What's the best welder for me to buy

[bfzmlp7]

All I ever use a welder for is cars,ATV's,and small metal like trailers and as thick as I would go is a car frame or some agle iron about 1/4 inch thick. My dad is a welder by trade and said I should get a stick welder but I would have to run 220 to get a good on he said. I dont know if I want to spend a whole lot of money on it. I have experiance with a stick welding and wire welding and I would prefer the smalest unit I could get away with on 110. I dont want to waste money though I would like to buy one that will last me and not have to get amother down the road. What would be the best welder for the money for me when at the most I would use it 4 or 5 time a month. I just tinker in my garage and I'm thinking about making my 8ft trailer to a 14ft one. That is my next project and I'm done bumbing one or paying for some one to do the welding for me.

Thanks Shane

[TxRedneck]

You really will need to be 230V capable here. Although a 110V, the biggest possible, will do most of what you want, it is very weak, and it wont handle well. YOu will be pushing the limits of this machine. You will be risking failure on the thicker stuff. A stick machine like the lincoln AC/DC 225/125 machine would be perfect, except for the thinner material. Thats where a wire machine really shines. Problem is cost. YOu can get that stick machine for about what you pay for a good 110V mig. You can weld thin with stick, just takes some practice and proper rod selection. You might find success with the 135 amp wire machine....but they are a struggle up to 1/4"

[Denni]

Pick-up a Hobart at Harbor Freight for around 350.00 we have 2 and really like them (build bike frames and trailers)

[elvergon]

I would agree with Redneck. 130 amp mig vs 225 stick has no comparison if you´re not doing sheet metal. The unit he mentions is pretty nice and will service you for years!

[prop-doctor]

agreed with the above... a welder is an insevtment that will-or-should last for years. so you will be better off to spend a little extra now. allways better to have MORE ar ar ar POWER than not enough. if you can afford, it will pay off in the long run

[zapster]

look on e-bay
thats where i found my tig....

...zap!

[WHughes]

Try a Miller DVI, I know I sound like a Miller rep every time I say DVI to someone. But really, it's a very good entry level machine and can run on 110. Plus you can weld aluminum if you need to and when you finally do get a 230 outlet, you won't need to upgrade. This welder does great.
Bill

[wizard]

Originally Posted by bfzmlp7

All I ever use a welder for is cars,ATV's,and small metal like trailers and as thick as I would go is a car frame or some agle iron about 1/4 inch thick. My dad is a welder by trade and said I should get a stick welder but I would have to run 220 to get a good on he said.

Well yor father is right about one thing, don't even bother with the 110 volt units. Wash that idea completely from your mind. For the rest of my comments realize that I'm not a professional by any means so reader be aware.

Where I disagree with your father is the type of welder to get. If you are interested in cars I would suggest getting a 220 volt 175 amp class machine. This would be the minimal.

The reason being is that you will be able to do sheet metal work with such a unit where you won't with a plain stick welder. Sure a small MIg such as this will work a bit harder doing the thicker stuff but you really have to think about how often you will be doing stuff that thick.

Even if you do do stuff that thick or thicker on occasion yur father sounds like he may have the equiopment to finish off the thck stuff.

As to the 220 get over it. Have a proper receptical wired in in your shop and be done with it. Just make sure the receptical is wired correctly. Besides you may find yourself wanting a plasma torch or some sother silly high power demand equipment in the future.

I dont know if I want to spend a whole lot of money on it. I have experiance with a stick welding and wire welding and I would prefer the smalest unit I could get away with on 110. I dont want to waste money though I would like to buy one that will last me and not have to get amother down the road.

The two goals you outlined above are not doable at the same time. All 110 volt Migs are limted in capacity due to the outlet they plug into. You can't have a 110 volt Mig and expect it to do everything you might want to do in the future.

The only exceptions to this is if you buy a 110 volt Mig specfically to weld sheet metal and realize its limitations up front. The other is to buy a Miller Passport which is expensive but dual voltage.

