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WHAT IS A GOOD WELDER TO BUY?

M

MEANSTREAK K30

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After searching on here ,and the net, I have seen mixed info/opinions-what welder should I look for to get good strong welds with 1/4 to 3/16 inch steel?I am going to fabricate some rock sliders, and later a roll cage. I have seen some people recommend a stick welder, while others say MIG is fine. I really don't want to buy a really big expensive machine , if I don't have to.
 
Miller 211 is next welder on my list. I have a Hobart 140 but it is 110V machine but does decent work. If need be right now I can use my buddy's Miller 175 which is a 220v machine.
 
I've managed to get by with an old school arc welder all my life--220V ones like an old Miller and Lincoln "Tombstone"--now using an Airco one I bought off craigslist for 50 bucks a "Bumble-Bee" one that's still 225 amps maximum output like the big ingots,but it is much smaller and more "portable" mounted on an old shopping cart base..

MIG welders are better ,make better welds easier,but also cost you more to buy,wire is higher cost than rods,and you'll need argon & Co2 to make good welds with one...the "flux core" gasless welders are more like a wire feed arc welder,and make similar welds to a stick welder,in my opinion they aren't much better than a stick welder,except maybe they can be turned down enough to weld thin stuff without blowing holes in it..

I like using the arc welders on thicker stuff,they penetrate real good and the welds rival MIG strength once your good at laying beads..
Its a lot tougher using an arc welder on sheet metal,and one wouldn't be a great choice for doing rockers or floors,but I have been able to get away with using 3/32" 6011 rods on thin stuff and once I got more practice,I was able to weld some floor patches in,but not in one solid bead,you have to weld in 1" or so spots,to prevent blow thru..

I welded some patches on my plow blade cut from an old home heating oil tank and the thin rods and low amps (about 45),seemed to be about right to allow a continuous bead to be laid down with no holes blown in the metal..

Since I do a limited amount of welding,I never did buy a MIG..but I have borrowed a few--I dont seem to do good with MIG's,maybe my arc welding techniques have to be "forgotten",the MIG torch handles a lot different than a welding rod..
I have borrowed a 90 amp Harbor Frieight wire feed arc welder from a friend to do rocker panels,and had a tough time not blowing holes with its flux core wire..I ended up using my arc welder..

An arc welder with DC as well as AC costs more,but is much easier to use on DC and gives you better control of the arc--you can reverse the polarity to reduce or increase penetration too....

Someone else more familiar with MIG welders will likely tell you that the arc welders are "antique" and useless in comparison,and they might be right--I'm not the guy to give opinions on a "real" 220V Mig with inert gases...never had much experience with them..
 
Wow that is such a hard question.

It really is the operator. Like I said I have had a couple buddies by HF welders calling me to try em out.

They work just fine for me. I do not like them as much as my Miller or any of the Lincoln's or Hobarts I have used. But those guys couldn't lay a decent bead to save their lives.

Have you welded before? Are you good at it or still a beginner? Do you have 220 available?
 
I would stay with the well known welders,miller,Lincoln,are the ones that come to mind quickly,we use mostly millers ,but are 440 volt,and do a very good strong penetrating mig weld
 
If you want a really good mig welder like a miller, buy a hobart.

Its literally a miller lol. I have the 210mvp...can run off 120 or 220. Its perfect for this stuff but itll blaze thicker stuff together no problem. It would probably do half inch with flux easily.

I got my hobart for 975 bucks on amazon, free shipping. It was a little bit of a stretch for me but I knew it was the right thing to do because having more power than what I need is the name of the game with welders.
 
blazinzuk said:
Wow that is such a hard question.

It really is the operator. Like I said I have had a couple buddies by HF welders calling me to try em out.

They work just fine for me. I do not like them as much as my Miller or any of the Lincoln's or Hobarts I have used. But those guys couldn't lay a decent bead to save their lives.

Have you welded before? Are you good at it or still a beginner? Do you have 220 available?
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I have hardly any experience welding, but am going to go to a junior college this summer to learn welding, plus some other trades. I have a brother that is pretty darn good at welding ,but we are on the outs , because he never seemed to have the time to teach me. The house I rent does not have a very good electrical system, so I was also going to buy a good generator to power the welder, until I can find another place to live or maybe a shop.
 
