Welder

[Ryanbabz71]

Apologies if this has been covered but I am looking to possibly buy a cheap welder to learn how to weld. Any suggestions? I see a few different types at harbor freight. Any to steer clear from?

Where do you buy your material from for your projects (tubing plating etc)

Thanks!


Ryan

 

[brownbagg]

any thing that runs off 120v

 

[Bondo]

Apologies if this has been covered but I am looking to possibly buy a cheap welder to learn how to weld. Any suggestions? I see a few different types at harbor freight. Any to steer clear from?

Where do you buy your material from for your projects (tubing plating etc)

Thanks!


Ryan

Ayuh,.... Budget yerself $500., 'n buy a name brand welder, stay away from harbor fright,....
A Lincolin 140 machine can be had for that money,....

Dumpsters,......
Scrap bins, scrap yards, layin' on the side of the road, in a field, out in the woods, people's junk waitin' for the trash man, steel is everywhere, ya just gotta look,....

 

[JJThrasher]

I started with a $100 dollar CL welder. It was off brand, but one with a good reputation. It was 120v and had a gas hook up. It ran pretty decent. I know plenty of people that have started with a HF welder without issue.

 

[strength_and_power]

If you cover the cost of a flat rate box I will fill it full of scrap and ship to you. Most will be square tubing and 6" long or less but it is a good place to start. Last box I sent out like this was around 30 pounds

 

[sberry]

Skip over the junk wire feeds. Get something decent from the start.

 

[bczygan]

There seem to be two schools of thought on this.

One says learn on a cheap machine, and when you get a good one it will improve you.

Me? I would go with the school that says "Why torture yourself?"

Of course, I have no experience whatsoever. And will be starting with a cheap *** machine I happen to have.

Bill

 

[cagullett1]

If you cover the cost of a flat rate box I will fill it full of scrap and ship to you. Most will be square tubing and 6" long or less but it is a good place to start. Last box I sent out like this was around 30 pounds

What an awesome offer! I hadn't even thought about seeing if anyone was willing to ship scraps. I recently got my first welder but haven't had the opportunity to use it yet due to lack of time to go buy steel to learn with.

 

[oldmxracer]

What is Your budget for the welder ?

Of course the bigger the budget the better the welder but in the real world what can You spend ?

 

[kkroger]

Name Brand.
Lincoln/Century
Miller/Hobart
ESAB/Thermal Dynamics...

Get the MOST welder you can afford! Save a little longer to get the next level BETTER than you can afford right now...

No one EVER said Damn I wish I had that tiny little welder instead of this bigger better one....

 

[Moose364]

You didn't say if you are wanting to MIG, TIG, or Stick weld, if your welding in a shop or outdoors, on the cheaper end will be a stick welder, and you can get some good deal's on CL on the name brand one's and the older stick machine's there is not a lot that can go wrong with them, a good AC-DC machine is what you will want if you go stick

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Well, I like my little Lincoln weldpac 100 most for outside dirty metal type welding. Its light, 110 volt, and can weld up to 1/4" with preheat and multi passes.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

 

[brownbagg]

i started with a miller 140, that a 120v machine, and a linciln tomb stone crackerbox ac/dc 225. I finally replace the 140 with a holbart 230

first dont weld anything but dc, ac welding is good but it *****,
second the little 110 machine, ****, dont have enough azz do anything but sheetmetal.

I thought i was a good welder but once i got the 230, im a great welder , the 230 is so smooth, even though the 140 was a true blue miller , its still **** like all 120 machine, it will fight you, splatter, kick, hang up. its only good for new sheetmetal with .023 wire.

think about it, you need amps to melt metal, that only going come in 220 volts

 

[mrolds88]

If you are looking for something to do heavier than sheetmetal, find a used Lincoln "tombstone" aka ac-225. I would stay away from those cheapie baby 110v buzzboxes. They are a pain in the backside. I really started with a Sears branded Century 110v mig. Has done everything that I have asked of it.

