Welder options (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

PAFJ

PAFJ

Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Threads
150
Messages
1,704
Location
Roseville, CA
I'm looking to buy a welder, I'm thinking a light duty welder for light fab work, body repairs, maybe chasis work etc. Basically...I have only welded once before, so I'm looking for a good starter welder to learn on. I have searched around and researched a little on the bigger names i.e. Miller, Lincoln Electric, etc.; however, the lowest priced one I found was around $500 (this was only after about a 15 min. search). At this point I really don't want to shell out that much cash, but what do you guys think? Would I be better off spending a little more at first for a better...well know welder, or is there some cheaper less know brands out there, which would be better for learning? Lastly...where can I find the best bargain?

All opinons appreciated...

TIA-

:cheers:
 
outfitting...

anyways.. 110 of the big 3 (miller hobart lincoln) go with the best deal they're all the same (either cheapest or most Accesories.. My opinon about buying a knockoff, is like buying tools at the dollar store. but how mad are you going to be when your 300 dollar welder is broken, and cant get parts for it. also dont but the cheapy 100 amp go with a 145 from the big three. crank up a 145 mig welder it'll make ok passes on a fame. NOT great, super penetrated but ok.
 
Look at Hobart welders. They're good quality and run at lower prices, model for model, than Miller welders. Hobart was bought by Miller and now many parts and some models are made in the same factories that make the millers.

There are sometimes good deals on refurbished Lincoln small welders that are worth waiting for. Ask your Lincoln dealer or watch ebay.

Good deals with free shipping can be found online. One ebay seller called the Indiana Oxygen Company (IOC): http://stores.ebay.com/Welding-Supplies-from-IOC_W0QQsspagenameZl2QQtZkm has been fabulous when I've used them.

Bigger welders can usually do what little welders can do but little welders often cannot do what needs a bigger one. Pretty hard to find one welder to do it all.

SEARCH THIS FORUM!! This question has been raised many times and there are long threads filled with information on the topic you've brought. They're most all in the "outfitting" section, as yours is now.
 
Don't get cheap on a welder. You'll only be really pissed, it won't get ya a good weld , ya can't get parts and they a re usually just plain picky. (friend of mine had one and every time you used it settings needed to be changed-same job just next day :rolleyes: )
 
I just went through this exercise, so look for welder threads in outfitting started by me.

I just bought a Miller 210 which is a very nice machine. (Roughly $1300 from IOC) I've already welded powersteering and stiffener plates, and all new spring/shackle mounts on my '71. The 210 has tons of power. Miller and Lincoln are both considered top line equiptment.

Your budget of $500 is insufficient. A Millermatic 175 would work for you ($875 with cart) but you also need a bottle of 75/25 (roughly $250), welding wire($25), Helmet ($50-$250), gloves and protective leather clothing($100), a 230v outlet etc. I would triple your budget at a minimum (not kidding).

I looked at Hobarts-they are a bit cheaper overall, and the folks on the welding forums like them. Lincoln also makes a nice machine, but I've never welded with one. Miller/Lincoln is kind of like Chevy/Ford in the welding world.

One thing I should have purchased, but didn't, is a 230v extension cord. It isn't always convienient to be within 15 feet of the outlet. That's another $50-$100.

One last thing-used welding gear is hard to find. It's also extremely heavy and so hard to ship. I did notice that Stumbaugh has a nice welder and plasma for sale here: https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=116008
If I wasn't tapped out welder wise, I would buy his plasma.

Good luck.
 
Personally, I'd never own a welder that runs on 115....the one-pass ability just isn't there versus the larger machines....for not much more money...

You'll never once wish for a smaller welder once you've run something in the 175-210 range, but you compromise on a 135-smaller, you'll sometimes wish you'd nabbed a more powerful unit.

The Hobart 175 is a great entry-size machine...I have an older Miller 185 and it does everything I ask of it.

I tend to be a Miller/Hobart fan since their plant is down the road and I have LOTS of friends who work there ;) "the power of blue"
 
Your going to find that a 220 welder has a much greater 'sweet spot'...Don't buy a 110...and invest in a bottle of gas...gas welding vs. flux core is far superior...One of the welders I have is a Millermatic 175...This is what I'd recommend for you...
 
