Need help with my xmas list....

[K5Blazer28]

want to get a welder for xmas but am a total NOOB.. =\ i want to beable to weld simple tubbing and peices of steel. what should i be looking for? and trying to keep the price reasonable. any suggestions guys?

thanks matt.

 

[AZ79K5Project]

Tubing will need 220 volt more than likely. I really like my Hobart 180. I got a score deal off Amazon with free shipping last year.

Stick with the name brands. Lincoln, Miller or Hobart.

 

[K5Blazer28]

kool thanks alot.

 

[Big Blzn]

Tubing will need 220 volt more than likely. I really like my Hobart 180. I got a score deal off Amazon with free shipping last year.

Stick with the name brands. Lincoln, Miller or Hobart.

Why wouldn't my Lincoln SP135 work for cage tubing? It should because of the thickness of the metal. The only thing i regret about the SP135 is that I didn't spent the extra (quite a bit) $$$ to get a 210 or 212 welder to do thicker metal. I've welded hitch tubing just fine with my Sp135 though.

 

[cbbr]

I have a Lincoln 175 and love it. I got mine off of eBay too.

 

[mikey_d05]

I have a Miller 175 and love it, but you can't go wrong with the basic 220 volt Lincoln/Miller/Hobart, they're all very comparable.

 

[AZ79K5Project]

Why wouldn't my Lincoln SP135 work for cage tubing? It should because of the thickness of the metal. The only thing i regret about the SP135 is that I didn't spent the extra (quite a bit) $$$ to get a 210 or 212 welder to do thicker metal. I've welded hitch tubing just fine with my Sp135 though.

Your 135 would work. Most people say that they wish they had a 220 Volt once they actually start building and fabbing stuff up. If you can afford to get larger unit, go for it, if not, get what will work and upgrade later.

0.120 tubing is slightly thinner than 1/8th. Most 110 volt machines can handle that. The SP135 looks like a pretty good welder.

Watch Amazon and other on-line places - They occasionally have pretty killer deals. I got my Hobart 180 shipped to my door for $569.00 in Feb 2006 from Amazon.

 

[habitatxskate]

i got a basic lincoln 220 arc for about 200 from lowes a yr or two back