 

[ilovevocs]

Everyone seems to want to mig machine these days but as many have said, unless your doing gauge work I would look for a used a arc welder. Learn to weld, then buy a feeder. Doesn't take much practice to go from SMAW to MIG if your a proficient SMAW welder.

 

[DBendr]

All a cheap machine will do is frustrate you to the point of "I'll never be able".
Get something used and decent.Start with about a 140 to 180 name brand MIG. Spend the extra to use gas(CO2 is fine). If you really get into it and need-want to work with heavier material go get a brand new 200 plus and be on your way.A good new machine will go almost forever.Avoid too many bells and whistles.

 

[DekeT]

I bought welding equipment prior to actually learning how to weld in school. I bought mid-level equipment that today still does the job for my improved skills. Two things I learned were 1) I thought my initial welds before I was schooled were good welds. To the untrained eye you may think they are passable but they most likely are not. You simply do not know how to recognize the defects. 2) You will be exceptionally unhappy with cheap equipment after you actually learn how to weld. After discovering what good welding practices are you will realize that cheap equipment makes it very frustrating to achieve those results.

 

[sberry]

If a hobby guy wants to get the right thing first it would be a 200 class mig. For most the goal isn't to be a career welder but to get some result. So much of the world is thinner as is most of the good salvage material. The will do any work a guy would find on a car or light truck.

unless your doing gauge work I would look for a used a arc welder

They are doing gauge work.

 

[c4cruiser]

What power is available in your garage/shop? Most of the smaller machines will need a dedicated 120v 20A circuit. The next step up is a 220v circuit with something like 40-50A service. Check your electrical panel to see if there's room for a breaker for either voltage.

I have had a Lincoln Pro-Mig 140 for a few years now and I find it works well for smaller projects. This is a 120v 20A machine and it will weld up to 3/16" steel and with the right prep and multiple passes, it could weld 1/4" steel. The next model up with Lincoln is a Pro-Mig 180 and that would require 220v dedicated circuit.

I don't have a C-25 gas cylinder (yet) but I don't mind cleaning up splatter and other stuff from using flux-core wire. Most MIG welders will come with everything you need to start. My Lincoln 140 even came with a set of gauges and a hose for a C25 cylinder.

\Make sure you get a decent welding helmet and some gloves

There are lots of good videos on the Internet for learning the basics. There are also welding forums that will provide some good instructional stuff and tips/tricks.

When I first started out, I went to a local welding shop and asked for some scrap metal for practice. Walked out with about 50 lbs of assorted pieces free of charge. I got many pieces of flat stock, angle, round and square tubing, solid rod, and other types. Even got some stainless and aluminum.

 

[strength_and_power]

What an awesome offer! I hadn't even thought about seeing if anyone was willing to ship scraps. I recently got my first welder but haven't had the opportunity to use it yet due to lack of time to go buy steel to learn with.

Offer is open to all. I won't be home until feb 6 but can ship within a day or two

 

[brycez28]

I started with a Menards mig welder using flux-core wire. Do NOT use Harbor Freight flux core wire if you go with this type of welder, their wire *****! I looked at getting a gas bottle, but I don't have the space and I couldn't justify the expense.

After a couple years with the 110, I did some welding with my Grandpa's 225amp stick and really enjoyed it! Ended up buying a 1949 Lincoln SA 200 Junior DC stick welder/generator (powered by gas engine). I've used that for larger projects for the last couple years. Now I have 220 run to my garage and bought a 225 amp Lincoln tombstone welder. AC/DC would be preferred, but AC works too.

 

[LumpyMusic]

110v Northern Tool MIG. I started on that. Became REALLY good with it. I'll weld 1/2" plate with it if given enough bevel/pass. It's not "painful" as some want to suggest. It's a little time consuming if I build something large and do dozens of tacks and then want to weld out long, MIG like TIG beads. The 20% duty cycle stops me after just a couple minutes. So I budget my time to weld, time out, prep something else, weld more etc.

