CarolinaCharger
Well-Known Member
I use a Hobart 140 with Argon shielding gas for most of my welding needs.
What welder should I buy ?
- Thread starter kiwigtx
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I have three welders, a 220V Miller mig, a 120V Eastwood mig and a 220v inverter Tig. The big mig gets the most use because of what I build - generally welding 3/16" material. I bought the small mig for doing sheet metal, simply because I didn't want to be changing out the liner and wire all the time. I bought the tig "just because" but its seen very little use and every time I use it its a learning experience all over again.
My advice, buy a decent 220V mig. Forget about "flux core" unless you're welding farm equipment in the middle of a field. Use a CO2/Argon gas mix which, if you set the welder right, will give you nice welds with minimal spatter. Use .023 wire for sheet metal and .030 for anything thicker than 1/8". The big name welders are well-built units but for the "hobbyist" there's nothing wrong with a decent less expensive unit. My Eastwood that was $300 does an awesome job. BUT its not just the welder, you have to maintain it. If you don't use it often and/or its in a humid environment you MUST take the wire out and seal it in a zip lock bag to minimize rust. Rust will gum up your rollers and the liner and will have an impact on the current flow as well as the weld quality.
My advice, buy a decent 220V mig. Forget about "flux core" unless you're welding farm equipment in the middle of a field. Use a CO2/Argon gas mix which, if you set the welder right, will give you nice welds with minimal spatter. Use .023 wire for sheet metal and .030 for anything thicker than 1/8". The big name welders are well-built units but for the "hobbyist" there's nothing wrong with a decent less expensive unit. My Eastwood that was $300 does an awesome job. BUT its not just the welder, you have to maintain it. If you don't use it often and/or its in a humid environment you MUST take the wire out and seal it in a zip lock bag to minimize rust. Rust will gum up your rollers and the liner and will have an impact on the current flow as well as the weld quality.
Too add no matter what welder you get accessibility to where you want to weld can be hard. Welding blind dose happen sometimes. Laying on your back and welding up splatter from welding and getting burns. Are we having fun yet!!!!!! My Tig and stick are bad about flash burns also. But I guess it goes with the territory. 
1 Wild R/T
Well-Known Member
I don't know about buying, but maybe you could rent this one.... 
Mig get's my vote for general purpose. A 110 volt will only get you that 3/16". 130 amp max for that 115v.
220 volt will get you up to 1/2" and 250 amps but you will struggle turning it down far enough to weld thin metal. Save the tig for aluminum and stainless.
220 volt will get you up to 1/2" and 250 amps but you will struggle turning it down far enough to weld thin metal. Save the tig for aluminum and stainless.
But he has impeccable timing.Funny man.
RiverRaider
Well-Known Member
All three! Miller Multimatic 220 AC/DC Multi-Process Welder 907757 I bought this in 2021 at Carlisle from the guys at Airweld Inc. At that time they were hard to get. If you plan on using a welder for a long time it's a great investment. You can do it all Stick, Mig and Tig. I still have my Miller 35 I bought around 1990. I have had Miller 180 tig, several 110 Migs and huge Hobart on a boom. I have liked most even the cheap ones have their place. You would be happy with a Mig but if you want to try Tig and do you will want both. If you look at used check to see if parts are available. A 35 like I have can be bought cheap but if the gun is original you will need to upgrade, I had to add a gas solenoid and a Benard gun. If you're not looking to invest in a Multimatic and looking at new look at the duty cycle when comparing welders. I am not a fan of flux core welders but they can work. With tanks there is a cost. You can rent/lease or own. Either way you pay, either a lease payment or for hydro testing. Another thing to consider is resale. In a year or so you decide a welder isn't needed, you don't want to be stuck with the cheapest one or something that is unknow in your area.
Detective D
Well-Known Member
I have an antique Lincoln buzzbox tombstone from the farm. Stick welder, if you aren;t familiar with those names for the units. Stick is for welding giant stuff you want to lift a tractor with or something. I hardly use it, but back in the day we welded a 1/2" plate to the side of the old plow to mount a gauge wheel on it, we welded the drawbar for the haybine... well you get the idea. nice thing about it is if you crank it up you can use a stick or two to just blow through and torch stuff in a pinch.
Stick runs hot enough to warp the piece(even thick) if you try to lay down too long of a bead. Not really hobby type stuff.
I think mig is probably the most popular. Gas assist is probably the most repeatable, easiest way too as other mentioned. When I think of Tig I think of the tool guys at work doing micro welds, and personally I have never used anything bigger then that.
Last welder I used doing some rocker repair was a 220 mig. EZPZ.
Stick runs hot enough to warp the piece(even thick) if you try to lay down too long of a bead. Not really hobby type stuff.
I think mig is probably the most popular. Gas assist is probably the most repeatable, easiest way too as other mentioned. When I think of Tig I think of the tool guys at work doing micro welds, and personally I have never used anything bigger then that.
Last welder I used doing some rocker repair was a 220 mig. EZPZ.
CarolinaCharger
Well-Known Member
I have and still occasionally use an antique Lincoln AC stick welder. It's actually one of the units I learned to weld with in junior high school over 35 years ago. A few years after I graduated the school was closed and an auction was held to sell off the stuff that wasn't transferred to the new school. I bought it more for sentimental reasons but it does come in handy once in a while.
Lincoln is a big name brand out here also.
My vote the best all around will be a 220 mig with bottle gas.
Not sure what all makes and models are available to you.
If your going to use it much get a decent quality machine.
Not sure what all makes and models are available to you.
If your going to use it much get a decent quality machine.
KiwiKid72
Well-Known Member
Supercheap has a special ($399) on for club members who buy this small 130 MIG. It's good for small jobs. I can't weld for crap...I give small jobs to my 15-year-old daughter who likes making go-cart frames.
You can sign up for membership instore before you buy and still receive the discount.
You can sign up for membership instore before you buy and still receive the discount.
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maybe it's just the cheap welder....... if you're using flux core, that won't help either
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I can teach anyone to weld with a mig. Easiest type of welding with practice.
Thanks. I used my membership last week when I bought a steering wheel puller....got the discount.
1 Wild R/T
Well-Known Member
A buddy has one of these... Does Mig/Tig & stick welding 120 & 240V... Awesome unit... But not cheap...
ESAB Rebel EMP2151C
ESAB Rebel EMP2151C
Hobart 140 Handler with shield gas takes care of pretty much all my needs. It runs around $600 right now at TSC, but they do go on sale from time to time. The 115V makes it easy to use most anywhere but it does shorten how long you can weld continuously. That being said, I have never had it shut off due to duty cycle. Nice little welder. Add a cart and a bottle and you are good to go.
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