Time for a welder

[Radshooter]

Hey all, can I pick your brains for a while?


I wold like to do several projects this spring/summer that would go a lot better with a welder. My budget
is $1,000-$1,500, including accessories. Could go as high as $2,000 for the right setup, but it would have to be a pretty sweet setup. This is going to be a hobby, not a business. Portability is a big factor too. My garage is too small to weld in, so I will have to tote everything out to the driveway, or on the back patio slab, then put it all away when I am done.



Problem 1: We live in an ancient rental house. Not sure the wiring would support even a 110 mig welder. We only have 20 amp breakers. Moving is not an option due to work.


I do have a Honda 6500 watt generator in the garage though. It has a round, 4 pin 240/120 V, 30 A socket. Could I run a welder with this generator?


If I can run a welder with this generator, I would probably spring for a 240v welder. Otherwise I will probably get a 110v welder and still run it off the generator.


Problem 2: Which welder? I grew up on a farm in the 60s and 70s with a stick welder in my hands. I got pretty good with it. Even won a few FFA welding competitions and Grand Prizes on my projects at the local fair. However, I have no experience with MIG or TIG. In fact, have not done much welding at all since then. I am pretty sure I want a MIG instead of an ARC welder. I don't see much TIG in my future, but you never know. I want something that will handle the heavier, thicker iron. Don't want to be limited to 1/4" or 3/16". A lot of my projects will be with the thinner stuff, but I have some heavier stuff planned also. Would like to keep my options open.


Does anyone make a MIG/ARC combo in my price range? Can a 240v MIG unit handle the thicker stuff? How about a 110v MIG? How thick can it realistically weld?



I have been looking at Hobart, Lincoln, and Miller. Any others I should consider? I guess first I need to decide on 110 or 240v and if the generator will handle it.



OK. I have bored you guys enough for now. I will shut up and let you talk for awhile. Thanks for your input.


Steve

 

[jgillott]

If I were in your shoes, I would choose an entry level or first step up Mig welder from any of the brands you mention to start. If your needs are anything like mine, you can do probably 90% of what you will need around the home shop with that unit. I've probably used an Arc welder 2 times in the last 10 years. But, if you need one, again I would pick the brand of your choice and pick up a cost effective unit that will meet your needs. For cost reasons, I don't necessarily recommend one of the Mig, Arc, Tig combo's for your application. I'm guessing they will start at the upper end of your budget.

I've had good luck with Miller equipment. But, you really can't go wrong with Lincoln or Hobart for their units in this price range. Best of luck in your choice.

 

[phantomusa]

First would be get a welder that use 220 volts the 110 volt welders are useless for heavy penetration
I have both mig and stick welders and I mostly use a stick welder but my stick welder is ac/dc and I can get deep welds on 1/2" metal and it's more forgiving on dirty metal with the correct rod
If I was limited to only one welder it would be a ac/dc stick welder with a long power cord
Pappy

 

[petersonj]

I want something that will handle the heavier, thicker iron. Don't want to be limited to 1/4" or 3/16".

Four years ago I was looking for a MIG welder to do occasional welding up to 1/2" steel. I quickly found that 120 volt powered welders won't do it and many 240 volt powered welders in your mentioned price range won't do it either. It took me awhile, but I ended up buying a Hobart IronMan 230 MIG welder. It handles up to 1/2 inch steel and has a 65% duty cycle.

The cost was $1,540 in 2012. The welder and cart are a single unit with two 4" front swivel casters and two 10" rear wheels (easy to roll around). The welding lead is 12 feet long and the ground lead is long as well.

I have been very happy with this welder. I have used ti on many projects including welding a cutting edge onto a three foot excavator bucket and installing a hydraulic thumb onto two different excavators. Each required welding of 3/8" and 1/2" steel and the welder performed well.

Years ago I did all my projects with a stick welder, but I never got real proficient at it. The MIG welder is very easy to use and is much more forgiving under less than ideal welding conditions.

Hope this helps,
- John

 

[Wayne M.]

MIG is great. Get trained on it, You'll be hooked. Make sure controls like feed and power are infinite and not stepped. I don't think you'll see that in the price point you're looking at. Get a 220 unit. Not sure if your gen has the oats. Ask the gen and the welder reps.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Check out the Tweco Fabricator series 3 n 1 welders from Victor Technologies; essentially the same company that makes the infamous Victor oxy/act torch.

It's available in a 140 amp/110V configuration, and it's operates on the new technology solid state electronics instead of the old transformer types. Light weight and portable.

It's a MIG / TIG / STICK machine all in one. TIG and STICK only operate on AC though, but it's perfect for a hobby welder.

I have a regional sales rep from Victor living here in my town. He gave me a TWECO 211 to try for a while. Welded like butter, but I was brand stuck on the the Red and Blue machines at the time.

If your going to be welding outside a lot with the MIG, just know that windy conditions can be frustrating. The wind blows the gases away from your weld. Welding with flux core wire can help with that, but splatters more than solid wire with external gas source.

