New to welding and need some advice

[adamsmith007]

Hey everyone. I'm looking to buy my first welder and need some advice. I don't want to buy a small welder and regret it, so i am thinking the lincoln 140 is the welder i will get. I don't think i would ever need to weld anything as thick as they advertise the 140 can do which i think is 1/4in. I realize that is at max power and isn't ideal.

Do you think the 140 is a good choice? anyone have experience with what this welder can do? Thanks for all your help!

One more thing. Is having a tank and gas better than flux cored wire?

[Broccoli1]

This is always a tough question/answer

The name Brand 120v machines are good machines in their Class BUT they are really limited on what they can ouput since they rely on the 120v Circuit for power.

The 1/4" rating is MAX and really cuts in to the duty cycle i.e. they can't weld at that Power for very long.

The cost to buy a 240v machine is only a 1/3 more but you get twice the machine... so I'll say it first:

Buy a 240v machine if you can.

[Broccoli1]

oh.. Shielding gas and Solid wire is just a different process than Fluxcore- BOTH have their merits.

[Jack Olsen]

A 140 is about as small as a welder comes. But that isn't to say a 110v welder like that isn't handy to have around. If you get to the point where you're welding different types of projects on a regular basis, you're definitely going to want more power than a 110v can provide. That said, you can get an inexpensive small machine now, and then get a bigger one later.

Another option is to get a Miller 211, which is both 110v and 220v. But where a 140 is probably in the $400-500 range, a 211 is in the $900-1000 range.

[WHughes]

My first welder was a Miller DVI, dual voltage machine. I didnt have 220 to the garage yet and I wanted to be able to use it at other places that may not have 220. It ran way better and smoother on 220. It wasnt working very hard and there was a clear difference in how it performed.

[adamsmith007]

Thanks for the input guys. I don't have the cash to go with a 220 machine. I have a few projects i would like to do, but don't see myself using it a ton.

[Jack Olsen]

I started with a $320 Hobart 140. I got a lot of use out of it, and still haven't come across a welding situation in my life that it couldn't handle.

[paulinkansas]

Keep looking on eBay or Craigslist for a good 220 welder. Last year I bought a new in box HH187 for less than $500, and that's with shipping included. Everywhere else (local and online stores) wanted at least $650 plus tax for it.

[DSW]

Originally Posted by adamsmith007

Hey everyone. I'm looking to buy my first welder and need some advice. I don't want to buy a small welder and regret it, so i am thinking the lincoln 140 is the welder i will get. I don't think i would ever need to weld anything as thick as they advertise the 140 can do which i think is 1/4in. I realize that is at max power and isn't ideal.

Do you think the 140 is a good choice? anyone have experience with what this welder can do? Thanks for all your help!

One more thing. Is having a tank and gas better than flux cored wire?

Mig with gas is cleaner and better for thin things like autobody work with small machines. You can't work outside in a breeze however, as it blows away the shielding gas. Flux core burns hotter and penetrates more. You will find that to weld 1/4" with that machine you will need to use FC wire, as gas mig will only do maybe 1/8" thick. Because it penetrates deeper, it's poor for thin stuff like sheetmetal. It's smokey, has more spatter and leaves a flux covering that needs to be removed like stick welding. It's good for outdoor work on thicker materials.


I'll 2nd the vote for the MM211 since it can run 110v/220v. I think it's a great first machine, but not cheap. You can use it now on thin stuff on 110v, and later as you find you need to weld heavier steel, get a 220v line run and be all set. My next suggestion would be a 220v only machine. The little 110v machines have their place, but for an all round project machine, most quickly outgrow the limits of 140 class units.

[Reebs]

I was in the same boat. I only had 110 in the garage so I bought a Miller 135 I quickly out grew it and wanted a 220 machine. I got some one to hook up 220 in the garage (same circuit as the ac). I sold the 135 and got a miller 180. I love it.

[tankeedog]

250 amps and yes gas is much better. if'n ya get to like weldin ya'll wanta rock with the big doggs later so why have to buy another welder later AYE?