Welder Advice

[powerkraut]

I'm just stacking up too many repairs that require welding, the time has come to buy a welder and figure it out. I have some very minor experience using mig, but that was always under supervision and years ago. Can anyone reccomend me a beginner rig that I can fake my way through and is appropriate for basic repair and fabrication? Not sure if I should get a mig or just go straight to tig since there are some other projects I have that tig would be more appropriate for.

 

[JasonW]

What’s your budget? Do you want a multi process welder or separate machines? 110 or 220v?

 

[powerkraut]

Ideally 110v, no multiprocess, and budget is about harbor freight level until I figure out if I can even develop the skills to get my money's worth out of it. I've been seriously considering getting one of the chinese tig machines off of temu since users on a hobbyist forum I frequent have acceptable results with them. With my tractor I'm need to be able to deal with 1/4" plate though and I'm not sure they're up to the task.

 

[NvRudder]

Ideally 110v, no multiprocess, and budget is about harbor freight level until I figure out if I can even develop the skills to get my money's worth out of it. I've been seriously considering getting one of the chinese tig machines off of temu since users on a hobbyist forum I frequent have acceptable results with them. With my tractor I'm need to be able to deal with 1/4" plate though and I'm not sure they're up to the task.

My $.02...

110v units are unlikely to have enough "heat" for adequate penetration, especially if welding 1/4" material.

Used 220v Lincoln "tombstone" or Miller "buzz-box" arc (stick/electrode) welders are available via CList and/or FBook Marketplace for $150-$300.

Practice, Practice, Practice! Most local Junior Colleges have welding classes that can provide good welding fundamentals & experience.
Also lean on friends who have welding experience...like many on this Forum...most of us enjoy helping others learn how to weld.
Focus on material preparation before welding has helped me to have lasting repairs more than just trying to lay down a pretty bead...

Best of luck!

Jeff

 

[powerkraut]

I live in northen new england far from civilization so the usual advice doesn't really hold true, hence why I'm looking for something I can mail order that would be easiest to learn on. I can add a 220v outlet if I need to go that route.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The learning curve is much higher on tig then it is on mig.

You're can get a good weld out of an expensive 110 welder, your going to get a lousy weld out of a cheap 110 welder.

I can weld 1/4" all day long with my Miller welder but a cheap Temu 110 welder will just leave you frustrated with poor results.

NOTE: If you need to tig weld aluminum it's going to be an expensive welder it must be a AC tig welder with argon gas.

 

[powerkraut]

No aluminum, welds would be on carbon and mild steel from 24ga - 1/4" plate for all the stuff I've been putting off. Sounding like a decent 220 mig would give me the best chance at actually succeeding at faking my way through them. I'd still like to end up around $400 though if that's even reasonable.

 

[JasonW]

Definitely recommend getting a 220v machine. My mig is 110v or 220v but I can’t remember if I have used it on 110v.

For a beginner I would recommend a mig machine with shielding gas. And/or a stick machine such as a tombstone.

Also add in the budget for grinders, torches and consumables for each.

 

[chim]

My Millermatic 175 has been gathering some dust and the Everlast 200STi has been doing more. First experiences were with an old Lincoln tombstone (AC only) at the in-laws' farm around 1970. Made some winch and snow plow mounts but the first project was the utility trailer in 1990 that is still in service. In '02 or so I bought a Millermatic 175 and used it with both gas and flux core. The Everlast (inverter - DC only) is a few years old now and the more I use it the more I like it. A few different diameters of 7014 rod and life is good.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

1. Get hands-on instruction. I've taught myself lots of things reading books, web surfing and trial and error. I currently have 3 welders and had a fourth. Many local trade school programs have a course for farmers, hobbyists, etc but I haven't connected yet. So I'm a hacker, barely getting by. This is one of those things where you want 'perfect practice' so you don't develop bad habits.

