Looking at a welder...

[CruisinMT]

I'm looking to maybe purchase this welder. Anyone here have or have used this Easy Mig 100? Would it be enough to do body work on my 40 and 62 series rigs? Any info would be awesome thanks.

90 AMP FLUX WIRE WELDER

 

[DanS HJ-45]

I'm looking to maybe purchase this welder. Anyone here have or have used this Easy Mig 100? Would it be enough to do body work on my 40 and 62 series rigs? Any info would be awesome thanks.

90 AMP FLUX WIRE WELDER

First off: it's flux core. Flux core brings the suck for bodywork. You want a real MiG welder that uses a tank of shielding gas. But, excepting that...

I've never used anything from that brand. But, it would be big enough to do body work. Might not be pretty though. Thin metal requires very good control, and better welders seem better and better at controlling their arc.

If it was me, I'd stick with a known brand welder (Miller, Hobart, or Lincoln). More money, but not junk. The other big thing is replacement parts (you WILL need tips, they wear out relatively quickly), and some off-brands may not be found in your Rock Hand.

The last little bit I'll throw in here is that just about any welder is "strong" enough to deal with 18/16GA sheet metal (like bodywork), but are you sure you don't want the ability to weld real metal? I'm constantly amazed at how useful it is to be able to weld 1/4" as well. Brackets, bumpers--you name it. Shoot: I even fabbed up a heavy duty latch for our back gate because nobody sold what I was looking for. If you get a slightly bigger welder (175-ish size) then you can certainly work with thick metal and the frame. Don't know if that might be a big deal for you, but I find it incredibly useful.

Have you checked the sales at Murdoch's? I know I've seen quality stuff for decent prices there.

But, for that price--you can afford to give it a shot. I wouldn't, due to the flux core wire, but that's just me.

Dan

 

[Brian in Oregon]

Miller - MIG Welders - Millermatic 180 with Auto-Set

I bought a Miller Millermatic 180 Auto-Set last year. Got it on sale for around $700, but that did not include the gas bottle, or a spool gun, but the regulator and hose are included. This particular machine is 230 volts. (The 140 is the 115v model).

This is a super easy welder to use. The website explains how to auto set the controls, and they work quite well. You can always override the controls and set it manually. The feed parts are metal, not plastic, which unfortunately a lot of other welders in its class have gone to. The Smooth Start feature means that you don't get spatter or burned off pieces of wire when trying to start a bead. It's easy to get a bead to start. I really can't say anything bad about this machine. It works. For anyone wanting a good wire feed welder, save your money and get this one (or the 140 if you really have to have a 115v model).

How easy is it to use? I had one of my son's friends laying a reasonably decent bead using auto set, and this kid had never welded before.

The Hobart equivalent is probably the next closest machine, but I think the Miller is a better deal for not all that much more money. My least favorite is the Lincoln. Too much plastic in the feed mechanism. I don't consider the Harbor Freight wire welders to even be in the running.

Here's a link to the 140. You're only saving about $100 or so. If you have access to a 230v outlet, you're much better off getting a 230v machine. However, not everyone has easy access to one, and making a heavy duty 230v extension cord ain't cheap (that's what I did until I install a dedicated outlet in the garage). One advantage of the 115v model is that it's more portable because 115v outlets are simply easier to access.

Miller - MIG Welding - Millermatic 140 with Auto-Set

 

[Walton]

X2 on the Millermatic. I have a Millermatic 175. I bought mine from Quimby Welding Supply in Portland, Oregon on e-bay. They shipped it free. I think it was around $750 with a cart.
Flux core is mainly used for outside welding in the wind. It works good for welding blowpipe out in the field. It sucks for the type of work your wanting to do.

 

[fj40charles]

If it was me, I'd stick with a known brand welder (Miller, Hobart, or Lincoln). More money, but not junk. The other big thing is replacement parts (you WILL need tips, they wear out relatively quickly), and some off-brands may not be found in your Rock Hand.

X2. Stay away from chinese junk.

 

[woody]

I also own Miller welders....my stick welder is an old Miller Thunderbolt...got that in the mid-90's and it was used....works great

for mig, I've got one of the last Miller 185's...great machine, use it all the time.

I'd be concerned on longevity...I bought both of my welders with the expectation that they would last forever...these are tools that you will use over and over again for years, and expect them to work well....stick with one of the 'big' brands like Miller/Hobart or Lincoln.

The Hobart 175 is a great unit as well.

 

[MANUCHAO]

I too got a used 250 Miller ($550) off of ebay and love it... still learning how to weld but gotta love the Miller brand..

