intrested in buying a welder

f4stunna · 12-24-2007, 01:18 PM

i got a few cift certificates for sears for christmas and im thinking about getting a welder.

i already have almost every hand tool i could possibly need and a big comperssor and air tools to go with it...

so any suggestions?

what should i go with?

ive welded a couple times before, can get things to stick together pretty well but looks like crap...

any imput is appreciated

exacto · 12-24-2007, 01:39 PM

you gotta tell us what you wan tot do with them...

but some good starters are:

Hobart handler 187

Millermatic 180

f4stunna · 12-24-2007, 01:43 PM

my first project after practicing a whole load is gonna be making a front bumper

Ganoid · 12-24-2007, 01:56 PM

I think from some place like Sears the Hobart handler 210 is probably the best bang for the buck right now. Its hard to beat the handler 210 even going to a welding store because most of the other 210+ machines are going to be $1000+ and the handler is usually under $700. Now granted the $1000+ 210 machines are a pretty good cut above a handler 210 but then again so is the price.

TC4RNR · 12-24-2007, 04:26 PM

i'm a total noob on this but what i can say is stay away from FluxCore.

a friend of mine bought an used Lincoln 175 off craig's list couple weeks ago for $400, it's in decent shape including an 88cf argon/c02 tank, 230v 1phase. for the first time ever, i tried welding just yesterday, wowww, i was hooked. i played with both mig and fluxcore side by side, saying the difference is day'n night is an understatement.

230v welders are nice but it draws plenty of power, if you don't have the "proper" power outlet at home, then go get the 110v ones.

killa b · 12-24-2007, 05:53 PM

ive got a miller 140 and it does everything i need it to do. wireing 220 in is a good amount to do. if the metal is preped right you can weld just about everything. my opinion is if you have 220 than go bigger but if you cant afford it go with a 110 and just pratice alot thats what ive done.

Gerdo · 12-24-2007, 06:53 PM

Lincolns and Millers are both great machines. Hobart is made by Miller. I looked and talked to a half dozen welding stores. They would tell me the minor differences and finish the conversation with "Do you like red or blue?" I have a 120v Lincoln 140. Great machine. I had to go 120v for portability. I have and can weld up to 3/16" material. Anything thicker and I tack it together and have my friend finish weld it. (he has a big 220v machine) The main thing that I noticed between the Home Depot or Lowes welders and the ones welding shops sell is the wire feed carrage inside the side of the welder. Deffinitly get mig gas 80/20. Much better welds.

95RunnerSR5 · 12-24-2007, 10:13 PM

i've got a lincoln flux core welder and its great for the price, with gas its pretty darn good

deserttoy84 · 12-25-2007, 06:34 AM

flux core is a joke to weld with because shielding a weld is the most important part of welding. I have a Lincoln stick welder and would take it any day over a flux core mig

olharleyman · 12-25-2007, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f4stunna

i got a few cift certificates for sears for christmas and im thinking about getting a welder.

i already have almost every hand tool i could possibly need and a big comperssor and air tools to go with it...

so any suggestions?

what should i go with?

ive welded a couple times before, can get things to stick together pretty well but looks like crap...

any imput is appreciated

It gets easier and cleaner looking as you go on , plus a 6" grinder makes any ugly weld look like it was never there , there for fixing your ugly welds right up

Nate08 · 12-25-2007, 12:55 PM

I got a Hobart Handler 140 for Christmas today. I've not been welding long, but throwing down good beads with penetration isn't hard at all. It's a good lil' welder. I'll be getting the gas in about 2 months. I love it!Only $459 too!

grayguy · 12-25-2007, 01:48 PM

I love my Millermatic 185. It's done everything I've asked it too. Hopefully I'll be tacling some bumpers/skids for the truck soon.

Ganoid · 12-26-2007, 06:30 AM

I still recommend the Hobart 210

Since every one is sharing what welder they have...

The last welder I had was a Miller-matic 175 and I must say it was a nice machine. It was a bit under powered I felt and I sent it into thermal shut down a few times but I was asking a lot out of it.

My new welder is a Thermal arc 251 with a spool gun.
It will do...
200 amps at 100% duty cycle
300 amps at 40% duty cycle
5/8 in a single pass
and it will spray .035 no problem.
I haven't run out of power on any of my jobs yet. I don't think I have ever come close to over heating it. I can say that a needed to move up to a 80 amp breaker as I kept tripping my 60 amp (both 220V).

