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Welder Poll, wut should i do?

You know... I've been in the market for a welder for two weeks.

One thing I found out comparing the SP-135T, SP-175T, and Pro-MIG 175 is that they all weld 1/4" on the first pass.

The thing about the 175 amp welders is that the duty cycle is a bit better and the heat range is much nicer than the 4 settings of the SP-135T.

I found a SP-135T for $415 to my door.


What I'd like to do is find an inexpensive flux core 110v welder to do sheetmetal then buy an AC-225 for building big things (3/16" and thicker). But, $400 is my limit. It's hard to find an inexpensive flux core welder that has 4 heat settings so you don't burn through 18 gauge steel.
 
Thats exactly what I did.

Although my Lincoln AC225 stick welder was giving to me by my dad. So I went and found and bought the Lincoln SP-135T for thinner stuff. Found it local to me for $289 /forums/images/graemlins/yikes.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
 
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Thats exactly what I did.

Although my Lincoln AC225 stick welder was giving to me by my dad. So I went and found and bought the Lincoln SP-135T for thinner stuff. Found it local to me for $289 /forums/images/graemlins/yikes.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

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hey same here... my dad gave me the lincoln ac/dc stick welder.. runs off of 240 volts.. hey it was free so it is for me... /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif
 
FREEBIE /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif
 
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Thats exactly what I did.

Although my Lincoln AC225 stick welder was giving to me by my dad. So I went and found and bought the Lincoln SP-135T for thinner stuff. Found it local to me for $289 /forums/images/graemlins/yikes.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

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NOT FAIR.
 
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...It's hard to find an inexpensive flux core welder that has 4 heat settings so you don't burn through 18 gauge steel.

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I've been wearing out my 3200HD (identical to the SP135) in the two days that I've had it. This thing is awesome!
So far all I've used is the flux core wire. It’s good but don't expect to weld a lot of 18 gauge with the flux core wire. While welding on my rockers and fixing my floor it was easy to blow holes in the metal where it was thin from corrosion. If you're going to weld mostly sheet metal with your wire feed, forget the flux core and run MIG. The reason for that, I believe, is because the smallest wire diameter you can get for flux core is .035". /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif A MIG uses .025-.030” for the 18 & 14 gauge stuff.

As for the deal on your SP135, that sounds like a great buy.
 
Yeah, I love my 3200HD /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif Sheet metal welding with .035 flux core wire is a PITA though like you said. I think they make a .030 flux core wire as well, was gonna try that to see if better results can be had /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
 
If you can get setup with gas, try .017 wire for body work. Very nice size wire to work with on the thin stuff.
 
They make flux core all the way down to .025". I told my Dad to try it out when welding on sheetmetal and now he'll never go back. For 10+ years he only used .035".
 
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What I'd like to do is find an inexpensive flux core 110v welder to do sheetmetal then buy an AC-225 for building big things (3/16" and thicker). But, $400 is my limit. It's hard to find an inexpensive flux core welder that has 4 heat settings so you don't burn through 18 gauge steel.

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I don't know but I picked up a Lincoln Weld-Pak HD from Home Depot (85 amp wire feed, flux core only) for $199 and it has 4 heat settings and uses .035 wire.

I hear a lot of people complaining about blowing holes through but on I've had absolutely no problem doing 16 and 18 gauge on the second heat setting and can do 20 gauge and even 22 gauge (if I keep the bead moving quickly) on the lowest setting. I will get an occasional small hole on 22 gauge but usually only where I start or stop the weld.

I have found it does really well up to 1/8", anthing over that and you really need to do 2 passes, 1/4" is pretty much the limit though.

Nice thing is that it does really well on rusty or dirty metal which is a plus over gas shielded.

(Would still like to have a SP-175 though....) /forums/images/graemlins/weld.gif /forums/images/graemlins/weld.gif
 
With the.017" do you have to get a smaller drive roll?
My current roll has two sides, one side is for .030-.035" and you flip it for the .020-.025".
 
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I hear a lot of people complaining about blowing holes through but on I've had absolutely no problem doing 16 and 18 gauge on the second heat setting and can do 20 gauge and even 22 gauge (if I keep the bead moving quickly) on the lowest setting. I will get an occasional small hole on 22 gauge but usually only where I start or stop the weld....

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/forums/images/graemlins/bow.gif well there goes my excuse... /forums/images/graemlins/1zhelp.gif
 
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With the.017" do you have to get a smaller drive roll?
My current roll has two sides, one side is for .030-.035" and you flip it for the .020-.025".

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are you talking about .017" welding wire? or what?
I don't understand why you would need so thin, .020" should handle up to very thin sheet metal at low amperage.
 
Just exploring what options I have w/ my new welder. Like I said, I've only used the flux core .035" wire so far. When I get the tank and start using mig wire I'll know better what I might need. I'm not a very good welder, so any little tricks will help /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.
 
I don't know anything about 017" wire, but I supose you would need a new drill roll to except the thinner wire.
 
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Alright one of u guys find me a deal on a 135.

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AIRGAS was having a sale this past week or so, if theres even AIRGAS's in texas /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif).
 
i undr stand but all the welding comps make the little 'hobby' welders and they have them at the shops too, i dident say to buy a 600 doller welder if you dont need it. glad to see you doing reaserch /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
 
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