110 volt migs

[misfit09]

Hello all, I`ve been looking to get a 110 v and was hoping to get some suggestions on what brand might be best.I wouldn`t be using it daily, mostly hobby related projects around the house autobody, and new steel nothing over 1/4 inch.Haven`t welded in along time so was looking for something that will serve my purpose and won`t break the bank either.

Thanks alot everyone.

[mutant]

Depends on your budget. I would pick a machine that can also handle gas just because it so much more versatile. I would say you can't go wrong with Lincoln, Miller or Hobart. Northern tool has a few that seem to get good ratings and are a bit cheaper. There are a few other suggestions in this thread.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...atchallpartial

-m

[Qwert66]

I have a 1993 Lincoln sp100 which is still going strong for what it was intended for after appx 8 10# spools of solid core through it. I am real happy with it still.

The 110v Eastwood welder looks identical in components but I have no first hand experience with it or the company. Just another option to consider. It would seem they picked up the components when Lincoln updated theirs FWIW

http://www.eastwood.com/welders/eastwood-welders-1.html

[ferball]

I am a backyard hobbyist and tinkerer, I have a cheap Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 110 welder. It cost me $100. I love it. My welds are ugly, but own a grinder. It works great for the crap I like to throw together. The other thing that is nice for a weekend welder such as myself is that it is 110, I did not need to rewire my shed to use my welder. I know that there are better machines out there, and I know most of the pros on here will scoff in disdain at my set up, but the price was right and it does what I want it to.

[obama549]

Looks pretty clean & strong from the pics. Is that a gate hinge bracket?

How do you like the Clarke unit? I've heard pros/cons on them,just wondering what you think of them.

It seems like a quality machine. People in Europe have good opinions of them, in North America everyone is either Miller/Lincoln but they are expensive in comparison. I bought this one on Ebay new for about $300 including shipping, a similar Lincoln at Home Depot would cost me $450.

[Donald Branscom]

I have welded for over 35 years and any 110 machine is a wast of money ,220 is the only way to go ,,,,,,

I do not agree.
If you know what the machine will do or not do, is really what is important.
I use my Miller 140 all the time for small projects. Steel 1/8" or less.
The problem is when people expect to weld a lot of 1/4 inch plate with them.

If you have the money buy that 220V machine.

[frankc0402]

Anyone have an opinion on an AMH Ultramig 135?

[Bruce]

No experience w/it, but from what I've seen, it's not much for the $$! & at 115 amp?

[Weldordie]

Anyone have an opinion on an AMH Ultramig 135?

No experience w/it, but from what I've seen, it's not much for the $$! & at 115 amp?

I'm sure Bruce meant to say 135 amps...


AMH Ultramig 135... $1,000+:
Input power 115 volts
Max. output 135 Amps @ 30% 20VDC
Max. output voltage (c.o.) 22 volts
Power cord 10' (3m)
Welding cable 8' (2,5m)
Ground cable and clamp 10' (3m).

Hobart Handler 140 is about $500.

[Bruce]

I stand corrected, what I found was 135 amp!

[Rizz01]

Bottom line:
Buy a high quality machine and get as much amperage as you can afford.
Lincoln / Century machines are junk.
There is no reason you can't be happy with a 110V machine if you understand it's limits.
Body panels, sheet metal, repairs on thin gauge metals, hobby and metal art work is what the smaller machines are for.
They ARE awesome in the field since you can take em' anywhere.
Hey guys, post some pics of the work you do with your 110

[LiquidFire]

My first welder (from HF) was 120VAC Flux, only made me want something better so bought a Miller 211 a month later. It uses 120 & 220, but just got the wire ($400 ouch) to place a high amp 220 outlet where it has to go but have had some really great results with it on 120 up to 3/16". I have been welding for 2 months. It is amazing how much I needed to weld...

[bdweld]

Ain't it funny how nobody argues that pipe wrenches are so much better than tweezers, because they're more powerful.

You need the right tool for the job. Ever try to pull out a splinter with a pipe wrench?

[bdweld]

Hi all, newbie here. I borrowed a friends old Mighty Mig 101, 85 max amps, 110V with low hours on it. The wire feed speed control isn't working(fuse is good) and from what I've read that controls the amps and power settings control the volts. Amps will give me the heat needed for good penetration? Wire comes out very fast and I can't really get any pen at max settings until end of bead when things are hottest. I'm trying to weld some 1/8" plate to 1/16" square stock. I can pull off most welds with a pair of vise-grips. Is wire feed being to fast my problem? Plugged unit into 110V, 20 amp circuit. TIA for replies-

[Old Doug]

I have a H T P 110 mig got it in 1989 it is probaly the best tool I have ever bout. No one around me had a mig in their home shop back then. It opened up a hole new world for me. Use mig for thin and stick on thick. Yes I would like to have a 220 mig but Not if I had to give up 110.

