welder recommendations

[bjiii]

need just a simple welder to do some small work around the garage. No i don't know how to weld yet but my friends that do weld recommend mig because they said that it would be able to everything i need and it's pretty easy to learn.

Now all i need is a cheap 2-300 mig welder. I see some on craigslist which are lincoln and then some on harbor freight. The only thing is that i am kind of scared about buying the one from harbor frieght?? Any suggestions?

 

[Franz©]

DON'T buy Harbor Freight for more reasons rhan you can count.

 

[eschoendorff]

Lincoln, Miller or Hobart. Those are your three most realistic choices.

 

[bjiii]

DON'T buy Harbor Freight for more reasons rhan you can count.

the only thing is that they are so much cheaper... I am not going to use it very often and only for very short, short times. I mean they will both work the same??

Harbor freight has always been nice. I buy the two year warranty for nothing then if it doesn't work the idiots at the local one just give me a new one...

 

[wilbilt]

There is a reason they are cheap. It is because they are shyte.

You could buy cheap shoes that hurt your feet and wear out in a week, but you don't.

 

[brianpgriset]

the only thing is that they are so much cheaper... I am not going to use it very often and only for very short, short times. I mean they will both work the same??

Harbor freight has always been nice. I buy the two year warranty for nothing then if it doesn't work the idiots at the local one just give me a new one...

Honestly they wont work the same. I'm going to re-iterate what everyone else has said, as I went the route of buying an off-brand welder first, then upgrading. I wish I would of saved my pennies and done it right the first time. Get yourself a nice Hobart or Lincoln. If I were you, I would go straight to Tractor Supply or a good online vendor and buy a Hobart 140. Lincoln is so-so on service, Hobart is OUTSTANDING. Goto the Hobart welder forums and ask there ( http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk ). Also, another thing, after you get some experience and get good at it, your going to want more power, guaranteed. So go this route: Buy the 140, get good at it, then you'll be jonesing for more power. Then keep the 140 and also get a Ironman 210 or Millermatic 210. After you have some fun with those you'll start to want a TIG machine, for that there are alot of good options, Dynasty 200, Syncro 200, etc... With these three machines you'll be able to do 95% of welding jobs for whatever your hobbies may be.

 

[goodfellow]

the only thing is that they are so much cheaper... I am not going to use it very often and only for very short, short times. I mean they will both work the same??

Harbor freight has always been nice. I buy the two year warranty for nothing then if it doesn't work the idiots at the local one just give me a new one...

Listen to the folks -- if you don't know how to weld, learning the skill will be that much more difficult with sub standard equipment. When you learn, you'll want the best equipment possible to speed up that learning curve.

Don't buy any $99 fluxcore welders, unless you just want it sittin' on the shelf as a conversation piece.

 

[bjiii]

Listen to the folks -- if you don't know how to weld, learning the skill will be that much more difficult with sub standard equipment. When you learn, you'll want the best equipment possible to speed up that learning curve.

Don't buy any $99 fluxcore welders, unless you just want it sittin' on the shelf as a conversation piece.

Thanks for all the help, and everyone telling me actually machines that is what i wanted... I wasn't sure what was better is far a lincoln hobart or what not... I am going to be using it on my truck while I am doing a few things with it...

 

[PAToyota]

As others have stated, stay to the name brands - if for no other reason than parts and service. Other than taking it back to HF for exchange, you likely aren't going to get any service on the HF model...

The other issue is the quality of actually using it. Sort of like trying to work in the kitchen with a bunch of dull, rusty knives or using good quality, nicely sharpened ones. You'll turn out a much better project in the end.

Watch the local classified ads - both my MIG and TIG as well as my plasma were picked up second hand for half price or less. Much better machines than what I could have afforded if I went new.

 

[jay50]

I bought a Century MIG for almost nothing new in 1999 and it has me well for the few projects I used it. It is a 220v top of line unit with gas setup. I found it discounted at a local TS from original price of $800. Store manager said it was missing parts but I looked through everything in the box and nothing was missing (it was display model).
Anyway, told manager I would give him $200 for it and it was a done deal.

Miller and Hobart are great units if you can justify the expense. Century makes some cheap junk also, so make sure you get a top of line unit if you go this route. Be sure to get gas setup. MIG is great way to weld.

 

[OldCarGuy]

Some things you should not try to save a few bucks on,,, and welders is one of them. Confirmed by the consensus of opinions here. Purchase a Miller, Lincoln, or Horbart. And bigger the better.

 

[Stanger]

Just to inform you, the Lowes and Home Depot Lincoln welders are NOT the same as a Lincoln sold by a welding store. Many people think they are saving a ton by buying at Lowes but the welders are lower quality. I suggest a Hobart Handler 140. A new one is about $450 shipped and a refurb is about $400 shipped. If you have 220 then I suggest a HH 187, I love mine.
Grant
EDIT: If you can't afford this then I suggest you shop for a used Hobart/Miller/Lincoln on your local Craigslist. Post it up on the forum and we can give you our opinion on it.

 

[markl]

Stick with one of the big 3 (Miller, Hobart, Lincoln) they all make grat welders. HF welders are ****. Just go over to the Miller or Hobart forums and ask them guys, real weldor's. You can find used ones on CL for a decent price. If you have 220V available then I would definately buy a welder in the 175-180 amp range at least. Once you start welding you'll be looking for stuff and projects to weld.

 

[eschoendorff]

Just to inform you, the Lowes and Home Depot Lincoln welders are NOT the same as a Lincoln sold by a welding store. Many people think they are saving a ton by buying at Lowes but the welders are lower quality. I suggest a Hobart Handler 140. A new one is about $450 shipped and a refurb is about $400 shipped. If you have 220 then I suggest a HH 187, I love mine.
Grant
EDIT: If you can't afford this then I suggest you shop for a used Hobart/Miller/Lincoln on your local Craigslist. Post it up on the forum and we can give you our opinion on it.

I have an HH 140 and I love it. It was the best I could get on 110vac....

 

[TNToy]

Echoing everyone else...

I went straight from nothing, to a Miller 175 (220v machine). I tell everyone to do the same. Couldn't be happier with my initial purchase.

In case your wondering, I had "learned" how to sorta-kinda weld on a cheap 80A machine from harbor freight. Mentioned to a buddy that I was looking at buying a 110v Lowes Lincoln unit, and he handed me the gun to try out his Miller 210. Words cannot describe the difference.

I went out and bought a quality 220v machine 5 days later.

The cheapest machine *anyone* should consider is a Lincoln/Miller/Hobart 135-140 amp machine, and NOT the ones from the big box stores. I've used a Hobart 140, and it does okay, but any time I'm using it on something thicker than 1/8" ... I'm wishing for at least a 175A unit.

 

[bjiii]

I know it is not a mig but how is this one

http://www.everygenerator.com/asp/show_detail.asp?sku=MLR1033&refid=FR77-MLR1033

 

[Stanger]

If you get a stick welder you want AC/DC. The Miller Thunderbolt XL is a good machine though. This is the machine you want for stick...
Miller Thunderbolt XL 225/150 AC/DC on ebay
Grant