Anyone have welder recommendations- anyone have one for sale?

[srmitchell]

I'd like to have a welder of my own. I know many people with welders, and it would be sweet to be able to do my own work.

I'd prefer wire feed.

I can weld. I was taught in auto shop, and borrowed a welder from a friend to practice some stuff. It was a lincoln 120 unit, and I got pretty good with it. I'd like to be able to burn my frame stiffeners on, maybe a dana 30 truss, and some lca skids.

Anyone have a recommendation on a decent, reasonably priced 120/220 welder?

Anyone have one for sale?

Thanks!

-Sean

 

[downhillracer]

Pm captain ron...... more than willing to help out with welder selection. Dumb ass punk kids and their rock music.

 

[srmitchell]

Hey man.... Im not a punk kid. lol

 

[XJ_ranger]

I do reasonably well with my Lincoln WeldPack 3200 HD from Home Depot. Its a 110 wire feed with gas.

I've used Phil's Millermatic 175? with better results - its a 220 wire feeed with gas.

If you can afford it, get a 220 MIG.

 

[jeepme]

X2 on the lincoln Weldpack 3200 HD, mine has worked great.

 

[Starboard M]

I do reasonably well with my Lincoln WeldPack 3200 HD from Home Depot. Its a 110 wire feed with gas.

I've used Phil's Millermatic 175? with better results - its a 220 wire feeed with gas.

If you can afford it, get a 220 MIG.

I got the Millermatic 180 and love it. Depending on what you are welding, I would agree with Opie and get a 220 volt welder.

If youre just doing sheet metal and 1/8'' steel, a 110 should be fine, but you will always want more.

 

[Letterman]

I like Miller, but I also have a 110 hobart and a 220 lincoln Stick.

Go with a 220 you will thank yourself later. I have the Millermatic 210, now called the Millermatic 212, love it, burns nice, and I don't need the duty cycle of the bigger welders.

No point in gas for a 110 welder, flux core is hoter, the gas cools the already week welder.

Go to your local welding shops, see what color they have on the walls, talk to them find out who they like and what they keep in stock, they will have more suport for your welder.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/
http://www.millerwelds.com/
http://www.hobartwelders.com/
http://www.esab.com/

 

[KJurasek]

The above is good advice. A small stick welder to tack the item in place and then come back with a wire-welder is a good idea. I don't know much about the Millermatic 212, but sounds good. I would suggest the Miller 252, Esab 250, or Hobart Ironman 250. The Hobart would be the least expensive. I would tend to stay away from Lincoln due to the fact that they are in the shop being repaired for one thing or another. Repairing a welding machine is not cheap.

All welders like Miller, but they are the most expensive.

Hope this helps.

KJ

 

[Letterman]

A small stick welder to tack the item in place and then come back with a wire-welder is a good idea.

If you have a good 220 why waste money on a stick?

 

[srmitchell]

Thanks guys.

I'm looking mostly to do some 3/16ths, and sheet.

I'll look into it.

 

[the_weirdo]

We just bought a 220v Hobart 180 for around $600. We like it, too bad we suck at welding still.

 

[KJurasek]

Stick is very handy to have around. Less setup and fast. Can weld pretty thick metal too. A decent 220 machine can easily weld 1/2". It all depends on the welder. I like having one around because they are fast and easy to setup. Great for tacking pieces together. I leave the final work for the MIG welder.

 

[TheManch]

Sean,

Hit me up if you want some play time with a new millermatic 212, my buddy just bought one and im teaching him how to use it. Right now it's only 110 powered but we can fire up the diesel gen if you want to try 220. I have used it and i really like it, he is a really cool guy so im sure he wouldn't mind, i will ask him today.

Mike

 

[JRW7072009]

We had the Millermatic 252 at my old shop and we now have the DVI and both are awesome welders. I am hoping to swing the 212 by this time next year. What ever you buy I also recommend a 220 with gas.

 

[Letterman]

How good is that DVI compaired to the 252?

Anyone ever used that Passport?

 

[JRW7072009]

How good is that DVI compaired to the 252?

Anyone ever used that Passport?

Well I don't know if it was me or the welder but the DVI took some getting use to. You could get the 252 dialed in pretty nice vs the DVI just is not as precise, the 252 has the digital adjustment and the DVI just has the nobs for adjustment. (if this make sense) Both are very nice welder of course but I would take the 252 over the DVI.

I cant get the pics to come up on there web site but this is a sweet welder if you like the Passport this is kinda the same it has a detachable smaller welder so you can work in small areas, it also has a TIG and aluminum gun option that are sold separate. It was like $2800 through my Snap on dealer.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/parts/pro_det.asp?Item_id=12618&group_id=22544

 

[XJ_ranger]

No point in gas for a 110 welder, flux core is hoter, the gas cools the already week welder.

I think my 110 unit is sufficitent with the gas up to 1/8" or .120 tube.

I just work within the limits of my machine and haul stuff to friends houses when its outside the limits.

It works great for welding to the sheetmetal for plating and stuff like that.

Personally, I hate the flux core, and choose to run my welder with gas and solid core wire - and just work within the limits of the machine with gas.

:thumbup:

Good advice in here!

 

[Letterman]

I think my 110 unit is sufficitent with the gas up to 1/8" or .120 tube.

I just work within the limits of my machine and haul stuff to friends houses when its outside the limits.

It works great for welding to the sheetmetal for plating and stuff like that.

Personally, I hate the flux core, and choose to run my welder with gas and solid core wire - and just work within the limits of the machine with gas.

:thumbup:

Good advice in here!

Good advice here -> You're stupid!

 

[XJ_ranger]

Good advice here -> You're stupid!

I hate you Dave!

 

[Letterman]

I hate you Dave!

Don't hate the player, hate the game . . . Or is it don't hate the game hate the player? I never remember that one.

Don't get your panties up:

But the next thing you know someone that don't know no better, will be building a .120 wall cage with a 110 gas welder for his/her first welding project. Thinking it will hold up just fine because "Opie said it would work . . ."

I think we should teach or "Preach" the right way, then you can do what you like on your own. I might trust a 110 flux core .120 wall cage but that gas really cools down the welding.