[jtcnj]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...1247_200441247

Hey all. Have 2 semesters at local vo-tech. stick welding, so I have some handle on the basics there. Mostly I now understand better why most of my welds suck.

A friend gave me a Craftsman 220v 30-200amp buzz box I am about to wire up. I understand the basic differences or limitations of this AC only machine, which I plan to use mainly to practice on bed frame salvage, etc. and some repairs and projects.

The unit will be near my service, which is 50' away from my driveway or the street.
I have some exhaust work, including 2 muffler replacements to do. I have read conflicting info on whether the stick will work ok on the thin stuff, and some others recommend plain old clothes hanger (?) wire as good enough. I don't want to spend the $2/ft on extending this 50A 6/2 ckt if the stick machine won't do the job. Ya I know it can't hurt to have 220v outlet there.....

I plan on getting a better ac/dc 220 machine down the road, period. So, I'm considering a 110v mig or flux (I'd rather the mig capability over a flux only machine) as a second, portable thin material machine if I can keep the cost down.

What say you?

[Bluewelders]

Clothes hanger wire in an arc welder,is the most desperate measure .
Welding thin metal with clothes hanger is beyond desperate.

[Old Doug]

My advise is if you are going to weld on home prodjects mostlikle thin stuff take money your going to spend on 220 plug sell stick welder and by 110 mig. One of my first welding prodjects was Ex out of 1and 2 foot scrap pipe with stick no fun. Clothes hanger are most often used with torch but you can get a carben arc torch and use on your stick welder I have one used it a lot with hangers. takes alot cordanation or in my case hard headed stubernes.

[jtcnj]

Ok, so we read a lot of things on the internet.....
So, then my question is still, given we seem to agree the 110v mig is a worthwhile purchase, what do you think of the Norhtern tool unit I link in my original post, here:?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...1247_200441247

I'm looking to keep the price down while avoiding junk. I'm trying to not disregard products outside the big name Red, Blue, and Hobart but it is hard to pick through the "others". Forget the Horror Freight units; they don't fall into my "Don't Suck" list.
Or realistically is more of the minimum for keeping the cost down, yet still get quality something like this:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/welding...welder-3812040

[Bluewelders]

A mig with gas would be the way to go.
A 120v would take you up to about 1/8 inch,you could use your stick welder on the larger things.
The Hobarts are supposed to be pretty good little welders,some comments on the Northern here.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...light=northern

[turbocad6]

I own a bodyshop & I have a millermatic185 which is a 220v machine.

now my guys only use it for sheet metal for the most part... one problem is that because the machine is capable of so much more, I wind up with a machine that I can only use on either setting 1 or setting 2, anything higher is too high, even though it does go all the way up to 6... I think a smaller machine would give me more usable adjustability in the range I need to use it for most of the time...

having the ability to do heavier materials is great & of course I do have the occasional time that I do have to crank it above 2 for heavier stuff, but it does sacrifice some of the resolution of adjustability that a smaller machine would have... just another thing to keep in mind when choosing a machine. I'm considering a smaller mig just for my guys to use day to day for sheet metal even though I do already have the bigger 220 machine to begin with...

[Mad about Metal]

I will stick to me 240 volt little one hahaha

[fordman]

Bottom line:
Lincoln / Century machines are junk.

wtf? I will put my Lincoln up against both your millers any day...

[burninrods87]

I am looking into purchasing the Northern Tool Mig 135, it seems very similar to the hobart handler 140 minus 5 amps, Any of you have experience with this welder? It seems to have good reviews on the website but I personally have never owned a northern tool product. It also uses common tweco style parts like the millers i use at school.

Thanks,
-Nathan

[jdu140c]

wtf? I will put my Lincoln up against both your millers any day...

+1 on this one. I am just a do it myself kind of guy and this works perfect for everything I do around the house to welding up a front end on an old pick up truck. I have the 140C Lincoln, not the Home Depot version and it is awesome. When you are talking about 110V Migs, my 140C reigns supreme IMO. Keep in mind guys, this is a forum to help people, not to put people down like was done above. the best welder is the one each of you guys like the best, that is why they make so many different versions