 

[Doug_S]

I have a Hobart Handler 120 and have fabbed up a hydraulic motorcycle lift. The welder worked great! Hobart no longer sells the 120 (I believe). They now have the Handler 150.

 

[CruisinMT]

thanks for your input guys, I will keep my eyes open for a better one.

 

[CruisinMT]

Hey guys I found a couple more welders on craigslist let me know what you think about them. The lincoln is about an hour away while the CLarke is about 5 hrs away. I can probably get the lincoln for less than asking price. So what do ya think?

Lincoln Wire Feed Welder

wire feed welder

 

[Gusb]

I've had my Millermatic 180 for a month or so and (not that I know much about what I'm doing) it's been great!

Now if I could just find a way to weld all the time and stay away from the grinding....

 

[450 DUDE]

That Clarke is prolly worth a second look.

ken

 

[LukeZero]

Hey guys I found a couple more welders on craigslist let me know what you think about them. The lincoln is about an hour away while the CLarke is about 5 hrs away. I can probably get the lincoln for less than asking price. So what do ya think?

Lincoln Wire Feed Welder

wire feed welder

My opinion, if you care, is that neither of these is big enough. To echo what's been said above- buy more than you think you're going to need, you'll always be glad you did. Buy name brand, so you can get parts and consumables for it. My opinion is buy used! Some of the new stuff is pretty fancy- but good MIG welders have been made since about 1960. Find a big, old, industrial grade welder that looks like hell for $250 at an auction and it'll run circles around the new, pretty $1800 machines.

Also....real welders are Red, not blue (or cream). I know some guys who swear by Miller- some mentioned above. But, I've always had Lincoln products and am loyal to them.

Luke

If you get a Red welder- you'll need this sticker

 

[CruisinMT]

Found some others guys let me know. good deals or bad?

Lincoln 225 Amp Welder

electric welder

Gas welder generator portable

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Found some others guys let me know. good deals or bad?

Lincoln 225 Amp Welder

electric welder

Gas welder generator portable

None really useable for bodywork. You need a MiG (sometimes referred to as wire feed).

Those are all stick welders. Fine for frame work, and great for fixing rusty, nasty metal like on farm implements and whatnot.

Here's one I'd take a look at.
wire feed welder

And another that would be MUCH more than you need, but be able to do any bodywork you wanted, plus big stuff like frames and bumpers.
welder miller matic 250 406 261 9228

I'll be in Helena in early May, and I'd be happy to discuss this stuff or show you how to use a welder if you get one. Probably be itching to take my brother's cruiser out for a bit of a trip.

Dan

 

[CruisinMT]

Thanks Dan, you're more than welcome to come and see the Mission Valley and give me some schooling on welding. If you make it out on a weekend there is always wheeling to be had around here.

I'm also looking at some welders at Harbor Freight, Is Chicago Electric 230 Volt, 160 Amp Mig and Flux any good?

 

[DanS HJ-45]

Thanks Dan, you're more than welcome to come and see the Mission Valley and give me some schooling on welding. If you make it out on a weekend there is always wheeling to be had around here.

I'm also looking at some welders at Harbor Freight, Is Chicago Electric 230 Volt, 160 Amp Mig and Flux any good?

I'll keep you posted on the trip up there.

For my money, NOTHING from Harbor Freight is good. I once bought a drill press there. It literally lasted less than a half hour. I highly doubt that a welder from them would be any better. I'd also be kind of wary about trusting that kind of power to anything from Harbor Freight. There is definitely enough juice there to kill you, and it's all going through a cable and gun you have to hold in your hand.

Dan

 

[fj40charles]

You ask for suggestion. Several people, including myself, suggest you stick to brand name welders, but you still ask about harbour freight welders????

 

[sixty]

I have an HTP mig 1600 for sale with a small bottle, 200amp Tweco gun and in very good condition. I'm asking $475 + the ride

This thing will is a very high quality welder that ran about $900 new. It has a very smooth arc and does great on sheetmetal and steel up to 5/16". You can read more info here:

http://www.paintguys.com/Catalogs/HTP/6th Edi Catalog 12.07.03.pdf

you definately want to stay away from 110 welders if you'll do anything other than sheetmetal

 

[73fj55]

I have been down the harbor freight road and the lincoln road. Lincoln's are not bad welders, my PC board took a s*** and I tried to repair it by sending it out to a couple of places, they could not fix it. I only had the money for a HF 220 welder. It worked ok, nothing at all near the lincoln, just ok. I ran flux and solid wire.

I went to the vendor showcase at Jeep safari this year and Praxair had some Millers to test drive. In a word "BUTTA". I bought one that next week. For me, there is/was a HUGE difference between Millers and the others. Yes there are more expensive, but hands down Miller is a better welder.

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