2. If I'm guessing your situation, I'd go with the mail order dual-voltage multi-function machine. I bought a Yeswelder a couple of years ago when it was the hot name. Now Arc Captain is hot, Amico was at one time. These are all solid state machines, not transformer. Mine will do wire, rod, and lift tig. It didn't come with a gas regulator or tig torch, which is fine since I don't anticipate doing MIG or TIG.

The first time I tried mine on 110 with flux-core wire, I was surprised at the power compared to my Craftsman transformer 110 flux machine. But if you're welding much over 1/8" material, you're likely to yearn for 220.

There are outfits available with regulator, tig torch and foot pedal. If you're thinking of doing TIG, I'd buy those upfront, in case the machine becomes obsolete. I wouldn't buy the plasma cut option. (That's not an informed rec., it just seems like a lot to ask of one machine. And $.)

I think I nearly duplicated @NvRudder's post.

3. Have a good grinder and plenty of disks on hand.

Here's an example of what's out there. This one includes a spool gun, useful for wire welding aluminum.

 

[Anvil HB]

Look at Miller 211 or Hobart 210. I seen HF welders at work and it did a nice job. Practice Practice Practice.....

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

A decent mig/ tig welding setup is going to run you at minimum $1000.
Along with the welder you'll will need good gloves, a good auto darkening helmet, grinder with flap disks.
You will also need to get a bottle of gas, or 2 if your going to tig, and they are not cheap!

Yes you can mig weld with flux core, but it will leave you with some pretty nasty looking welds.
Save the flux core for emergency and windy use situations.

It is pretty much guaranteed the more you pay for the welder the better the results will be, and the longer the unit will last.

I have a Miller 135 mig that has been working for 25+ years and it still works as good as the day I purchased it.

 

[OntheRidge]

Check out the Tim Welds you tube channel, great videos, and a link to an online course, fairly cheap. And, practice.

 

[jimh406]

I prefer Miller MIG as well. They are solid, have good features, and some can work on 110 or 220. If I was buying one now, I'd buy one that could do either 110 or 220. That gives you flexibility away from a 220 plug.

This is a good site for information, techniques, etc.

https://weldtalk.hobartwelders.com/forum

 

[powerkraut]

I appreciate all the input and I know this kind of stuff can be a "buy once, cry once" kinda deal but I'm not prepared to drop $1300+ on just the welder when I'm trying to learn and see if it will even be worth my time. I'll definitely keep an eye out for used millers or hobarts, but I'm likely to just try my luck with a HF setup or grab a stick welder and keep my lighter gauge projects shelved for now.

 

[Old Machinist]

I bought a Prime Weld 180 last year and I love it. I think it's selling for around $550 now with free shipping. Runs at 110 or 240. Comes with a spool gun for aluminum which I don't think I will ever use. I put a dedicated 240V outlet in my garage for it. (highly recommended)

You will want to factor in a bottle of gas to run it in mig configuration but it comes with the flow regulator.

Reviews

I used a Lincoln SP100 mig for 40 years prior and the Prime Weld 180 blows it away on 240 volts.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

FWIW , I bought a Lincoln ac-225-s 'stick welder' in '86, had a friend show me the basics.can weld 10ga rider mower decks and have built 20+ 'utility' trailers with it. Only use 7018AC rods. It works for me, any 'specialty' welding I ask neighbour to do,he has all the tickets, tools and well, 10M$ shop...kinda helps.

 

[OntheRidge]

Check these out, also.

Eastwood MIG Welders | High-Quality, Reliable MIG Welding Machines

Shop Eastwood MIG Welders for precision, efficiency, and reliability. Ideal for automotive repairs, home projects, and professional use. Get durable MIG welders at competitive prices for smooth, strong welds!

www.eastwood.com

If you use COLTBUILD10, you get a discount.

 

[Tarmy]

Go on Cyberweld and look around…great prices and equipment. Look at Miller 211 for some capabilities…good rig too. Not cheap but should do everything you want and has settings to help you learn.

 

[Paul Allwood]

Not a welder recommendation, but when you get to it, here's a good video to get you started if you head down the mig welding path. "Tim Welds" has several good welding videos that are ready to follow.