A hobart 140 or 175 is good.....i've heard above that they decline offf......


Best bet is just to save and p/u a miller, lincoln or hobart 175.....

will last you a lifetime and will cut it on cages and bumpers since theya re whats savin your life....

Plan around 5-700 and it'll last you a long time.....become good with it, build a few bumpers for freinds and its already paid for itself.......

I love harbor freight but then again I really only use them for disposable tools: extras for the rig, things I dont mind letting get borrowed/broken, cutoff wheels and cheap extra grinders, and the 14" abrasive cut off saw is cool for 60 bucks.....

This thing is awesome too for my trail rig as it has no bed just tubing......

 

I don't know about that. I know plenty of people that TIG everything. I know that only thing that keeps a TIG welder out of my garage is the cost. If I ever needed to weld aluminum or stainless I would shell out for one but as it is I never need to weld that stuff.

 

TIG is fun to do, but probably the hardest of all the welding techinques to master. You need to simultaneously work both hands (one holding the torch, one feeding the filler rod) and one foot to control the welding current pedal. Kind of like walking and chewing gum and rubbing your belly at the same time It does make nice welds if done right, but it is a lot slower than MIG or stick welding. It works great for aluminum, stainless and Cro-moly. For mild steel, MIG or stick is fine, but if you have a TIG and can use it, go for it. I'm dying to get my big TIG box working one of these days, just need to get some power run to it, it only wants 220V/100amps!

 

I hope this isn't considered threadjacking, but I too am in the market for a welder. Instead of starting another thread, I will give my question a shot here and maybe help out the thread starter in the process.

My primary goal would be welding exhaust systems/piping, but I would like to have the option for doing tube bumpers or something along those lines. In other words, a versatile welder. I want MIG, and I want to use gas. I have $500 +/- $100 and have the option of going 220 in my garage.

Can someone post a link to a welder that would be a good match? Once I have that, I can start to compare other models with similar specs. That would help a lot. Thanks guys!

 

Miller or Hobart 175 - Miller makes the Hobart line... Either will suit you fine and will be 220 machines.

I have a Hobart 125 and it's fine (w/ Flux wire) for that type stuff, but to MIG on thicker stuff, and you have the $$$$ to spend, then you might as well get more ummmph and a 220 supply to push it.

 

christian -

try to get a lincoln 175 off ebay, if you dont mind it being used (may even be new). at the recommendation of getitdone (member on here), this is what i plan on getting within 3 or 4 months. he said that he went the cheapo harbor freight route at first and hated it. he got a lincoln 175 off ebay for more or less 500 and loves it. from the research i've done, 220v is the way to go (if possible). after hearing/reading many different opinions, this is something you want to get the best you can afford or you might end up regretting it.

 

Christian,

Don't get a 110V.

I use a Lincoln 170 MIG - great little 220V welder for the hobby welder. It was $850.00 out the door - including a package of spare tips and a spare nozzle, a cheap picture window helmet, gloves, pick, wire brush, regulator, and buying a 20LB tank.

Buy used, your money will go a LOT further. I'd start w/ checking the welding supply/sales shops in Phx. I've seen some very nice stuff come into the local shop and it usually sells for about 60% of retail.

Lincoln Distributors:

Phoenix Welding Supply Co.
701 S. 7th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
US
Phone: 602-253-3187
Fax: 602-258-3187

Vern Lewis Welding Sply
275 S. Black Canyon Hwy
Phoenix, AZ 85009
US
Phone: 602-252-0341

Consolidated Welding Supply Co.
3901 S. Central
Phoenix, AZ 85040
US
Phone: 602-268-4114

Airgas
2001 East University Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85034
US
Phone: 602-307-1660
Fax: 602-307-1678
2.61 miles from the center

Usairweld
2243 W. Indian School Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85015
US
Phone: 602-274-5435
Fax: 602-274-0065

Miller Electric distributors:

VERN LEWIS WELDING SUPPLY INC
275 S BLACK CANYON HWY
PHOENIX, AZ, 85009 USA
Phone: 602-252-0341

PRAXAIR DESERT MOUNTAIN
4030 W LINCOLN ST
PHOENIX, AZ, 85009 USA
Phone: 602-269-2151

MATHESON TRI-GAS INC
1545 W WATKINS
PHOENIX, AZ, 85007 USA
Phone: 602-495-9000

 

here's that link you wanted to get started...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lincoln-Electric...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Wow, talk about an overwhelming response! Thanks guys! Keep the info coming!

 

I think the Hobart Handler 180 is the best starting out welder. It is cheap (price wise, less than 650 brand new) and will do just about anything you will need to do so there isn't really any need to upgrade...

 

I got my Millermatic 175 with a cart and free shipping for a little over $600 a few years back from one of the on-line welding supply places. Miller usually has a sale like that every fall/winter so keep an eye out for it. Main difference between the Hobart and Miller lines are the Hobarts will have discrete settings for wire speed and voltage, Miller will have infinite adjustment. Handy to have the adjustability if you are pushing the machine to thinner or thicker metals. Sometimes I'll set the voltage or wire feed a bit higher or lower than the recommended setting for a given material depending on how it is welding. With fixed settings you have fewer choices, but may be a better machine to start with, since there are fewer variables.

 

This is the exact machine that I have. 450 shipped brand new. Bad to the bone...Period.

 

Just remember you can always dial down a bigger welder for light guage material, but you can only get so much out of a smaller one. I've got a Millermatic 200 MIG machine. I think it'll weld like .5" plate in one pass or so. I actually found it used from a guy who works at AirGas (welding supply store). I picked it up for $700 with a full CO2, and a new 11" spool of .035 wire included. The welder new is like $1700. I feel like I got a good deal. The welder is awesome. Can't go wrong with a Miller! Just save up and buy ONE good welder.

 

yeah, but at the same time, when the hell do you ever need to weld .5" plate? I can honestly say I have NEVER needed to in my garage. In fact I have never needed to weld anything in the garage that my Miller 175 couldn't handle with ease. If you are putting anything thicker than .25" on your rig, you are most likely just building a boat anchor and not a 4x4.

 

I don't just use it for 4x4 mods. I'm just sayin' if you can find a bigger welder for a good price why not jump on it. I use it for all kinds of fab from trailer type stuff to metal buildings and construction. My family has owned and operated a trailer mfg. and a pre-fabbed metal building business. That's where the heavy guage stuff comes into play.

 

Even with a trailers or buildings (smaller types) you aren't gonna be welding thick stuff. Although with a business type setup you would benifit off the increased duty cycle of a larger welder. But you would know what you do better than I. My point is this, 99.9% of people don't need anything bigger than a 175. The only reason most people get bigger welders is to stay ahead of the Jones'. Sure you may be able to find a sweet deal on a really nice welder that you don't need, that doesn't mean anyone should jump on it. It means they should look for a similar good deal on the welder that fits their needs better and they can save even more money.

Especially a welder for home use. I have welded up to 1.5" and even armor plating at work, still never gone over .25" at home.

 

Point taken...