which welder to buy??

[blazinid]

So I'm tired of barrowing my friends welders everytime I want to fab something up. I have very limited funds, but could most likely swing around $300.
My options I see are:

Lincoln Handy core $280.00(Sears) 1/8" steel
Lincoln Weld Pack HD $270.00 (Home Depot) 1/8" steel
Craftsman Wire Feed $280.00 (Sears) 3/16" steel

These are all gasless welders and I realize you get what you pay for but I do have access to bigger better welders I just need a little garage buddy to keep me moving on projects. Any input would be great

 

[crawler#976]

Save up a little more $$ and get a 220V - you won't regret it!

My advice would be to look for used equipment at your local welding shops and on Craigslist.

I use a Lincoln 170 with straight CO2, and found a couple used for a lot less than I paid for mine in 2001:

http://bellingham.craigslist.org/tls/791277531.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/828443363.html

Also, if you want to do thicker metal, stick welders are CHEAP!

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/tls/849737279.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/tls/851347427.html

Mark

 

[goodtimes]

Save up a little more $$ and get a 220V - you won'[t regret it!

My advice would be to look for used equipment at your local welding shops and on Craigslist.

Yes, and yes.

 

[Rockit]

Yes, and yes.

X3. Look for a USED 220 machine.

 

[blazinid]

but then I have to wire in a 220 outlet into my garage....$$
Just called one of the local welding supply shops, used 220 wire feed Lincoln for $350

 

[AFSOC]

Just piling on

All above have given good advice. Save a little more jack, get a 220V rig rated at least 170 amp. Craigslist, classified adds and even grocery store bulliton boards are good sources for deals on an higher production machines. Spool drives, feed mechanisms and speed and heat controls all are vastly improved as you get a higher end rig. If you hold out for a good welder, your projects and skills will continue to improve. If you get a cheapie, your skills and projects will be limited by the equipment. I have never heard anyone say, "Gee, I wish I'd bought a smaller welder."

 

[kerry]

Harbor Freight has their 110volt fluxcore wire feed welder on sale for $99 right now. It's gotten some decent reviews on a welding forum that I checked out a few weeks ago as long as you don't use Harbor Freight wire. I think it welds up to 3/16" if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Photog]

Get a used rig, and plan a few jobs for it. Let the equipment pay for itself. You don't have to start a business, just do enough work to pay for the equipment.:REExeSquatsHL1:

 

[FlyingWen]

Stupid Thread! :ar15: LOL

Wil has been begging for a welder. In fact he is not allowed to go to Home Depot alone for fear he will return with a little welder of his own.

Now with this thread, he will bargain with prices and start the begging all over again... ugh!

 

[Rockit]

but then I have to wire in a 220 outlet into my garage....$$
Just called one of the local welding supply shops, used 220 wire feed Lincoln for $350

Very easy to doesn't cost a whole lot. Worth it. Mid to upper 100 amp machine will work SOOOOO much better.

 

[goodtimes]

Stupid Thread! :ar15: LOL

Wil has been begging for a welder. In fact he is not allowed to go to Home Depot alone for fear he will return with a little welder of his own.

Now with this thread, he will bargain with prices and start the begging all over again... ugh!

Could be worse....Home Depot doesn't have all that great of a selection, and the last time I walked through, they didn't have anything other than low end rigs. "Decent" welding rigs cost about as much as a "decent" set of tires....

 

[toyrunner95]

I have a lincoln sp135 plus mig welder, with gas, it came with the gas kit and a cart for $600. I can wled up to 3/16, which is just under 1/4. It has to be the best investment i have ever made. A 220 used would be nice but i ran into the same problem, no outlet, no where to put it. Anyway i got the 110 and havent regreted it.

Honestly i bet you could find a used one for way under $300

 

[madizell]

If your welding is limited to a very occasional bit of fixing this or that, a less expensive 110 welder will work. If you plan to really use it regularly, find a way to wire 220 into your garage.

I have made very fine field repairs with a simple Redi-Welder, the problem with which is that you have no control over anything but line feed speed. Making good welds with something this primitive takes practice and finesse. Flux core AC welders have more control, but are still flux core welders. Best used on heavier metal because flux core tends to burn in more than gas/wire feed systems.

By comparison, anyone can learn to weld with a good gas MIG welder in 5 minutes, and in a day or two will be welding like a pro. I prefer the units with infinitely variable output rather than the ones with only a few amperage settings because I do a fair amount of sheet metal welding. I also prefer 220V units to the 110V simply because of quality of construction.

The thickness of metal a welder will weld is usually stated in single pass thickness. By using overlapping multiple passes, you can weld almost any thickness of metal, but as the metal gets thicker, there is more thermal mass to deal with and the welder needs to run hotter to get a good bead down, so there is a practical limit, it just isn't the one published by the maker.

Also, the lighter units, and especially the 110V ones, have a limited duty cycle, and I would not be surprised to find that they, too, will require a bit of wiring in the garage, as most require a 20A circuit and most household circuitry is based in 15A breakers and 14ga wire. Even my plasma torch will pop a 20A circuit from time to time depending on the thickness of metal I am working on. Might as well wire for 220V. If you have a water heater or clothes dryer in your garage, you already have 220, you just need to extend the line and install an extra box.

 

[UK4X4]

I have a Hobart handler 140 110v welder- around $ 450 new,

you can weld just about any thickness when you layer properly, obviously takes a little longer than a straight run.

All miller parts, just a hoby range name.......

Would having a 220v made much diference....maybe, but even with its light duty cycle it never shut down on me

I built two trailers using it and was very happy with the results..

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I have a Hobart handler 140 110v welder- around $ 450 new,

you can weld just about any thickness when you layer properly, obviously takes a little longer than a straight run.

All miller parts, just a hoby range name.......

Would having a 220v made much diference....maybe, but even with its light duty cycle it never shut down on me

I built two trailers using it and was very happy with the results..

I agree, you can get a lot done with a 110V machine. Nice trailer BTW. With preheating of the metal you be surprised what it can do.

I own both (110v&230v) and find myself using the 110V machine most of the time due to smaller gun, variable adjustment on both wire speed and arc volts, and the ability to plug in anywhere.

Miller make a slick dual voltage 170amp machine that has both an 110v and a 230v plug.