Cheap welder opinions?

[Sporin]

Hey all, looking for opinions.

With a new rig coming soon I thought it would be smart to pick up a cheap welder for simple ugly work, example, welding frame plates on to mount a power steering box, gusseting things, maybe some minor body repair.

I see a lot of things like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...Track=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:middle:us

....and wonder if it's just a waste of money or the right tool for simple jobs. I don't have 220v in my garage so a 115v would have to do.

Thoughts?

 

[thepinktaco]

Buy a Lincoln 3200 HD. Its one of the biggest 110v welders out there and I have only heard good things about them. Im going to be buying one myself in a few weeks.

One thing is you get what you pay for. Dont go cheap on something that you are going to be putting you life at hands with. like welding on a vehicle.

 

[Sporin]

Buy a Lincoln 3200 HD. Its one of the biggest 110v welders out there and I have only heard good things about them. Im going to be buying one myself in a few weeks.

One thing is you get what you pay for. Dont go cheap on something that you are going to be putting you life at hands with. like welding on a vehicle.

I had another YT member send me a link for just that machine, that's what I'll keep my eye out for, thanks.

 

[Leaping Deer]

Dave,

My buddy John did a write up for Pirate on the Parker plasma cutter. They sell on ebay and there is a thread on pirate he sell them from. It was wicked cheap and worked as well that the Hobart that crapped out on him. Are they the best quality no but the customer service is really good. Then have welders (mig, tig, stick and plasma cutters). They also have combination machines which are at a good price.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/articles/productreviews/pmwp/

 

[Sporin]

Definitely not going to be building a cage or doing anything big like that, just little stuff.

 

[JJS]

If you just want something to mess around with, I have an HF 110V mig that I'll let go cheap. It works marginally well. The feed is pretty inconsistent. You can set it up with a bottle, but the bottle is more valuable than the machine.

It would probably only be worth it if you could pick it up in eastern MA. I would recommend something better, though.

 

[Sporin]

JJS,

I appreciate th generous offer, thank you.

After all the input (both here and on the email list) I think I've decided to just to hold off. Seems cheap is a bad way to go and I have neither the funds nor the inclination to go expensive.

Maybe down the road a ways.

 

[JJS]

A Hobart Handler in the 135A range would be a good start I'd think. There's sometimes good welder deals in the Want Ad.

I started out with a cheap 220V arc welder. I think Mig is a better medium to start with, especially if you have body work in mind in the future.

 

[nuclearlemon]

i did the cheap welder thing and it was the worst decision of my life. just spend the $ on a good welder and you'll be that much happier.

 

[82cruiser]

Dave,

Check the WantAds and other rags like it. You can find good deals on used welders and they usually go for cheap. Also check in with autobody supply shops to see if they have any used units that were traded in on for new ones. That's how I found my welder and two others.

Randy

 

[foxfab]

Ditto

i did the cheap welder thing and it was the worst decision of my life. just spend the $ on a good welder and you'll be that much happier.

 

[fogblanket]

Ditto

figures you would reply to an thread labeld "cheap welder"


Dave having just been learned how to weld I bought a bit more of a machine than I prolly should have but I don't regret it now that I mostly know what I am doing. for the first 8 months or so I was afraid of it.
if I were to do it all over again I would do as Randy suggested (he siad the same thing to me too) and check the want ads for a welder for sale.

 

[Sporin]

Juss so i know hat I'm keeping my eye out for, what sort of "good" welders should I be hunting up? Brand name, model name, etc.

 

[Mad Jack]

I bought a millermatic 140 about 5 years back and have been very happy with it. Has feed and amp adjust and can weld fairly thick metal. Its a 110volt model and has been very reliable and fun. I've done some body work, bumper work and general repair work with it. The gas gauge is cheap and I'm sure isn't too accurate, but it does the trick for now. Welds look clean anyways. I know Lincoln is a great brand as well, I don't think you'd go wrong with either brand. I know a few folks who have the hobart and like it too.