Ebay / Amazon.

 

You run a real risk of getting a piece of garbage that will make your learning experience more difficult if you buy the cheapest thing off of Amazon. This guy makes some really good review videos of low end stick welders. https://www.youtube.com/@bigtb1717/videos

BrandX (Scott) is our resident guru when it comes to these types of boxes off of amazon. I believe he had good things to say about this welder: https://www.amazon.com/Weldcote-Met...Metals-Striker-140-Inverter/dp/B09S5MP1PR/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=weldcote+inverter

Believe it or not, this Harbor Freight welder gets really good reviews https://www.harborfreight.com/weldi...rs/tig-stick-welders/stick-225-inverter-welder-with-electrode-holder-64978.html

My advice, based on the reviews from that first link is to avoid the yeswelders, the amico welders and the other super cheap chinese junk.

 

How cheap is cheap?
Look for a used transformer welder and it should last a good long time. Ac only machines will be just fine for learning.


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Without experience it hard for find a good used welder.

A low cost type is not very good.

You can find low cost fluxcore for around $200.00 on 240 volt. Note a dryer plug will work for fluxcore.

A stick welder needs a 50 amp plug to work right.

120 voltage size gives cols welds

Dave

 

harbor freight titanium. get the extra 3yr warranty. if it craps out just keep taking it back. if it makes the 3yr put it in a dumpster and upgrade

 

Right there, a couple guys that know have picked other econ models that work well.

 

Miller Aerowave or Dynasty 700.

 

Outdate. He needs the Dynasty 800

 

Craigslist or Facebook Market place I often see Lincoln Tombstone's go for $100-250

 

OK for AC only...those don't do DC. The AC/DC's run more $$.

 

The only redeeming quality for those is cheap or free. It was a different world when 4 or 500$ was a lot of money. There is a reason so many are for sale so cheap. All the trouble to get a 50A circuit to plug the crummiest welder they make in to them,, in fact dont know if Linc even makes one anymore?

 

The OP has started another thread with the same question. In that thread he states his budget is $800. So almost all the advice here is kind of barking up the wrong tree.

 

My $ 02, look at an auction or on line for a lincoln buzz box. As mentioned, ac 0nly will work just fine to start with. Those old machines are nearly bullet proof. That what I bought my son for $40.00. Welds great

 

Was trying to keep it around 800.00 but could go a little higher, already have a Miller 211 was wanting to try stick. Looking at the Esab Miniarc Rogue 180i, and the Miller Thunderbolt 210. Does anyone have any input on either one of these or should I be looking at something else? I appreciate all the input so far, not stuck on any one so far.

 

I have the esab rouge. Very much a quality machine that's professional grace. I believe the miller thunderbolt is lacking many features the esab has.

 

Titanium stickmate from Harbor Freight. For the money and home use can't beat the price imo when bought on a sale.

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The Esab would be on my short list if I had to pick up a stinger every day.

 

Where are you located ? Price varies by ,location. By me, there have been Lincoln Tombstones as cheap as $100 for an AC machine and $300 for an AC/DC.

The Miller Thunderbolts that are AC/DC have adjustable settings while the Lincoln are fixed. Both have been around forever.

 

2 schools of thought.

First, though, no matter what people suggest there will always be "the other side". If you haven't figured out what those replys/who they originate from yet you will in due time.

1st school of thought - go old school with a transformer based stick machine. I would get one that does DC also, not just AC. DC makes a difference. Good transformer welders are like ****roaches. The world could blow up and there would be 2 things left - ****roaches and transformer welders. They are tanks, but are going to "be there" when anything else goes down - so they have their purpose, even today.

2nd school of thought - go with a modern import inverter machine. They are relatively cheap and still can weld pretty good.

If you go the 2nd school of thought route - I would throw out there Everlast. The PowerArc 210STL is the best bang for the buck there - it is even a capable DC TIG machine if you want to upgrade and try TIG. Otherwise, what you get in the machine for the size, weight, and price you can't beat it. It is a DC-only machine, though (steels on TIG - carbon and stainless, no alums or alloys - need AC for that).

Good luck!