New To Welding, Looking For Recommendations

[Automaton25]

Hello Everyone,

I am looking to get into welding for personal/hobbyist use. My total welding experience consists of about 12" of terrible weld. I plan on welding steel and aluminum, but I have no projects planned as of now. My current garage only has a 15am 120 circuit, but I will be moving and will ensure the new garage has 220. It's not worth running a circuit in my current home.

From what I've read, it looks like MIG and TIG are the preferred "do it all" disciplines. What would you guys recommend for a machine? I've heard Vulcan is not bad for the price (I still shudder to think that anything from Harbor Freight is acceptable for long term use). I have also heard good things about Everlast and Hobart. Miller and Lincoln are obviously good as well, but expensive. Are they worth the extra cost for a DIYer?

[Broccoli1]

Welcome.

We can spend your money easily


Everything comes down to budget. This hobby gets expensive quickly

[Automaton25]

Welcome.

We can spend your money easily


Everything comes down to budget. This hobby gets expensive quickly

Initially I wrapped up a search at Home Depot and said hey look, welding for $500. I have since realized $500 doesn't buy much of a machine. Amazon has an Everlast PowerMIG 200 on sale for $680. There is also a Vulcan MigMax215 on Craigslist for $415, but I don't know that I trust the add. Can much be done on a 15amp 120 circuit? is a 20% duty cycle enough, or should I be looking for more?

[Broccoli1]

15amp isnt much and in the long run it is always better to invest in a 240v machine.

That being said, I started with a little 120v Lincoln 100HD and a 15amp circuit when I lived in an apartment. Lucky enough to have a little garage to work out of.

Limited on what I could weld but it suited me for that time period and the projects I had.


No experience on the Everlast but there is an Everlast section on this forum.

[Automaton25]

15amp isnt much and in the long run it is always better to invest in a 240v machine.

That being said, I started with a little 120v Lincoln 100HD and a 15amp circuit when I lived in an apartment. Lucky enough to have a little garage to work out of.

Limited on what I could weld but it suited me for that time period and the projects I had.


No experience on the Everlast but there is an Everlast section on this forum.

Thanks for the input. We are planning on moving in about a year so I am looking for a dual voltage unit (particularly the Everlast Powermig 200), or something comparable. The new garage will certainly have 220, or I will run a separate breaker to the garage. I was hoping there would be some functionality out of my current electrical, otherwise I'll just wait until we move to purchase a decent welder.

[G-ManBart]

Welcome!

15A 120V will really limit what you can do, but it's not the end of the world. First off, you could take one of your 15A 120V circuits and dedicate it to a welder, which will allow you to run a larger breaker on the same size wires safely, and be within code. Short version...if it's the only outlet on a circuit, you should be fine swapping the breaker from 15A to 20A. That could entail removing other outlets from the circuit, but even that isn't a big deal. Assuming no pre-existing wiring issues that wouldn't be an expensive project even if you hired an electrician to handle it.

MIG is probably the easiest to learn and can be used for most of what a homeowner might tackle. If you add a spool gun and a tank of argon you can weld aluminum with the same machine. You can even weld stainless with the normal gun if you get a bottle of tri-mix gas and the appropriate wire.

TIG is fantastic and can weld pretty much anything with just one gas (argon) but it's a much slower process and requires a lot more prep work to the metal....it's got to be clean, clean, clean.

For someone starting out, a MIG is probably the smart choice...you're going to want one eventually even if you started with something else.

Brands and models will bring up a lot of debate and not all of it will be objective. I've owned Miller, Hobart, Lincoln, Everlast, and welded on others...they all have pluses and minuses.

A really nice dual-voltage MIG welder for someone starting out is the Miller Millermatic 211. Hobart sells a very similar machine in the Handler 210MVP....Hobart and Miller are owned by the same company and many Hobart welders are slightly less optioned versions of the same machine.

I have an Everlast TIG that has served me well, but I'm not impressed with their wire feeds. Honestly, I'd probably take a risk on a Harbor Freight welder before buying any of the online-only brand MIG welders except for HTP (high quality, not cheap).

[Broccoli1]

What city are you located in ?

[smithdoor]

If dryer you have a 30amp 240volt plug.
If kitchen is close to garage you have a 50amp 240volt circuit.

Most time you share the circuits

Dave

Hello Everyone,

I am looking to get into welding for personal/hobbyist use. My total welding experience consists of about 12" of terrible weld. I plan on welding steel and aluminum, but I have no projects planned as of now. My current garage only has a 15am 120 circuit, but I will be moving and will ensure the new garage has 220. It's not worth running a circuit in my current home.

From what I've read, it looks like MIG and TIG are the preferred "do it all" disciplines. What would you guys recommend for a machine? I've heard Vulcan is not bad for the price (I still shudder to think that anything from Harbor Freight is acceptable for long term use). I have also heard good things about Everlast and Hobart. Miller and Lincoln are obviously good as well, but expensive. Are they worth the extra cost for a DIYer?

[CAVEMANN]

Welcome!

[Automaton25]

What city are you located in ?

I am in Lakewood, CO

[Automaton25]

If dryer you have a 30amp 240volt plug.
If kitchen is close to garage you have a 50amp 240volt circuit.

