Mig welder choice

[cadjaw55]

I am thinking of purchasing a MIG for doing patch work on my cars. It will be used only occasionally. I am looking for a unit that gives a big bang for the buck and is relatively inexpensive. Again this will only be used most probably for tacking and spot welding. I want a very simple to use unit. I used to use migs at work, I remember they used argon gas.....but I think they would be overkill for what I need. Please let me know what you guys and ladies think. I am thinking $200 or less.
Thanks!
Cmj

 

[rolling_Thunder]

I have a Hobart 135 series MIG - it seems to be the standard kind of MIG that is sold by Lincoln, Eastwood, Miller etc... parts all interchange. It is slightly more than your price range but I would definitely suggest using a gas inclusion welder... the cheaper "MIG" welders are set up for flux core wire that leaves a crappy looking weld... forget about doing bodywork with flux core....

 

[b-star69]

I think you buy the best you can afford, you get what you pay for.That being said, if you don't wont to mess with gas you should buy one that can be converted to a gas shield unit.Make it future proof.I personly have a miller 185 but lincoin,and hobart make good welders

 

[Propwash]

I think you buy the best you can afford, you get what you pay for.That being said, if you don't wont to mess with gas you should buy one that can be converted to a gas shield unit.Make it future proof.I personly have a miller 185 but lincoin,and hobart make good welders

Amen! Pay $200 for a welder.....definitely expect a welder that performs at a $200 dollar level. Save your money for a decent Miller, Hobart or Lincoln or find a decent used one off the internet.

Fluxcore's great for farm machinery or wrought patio furniture......not autobody.

 

[rrowdy]

Amen! Pay $200 for a welder.....definitely expect a welder that performs at a $200 dollar level. Save your money for a decent Miller, Hobart or Lincoln or find a decent used one off the internet.



Propwash has given you good advice

I owned a welding and machine shop for Thirty years. Stay away from flux cored machines
and cheap Chinese crap.
Gas costs initially more but you will be a better welder in the long run, it will hold it's value longer and you will be happier.

Better to save your money and buy a used Lincoln, Miller, hobart, Esab or Linde.
Most parts and consumables ar pretty easy to get for these machines and they will serve you well.
When I closed my shop I kept a Miller 251 and a Lincoln 255 and still use them regularly.

Good luck to you!

 

[99ss]

I have an Eastwood 135. It comes with gas regulator set up fpr 75/25 mix. I have a bottle attached and just started welding. It seems to do the job decently enough for sheet-metal but I am not an expert welder or even good welder by any means.
The more I use it the better the welds are. I would love to have been able to afford a Miller but the cost was about 1100 vs 375 and this does the job just fine. I'm not using flux core although the welder can be setup for it, I am using it with gas and its doing a good job. Plugs into a regular outlet, have not had an issue at all with tripping a breaker.
Came with a cart and regulator and spool of wire, hand held eye shield I bought a better helmet... auto.. works great.. I'll post up the more I use it and if I have any trouble. Gas delivery seems to be effected sometimes by kinky the hose while I am welding so my guess is there could be an improvement there, maybe an upgrade ? Its a 6ft long torch cord.. that could be better as well. the similar Miller had a 10 ft torch cord I think? torch cord?... you know what I mean...LOL

I think this is the minimu of what you want... $375 was the cost new... you might find a used one for $200....

 

[Revhendo]

Good point in there 99. (I know, don't Get Smart with me...)
No matter what welder you buy, get a good auto darkening helmet. You can live with crappy welds. Can you live with crappy eyes?

I have to agree with the advice here. Wait and buy the best welder you can afford. You may think that you'll only ever use it for a couple of little jobs, but once you start, it's like crack. Next thing you know you're trying to weld everything together.

Does anybody have info on switching polarity when going from flux core to gas shielding?
I heard something about it but can't remember for crap.

 

[Hemirunner]

Good point in there 99. (I know, don't Get Smart with me...)
No matter what welder you buy, get a good auto darkening helmet. You can live with crappy welds. Can you live with crappy eyes?

I have to agree with the advice here. Wait and buy the best welder you can afford. You may think that you'll only ever use it for a couple of little jobs, but once you start, it's like crack. Next thing you know you're trying to weld everything together.

Does anybody have info on switching polarity when going from flux core to gas shielding?
I heard something about it but can't remember for crap.

