Hey, i am trying to buy a decent used welder. I was wondering what ya'll thought of this one that i found on craigslist. Have ya'll had any expierience with craftsman welders before? are they good/bad?

Here's the link
http://orlando.craigslist.org/tls/874912411.html

 

Looks like a 100$ piece of trash to me. Then again I started out with my current Miller 140 which is not the most powerful out there, but a great brand and it's a wire welder not arc. I say research a little more before you actually get one. And what are you gonna use it for if I may ask?

 

I wouldn't touch it.

 

im going to be using it for some medium size projects like welding trailers up, on my truck when i finally do my sas(when i can bet my life on my welds!)...and some other projects ive got lined up..

thanks for the reply....i really dont have much money to spend on one but i really need one...i found a lincoln AC 225 amp arc welder... its a really good deal...for what ive seen on other sites and such.....

have you had expierience with the lincoln ac 225 amp welder?

sorry for being such a noob on this stuff but im not sure if im going on the right path...

 

whoa, how old was that one on craigslist? :S i think noah used that to reinforce parts on the arch. hence arch welder

 

If you can, I would say SAVE UP $$$ for a nice wire feed welder...

If you don't care what your welds look like, use an arch welder.
If you want it to nice and pretty, use a wire feed welder.

Arch welding can be a real PITA sometimes... I would LOVE to have a nice wire feed welder...

 

The lincoln 225 could be a good deal. I have one in my garage, but the son bought a Miller 180 wire feed for his lift. If you learn on the lincoln, the rest is easy. Garage sale near us had a lincoln for $50, but it was gone when my buddy showed up.

One thing I found is to GRIND or Disk SAND to bright clean metal before welding. It can be clean and dry, but the black finish on new steel doesn't weld for crap.

Get odd pieces of scrap steel and practice, practice, practice.

The lincoln does need a 50 amp 220 volt feed. I added a dedicated circuit to my garage for it. The miller uses the same plug, but only draws 28 amps max.

 

alright...i think im gonna get the lincoln 225. after i sell my pig(im raisin one for ffa) then ill have some more money and ill probably buy a wire feed mig too...but thanks for the replys....

-Project_Woody

 

save some cash and get a better flux core ( or use stargon gas) I have a miller matic 210 and love it and good luck with the pig my daughter is in 4h my wife and i are leaders she's showing a lamb chickens ducks and a pack goat