MIG Welders: What to buy?!

[Homeboyx]

So I've been seriously tempted in buying and try my hand at MIG welding for some time now. The problem is, I don't have the slightest idea on what welder to buy. My welder budget is about $350. I've read than getting anything below 20%-40% duty cycle is just useless. I'm not sure to take a risk and get a no name welder like this one, NEW MIG WELDER WITH GAS 195AMPS 220V $250.00

or get anything from CL at all. I've seen some pretty tempting welders like these

(Need to call to get specs)

Lincoln Weldpac mig welder

May buy new instead since new goes for around $40(?) more if I do decide to go with this one.

Craftsman MIG Welder

This one...

Lincoln 135 mig welder

Or just get the HB special... which I've heard terrible things about.

180 Amp MIG/Flux Wire Feed Welder - 24 volts @ 140 amps

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I will most likely use it for body work, but would probably end up doing something a bit more thicker than sheet metal in the long run.

So basically what I'm asking you welder folks is, what SHOULD I look for when purchasing/using a welder? Any other welder/welding tips & info. is greatly welcomed as well.

[bartsscooterservice]

Don't know about the welder brands in the US. But in here you have 220v and 380 volts (2 fase )welders.

220v should be fine for you, and with a 0.8 wire. And to max 135 amp should be enough. I should go for a well known brand, rather than go cheap with welders.

[Wade Nelson]

Check the pawn shops. I picked up a nifty little Lincoln wire feed for $300. They run around $800 new. Lincoln is THE name in welders, #1, since forever, and Millers are #2. You can get parts and service anywhere. I really, really prefer having a gas bottle over using flux-core wire. Makes a world of difference in leaving behind beautiful beads. Buy a gas-compatible unit and you can always add gas later; a new bottle & regulators off eBay will run you less than $200. Oh, but be sure and take some angle iron (and a helmet) with you and test the thing out in the parking lot before you buy it. Lot of guys pass off their broken equipment to pawn shops, who don't know how to test it.

[SteveJ]

You may want to try going to a community college class for welding before you buy one. That way you learn how to weld AND you get to try out at least one welder before you make a decision. You can probably also get opinions from the instructor as well.

FWIW, if you are wanting to weld on your Z car, don't try the Harbor Freight model.

[madkaw]

I have the Lincoln 135 and it's excellent . Haven't had any issues. Get a welder set up for gas.

You can weld up to .250 with the 135 if you use heavier wire and take several passes. A 220 is more versatile , but the hobbyist will get it done with the 135.

Lincoln welders are everywhere and so are parts

[Hardway]

I bought a MIG welder about a year ago so I will give you my recommendation as I went through the same research exercise before buying one.

First, DO NOT BUY a Harbor Freight welder. HF is good for tool boxes, hand tools, and other "non-complicated" stuff but their welders are junk. Don't buy their welding wire either, it's quality is not consistent. Always buy name brand wire!

Definitely buy a welder setup for gas and invest in a medium bottle of argon. You will need to establish a relationship with a local welding supply company or find a Tractor Supply Co. store that has a bottle program.

Stay with one of the three brands, Miller, Hobart, and Lincoln. Do not stray from these brands as they are the easiest to get support and parts for. A 135 amp 110v welder should work find for just about anything a hobbyist wants to do. However if you think for even a second you might take on a bigger project in the future, go for a 220v welder. I picked up a Hobart Handler 150 with a nice cart at a pawn shop for $350 out the door. Its a 220v and I have a bottle of argon for it. The bottom line, it is an awesome welder! I run .023 wire in mine and with it set on 2 along with the argon it makes some very nice welds. Obviously if you go with a 220v unit you will need to have a 220v outlet in your garage. Don't expect to run it off the dryer outlet. If you have to pay someone to run a 220v outlet for you, have them run 2. You never know what the next piece of equipment is that you may be buying.

