Mig/Tig Welder?

[IrollwithTojo]

Mods, move if needed

Hey fellas, buddy and myself want to go half and half on a mig/tig welder. Which ones do you guys use/recommend? About $200 a peice is our budget.

-Carl

 

[Mace]

buy used

 

[IrollwithTojo]

any brands to look for/ stay away from?

 

[calstyl2]

Not gonna happen for 400 unless you get a used unit, check purplewave.com, they have them time to time, chances of finding a combo Mig/tig pretty slim though. Just get a nice Mig for a first welder.

 

[IrollwithTojo]

Not gonna happen for 400 unless you get a used unit, check purplewave.com, they have them time to time, chances of finding a combo Mig/tig pretty slim though. Just get a nice Mig for a first welder.

I meant mig or tig, combo doesnt really matter. Thanks for the site.

 

[Ebag333]

You can't get a name brand TIG for that price.

If you're really dead set on that road, look at the plasma/tig/stick combo units from China, runs about $600-800 for a small unit IIRC.

Some people swear by them, they seem decent but the QA sucks and parts/support is pretty slow/limited. If you don't mind that, then that might be a route to go.

Otherwise, look for a nice used MIG unit. Should be able to find a decent one for $400.

If you want something cheap and now, could always go with a Lincoln 220v buzz box. Would need about half of what you're planning on spending to buy one new. I love my buzz box, actually find I prefer it over mig.

 

[Dieseler]

Mig is more vesatile for most applications you can run gas or gasless wire if you look around you can find stick/mig combo.
For a 1/2 decent tig you are looking at a grand and higher and you need gas plus tig is not for the novice welder.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

$400 won't get you much even used. Also, give up the idea of a TIG welder under $2000.

A used MM (Miller-Matic) 175 is what you want. You might get it for that price. Just remember you will need a gas bottle too-that will bump your investment. MIG will be the way to go as you start welding your own projects.

 

[IrollwithTojo]

Buddy mentioned ones from Sears?

Any good?

Havnt really looked into this thing much yet, only had this idea for a few days

 

[Ebag333]

Buddy mentioned ones from Sears?

Any good?

Havnt really looked into this thing much yet, only had this idea for a few days

Lincoln's a great brand, but according to Sears it only goes up to 1/8".

My kit bumper from 4x4 Labs was all 1/4". That would do it, but you would have to grind out all of the joints at an angle and do multiple passes (like 3+). On both sides. In a word......slow.

My buzz box did it in single passes, and I had it turned up less than half of the way. I've severed quarter inch steel with it (nice option with the more powerful arc welders), and didn't even crank it up all the way.

Ideally you'd want something that can do more than what you'll ever need. Look for something that can do quarter inch, minimum.

This one will do quarter inch for what you want to pay. This one would be better.

This is what I have. I like how they say "Welds metals 16 gauge......and heavier."

I found that on Craigslist, lightly used, for $100.

 

[IrollwithTojo]

Lincoln's a great brand, but according to Sears it only goes up to 1/8".

My kit bumper from 4x4 Labs was all 1/4". That would do it, but you would have to grind out all of the joints at an angle and do multiple passes (like 3+). On both sides. In a word......slow.

My buzz box did it in single passes, and I had it turned up less than half of the way. I've severed quarter inch steel with it (nice option with the more powerful arc welders), and didn't even crank it up all the way.

Ideally you'd want something that can do more than what you'll ever need. Look for something that can do quarter inch, minimum.

This one will do quarter inch for what you want to pay. This one would be better.

This is what I have. I like how they say "Welds metals 16 gauge......and heavier."

I found that on Craigslist, lightly used, for $100.

Thanks Ebag!

 

[neufab]

buy miller,lincon or hobart.if poss. go 220volt ,mig would be best for first mach.dont buy sears had one given 2 me they suck.

 

[prado t]

I use a 350amp stick CANNOX for heavy stuff. Last December I picked up a Lincoln Mig Pak 140 with a 50 pounder CO2/ Argon tank and spool gun for alluminum. Sure on somethings I have to do a couple of passes but I finally learned how to use it properly.

My suggestion go MILLER 211 it is 110v and 220v Dont go cheap you are just buying JUNK! I think fj40charles would say something like that.

 

[Nomis]

I have had good luck with the Hobart 140. It lists for $479 new and is very similar to the more expensive Miller 140 at almost half the price. The gun, in addition to other critical components on the Hobart, is identical to the MM140 and is even stamped "Miller". That said, if you plan on fabbing up heavy bumpers and roll bars then you would need to step up to a 220v machine.

 

[fj40charles]

I have had good luck with the Hobart 140. It lists for $479 new and is very similar to the more expensive Miller 140 at almost half the price. The gun, in addition to other critical components on the Hobart, is identical to the MM140 and is even stamped "Miller". That said, if you plan on fabbing up heavy bumpers and roll bars then you would need to step up to a 220v machine.

If you're going to buy only one welder, I'd get a 230V wire feed welder. Hobart Handler 187 and 210 offers the best value and weld very well.

I would not even waste my time/money on a 120v welder unless, you don't have access to 230V.

 

[fj40charles]

My suggestion go MILLER 211 it is 110v and 220v Dont go cheap you are just buying JUNK! I think fj40charles would say something like that.

Yes, I'd say something like that.

 

[KY Longhunter]

I bought a Lincoln 175hd at Home Depot for $600 on sale then bought a bottle of gas. It was 220v but I couldn't seem to make good welds on light guage metal, 18 + guage. so I found a Hobart 140 110v with gas in Craigslist for $500 and sold my Lincoln to a buddy for $500.

I'm am SO much happier! It makes very clean welds on the lighter guage metals for general bodywork. I'm thinking it might be the Miller stinger that came with the unit that makes it so much easier to use.

I guess I will borrow the Lincoln if I'm working on frame, bumpers etc, but for bodywork the Hobart 140 is way easier to use for a beginner like me. Just search Craigslist near you, but call quick cause they usually go fast!

 

[rusty_tlc]

...

If you want something cheap and now, could always go with a Lincoln 220v buzz box. Would need about half of what you're planning on spending to buy one new. I love my buzz box, actually find I prefer it over mig.

For any 220V unit factor in $100 to $150 to wire an outlet, unless you wife doesn't mind losing the use of the clothes dryer every time you want to weld something.

 

[Ebag333]

For any 220V unit factor in $100 to $150 to wire an outlet, unless you wife doesn't mind losing the use of the clothes dryer every time you want to weld something.

Or DIY.

Speaking of welding, I used my buzz box to do some sheet metal sized metal (for a custom bracket. Grabbed the thinnest rod I had, set it to the lowest setting (40 amps), and ran a straight bead, pretty as you please. Since I was just burning 1/4" metal, hard to beat the versatility.

Now that I've been spoiled with a 220 welder I don't think I could ever be happy with a 110 one again.....