Welder advice

[Corey 78K5]

I am in the market for an inexpensive gas mig welder. All I have used for several years were ones at work and at both places they were Snap On and I did not care for them. Just looking for something cheap and basic, and that could handle up to 1/4". This would be used for my own use so nothing commercial.
So any suggestions on where and what I should look for?

 

[pseudomike]

I had a Hobart Handler 140 prior to obtaining a larger unit. It was a good little welder, Hobart is a subsidiary of Miller so it had decent feed controls and gun. It would also weld aluminum because it was lined. Anyhow, nuts and bolts it was 140 amp which is about the most you will get out of a 115V welder. I'd say with gas you could weld clean steel 3/16" in a single pass. Using shielded wire w/out gas created a little more heat and you could weld 1/4" steel "clean" in a single pass. You could pick a welder up this size for about $400-600. If you want to weld 1/4" and get good penetration you really need to step up to a 220V and >=175 amp machine and that will put you in the $700+ range. Used prices are obviously less depending on age, make , features and so on. I would stick with Miller, Lincoln, Hobart for US made. ESAB (formerly LTEC) is a European company (all US sold machines made in US) and they make a great welder at a very competitive price. There are other brands as well that most welding shops will poo on and call inverted battery chargers and what else. I have a Century I beat the tar out of and have nothing bad to say about it.

 

[eagle mark]

I just picked one of these up out of the paper, guy moved and needed money. Will do 1/4 with flux core wire one pass haven't had it long but with the bottle and a real mask I have $350. into it...

 

[cuervo]

Find a craig's list with someone getting out of the hobby. You can score a pretty good deal like that. I went with a Miller Matic 210 and at the time it came with a free spool gun.

 

[pseudomike]

I picked up my ESAB migmaster 250 w/130cf tank and spool gun for $500 on Craigslist. Awesome machine and awesome deal. Even came full of wire and gas.

 

[jt512]

I picked up my ESAB migmaster 250 w/130cf tank and spool gun for $500 on Craigslist. Awesome machine and awesome deal. Even came full of wire and gas.

^^that is really an awsome deal.

Corey, if you have or can add 220v I would go for a bigger machine, I had a miller 140 and it was a great welder but I found with the more fab I started doing the more I wanted something with a longer duty cycle and the ability to do thicker metals with. I am currently using a miller 251 and I love it It can weld up to 1/2" with no problem, does stainless and will do aluminum with a spoolgun kit. Overall I really like anything that is blue and says miller on it, they are coming out with lots of new models so there are deals to be found on the older ones and with the economy the way it is, companies are going under and selling off assets left and right.

 

[Corey 78K5]

Well the shop is a ways from the house with no 220. I would have to do a ton of work and $$ to get 220 to it. I have been looking in craigslist but no luck yet. I could run up to harbor freight and get a pos for about 150 but I would rather find a name brand for $3-500. I will just keep looking. I might try the pawn shops also.

 

[jt512]

Corey, also check out any local equipement auctions , they are usually a good source for deals. For 3-500 you should be able to find a decent machine, I would look for the biggest machine that will work with you power setup. I know this is not a "cheap" suggestion and will most likely not be one that you will find used but Miller has a few models that are dual voltage (DVI2 and the 211) really cool machines, will run on 115v or 220v, I think msrp's are around 1-1200 one those two.
Try asking around if any shops or business's are going under, always good deals to be found there, my brother just picked up a Rotary 7k asymetrical lift for 800, from a shop that is closing, it was 6mos old.

 

[blazinzuk]

Hard to beat the Hobart for price its a good machine. Look on e-bay and northern tool. A buddy bought one a while back that came with a hobart auto darkening helmet from Northern tool. Also check with your local welding supply sometimes they have machines that get traded in

 

[GNERGY]

I bought a Lincoln Pro Mig 180 new on craigslist for 500 bucks a year ago 220 volt.
I bought a Rigid 10 gauge extension cord 50 ft. long at home depot and put the right plugs on it so I can use my welder anywhere in my driveway.
Tarey
So good deals can be found.

 

[ohoffroader]

I have a Lincoln SP 170 T (240V) and a Miller DVI (110 & 240 V). Both are good machines ( have not used the Miller on 110 yet). I however perfer the Miller over the Lincoln.

 

[Big Blzn]

^^that is really an awsome deal.

Corey, if you have or can add 220v I would go for a bigger machine, I had a miller 140 and it was a great welder but I found with the more fab I started doing the more I wanted something with a longer duty cycle and the ability to do thicker metals with. I am currently using a miller 251 and I love it It can weld up to 1/2" with no problem, does stainless and will do aluminum with a spoolgun kit. Overall I really like anything that is blue and says miller on it, they are coming out with lots of new models so there are deals to be found on the older ones and with the economy the way it is, companies are going under and selling off assets left and right.

I couldn't agree more. I have a real nice Lincoln SP135T I bought new and it is great. I have welded my fair share of 1/4" and it's great. As good as mine is I now wich I would have spent the extra coin on a 220 machine. I don't always have the need to weld more than the 1/4" but I know for sure I'd have projects lined up for months if I had the bigger unit.

 

[pseudomike]

X3...thats why I purchased a larger unit.

 

[British Slave]

I like my Miller 135.