PAFJ said:
I think I'm going to go with this one, what do you think?


http://www.weldingmart.com/Qstore/p001646.htm
Click to expand...

This looks like a good choice...This would be the Millermatic 175's competition...I've only used the larger Lincoln machines, but have found a few things on them that I like better than Miller, such as the downward angle of the whip from the feed rolls...a much more natural angle for the wire to follow...I saw a Millermatic 175 with cart for around $750 a while back...
 
Check out Indiana Oxygen's ebay store. It's extremely helpful with full specs and the like. The shipping from them was free-no small expense on a 200 pound machine. My welder arrived in 5 days after order by truck freight. They were good guys to deal with, and the price was good too.

CubeDweller has a Miller 175 that he is very happy with. In the end, it was his rec that led me to Miller over Lincoln. You will want a cart and a gas bottle immediately, so plan accordingly.

Miller Lincoln and Hobart are available in almost every welding store, so parts/repairs/service should not be an issue with any of the machines. They say the consumables are cheaper on the Lincolns, but you don't use them up that fast, so to me, this is a non-issue.
 
Cruiserdrew said:
Check out Indiana Oxygen's ebay store. It's extremely helpful with full specs and the like. The shipping from them was free-no small expense on a 200 pound machine. My welder arrived in 5 days after order by truck freight. They were good guys to deal with, and the price was good too.
Click to expand...

Sorry...newbie ebayer question.:) How do you search for sellers on Ebay...can you? I searched for welders and tried to find the person your reffering to with no joy.

TIA-
 
PAFJ said:
Sorry...newbie ebayer question.:) How do you search for sellers on Ebay...can you? I searched for welders and tried to find the person your reffering to with no joy.

TIA-
Click to expand...

Not sure-do a search for "Millermatic 175" and the first one or two that come up will be IOC.

Never mind. I did it for you. Try this link: http://stores.ebay.com/Welding-Supplies-from-IOC

Lots of stuff to look through. They list a toll free ## which I called and that's how I ordered.

If you get the 175, make sure you get the one on the cart. The minute you add a cylinder, you will be happy it has an attached cart that holds the cylinder!

edit-Here's your welder: http://cgi.ebay.com/MILLERMATIC-175...257165QQihZ003QQcategoryZ113743QQcmdZViewItem
 
Last edited:
PAFJ said:
Sorry...newbie ebayer question.:) How do you search for sellers on Ebay...can you? I searched for welders and tried to find the person your reffering to with no joy.

TIA-
Click to expand...

Search for welders in ebay by going into 'business & Industrial' then click 'more' at the end of the catagory list to find the weldinging catagory.

If you want to see the Indiana Oxygen Company selections I posted a direct link to there and now cruiserdrew has also posted the direct link to them. Just click on the orange text within either post right here in this thread...
 
hey man...

if you're still lookin for a welder...try findin a welding or gas shop and see if they have used machines.

i picked up a cherry millermatic 175 for 500 bones in august.
looked like it had been used maybe 15 times
got it at linde gas (www.lindegas.com -- i think)

also, when you look for an extension cord, just make your own.
i have a 25ft cord that i made for ~60 bucks.
used male/female connectors from northern tool and bought a 25ft 'yellow jacket' extension cord and cut the 110 stuff off the ends. it was rated above what i needed and was 12/3. and it's tough.
plus that way, you can put whatever particular 220 outlet you have on the male end and not have to try and change your outlet.


also, look up nat'l welders supply... they were cheaper than most of the gas shops that i found when i was lookin for a bottle. probably not the cheapest, but they're not goin to shaft you, either. (i think i dropped ~125 on a 15 or 20lb bottle, can't remember which)


good luck!

malphrus
 
72cruiser said:
hey man...

if you're still lookin for a welder...try findin a welding or gas shop and see if they have used machines...


malphrus
Click to expand...

second this... your local welding supply store is a great place to start and since they are going to be where you have to buy your supplies it is good to have friends there. They will do the best to find you a good deal on a used machine or cut you a good deal on a new one. Look at Hobart, as Honk recommends.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
Looking at Multipurpose welders and Welding Helmets, anyone with recent experience with Professional versus Big Box store models??
2
Replies
26
Views
4K
Waorani
Waorani

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom