Welder suggestions.

[hachi-roku_fan]

Hello everybody!

My name is Sergio and am looking for welder recommendations. My dad is looking for a welder and I realized that his birthday is around the corner, so instead of taking him to HF for him to buy one, I'd want to get him a higher quality one. (I might also get into welding so I want something both of us can enjoy)

It seems like he's interested in making a metal fence of some sort so something that can handle that kind of work. I know that's kind of vague but its what I'm working with. Any help is appreciated!

PS I love this forum lol

 

[Wizzard]

There is a thread on this currently: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=285422

Get a Lincoln or Miller 220V 175/180 Amp MIG welder. Buy a tank (gas is much better than flux core) and a cart and you will be set. I would skip 110 volt welders all together, it is more than worth it to wire in a 220V outlet. You can make your own extension cord on the cheap by cutting up a heavy duty 10awg cord and buying your own ends. Lowes sells a Lincoln 180A which is a fair deal if you can score a 10% moving coupon (or 10% military discount). You will use every bit of a 180A welder over time, why I don't suggest a 110V unit. Good packaged prices (w/cart) can also be found online from welding stores. Good luck!

 

[Ridwaan Gallow]

Cant speak of Mig welders as i only have an air cooled AFROX Arc/stick welder.. (they used to build the Ark)
It doesnt give an oxygen free weld or a very clean on as it only has one setting which is extremely high so i have to change rods if i want to weld different thicknesses of metal.. but i have built over a kilometre of fencing with it and probably a couple more kilometres worth of security gates and burglar bars.. so she is an old an experienced gal..

I would say, "the machine'' will become you if you make it yours.. but do your homework and buy what appeals to you..

 

[hanly2]

Can you make a extension cord for cheaper then just buying the ebay one? Wizzard?

 

[royesses]

Sergio, what price range are you looking at?

 

[Loscaldazar]

I'm going to voice an unpopular opinon here....

What do you need the welder for? 220v (and even better, dual 110/220 Voltage capabilities) are great to have, but you don't always need it. Especially when a Hobart Handler 140 (110V) can do 1/4 thick (solid) steel if you know what you are doing. That is way more than most people will ever need. It can also do a limited amount of Aluminum too. And you can get it for about $430 shipped from Zoro when they have a 30% off sale, or $500 (after tax) elsewhere with coupons. It's a USA made machine with a completely metal wire feed assembly, and you know it will have support for a long time down the road along with wide parts availability. Many miller parts are either identical or interchange with Hobart welders too.

A 220V Hobart can cost you $750-$800+. And unless you are doing lots of aluminum or very thick steel, it might not be worth it for you.

Also, if you are planning on learning to weld, it's great to have a nice machine. Hobarts are fantastic for this. You can learn on a cheap machine, but you'll spent more time at first fighting the machine than actually learning.

 

[Jason280]

Biggest question is, do you have access to 220/240v, or will you be using 120?

 

[kctyphoon]

this is suppose to be an amazing welder at HF.. its a dc inverter welder, $149 w/o coupon. i dont own one myself, but there are MANY great reviews on this one.. i encourage you to search youtube, as there are so many other videos on this thing. 4.5 star review rating with 123 reviews on the HF website. its biggest advantage its its tiny size making it one of the most portable units you can buy.. youll find alot of videos online from people who weld for a living giving this unit good reviews.


http://t.harborfreight.com/80-amp-inverter-arc-welder-91110.html?utm_referrer=http://www.google.com/

videos -

 

[hachi-roku_fan]

Price range is probably around 400 tops? 1/4 inch is probable the thickest metal we will ever take it to. He only has 110 in his garage at the moment.

Thanks for all the replies guys!!

 

[zkling]

Look for a used 100amp min, 120v MIG capable machine from lincoln, miller or hobart.

 

[royesses]

Hobart handler 140 is $99 above your price range. 120 volt is very limiting as is $400.00

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X43F38/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Jeepster04]

Amazing this thread just popped up. I stopped at a scott gross today and they have a little sale going on their miller welders. $695 for the smallest model 141 120V welder or I think around $849 for the smallest 240V welder (model 190). 120V says it will do 3/16" steel and the 240V says it will do 5/16" steel.

So now Im also in the market for welders! I have some money saved up and could get the miller 240V, but is it needed for the everyday hobby man? Most I would ever do would be exhaust, some sheet metal repairs on cars, maybe make a set of rock sliders (1/4" steel). The 240V would be right at $1000 since I would HAVE to get the cart, cover, and a helmet. Man has to have some accessories.

This is something I want to last the rest of my life and Im sure ZKling wants his to also.

 

[royesses]

Lincoln K2481-1 180 240 volt.$699.00 at lowes. Not saying that is the best price. Hobart also makes a competitive 180-190 and you can find good prices online at welding stores and big box stores. If you want 1/4" capability 220/240 is the way to go. If not then the little 120 volt hobart is a good pick as is the Lincoln 120 Volt. Just my opinion.

 

[crab]

Don't go cheap ! Buy a good brand , Lincoln , Miller , ESAB , and get more capacity than you think you need . Also when you're looking at prices make sure they are set up for gas . Buy once cry once . Compare duty cycles to . I would advise getting the garage wired for 220 and buying a 250 mig with gas . For nothing but sheet metal like in a body shop the 125 Lincoln is a very good machine with gas but you're going to be limited . You can weld the small stuff with a 250, just set it up with 030 wire and turn it way down , but you can't weld the big stuff with a small machine . If you ever wanted to sell your machine , a small machine isn't going to bring much but a 250 will sell in a week at a good price . If you ever intend to weld aluminum then you'll need that 250 , I suppose it's possible with a small machine but I don't know anyone that wants to .

 

[Fugio]

Man I wish I had that kind of money to blow!

I got the HF 90amp wire welder for $81 at their parking lot sale, and I have to say that so far it's done everything I needed it to do! It might break tomorrow, but for now I really like it for what it is.

 

[Jeepster04]

I wouldnt call it 'blowing.' Ive got a rusty rocker panel on one of my jeeps. Im sure a shop would charge me several hundred to just cut out the old section and weld in a new one. Right there would pay for half of it IF i can weld good enough to do it myself. I think I can learn.

 

[Dan Jacobs]

I'm sure the 220v machines are great but I've had great luck with my
Lincoln 110v Mig welder for the last 15 years it has never let me down
I don't recall the model number it has knobs to adj the power and wire speed

 

[sberry]

Crab, this is the crux. Its also the point the companies have really worked on. The gap between small and large machines was huge, its why they invent the 180 class. They are still small but enough up off the bottom to be real usable and quite affordable really and as a bonus they work very well, as good as big uns.

 

[sberry]

At first glance the math lies a little but a 180 running 030 is 2x the machine a 140 is and it means a lot. Not choking on 030 lets it use its upper range and its not limited by a **** circuit topped and wrung out.
You see a lot of 140 for sale used, they have their place but rarely a 180-200. People sold the small to get the larger ones and they keep them.

 

[jwdominick]

Hobart handler 140 is $99 above your price range. 120 volt is very limiting as is $400.00

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X43F38/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Hands down the best machine in this price range

 

[sberry]

It probably is.