Most of the Lincoln/Hobart/Miller small machines are no more than 30% duty cycle. That would only yield 60 sec more weld time before time out.

I spent about $300 on my machine. If I bought a $1000 machine today I wouldn't give up that little 110v box. A small machine will ALWAYS have a good use.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[sberry]

The 30% is way under rated. I have an SPT and it has never went down on thermal. Worked it wayyyyyyy beyond what a hobby type ever could.

 

[trackwelder]

What do you plan to weld with the machine? I would pass on a 110 and go right for a 200 class welder. Why struggle any more than you have to.

 

[Ryanbabz71]

Thanks for all the replies. Need to digest all the suggestions. For now I would most likely go 110. Nothing planned necessarily for projects as of yet. Maybe some things for around the garage like oil qt holders etc. I will keep my eyes open on the used market might be the way to go


Ryan

 

[jimgood]

Just keep in mind that what ever you buy, if you keep it in good condition, you can resell it later and recoup some of your cost. If you can't afford a larger unit, so what? Get what you can afford so you can get a feel for welding now, make some useful stuff and show it off here!

 

[Kaizen]

Don't discount a brand new midrange like Eastwood 135. Takes gas and does great on body panels and if you want to do larger stuff you use flux core wire on dc. I have done 1/8th inch plate no problem. It's 250 now I think. The extras add up. Bottle helmet gloves etc easily another 250. When I was buying even the Hobart was twice as expensive . Miller is up there and buying used when you don't know what it's supposed to do is not smart. Good luck. I love welding. Couldn't go without one in my tool Arsenal after seeing what I can do


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kkroger]

Don't discount a brand new midrange like Eastwood 135. Takes gas and does great on body panels and if you want to do larger stuff you use flux core wire on dc. I have done 1/8th inch plate no problem. It's 250 now I think. The extras add up. Bottle helmet gloves etc easily another 250. When I was buying even the Hobart was twice as expensive . Miller is up there and buying used when you don't know what it's supposed to do is not smart. Good luck. I love welding. Couldn't go without one in my tool Arsenal after seeing what I can do


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It is a MIG welder it is ONLY DC, Flux Core is generally DCEP and solid is DCEN... My advice is just buy the absolute BEST most POWERFUL welder you can get, parts for Miller/Hobart/Lincoln/Century/ESAB are available almost everywhere, if you need parts or repairs on an import you are generally SOL...
If you can't afford it right now save a little bit longer and buy the best you can possibly afford... Buy once Cry Once... I have a buddy who bought a welder at Tractor Supply it is a Green Campbell Hausfeld one with GAS doesn't weld for ****... They stopped carrying the **** and now carry Hobart. You can get a Hobart Ironman 230 for slightly less than $1500 and that is a LOT of welder for the money... and a 210MVP at Blanes Fleet and Farm for less than $800 and THAT is a lot of welder for the money... No one has ever wished for less machine...

 

[Griff93]

Having gone down this road, as others have said, buy the best you can to start with. Cheap welders weld crappy compared to good lincoln or millers. What you really should do is go visit your local welding shop and see what they carry. You will eventually need parts for any welder even if it's just consumables. We have a good locally owned miller dealer so I went the miller route. The pain of the purchase price will long be forgotten before you get all of your use out of a good machine. The level of frustration while trying to learn to weld will be lower because it will more than likely work correctly out of the box. If you buy something like a lincoln or miller and need help setting it up, enough of us have those models that you can probably get some help online.

Deals are out there on good used machines as well. A friend of mine bought a like new transformer Miller 211 the other day for $650.

 

[Kaizen]

It is a MIG welder it is ONLY DC, Flux Core is generally ...

