Need new Welder Advice-Help

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Flash1034

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Jul 10, 2008
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San Juan Capistrano, Southern California
I'd like to start doing my own repairs, minor fabrication , and body work. I have some experience with 110v MIG welding. I'd like advice from you guys who use your welders alot. Should I get a 110v or 220v welder? Should I get tapped control or continuous control? Would you recommend Lncoln, Miller or Hobart. Budget is a factor in my decision as well. I sure would appeciate your help.

On a side note, if I buy a 220v welder will I also have to buy a 220V extension cord to have any range at all? How does that work?

Thanks,

Flash
 
millermatic 175, 230v welder, I own one and love it, personally like it much better than the lincoln 110 I used to have. Don't mess around with 110v, go straight to gas and using a 230v, you will eventually go to a larger welder if you are doing anything more than sheet metal. It is more expensive but I wish someone would of told me this before I spent $$ on a used 110 lincoln, then converted to gas, then realized I wanted to weld thicker metal and finally went to my miller. As far as extensions go, do you have a dryer? If so, you can make an extension cord yourself, go to the local hardware store, tell them what you are doing and they should be able to give you everything you need to make an extension. You can also buy them complete from a welder shop I think but they cost more that way. I run both my 210 compressor and the welder off that extension, of course only one at a time, but that has not been an issue. Well, except if you count my pissed off wife when she is trying to dry clothes.

Noah
 
if you need range then go buy a stick welder and get long leads. way easier to get range, can weld inna hurricane on rusty metal and still be sticken stuff together. if you're dead set on mig then i would say miller is the best and most versitile as far as welding other metals. hobart is owned by miller and is a great machine if you want to do just steel and a bit cheaper because it has less bells and whistles. lincoln...is last but not least. they make good machines, i just prefer the millers. lincoln is known for their kick ass oldschool stick welders that wont die....miller is kinda more the cutting edge. this is all just IMO so take it with a grain of salt. oh and i had managed to get ahold of a 50' 220V extension cord and works great to keep the welder mobile in the shop, anything past the doors though is hell to get that thing moving...

oh yea and as far as size of machine goes....get the biggest machine your budget allows. i used a little crappy 110V machine in highschool nd then went to using $4k lincoln and miller machines in college (welding) and the difference was night and day. not saying go out and drop 4K on a welder but get the best one that you are able to. it does make a difference
 
Miller 251, 220v, lovin it! I can do everything but TIG with this machine, and since I haven't needed TIG for 15 years....well....Spend the money on a good one first time out and you won't regret it.
 
X4 on Miller, I own 2 of their machines and couldnt be happier, and buy the biggest you can!
 
When I bought, Lincoln had a 15 foot long cable on their gun (and miller had 12). That 3 feet has helped me numerous times with my MIG work.
 
Keep your 100 for odd little jobs, you can run that off a generator out in the middle of nowhere. However for your shop use there are plenty of options, but go 220v. If you want to tig, Lincoln Precision Tig 185 (used) or their newer version the 225. For Miller you can find a 180SD. Each of these machines will stick weld and each can tig steel or aluminum. the Lincoln however has pulse and a few other options, they make great tig welders! Mig is easier, but tig is really cool.............
 
Get a Miller DVI2 (Dual Voltage Input) easily plugs into either 115 or 230 Volt power without the use of tools - there is no primary power jumper links to change. I have the Millermatic® Passport® Plus and for what I do, I love the flexibilty and portability.

Miller DVI

For a 25 to 50 foot length of extension, you would want to use 8/3 cord. Since I use standard welding recepticles I went with extension cords with molded recepticles at each end.

Extension Cords
 
x2 on the Miller DVI. I use one and it's been a great unit. ;)
 
Another happy Millermatic 180 owner here (new version of the 175). You'll definitely want a 220V unless you can own more than one welder - then having a 110V is handy for portable work.

I already have a stick welder and debated long and hard about TIG versus MIG. TIG is definitely cool and makes strong pretty welds - but requires more patience, talent and tight fit up. I was going to go that route until my welder buddy said - 'that's fine until you're trying to weld in a floor panel upside down and backwards running the voltage with your knee and the holding rod with your teeth." So I got the MIG to make it easy...
 
Hh210..

:d
 
Flash1034 said:
Seems like everyone loves the Millers. Why not the Lincolns just out of curiousity? Seems like the parts are more readily available fot the Lincolns...

Flash
Click to expand...

In my opinion, Miller welders are superior, technology wise. I get the feeling you already had your mine made up to buy a Lincoln before you started the thread. Parts for Miller welders are just as readily available here in Tucson as any other brand. Having said that, even imports will get the job done with results that will reflect the users skill level more than the machine.
 
Thanks for your feedback. I guess what sold me was the direct comparirison of the Lincoln verus Miller welders on the Lincoln website. The Lincoln does appear to have some design advantages over the Miller. Other than that, they seem very similar.

Flash
 
I have a lincoln 180c and it works great so good luck with the lincoln.
the lincoln vs miller debate seams to be a regional thing but Ive always had a lincoln.
 
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