But like I said the Hobart 210 is tough to beat at that price.

**Yoda** · 12-26-2007, 08:09 AM

I've been looking at the millermatic 180. Local price is $729.

As a side note, I am running a 50 amp 220V service to the front of my garage.

I did not like the welds I got with a borrowed 110V flux welder (harbor freight style). Only 2 settings (hi, low) and low duty cycle. The guy at Airgas says duty cycle is measured over 10 minuites (20% = 2 minuites welding in 10)

12-24-2007, 01:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
f4stunna Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Central MA Posts: 138	intrested in buying a welder i got a few cift certificates for sears for christmas and im thinking about getting a welder. i already have almost every hand tool i could possibly need and a big comperssor and air tools to go with it... so any suggestions? what should i go with? ive welded a couple times before, can get things to stick together pretty well but looks like crap... any imput is appreciated __________________ 91 PICKUP 4X4 22RE 2007 HONDA CBR 600RR 2004 HONDA CRF50

12-24-2007, 01:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
f4stunna Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Central MA Posts: 138	my first project after practicing a whole load is gonna be making a front bumper __________________ 91 PICKUP 4X4 22RE 2007 HONDA CBR 600RR 2004 HONDA CRF50

12-24-2007, 01:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ganoid Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Salem,Oregon Posts: 509	I think from some place like Sears the Hobart handler 210 is probably the best bang for the buck right now. Its hard to beat the handler 210 even going to a welding store because most of the other 210+ machines are going to be $1000+ and the handler is usually under $700. Now granted the $1000+ 210 machines are a pretty good cut above a handler 210 but then again so is the price. __________________ 1990 Xcab beast of burden 3.0 Rebuild/Precision balanced w/OS valves Custom ported/welded Intake manifolds Downey headers, Jacobs Ign 4" Trail Gear SAS + rear Kit R151 + Dual cases (2.28+4.7) 5.29's,Tru Trac/Lockright on 35 BFG's 140A GM CS144 alt/Hyd assist steering DOA Racing = $1200 lesson in who NOT to deal with

12-24-2007, 04:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
TC4RNR Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: so. cal. Posts: 480	i'm a total noob on this but what i can say is stay away from FluxCore. a friend of mine bought an used Lincoln 175 off craig's list couple weeks ago for $400, it's in decent shape including an 88cf argon/c02 tank, 230v 1phase. for the first time ever, i tried welding just yesterday, wowww, i was hooked. i played with both mig and fluxcore side by side, saying the difference is day'n night is an understatement. 230v welders are nice but it draws plenty of power, if you don't have the "proper" power outlet at home, then go get the 110v ones. __________________ http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...gca/agreed.jpg 94 4Runner, SR5 3.0V6, 4WD, 5spd: SOLD 99 4Runner, SR5, 3.4L 4WD, 5spd. 265/75/16 BFG A/T. full SS 1.2 lift, RedLine Fluids, Marlin 1200 Clutch, ARB front bumper, BruceTS rear bumper, roof busket, hitch mount tire carrier, Tundra Brakes, Brembo rotors, BudBuilt skid/belly, Lightforce 240 Blitz, PiAA HID, Stubb's HD-SKO sliders.

12-24-2007, 06:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Gerdo Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: SouthWest Littleton, Colorado Posts: 673	Lincolns and Millers are both great machines. Hobart is made by Miller. I looked and talked to a half dozen welding stores. They would tell me the minor differences and finish the conversation with "Do you like red or blue?" I have a 120v Lincoln 140. Great machine. I had to go 120v for portability. I have and can weld up to 3/16" material. Anything thicker and I tack it together and have my friend finish weld it. (he has a big 220v machine) The main thing that I noticed between the Home Depot or Lowes welders and the ones welding shops sell is the wire feed carrage inside the side of the welder. Deffinitly get mig gas 80/20. Much better welds. __________________ 2000 4Runner Sport, 3.4L, 5 Speed, Custom Front Winch Bumper, Opened intake, K&N Airfilter, BFG A/T LT265/70R16, Bilstein Shocks, FreeFlow Exhaust, Poly Rack Mounts & Swaybar Mounts, Tundra TRDs up front and OME 891s out back. ToyTec Panhard Bar Drop. SS Front Diff Drop. Home-built 2x2 Sliders. See My 4Runner!

