Thinking about getting a Welder...

[KMC]

I am thinking about picking up a small wire feed welder for use around the house on the truck, etc. Exhaust work, making brackets, fixing fences, etc. Anybody else got one? Has it gotten used? What do you recommend?



Thanks, Ken

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Ken

I have a Lincoln weld pack 155 220volt version and Square Wave 175 Tig and I love both of them, but they now have a better selection 125 and 175, the differences are the 125(like the old 100) is a 120 volt version but the new one has a varible power knob were my 155 has 5 settings. If you get one make sure it has a kit with it for C02/ Argon mix or you'll have to buy the kit @$100. 00 Holbert has a nice version also and both are about the same in price. Now you want to talk Tig's the Square Wave is a bad boy that goes all the way down to 8 volts dc and 9 volts ac so you can weld anything and you can put a 1/8th tunsten in it and melt in to 1/2 plate like it's butter, the only thing about it is it's air cooled and not Liquid but it's 1500. 00 and not 3 grand. You can find a small good quality 120 volt Mig for around $400. 00 out the door and it will weld up to 1/4 plate using flux core wire . 035 Hope this helps.



Jim

 

[C Schomer]

Mines an older Lincoln P130T(I think)220 primary. I think the high setting is 170 amps (20% duty cycle). It does great - I like it better than some of the big ones I've used. I've used a couple 120 volt units and wouldn't even consider one of them. Craig

 

[illflem]

I mainly weld big farm and heavy equipment so my advice might not be the best, but buy a rig you can either expand on or a larger more expensive one to start with. The 110 volt flux wire units will leave you wishing you'd bought a bigger one.

 

[Whitmore]

KMC, I have a lincoln wire feed SP 170-T and love this machine,everything JFulmer said about it I agree with 100%. I have used about every kind of welder that out there and I can say for sure this is the funnest and it deffinatly the most practical for a back yard mechanic, my favorite feature of the rig is when welding intricate stuff you can put the wire right on the joint to be welded then put your hood down and you hit the spot perfect every time and no rod sticking , I truly do love this welder... ... ... ... ... ... ..... Kevin

 

[GFoley]

I picked up a demo from a welding shop pal of mine. I am only an occasional user and being able to use it anywhere I wanted was most important to me. If I really needed a big welder it is probably for a project way beyond my ability.



I wanted a Miller 125 but got the Hobart 120 for a real deal. I am real happy with it. Like I said, being able to use it anywhere was most important. Not everyone has 220 service readily available.

 

[Scot]

Ditto the 120 VAC units. My old Hobart Handler will do 3/16 pretty well. The only way to do 1/4 is to preheat it. My recommendation is to buy a 170/175 amp 220 VAC unit. It is a whole lot easier to turn it down than to wish it had more. Buy one of the big name units and avoid the off brand and Chinese units.

 

[emarsh]

My first welder was also a lincoln 170 T, all I can say is that I am so sorry that I waited so late in life to experiance the "magic" of the creative fabricating process. Now if I need something, I make it! Seriously, don't delay another day. I really miised out on a heck of alot of fun because I thought it would be hard to learn. I now have two mig welders and have taken college courses that have greatly improved my skills. The feeling of acomplishment (from welding & fabrication) was just what I lacked from the good paying job I had at the time.



Just do it!

 

[Don M]

I ended up with a lincoln weldpak 155. 220 volt input and it will weld just about anything I want it to around here. Thick, thin, whatever. 'bout 500 bucks with everything. I have the argon bottle, but got the big one, not the tiny ones you see at some discount chain stores. I went to the welding house and got the big daddy bottle.

The cool thing is I can just get the flux core wire out and forget the bottle if I dont have to worry about splatters too much.



Been looking around for a really good TIG welder.



Don~

 

[KMC]

Hey thanks guys for taking the time to provide some feedback! I actually have 220 in my garage but the ability to go over and help a friend who may not would also be nice.



I hear the point about starting out to small and later wishing you had got something bigger. Kind of like an air compressor or a gun safe...



I will do a little more research and then make a decision...



Thanks, Ken

 

[NVR FNSH]

Anybody have any experience with the HTP brand? They make a dual voltage - 110/220 that looks like a pretty good home use welder.



Brian

 

[Tim1]

Ken, Miller,Miller,Miller, all my welders are blue. My 200 amp wire feed, my Thunderbolt 225 ac dc. You can always buy the consumables and can always get parts and upgrades. I don"t have a small wire feed, but if I did it would be a miller 220volt with argon bottle at about 500. 00. You can always find 220 at a friends house at the cloths dryer! Make yourself a extension cord and your set. Miller !!!! Tim

 

[mwillie]

I'm with Tim 1. Miller all the way and go with 220, you will have the power if you ever need it. Super easy to get parts, and seems like you can usually find a decent deal in the local classifieds. Go blue.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Don M

Man I wish you were closer to me then you could play around with my square wave, I haven't been to school(just Jim's trial and error school) learning to tig you almost have to forget Mig welding cause it is so much different, If I weld anything now I grab the tig without thinking First, If you ever come up this way send me a message and I'll give you directions, I'm on I-44 SW of OKC before the turnpike.



Jim

 

[RBrunson]

Big Blue

Ditto tim 1, 225 Thunderbolt ac/dc. I have a dry head tig attachment for the finer stuff. Crank it up and you can do just about any job. Whatever you do don't buy a AC buzz box. Make sure its ac/dc, becouse 90% of the time you will use DC welding. Just works better

 

[Wayne M.]

I agree with everyone here, especially the fact that 220 units have a better duty cycle and quality. Be sure to get a unit that has infinite controls for wire feed and voltage. I have heard of HTP, they were big in NASCAR country a while back and were supposed to be real good. I own a L-tec mig130, and I love it. L-tec which was union carbide, and later became ESAB does not make this model anymore. If I have to start over, I'll buy a Miller!