Newbie purchasing question.

[DetroitMuscle]

I am thinking about buying the lincoln 175 from home depot. Would this be a good starter machine? I don't want know lil junk machine thats why I'm picking the better welder from the depot. I'm looking to do body work and possibly some light frame work. What do you guys say? By the way I do not have 220 running in my garage and this is a 220 machine if I'm not mistakin. So would this be a good converter or would I have to run 220 anyway? http://www.220-electronics.com/Transformers/trans/simranreg.htm Thanks for any info beforehand.

[Visorblue]

I am thinking about buying the lincoln 175 from home depot. Would this be a good starter machine? I don't want know lil junk machine thats why I'm picking the better welder from the depot. I'm looking to do body work and possibly some light frame work. What do you guys say? By the way I do not have 220 running in my garage and this is a 220 machine if I'm not mistakin. So would this be a good converter or would I have to run 220 anyway? http://www.220-electronics.com/Transformers/trans/simranreg.htm Thanks for any info beforehand.

The Lincoln 175 is a nice machine and, yes, it is 220v welder. The converter may convert voltage but I doubt you'd be able to get the amperage you'll need to run a 220v welder off 110v. If you don't plan to add 220v then consider the 3200 HD, also sold by Home Depot. Check the specs on both machines to see what the differences are and what best suits your present and future needs.

175
http://content.lincolnelectric.com/pdfs/products/literature/e7354.pdf
3200
http://content.lincolnelectric.com/pdfs/products/literature/e7351.pdf

For $150 more the 175 would probably be the one to get if you can add 220v to your garage -- good extension cord to the clothes dryer maybe?

Good luck!

[Doolittle]

Do you live in a house or an apartment?

[bruceb]

You will be worse off using the 220V welder with the converter than using a 110V unit. The reason is that the converter is not 100% efficient and since you will be limited by the current of the 110 circuit anyway, you will be better off with a 110 unit.

Also, since a welder produces such a high inductive load, I have a feeling you would need one of the largest converters that these people offer.

[flyboy2610]

If body work and light frame welding is what you plan to do, The 3200 HD, as mentioned above, will do just fine, and you won't have the added expense of having to have 220 installed.

[DetroitMuscle]

Well I just wanted to do it right. I wanted a nice enough welder so it'll never get boring when I become more advanced. I'm not sure how long I'll be at this house. But the extension cord idea is not a bad one by no means. My laundry room is in the back of the house by the garage also. I think that's what I'm going to do. Thanks for the help guys I really appreciate it.