It gets reversed when switching to flux core wire. You will NOT want to use flux core wire for anything automotive. You will NOT want a machine with a cheap tap switch for open circuit voltage adjustment as weld quality will suffer. The results of your work will be directly proportional to the quality of welder that you purchase. Lincoln, Miller are the two primary USA made welders that have full dealer and aftermarket support at any USA welding supply company. Anything else is sketchy as to the availabilty of parts and consumables let alone a warranty issue. Be aware that Lincoln makes both industial and consumer/homeowner versions of each machine so a Lincoln 140 is not the same depending upon where you buy it. If you're new to welding, the Millermatic 140 Autoset makes setup and operation easy for a beginner. You'll want a roll of .023 for sheet metal and a roll of .030 for frame material. Once you get some experience, you might get by with .030 for all. If you buy a big enough machine, .035 will expand your capabilities for fabrication. The biggest complaint in the welding industry is that I didn't buy a bigger/better machine so keep that in mind going forward. The same rule applies that applies to the machining industry... you can make little parts on a big machine, but you can't make big parts on a little machine.

 

[Cranky]

I am thinking of purchasing a MIG for doing patch work on my cars. It will be used only occasionally. I am looking for a unit that gives a big bang for the buck and is relatively inexpensive. Again this will only be used most probably for tacking and spot welding. I want a very simple to use unit. I used to use migs at work, I remember they used argon gas.....but I think they would be overkill for what I need. Please let me know what you guys and ladies think. I am thinking $200 or less.
Thanks!
Cmj

If you don't plan on doing any other kind of welding ever...then pay someone to do it right for you instead.

 

[Propwash]

If you don't plan on doing any other kind of welding ever...then pay someone to do it right for you instead.

Another good point!

 

[99ss]

Good point in there 99. (I know, don't Get Smart with me...)
No matter what welder you buy, get a good auto darkening helmet. You can live with crappy welds. Can you live with crappy eyes?

I have to agree with the advice here. Wait and buy the best welder you can afford. You may think that you'll only ever use it for a couple of little jobs, but once you start, it's like crack. Next thing you know you're trying to weld everything together.

Does anybody have info on switching polarity when going from flux core to gas shielding?
I heard something about it but can't remember for crap.

On my Eastwood it has you reverse the wiring if your going flux core.. its one way for gas shielded and the other way for flux core

 

[super-bee_ski]

NOT ME, found in Philadelphia Craigslist IF you live in Coatesvill PA
Lincoln Welder Weld Pak 125 HD Electric MIG CONVERSION KIT - $350 (Philadelphia, PA
Craigslist add Philadelphia.
This is a $500 dollar unit, he has some "add ons"
Might get it for $300
It looks brand new.

 

[Hemirunner]

Is that the MIG conversion kit to a flux core welder or the welder with the kit?? Buying used welders is about as smart as buying used speed parts. All my buds buy used junk from ads saying "dyno time only" and wonder why their **** blows up all the time!!

 

[snakeoil24]

If you buy a mig machine minimum should be 140 amp. At that amperage you will do decent 110V work. You will be limited but that is what you get. Stay away from the Lincoln weld pak 125 it just will run out of gas too quick. Look for a nice used machine. A Miller is the top of the line with a close second being the Lincoln. when you get to the higher priced machines Lincoln and Miller eat all the cheese. Hobart is weak as a machine but you might get one really cheap. Remember parts after you buy it and when you do not need it any more try selling a used chinese junk machine. You get nothing for free or a low price new. If you find a used machine make sure you test it and in good order. I purchased a used Mller 250 amp water cooled machine for 900.00 it was big bucks new. With no computer boards it works like a champ. You can find deals.

 

[Cranky]

Is that the MIG conversion kit to a flux core welder or the welder with the kit?? Buying used welders is about as smart as buying used speed parts. All my buds buy used junk from ads saying "dyno time only" and wonder why their **** blows up all the time!!

Oh I dunno about that. I've never bought a new welding machine and have bought very few new speed parts and have never had a motor come apart on me. Just got to know what you are looking at. But...I do buy a lot of new parts that someone else bought and never used. I generally won't use a set of used rods etc that have come out of anyone's race engine. Used dyno parts? Why dyno something then take it apart and sell it unless it was used as a test mule and are now done with it. Imo, yeah, you don't want that stuff for the most part....

 

[b-body-bob]

NOT ME, found in Philadelphia Craigslist IF you live in Coatesvill PA
Lincoln Welder Weld Pak 125 HD Electric MIG CONVERSION KIT - $350 (Philadelphia, PA
Craigslist add Philadelphia.
This is a $500 dollar unit, he has some "add ons"
Might get it for $300
It looks brand new.

I lucked into a Lincoln 140 on CL shortly after Christmas last year, new in the box never assembled for $250. The seller's Mom had bought him and his brother machines for Christmas. They are both weldors so it was like a toy to him. I wish I had been a day quicker, his brother got a Lincoln 180 and sold it for $100 more. I'll always wonder why they didn't just tell their mom the truth, get the receipts, and return them to Home Depot.

Anyway, get familiar with the manufacturers and model numbers and watch craigslist for a while, you might get lucky too.