around. Also will take up a lot of precious space. Also if I ever have to weld somewhere not at home it would be a biatch to load up.

Interestingly enough I never checked Lincoln and they do offer a welder that seems to be in my price range and it seems that everyone says at some point you should just go red or blue. Also this is a multi process so if I did want to try something else other than mig I could.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lincoln-Electric/5013872807

Thanks guys for all the help and suggestions

you wouldn't go wrong with a lincoln. solid machines.
its just missing a flow meter.

 

[jonesg]

My thinking on a home-based welding machine is that you need to be set-up to handle whatever comes your way, this would include sheet metal, which is much more of a hassle with fluxcore. I can't imagine limiting myself to only Fluxcore. The frustrations of learning welding in your home-environment, plus fighting with the flux core = reciepe for the welder to become a large dust-collector in the corner.

then you need a tig setup too.

 

[strutaeng]

its just missing a flow meter.

That's not the regulator with gauges?

It looks like all he'll need is a cylinder.

@shakenfake this is mostly for automotive welding right?

 

[toolenthusiast]

And I'm sure depends on property size.
New owner probably less likely to cause issues if it's a 20ft shed on his 100 acres vs a 100x100 postage stamp lot!

I could have almost 100’x100’ if I bought the house next door to me and combined the lots

 

[pancholasvegas]

then you need a tig setup too.

Agreed. That's why I bought one of those, too.
Flux-Core is what everyone that is purchasing their first machine wants, because it's the cheapest and least "Intimidating," set-up available. IE; No need for a bottle, just get straight home from the big-box store and start making a mess. This, in turn, leads to frustration, because shielding gas makes a big difference, especially starting off. There's a reason you see Craigslist, FBMP, filled with Flux-Core machines.

 

[driftpin]

Primeweld and Hobart both have a 3 year warranty (doubt I will need it) compared to Vulcan's measly 90 days.

You can buy a couple years if you want the longer warranty (Harbor Freight Vulcan).