12-24-2007, 01:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
exacto Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 24	you gotta tell us what you wan tot do with them... but some good starters are: Hobart handler 187 Millermatic 180

12-24-2007, 05:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
killa b Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: phoenix az Posts: 310	ive got a miller 140 and it does everything i need it to do. wireing 220 in is a good amount to do. if the metal is preped right you can weld just about everything. my opinion is if you have 220 than go bigger but if you cant afford it go with a 110 and just pratice alot thats what ive done.

12-25-2007, 06:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
deserttoy84 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: san diego Posts: 848	flux core is a joke to weld with because shielding a weld is the most important part of welding. I have a Lincoln stick welder and would take it any day over a flux core mig __________________ 1984 toyota sr5 4x4 22r w/ weber 32/36 Pro comp 4" front springs and 3" rear downey springs D-tech Shocks 33x12.5 M/T , 15 inch weld rims Hella 550/ Hella h4 conversions with HID Home made On-board air system Last edited by deserttoy84 : 12-25-2007 at 06:36 AM.

12-25-2007, 12:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
Nate08 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bristol, TN Posts: 649	I got a Hobart Handler 140 for Christmas today. I've not been welding long, but throwing down good beads with penetration isn't hard at all. It's a good lil' welder. I'll be getting the gas in about 2 months. I love it!Only $459 too! __________________ Nate [/font] Suspension: Tundra TRD Fronts w/ Dual 3/8" "TerraBull" spacers: 2.5",Trekmasters, LC's/OEM LC Shocks: 3.5"... Performance: 4" Deckplate, TrueFlow Air Filter, ISR Mod... Shoes: 285/75/16 Nitto TG's, OEM 16x7 (6 spoke)... Armor: Stubbs Sliders... Exhaust: 18" Magnaflow SIDO, Magnaflow High-Flo Converter, 2.5" and 2.25" piping... Other Necessities: Custom Extendable Panhard Bar, Custom Bumpstop Drop Brackets, 1" Diff Drop...

12-25-2007, 01:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
grayguy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Duluth MN Posts: 80	I love my Millermatic 185. It's done everything I've asked it too. Hopefully I'll be tacling some bumpers/skids for the truck soon. __________________ 89' 22RE 5spd. (Daily/pizza beater) 87' SR5 4runner (Soon to be DD/Trail rig)

12-26-2007, 06:30 AM	#13 (permalink)
Ganoid Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Salem,Oregon Posts: 509	I still recommend the Hobart 210 Since every one is sharing what welder they have... The last welder I had was a Miller-matic 175 and I must say it was a nice machine. It was a bit under powered I felt and I sent it into thermal shut down a few times but I was asking a lot out of it. My new welder is a Thermal arc 251 with a spool gun. It will do... 200 amps at 100% duty cycle 300 amps at 40% duty cycle 5/8 in a single pass and it will spray .035 no problem. I haven't run out of power on any of my jobs yet. I don't think I have ever come close to over heating it. I can say that a needed to move up to a 80 amp breaker as I kept tripping my 60 amp (both 220V). But like I said the Hobart 210 is tough to beat at that price. __________________ 1990 Xcab beast of burden 3.0 Rebuild/Precision balanced w/OS valves Custom ported/welded Intake manifolds Downey headers, Jacobs Ign 4" Trail Gear SAS + rear Kit R151 + Dual cases (2.28+4.7) 5.29's,Tru Trac/Lockright on 35 BFG's 140A GM CS144 alt/Hyd assist steering DOA Racing = $1200 lesson in who NOT to deal with

12-26-2007, 08:09 AM	#14 (permalink)
Yoda Super Moderator Staff Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Bend, WA Posts: 2,648	I've been looking at the millermatic 180. Local price is $729. As a side note, I am running a 50 amp 220V service to the front of my garage. I did not like the welds I got with a borrowed 110V flux welder (harbor freight style). Only 2 settings (hi, low) and low duty cycle. The guy at Airgas says duty cycle is measured over 10 minuites (20% = 2 minuites welding in 10) __________________ David TLCA 14788 71 Landcruiser FJ-40 TBI 327, TH-350, Warn 8000, disk axle swap. 76 Landcruiser FJ-40 project/parts (haven't decided)

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