Just to clarify for the op. My machine can run mig with gas and then reverse the polarity and use flux core no gas for thicker stuff. The same machine will be fine.
Personally I'm of the belief that just getting a Miller won't make you a good welder. Granted a crappy welder will make crappy welds but one like mine will allow a good foothold to see if you like it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sberry]

I have to agree about the 210 from Hobart. A lot for the money and you will likely never sell it, a lot of machine for the money and very reliable and you wont wonder if its you or the machine. It will be you. Wont be trying to peddle it in short order for something better.
I am all for cheaper tools if they work well but this is a case and a place they just don't.

 

[brownbagg]

You can get a Hobart Ironman 230 for slightly less than $1500 and that is a LOT of welder for the money... No one has ever wished for less machine...

at tractor supply the 230 is $1499 plus sales tax

at cyberweld its $1500 free shipping, no sales tax

 

[sberry]

The 230 is a very good machine too, lots of poop, has the ratings of a 250.

 

[kkroger]

Just to clarify for the op. My machine can run mig with gas and then reverse the polarity and use flux core no gas for thicker stuff. The same machine will be fine.
Personally I'm of the belief that just getting a Miller won't make you a good welder. Granted a crappy welder will make crappy welds but one like mine will allow a good foothold to see if you like it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, ANY MIG welder can run Flux Core if you reverse polarity, but they are ALL DC, you are not running AC with GAS and DC with Flux Core, you are running DCEN Direct Current Electrode Negative for Solid Core Wire with GAS, with FLUX CORE (FCAW) you are running DCEP or Direct Current Electrode Positive. I have never actually used FCAW with any of my machines but I could...

 

[DpSyChO]

I started with a Century 130 Mig...I was happy with it and served me well until some crackhead needed a fix and broke into my parents building and stole it along with some other tools I had there. I think this was around 2006 or 2007.......errrrrrrr
I ended up replacing it about a year later with a Miller 185 because I wanted a 220 machine with a little more amperage and wanted to be able to have it serviced years down the road if problems arose. If funds would have allowed I would have went with the next larger size Miller just for the longer duty cycle.

A friend of mine has a 220V Eastwood and has good results.

I have another friend that bought a HF 120V flux core welder around the same time I bought the Miller..... He bought what ever the size is that runs around $100 on sale. For what he wanted it for, which is simple home repairs such as welding a cracked mower deck and what not brackets out of 1/8 or 3/16" material he seems happy with it but I doubt he has run more than three or four 2lb spools of wire through it in the past eight years.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I've done a lot with my hobart handler 140. I will always recommend it. I bought it before I ever welded and learned with it. IMO everyone needs a good small 110v machine. You cannot beat the portability. I ordered a small argon tank off ebay then got it filled. After a few tanks were run through I traded it in towards a bigger tank.

However, nothing can beat a good 220v machine. But you gotta walk before you can run. You don't learn to drive stick shift in a Lambo. Unless your a millionaire.

 

[ESierra62]

I learned to weld with an old "Lincoln buzz box". You know the stick welder that they still sell at Home Depot. Go buy one and enjoy. I then progressed to welding with an oxy acetylene torch and that was how I really learned to weld. Once you master that you can weld anything and make great looking welds.

 

[kkroger]

Don't be afraid of the 20CF bottles at Harbor Freight, since the welding gas supplier is just going to swap em out anyway... I keep at home, an 80 a 40 and a 20...
if I have to go remote with the MIG I can take the 20... the 40 is my backup for the 80...
just in case I have to get gas on a weekend. I also have a couple known suppliers for weekends if I had to, they don't carry larger bottles 40 is about the max at those guys...
I passed up a couple "Open Box" buy bottles at Harbor Recently...

 

[sqznby]

Another machine that should be considered is the Hobart 190.

 

[bsaint]

The best thing to do is buy the most expensive welder you can afford. Then you can't "outgrow" it. Personally I would get the miller 211 for my first and last mig unit.

Other than that Id get the Lincoln C300 for my choice with unlimited funds.