If you have never welded you need to go buy or obtain some scrap and practice, practice, practice. It will take awhile for you to get a feel for the unit, adjusting your speed, and seeing which power setting works best. I am still a novice for sure but I get better every time I tackle a project or practice on a beat up fender.

One thing to keep in mind, no matter which welder you buy be prepared to buy or build a heavy duty extension cord. A neighbor helped me build a 30ft cord for my Hobart. Cost $100+ in materials but it means I can roll it in to my drive way with ease and weld just about anywhere.

Edited February 13, 2013 by Hardway

[nix240z]

I have the Lincoln weldpak 100, to use this unit with gas you must buy a extra kit. I have used this little welder for almost 15 years with zero problems. I Welded a bunch of patch panels with this welder with the gas kit, which is a must.

steve

[jmortensen]

$350 will most likely buy you a used welder, no gas, no mask, no gloves, no wire. You really need more than the welder to get started. Used I'd budget $500 at least. For new you'll need closer to $700.

I have the Miller 135, the Lincoln 135 is essentially equal quality. Both are VERY good units. The Hobart doesn't have as great an ability to fine tune one of the parameters (heat and wire speed). If memory serves it has 5 click settings for voltage, but has infinitely variable wire speed, where the Lincoln and Miller have infinitely variable settings for both. If you have 220V available, a 220V welder is more flexible and you can weld bigger stuff later on if you want. Penetration is just not an issue with 220. Of course, it's more expensive...

A good welder will allow you to do nice welds within a few hours of getting the thing up and running. A crappy welder will never give good results. Spend the money and do it right.

[theczechone]

I have the Lincoln 135 plus. It's a 110V unit that can weld anywhere between 24 gauge up to 1/4" metal, which covers just about all on the Z car. The 135 plus is superior to the standard 135 in that it has infinitely variable heat and speed settings. You want the adjustability to dial in the exact heat that doesn't cause burn through, but penetrates the metal well.

I bought mine used for $360 of ebay shipped to my door. But I had to buy some consumables (wire, tip, nozzle), protective equipment (helmet, gloves), and gas bottle and regulator, overall I spent close to $750, but it's well worth it. Don't skimp on the safety equipment either, you have only 1 set of eyes!

[tlorber]

I bought a 135 from Eastwood. If you time it right, you can get it to your door for $300.00. This is a 110 volt unit, which will do pretty much anything you need to do on the Z. It comes with the requlator, solid core wire, and a roll of flux core, so if you want to weld with gas shielding (much preferred) all you need is the tank.

There is quite a difference between 220 volt vs 110 volt welders. The 110 v say they will do up to 1/4 " steel, but that is really a push to get true penetration. The other side of the coin is that it is more difficult to get the heavier welders to weld the thin body panels (and I do mean thin) on the Z without burning through. Therefore you need to ascertain what kind of welding you plan on doing the most. I have also learned that I get hotter welds using flux core than with gas, so If I have heavier metals to weld, I will switch out the wire spools and go with the flux core.

Go on you tube and watch as many videos as you can for tips, tricks, and input on welders.

[Homeboyx]

The $350 is for the welder only, I am very well aware about the different safety equipment I'll need in order to even use the welder. My welding plans are mostly for the Z.. for now. I'm also curious about doing some fabrication to vehicles, drive train modifications, etc., etc., so I might want to dab on that also. Not sure i that's considered light fabrication or not..

Is this the one you're referring to tlorber?

MIG Welder | MIG Welders | MIG Welding ? Eastwood MIG 135 Welder

[bartsscooterservice]

Ah yeah you guys in the states have 120 volts I forgot.. It should be more then enough for welding on the Z, heavier ones are only for more penetration on thicker metal, which you won't see on anything Z related, like tlorber says.

@ Homeboy: If your planning on a future investement i'd go for the 220v...

Here I use intermag 250 amp 380 volt with 0.8 wire, but it's a bit overkill for sheet metal work, I need to set it on very low settings.

Edited February 14, 2013 by bartsscooterservice