I want a welder for Christmas, any tips?

[MrMoMo]

BTW, I would trust a tig weld on a frame just as easily as I would trust a stick or other electric arc weld... There is nothing fundamantally that makes Tig less desireable.

Perhaps I should have been more specific. TIG is a perfectly good weld, but it is also a much SLOWER weld to do when you have a lot to do. That was my only reasoning behind not chosing it to do a frame. - TIG is very usefull, and looks awesome when done properly.

 

[REZARF]

A little off topic, but I hav heard that Miller and Hobart (I think are kinda like black and decker and dewalt) Do they both share the same guts?

My garage came wired for 220 so it is an easy choice for me, just wondering on the Miller/Hobart thing.

Thanks in advance!

Rezarf <><

 

[Mace]

same same, the Hobart uses slightly lesser quality components but are replaceable with the higher quality miller stuff.


Built in the same factory..

 

[chicago]

Im finding that the lil 110 that Im using works quite well on 1/4 in steel. I just do like Mace told me to..."burn it in". However, when I actually go to buy one...I will probably get something a bit more powerful!
I was looking at the stick option too, but its kind of a bust when you need to weld body panel.

Chicago

 

[coonass]

A little off topic, but I hav heard that Miller and Hobart (I think are kinda like black and decker and dewalt) Do they both share the same guts?

My garage came wired for 220 so it is an easy choice for me, just wondering on the Miller/Hobart thing.

Thanks in advance!

Rezarf <><

I have a Hobart 210 that I find is comparable to The Miller 210, but a few hundred dollars cheaper.

 

[Walton]

Millermatic 175.....It's the schiznit....

 

[srplus]

Lots of begging and drooling while reading welding catalogs might help. And, a compliant significant other.

 

[Campfire]

Millermatic 175.....It's the schiznit....

X'2 here! I researched Lincoln, Hobart, and Miller, and was drooling over the Miller 210, but if space is a concern then the 175 will work. I've welded frame mounts, steering brackets, and sheet metal with my 175 and have had no problems. Spend the extra and add a Argon/CO2 tank over the flux core if you can weld inside your garage. The welds are so much cleaner using gas over flux. If your going to outside on the driveway in wind, then fluxcore is the only way really to get it done. I lucked out and got my 175, tank, and helmut for around $800. Deals are out there, just shop.
Does Mrs. Santa read MUD? Drop hints here and there so she knows.

 

[Dmax]

I bought an Esab multi process about 6 months ago, it is a 220v 260 amp welder that will do all 3 (mig, tig, and stick). I paid $1,600 for it and imo i think it is a great machine.

 

[El Cazador]

My vote is the Miller 210 as well. I've used the hell out of mine for a couple years now w/ no problems.

 

[chicago]

I was checking out the MM 210's...OUCH! PRICY!
Even the MM 175, was substantially more than the Lincoln 175, by a couple hundred dollars (ALMOST)!
What gives there? Why is the MM so much more expensive than the Lincoln line? I thought they were both pretty much the same?

Chicago

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I was checking out the MM 210's...OUCH! PRICY!
Even the MM 175, was substantially more than the Lincoln 175, by a couple hundred dollars (ALMOST)!
What gives there? Why is the MM so much more expensive than the Lincoln line? I thought they were both pretty much the same?

Chicago

Kieth-the MM210 is a very fine machine, so of course it costs. I paid about $1250 from Indiana Oxygen. When I was looking the Lincoln 215 (roughly equivalent) was several hundred MORE. The Millermatic has a better duty cycle rating. If you are looking for a high power full featured welder, the MM 210 is very nice. It's a full size machine, unlike the compact 175 (which is also a fine machine). The more I use it, the more I like it. Plus, even welding 3/8 plate, I still had plenty of room to turn it up.

Come by anytime if you want to test it out and do some welding in my garage.

 

[chicago]

Just from the couple of welds that you posted, it looks like it lays a nice bead!
Ill check out that place you got yours from. The places Ive searched on the web, the MM were much more expensive than the lincolns for some reason.
Id like to get the bigger 210 unit, but the cost is prohibitive. Im looking at the 175 for that reason...The most Ill be welding is 1/4 in plate, and if the 175's can do that in single pass, ill be more than happy.
With the 110 im using, I get about half to three quarter penetration on 1/4 in plate single pass without beveling the edges! Not bad, but id like to have a bit more penetration to be sure. Im thinking mostly for my SOA...welding the perches, towers etc. Do I think I can do it with my 110...YES! Am I willing to bet my life on it?! Not really!
Im concerned about price, but the nice thing is, I can write it off at the end of the year...We need a welder for welding pipe in the field, so that helps...

Thanks for the offer on letting me try it out...Ill tack up my housing and drive em down to your house to weld em up

Keith

 

[Campfire]

I was checking out the MM 210's...OUCH! PRICY!
Even the MM 175, was substantially more than the Lincoln 175, by a couple hundred dollars (ALMOST)!
What gives there? Why is the MM so much more expensive than the Lincoln line? I thought they were both pretty much the same?

Chicago

Look at the drive mechanism and wire tension system in both. Plastic and wing nut in the Lincoln, metal and screw dial in the Miller. Shop on line, and then ask your local AirGas dealer if they'll match the price. My buddies Lincoln has been fixed twice and my Miller 175 just lays down as much as I want.

 

[dogboy2]

I'm a complete rookie when it comes to welding, but I have to say that the little Hobart 140 I picked up has been very easy to learn how to use: easy to setup, easy to operate, no need to run extra juice to the garage -- nice!

Can see the advantage to holding onto this 110v machine when the time comes to step up to a 220v welder, as it handles the thin stuff very well. Also have found it much easier to get decent looking welds by running a tank with it.

HTH,
-dogboy- '87 FJ60

 

[Alz Toy]

Hobart 180

I'm a die hard Miller Guy, as thats what I use at work. That being said, when we where having our welders calibrated, due to ISO requirments, I asked the technician about what he thought about " home owner " types of welders ( smaller than Industrial sized units ). He stated that for the under 200 amp size there about, Hobart was a pretty good unit, anything bigger, Miller. Can't realy say anything about Lincoln, other than I've used them from time to time at work. To me, its kind'a like carb vs FI on a motor, ones a little " crisper " on the response. To me, the Millers are a little " crisper ". For the record, I bought a Hobart Handler 180. Got it from Indiana Oxy for a little over $500, added a tank, and bought a Speed Pro auto darkening helmet ( use the same helmet at work, with the fresh air feature ), so inner/outter lenses are a non issue. If you can swing it, try for a 220v unit, instead of a 110v, and practice your welding on some projects ( welding cart? , work/welding table? ). Welding is cool, good luck. Al