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Looking for a welder

cabledawg

cabledawg

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I've seen other threads about good starter machines. What I need to know is how well does a smaller machine work on a 120v, 15a circuit. I live in military base housing, so I'm limited to that power supply. And 15a might be pushing the limit of the breaker, the wiring, or both. :(

I'm looking at doing some small projects first so I can learn the technique, then if/when I buy a house I can jump up to a 220v setup.

Hell maybe I'll just get the setup that installs in the truck and be done with it:D
 
I run my Millermatic 135 on a 15 amp 115 volt set-up. It's fine for body work and smaller projects, but if you weld for more than about 4 or 5 minutes straight it will kick the breaker.

Rene
 
To answer the first question, probably. But the auto shop is never open when I need it as most of my work is late afternoon and evenings and I never get anything done in one day. I hate being on someone else's schedule. I want to have the ability to work at home at my leisure. Plus the guys at this auto shop are DB's.

Rene, I'm just starting out, so 4-5 minutes is probably ok. I'm not welding frames or fabricating roll cages. I am looking at a blazer/burb morph so I have a removeable top on the Burb. Mostly body panels and bracing.

HeavyMetal that is the same one that others have mentioned for a starter. I dont know if I can swing for brand new, but I'll start looking in CL or evilBay.

Thanks for the input guys! If anyone else has anything to add, speak up!
 
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The Mobi arc looks good, and it appears that if you added a spool gun you could run MIG off of it. Not a cheap option though...

Rene
 
I was just thinking it might work better for me as I no longer have to worry about the house electrical being a problem. If/when I buy a house, I;ll be sure to have a dedicated circuit installed for garage stuff like welders and compressor. But for now it would work in or out of the garage and its mobile.

I did find a Millermatic in Minnesota for $800 used. Comes with a bunch of stuff, but that's a hike for me just to get a welder. At that point it'd be cheaper to order online and have shipped to the house.

Edit: After doing some reading, I think the mobile options I listed above might be just fine for me at this time. I can always get something bigger and better if/when I buy a house, but for now, stick welding with a truck mounted setup should suit me well. I'll just get extra long leads to reach into the garage. The second alternator on my wife's Burb doesnt get much use and has its own dedicated circuit with battery, so I can run a welder from that without risking damage to the main system. Finish the OBA system for her truck and I've got a family vacation/mobile repair vehicle!
 
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Hobart Handler 140. A re-badged Miller. Under 500 bucks, maybe even low 400's. Comes with regulator for running mix gas. I run mine off 120v 30A. Does 1/4" single pass. Have done up to 5/16" will a deep bevel. Great little machine, i run the piss out of mine. Good warranty too. Spring for a bottle if you can, makes cleaner welds. The flux core wire for them is not terrible though. Duty cycle is low, but you get used to it. Runs flux, solid, aluminum and stainless wire. Try and find a better machine for the money, pretty sure you wont.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/weldin...mig-welders/hobart-handler-140-welder-3812040
 
^^^^Only problem is I dont have a 30a circuit in the house. I have my adapters for a 30a to standard 15a plug, but that was for my camper and I could control the amount of current draw by not using the A/C. I dont think I can step down to a 15a circuit on a welder without running the risk of constant breaker pops or fire.
 
tRustyK5 said:
I run my Millermatic 135 on a 15 amp 115 volt set-up. It's fine for body work and smaller projects, but if you weld for more than about 4 or 5 minutes straight it will kick the breaker.

Rene
Click to expand...

my lincoln 135 does the same if i weld anything thicker than 1/8"
 
I'm kinda at a crossroads here. I like the Millermatic 135 and alot of folks in this thread and others recommend it, plus I can run it off my current power setup, but I also like the idea of a full portable setup of an OB welder. The Mobi-Arc can even be moved from vehicle to vehicle if I buy another wiring harness.

If money wasnt a factor and all you were using the welder for is small repairs and projects, which route would go?
 
I don't know what your price range is but Hobart is offering this new MIG machine called the Trek180 which is battery powered and you can take with you everywhere, including throwing in your rig for wheeling trips and welds approximately 100 inches of 1/8 in. mild steel before recharging.

Considering it will weld up to 1/4 inch, and is a 180amp that will work off of 115v it sounds like a good buy. Plus it can be operated plugged in as well. The duty cycle is the same as the Lincoln 135 or the Miller 140. You can also recharge it or plug it in via your current available voltage.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/battery-powered/trek180/

This is what I would get if $ was not a factor, actually I would do the Millermatic 252 if you have 230v, but based on your current needs and voltage available seems like a better buy for you.
 
$1800 OUCH!:eek1:

Looks awesome though. Wife might kill me if I spent that much, but if I could drop the coin, thats what I'd get!
 
K5Nate, that would be alittle easier to swing, good find!

hmatiak, this is military housing. They wount appreciate it if I'm swapping breakers and I can guarantee they wont do it. If it was that easy, I could just get a 220v outlet installed. Out of a 200a service box, only half of it is filled. Easily enough room. But the housing maintenace guys dont deviate from a standard layout 'cept swapping ceiling fans and/or light fixtures. Stuff that can easily be changed back and wouldnt require an engineer to look at it. Sucks, but its free.
 
do you have a drier hookup? you could easily make an extension cord to go from the drier outlet into the garage, or longer to go the the driveway and run a 220 machine. wire isn't cheap, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper than an $1300 welder.

that being said, i really like that trek 180. it could easily replace 2 welders; one in the home and one on the trail. it sounds like it has the capability to do just about anything we'd need to work on or fix a rig.
 
I do have a drier, but the extension would have to be 50' just to reach the garage and not be a tripping hazard. Add another 20' if I want to use it in the driveway. I thought about this and it would have worked great at my last house. The laundry room was attached to the garage. But this house I'm in the laundry is down a half flight of stairs in the basement and there is a mudroom of sorts it'd have to go through before getting to the main part of the garage.

I think I'm going to save up for a few months and get either the full portable setup or one of the vehicle mounted ones.
 
This is the only onboard welder I would buy. I welded with it and it is an AWESOME welder. Get the best of both worlds, portability and weld at home too. Their $500 bucks. Try to find a welder that will match the capibility and portability at that price. I bet you can't.

http://www.readywelder.com/
 
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