Most time you share the circuits

Dave

I actually have an unused 220 circuit in the kitchen (we removed the electric range and put in a gas one. The plugs are relatively close to the garage, but probably not close enough to where I could plug the welder in and still have usable length on the torch in the garage. I'm probably 15 feet to the garage door

[wb4rt]

I actually have an unused 220 circuit in the kitchen (we removed the electric range and put in a gas one. The plugs are relatively close to the garage, but probably not close enough to where I could plug the welder in and still have usable length on the torch in the garage. I'm probably 15 feet to the garage door

Look up the thread on making extension cords. I think it is a sticky thread. Sounds like a 25’ - 35’ extension cord would get you welding with 240v. They are not that expensive to make and you can make sure your plug matches the receptacle.


https://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthrea...Extension+cord

I added the link, but you have already replied.

[Automaton25]

Look up the thread on making extension cords. I think it is a sticky thread. Sounds like a 25’ - 35’ extension cord would get you welding with 240v. They are not that expensive to make and you can make sure your plug matches the receptacle.

Good idea, I hadn't thought about making an extension cord. I figured there would be issues with plugging a welder into an extension cord. I guess as long as you use the right gauge wire it would be fine.

[wb4rt]

Link:

https://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthrea...Extension+cord

[Broccoli1]

where is your main panel?

[Automaton25]

where is your main panel?

The main panel is on the backside of the house. It's not a matter of doing it, it's a matter of not worth the time/money for a house I'm not staying in for much longer. I'm sure it would add value to the house, but marginally so given the neighborhood. The electrical in the house is a nightmare, I have no idea how it ever passed inspection. It could be done and if it were done I would add a sub panel in the garage. It's not going to happen though...I'm much more likely to make an extension cord and use the range plug if I were to need 220.

[Automaton25]

It looks like Harbor Freight has a big sale going on the next three days. Would it be worth purchasing one of their units at 25% off or should I spend more later for a Hobart or something?

[rustynut]

Read the fine print on the HF coupon. Mine excludes welders, and other merchandise. I'm new here also and never have welded. Before I joined I read everything I could to help with my decision. I narrowed it down to Everlast or Hobart. I set my search on CL for 220 miles and finally a Hobart 210 MVP showed up for $400. Came with cart, helmet, other stuff, and was like new. If I ever need service on it I can easily find someone close to do it. That's what steered me away from HF, or the likes. Have fun shopping. I miss that part myself.

[Automaton25]

Read the fine print on the HF coupon. Mine excludes welders, and other merchandise. I'm new here also and never have welded. Before I joined I read everything I could to help with my decision. I narrowed it down to Everlast or Hobart. I set my search on CL for 220 miles and finally a Hobart 210 MVP showed up for $400. Came with cart, helmet, other stuff, and was like new. If I ever need service on it I can easily find someone close to do it. That's what steered me away from HF, or the likes. Have fun shopping. I miss that part myself.

I just noticed the omnipro is excluded from the deal, the migmax 200 says it is available only in store with special offer. Unfortunately, it doesn't tell you what that special offer is though haha.

[walker]

One of the best and easiest thing you can do to help you learn to weld is to simply update your user CP to show your location. Then, when you are having trouble there is likely someone close to you willing to help out.

[BD1]

Great time to be buying with many sales around.
I suggest going to local supplier and see what they have. I bought my machines from local suppliers for pretty much same price as online. Depending on what you need, a package deal on machine and a 125 cylinder of 75/25 will get you started.
Cylinders can be a pain to exchange. Check with local suppliers on their policies. Some may only exchange their tank. Purchasing a tank from a supplier will definitely make exchanges easier.
Hobarts will or are on sale at Northern Too, Farm and fleet, Tractor supply, and Fleet and farm.
There have been good reviews on the Vulcan from Harbor freight. I would definitely get the extended warranty. Being a brick and mortar store, you can buy in person and return if needed without shipping.
You're only gonna buy once, choose wisely. I bought once, five times now. 😂
Happy Shopping !!

[R33D]

Welcome to the WWC!

I was in the market a short while ago and ended up going with ESAB. The machine actually quit working suddenly (after first use) and they shipped me out another one straight away. Even though the venue I bought it from dragged their feet. ESAB has great customer service!! It is a multi process unit and pretty much all a small fab shop will ever need. The one I have (and love) is the 205 multi voltage/multi process. Check it out, made in USA. Everlast, Miller, and HTP are just as good and in some cases maybe even better. However, it could be a matter of opinion though, I think. Shopping for a new welder is awesome enjoy it while you can. That welder just blew through this 3/8 plate steel without a single hiccup. It's hooked to 240.

[Automaton25]

Thank you everyone for the input. I know it has been a while since this thread went up, but I finally pulled the trigger. The more people I talked to the more I heard, buy it once and be done. I read and heard fantastic reviews for Everlast, Hobart, and Vulcan for the cheaper varieties. I settled on the Miller Multimatic 220. I figure I will never need another machine. The machine far exceeds my capabilities (I'm really good at getting wire and sticks stuck to things), but it has limitless growth for me to learn over the coming weeks, months, and years.

[tapwelder]

Nice looking machine. Seems like a good choice. Have fun.