So i hope this is the right section. the description leads me to believe that, but the lack of posts here had me a little concerned. lol

so my chevy spring hanger kit came in and i was planning on using my uncles equipement to mount the spring hangers and such, but i got to talking with my dad and he said he wanted to get some welding equipement and would put some money into one that i bought.

Now this is a deal i cant really pass up, but it makes my job a little harder finding one that will suite both of our needs. I have talked to my friends and searched around the net a bit and everybody keep saying to go with mig.

I need something that will do small stuff up to probly half inch. I was told to just pick up the hobart 187 from coastal by one of my buds and the price seems about right.

what would you guys that really know you welding stuff recomend? im open to any suggestions as long as im not told to buy a 3000 dollar machine. lol

Thanks again

 

Seems like a good choice, aslong as your getting a 220v and a mini mig most of them are roughly all the same.

 

I am about to buy an Esab Caddy c200i.
One of the best welders I have seen. I am so impressed with its features I am going to sell my my Miller 180.

 

Petersen's 4 Wheel and Offroad did a comparison test on welders in the current issue, April 2011, which should be on the shelves now. This issue compares 5 different portable welders, which may help point you in the right direction.

Good Luck!

 

My wounderfull wife gave me a lincoln 180 for christmass and I love it. I immediately bobbed my bed, welded my rear third member and modified my drive shafts for my dual transfer case set up.

 

toyospearo-
I just scrolled through your build thread. Did you do all the welding on that build with your Miller 180?

That hobart one at coastal says it will weld up to 5/16. would you guys say this is a true value? and would that be enough to say weld hangers to my frame? or build a bumper? or build a rollbar? cause if it can handle jobs like those that is probly the extent of power i would need outta a machine.

sorry if these questions are stupid. I did quite a bit of welding in highschool, but they never really taught us how to pick out a machine or any technical aspects of it. It was just "use this wire/stick on these settings and build me this".

 

I did every weld with my 180. From deep 5/16 welds to pop welds on the body. The 180 is a serious rig. My only issue with it is it is too heavy for me. I need a welder that is a bit more portable. That is why I am looking at the Esab.

 

I did a lot of research when I bought my welder and was dead set on the Hobart 187; however tractor supply was out, so I got the 210. I have used both, the 210 and the 187, and I like them both. As far as welding thick material, when they say it will weld say, a 1/2 I think that means in a single pass. But you could weld something 5" if you want to, just with multiple passes. A single big weld in my opinion will not be as strong as small multi passes. But to answer your question the 187 will be great for making bumpers, and even welding sheet metal. I use flux core wire in my 210 a lot, grated not as clean a weld as with gas, but you will get more penetration with flux wire. Like 874runnersr5 said, make sure you get something 220v. You just can't get enough power from 110v welders to do much.
Hope that makes sense.

 

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Readywelder/
I stumbled on this a while ago. You've probly already seen it but i thought id post it here anyway. Seemed like a really cool little gadget

Thanks for the quick replys. Its been very helpful

This little bit of info has me sold. Thank you very much for the firsthand information.

Looks like i will be picking up a handler 187 tomorrow
and i convinced my grandpa to go with me so i get his 10 percent senior discount haha

 

i love my lincoln 180

 

I have a Lincoln Pro Mig 135 welder and a Miller 251. I use both on a daily basis for different things. The 251 will weld everything the 135 will do but sometimes you want a smaller welder. However the 135 will not do everything the 251 will. If I had to buy one it would be the 251 hands down. It will weld weld weld weld and weld. It is a 100% duty cycle as the 135 is about a 30% duty cycle.

A 180 machine is a good compromise.

:wabbit2:

 

Everybody on here has been invaluable to my learning.
I cant say thank you enough

 

I like my Miller XMT-304 and 22A it can go any where a Hand held welder can go.

 

So after talking with my father we ended up buying a lincoln weld pak 180. Seems like a solid little machine. Gonna steal some metal from the high school (after talking to a certain metals teacher who loves me most ) and play around with it a bit before welding my spring hangers on.

 

Good choice. I have both a lincoln 110hd and a lincoln 180 also. I havent got to weld anything on the toy yet with the 180 but plenty of stuff at work, mostly on the back hoe, skidders and some trailer stuff(mostly thicker material). The 110 is good for light duty stuff. I love the 180, in my mind a great investment, and good all around welder.

 

good choice, i love my 180

 

well, it sounds like i'm too late for your purchase.
but i have the miller 211 http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...p?model=M00245
this thing is great, it will do thin and thick steel, and if you get the spool gun you can also do alum. - a.k.a. everything!
you can use it with both 220 or 110 voltage, making it portable!
it cost a little more but worth every penny

 

I am a Miller Man myself, but mine was almost 4 grand back in 2000. Hobart is a sister company to Miller. I have a hobart hood, and I use hobart rods from time to time, I just see them as a cheaper miller. In a welder, you truly get what you pay for. If you are just going to weld relatively thick steel, the lincoln 225 ac "buzzbox" welder is a great choice and you can get one for under 300 bucks. That was the welder I started my Steel Fabrication business with 13 years ago, building bumpers in my backyard with a borroed 225!!! good times

 

225 is a beast of a welder, I tell you whut.
Haven't tested out any 7018, yet, though. All 6011. My entire shop smells like dead mule though, those rods stink.

 

im a fan of the miller 211, that is the weld im planing for.