 

[Killer223]

cal ranch, tractor supply, get a hobart handeler 240.= mvp, https://www.hobartwelders.com/products/wirefeed/handler210/

it's a 115/240 welder. it'll do both, it'll do flux core, or mig. and can even do aluminum with the correct gas and spool gun.
it's what i would get. do you have electric dryer? electric stove/oven?
it should run just fine on your honda though.

the one the guy above me mentioned is a FINE welder as well.

 

[Radshooter]

Thanks guys. Lots of great ideas. That Hobart Killer223 suggested was already high on my list. I will take a look at Tweco also.

I think I am giving up on trying to run a welder on my 6500W generator. Will talk to the landlord about running a 220 plug into the garage.

This conversation may be a moot point however. I got a call from my daughter in South Carolina last night and she is planning her wedding . I may have just lost my welder budget!

Thanks for your help.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I hate it when saved money get's to pay for unexpected items......

The 230V welder is a better option as it allows the use of higher amp welders. Just don't forget that 110V welders will do the trick with multiple pass welds for the average hobby welder.

Oh,.........and Congratulations!

 

[Radshooter]

Thanks guys. Lots of great ideas. That Hobart Killer223 suggested was already high on my list. I will take a look at Tweco also.

I think I am giving up on trying to run a welder on my 6500W generator. Will talk to the landlord about running a 220 plug into the garage.

This conversation may be a moot point however. I got a call from my daughter in South Carolina last night and she is planning her wedding . I may have just lost my welder budget!

Thanks for your help.

 

[phantomusa]

Thanks guys. Lots of great ideas. That Hobart Killer223 suggested was already high on my list. I will take a look at Tweco also.

I think I am giving up on trying to run a welder on my 6500W generator. Will talk to the landlord about running a 220 plug into the garage.

This conversation may be a moot point however. I got a call from my daughter in South Carolina last night and she is planning her wedding . I may have just lost my welder budget!

Thanks for your help.

Even a wedding budget mite leave a little for a Lincoln A C stick welder lots of them on Craigslist for $200

 

[BSeyler]

Even a wedding budget mite leave a little for a Lincoln A C stick welder lots of them on Craigslist for $200

X2. The first welder I bought was a Lincoln 225 AC. It was quite a purchase for a 16 year-old kid. 45 years later, I still use it occasionally. I'm lucky enough to have a shop big enough to put almost anything I need to weld on inside and have both a Lincoln Power Mig 140 for light stuff and a Power Mig 256 for heavy work. I use gas and solid wire with both. But, you're looking at $3000+ to get set up like that. That old stick welder will do most jobs. If you know how to stick weld, mig will seem easy. Plus, it will give you some time to try other machines before you make a big investment. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Killer223]

I have a lincoln 225 AC/DC stick welder i have not used in 20 years sense buying my first wire feed box, a home depot special buy Lincoln weldpac 100Hd. it's a great little welder. for light hobby stuff, even built a few rock crawlers with it.
RADSHOOTER where about in Northern AZ are you? i'min Flag. if you need a welder, or want to try mine out before a purchase...

 

[Radshooter]

Killer223....thanks for the offer. PM sent.

 

[Radshooter]

Double tap. Sorry.

 

[Thump]

Esab Rebel EMP 215ic. 110/230V, MIG, TIG, and stick all in one. Portability is one of the design features
Easy to use, great for beginners or experienced fabrication folks.

 

[jelag]

I'm now at my winter home in AZ, and a couple of years ago I found a very, very nice used Airco Wire feed with bottles for both mild steel and aluminum for $450 from a guy who was moving and retiring and didn't want to keep it.... btw, the spool of wire was new.... so I know there are a lot of great used machines out there... I needed some way to power it... so I added an outlet to the leg to my hot water heater... I'm sure it not legal... but for the little time I have the welder plugged in... and the way I use it... the 30 amp 240VAC circuit functions well....

 

[Radshooter]

Thought I would throw an update out here and thank everyone again for their help.

I was talking to Dad the other night and he said he can't remember the last time he used his old arc welder. It ts the same one I learned on. A Century if memory serves. 220V. He said I may as well come get it if I want it. I can also get his oxy-acetylene set up too.

So now I will have an arc welder that will handle anything thick or heavy I will ever get my hands on and oxy-acetyline for the thin stuff.

Now all I need is 220 to the garage. I will not have the portability I originally wanted but we have a 50 foot 50A extension cord we had built for our big fifth wheel RV that we used to full-time in. That plus the long leads will get me out the front or back door easily.

I may eventually pick up another mig or tig welder but this will get me a good start.

Thanks again for listening.

 

[phantomusa]

Congrads on your welder
I have a few welders ac/dc stick, mig welders, and a tig welder and I don't know why but I just bought a harbor freight 170 amp mig welder as a portable carry welder to use out in the field for the cost of it $170.00 with my coupon I don't care if it gets beat up so far it does the job
Pappy

 

[moparguy]

Good deal on the stick welder. Hopefully it's ac/dc. You'll find dc much easier to weld with. One important detail you mentioned early on is you'd be welding outside. Wind is a real issue with mig welding since it blows away the shielding gas and the welds will have unacceptably porosity. A good wind shield helps, but it's a challenge.

Good Luck, RR