Hobart. I have a Hobart Handler 210 table top, Iron Man 250 roll away, and Champion 10K portable on my service truck. Doesn't matter if I'm in the shop building a trailer, or in the field welding a disc back together, I've never had any trouble with any of my Hobarts. They are simple, stripped down Millers. Also, I add a Tweeko gun to my MIGs, much much better gun than the stock Miller/Hobart gun.

I also have one of those small Miller table top 110v machines and that thing is a waste of time.
 
I have heard of people teaching themselves to weld, and I am going to try and do this until I start my classes. Though it won't be anything structural on my truck that I will practice on. Just going to get a head start before classes start. I am determined to be the best welder I can be ,at least as good as my brother, and that is a tall order. Hands on is the key , and I know that I will get it , in time. It is in my blood!!
 
MEANSTREAK K30 said:
I have heard of people teaching themselves to weld, and I am going to try and do this until I start my classes. Though it won't be anything structural on my truck that I will practice on. Just going to get a head start before classes start. I am determined to be the best welder I can be ,at least as good as my brother, and that is a tall order. Hands on is the key , and I know that I will get it , in time. It is in my blood!!
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What voltage do you have available?

If you have 208/240V available, use it

I'm one of those that has both. I use MIG for lil stuff, and 7018 or 6011 for everything over 3/16"
 
wetoolowdingbangow said:
If you want a really good mig welder like a miller, buy a hobart.

Its literally a miller lol. I have the 210mvp...can run off 120 or 220. Its perfect for this stuff but itll blaze thicker stuff together no problem. It would probably do half inch with flux easily.

I got my hobart for 975 bucks on amazon, free shipping. It was a little bit of a stretch for me but I knew it was the right thing to do because having more power than what I need is the name of the game with welders.
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Do you think a generator could power such a welder?Like one of the Predator generators from Harbor Freight?
 
bent72 said:
What voltage do you have available?

If you have 208/240V available, use it

I'm one of those that has both. I use MIG for lil stuff, and 7018 or 6011 for everything over 3/16"
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7018 or 6011, you are referring to the rod on a stick welder, right? Do you recommend TIG welding for something structural 1/4 or 3/16 inch?
 
bent72 said:
Arc-stick yes

I'm old school, everything structural gets stick

TIG is for chromoly and headers
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Thanks. I recently saw a Top Truck Challenge competitor on Pirate 4x4 (Ryan Agin) and his build . His welds looked like TIG welds on his frame to me. You think that he used TIG to have a more cosmetic weld? I would get on Pirate and ask him , but I don't like that forum. Too many smart mouthed kids on there for me.LOL
 
MEANSTREAK K30 said:
Thanks. I recently saw a Top Truck Challenge competitor on Pirate 4x4 (Ryan Agin) and his build . His welds looked like TIG welds to me. You think that he used TIG to have a more cosmetic weld? I would get on Pirate and ask him , but I don't like that forum. Too many smart mouthed kids on there for me.LOL
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Probably was TIG, moly is lighter than steel, very popular on competition vehicles

One good 208v MIG will do everything you need
 
bent72 said:
Probably was TIG, moly is lighter than steel, very popular on competition vehicles

One good 208v MIG will do everything you need
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cool, I appreciate it. Do you think I can run one off a generator til I can find a shop to rent?
 
rjfguitar said:
Hobart. I have a Hobart Handler 210 table top, Iron Man 250 roll away, and Champion 10K portable on my service truck. Doesn't matter if I'm in the shop building a trailer, or in the field welding a disc back together, I've never had any trouble with any of my Hobarts. They are simple, stripped down Millers. Also, I add a Tweeko gun to my MIGs, much much better gun than the stock Miller/Hobart gun.

I also have one of those small Miller table top 110v machines and that thing is a waste of time.
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What generator do you use to power your welder on your service truck?
 
i'll spend the bit extra for miller, over Hobart, infinite voltage. as opposed to stepped... $800 is perfect for a miller 180.. what I run... best 220 machine for the buck IMO... but it is 220.... if you have an electric dryer outlet, you can run it.....the dual volt 110/220 machine might be up your alley, but a bit more money..
 
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