What would be the best welder for the money for me when at the most I would use it 4 or 5 time a month. I just tinker in my garage and I'm thinking about making my 8ft trailer to a 14ft one. That is my next project and I'm done bumbing one or paying for some one to do the welding for me.

Seriously think about a used machine to get more bang for your buck. If you want absolute cheapness get a stick realizing that it won't cover sheet metall and possibly othe rautomotive uses. If you can scrap together the money get a 220 volt mig with at least a 175 amp rating. Or get both, which is possilbe with used stuff.

In any event if you can only justify one unit get a Mig especially if you expect to do automotive sheet metal or light fab work. Even things like steel tubing can be a challenge with a stick.

Thanks Shane

So in summation I'd say meet your dad half way and get a 220 volt Mig.

Dave

[littlefuzz]

I have a lincon 100 powercore or something like that and I have been very impressed with it. It's a 110 unit and performs very well. I find my self using it just as much as my LN-25, for the simple fact I don't have to pull my trailer out and hook up my gas and the portable. Just plug it in, no gas (flux core) and it holds it's voltage very well. I've welded with some 110 that were junk, Lincoln makes the best 110 units (that I've used). So don't count the 110 out, it is ideal for body work and most car frames are what 3/16"? It would handle that very well. I wouldn't want to weld up a backhoe bucket with it It is slower than a 220 but it's also a lot cheaper.

[cluna]

Originally Posted by bfzmlp7

All I ever use a welder for is cars,ATV's,and small metal like trailers and as thick as I would go is a car frame or some agle iron about 1/4 inch thick. My dad is a welder by trade and said I should get a stick welder but I would have to run 220 to get a good on he said.
Thanks Shane

Get a Miller 150 Tig. I like the little STH version I have. It runs stick well on 110v (or 220 if you wish) and you have a tig to learn and use too.

I think you will use it more than you think...

[AZboy]

stop with all the fuss, just buy a good running redface sa200 :P

[sunpowered]

azboy there is a old welder for sale right there in show low for 500.00, but I am not sure which model it is it's trailer mounted and gas powered and runs ,but I have not taken the time to look at it just seen it from afar.

[swines]

The Miller Maxstar series will weld just fine on 120V. The design uses a diode bridge to add the two halves of the AC supply to get DC voltage. I've loaned my Maxstar 140 to a machine shop on more than one occassion for them to do maintenance work because it's too hard for them to move the Synchrowave 300 onto a fork lift so they could weld at ceiling level...not to mention powering it.

The maintenance boys welded a steel beam for a dolly crane with the Maxstar 140 four years ago. It's still in place and used regulary to move large aerospace parts (jet engine thrust reverser rings) onto the 5 axes CNCs for machining. The welding was done with 120V current because that was the only power available with an extension cord long enough to reach to the ceiling.

The Maxstars will link to 220V - 240V for higher output. You can do DC lift TIG with them also. The most versatile welder I have is the Thermal Arc 185 for bang-for-the-buck. Will do stick or TIG. AC or DC weighs 42 pounds.

I also have a 300 amp ESAB multi-process machine, ESAB plasma cutter, have owned a Miller 210 MIG, and have used a Hobart MIG, and the Synchrowave 300 on occassion. While not an expert by any means, I've used enough different machines in different situation to make this statement - if you want a 120V welder -- believe me the little Miller Maxstar series will kick serious stick butt.

Couldn't live without it for portable, weld anywhere stick work. I built a 10 gage 300 foot extension cord on a reel that allows me to weld nearly anywhere I can find a 120V outlet. For the voltage drop boys who just know it can't work...I get 117V (measured with a Fluke multimeter) at the welder from a 120V circuit through the extension cord. I did nearly 700 linear feet of pipe fence with it...believe me the setup works.

[AZboy]

Originally Posted by sunpowered

azboy there is a old welder for sale right there in show low for 500.00, but I am not sure which model it is it's trailer mounted and gas powered and runs ,but I have not taken the time to look at it just seen it from afar.

Hrmm, is it an old lincoln? try to find more details on it...if it's an old pipeliner I might be interested