Welder advice

REDLYNER

REDLYNER

Mall Crawling Race Rig
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Location
Mountain Island
There is a ton info available online for welding, so much so that I am finding it difficult to sort through. I've been looking for a welder (not very hard) for awhile now, but think I am finally ready to put one in the garage.

Looking for a Mig, probably 110v because of how my garage is wired. I also have no problem selling a welder I buy to upgrade down the road. Unless talked into a bigger welder from the get go.

This welder will be used 90% for jeep stuff. Cage additions, suspension additions, etc. Typical things you weld on or around a jeep.


Based on what I have read, an all-in-one seems to be the way to go. I know no matter what I get, I will need tons of practice, video watching, and maybe even take a class. So that aside, would I be in pretty good shape with any of these?

Hobart Miller Millermatic 140 All-In-One Wire MIG Welder w/ Auto-Set, 115 V (~$700)
awww.bakersgas.com_media_products_MIL907335.jpg


LINCOLN ELECTRIC EASY-MIG 140 WIRE FEED WELDER
(~$730)
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in my VERY VERY limited experience, the millers are better machine's...but the lincoln's have much better guns..........so either way you'll have a quality piece.

get a good mask...and if you get an auto darkening one, make sure you pay good money for a GOOD one...or you'll get flashed.
 
Spend the extra upfront and get yourself a 220v welder. Call me I have some REALLY nice Jackson auto darkening helments cheap. You will not regret doing it the first time right, if you short yourself on the welder you will never become a good welder.
 
I've been very happy with my Hobart 140 110v mig. It makes welding much easier than with the old HF welder I had.

If I could afford it I'd step up to 220.
 
heres the deal, its probably not going to be hard to get the 220v that you will need when you go to a 'forever' welder and perhaps a real air compressor. I bet that youve got 220 close to your garage if its attached to the house. perhaps close or share a wall with a dryer or kitchen stove? I did the 110v thing and moved up the 220v unit and it was a world of difference much easier to weld with. you dont 'really' want to do anything life-dependant in a rig with a 110v unit. its for light repairs- not cages, suspensions etc. you can in a pinch, but go with the bigger 220v unit. I did it JUST like you are planning, but if you are going to do it, do it right. its relatively easy to learn.
 
X whatever on stepping up to 220. I used a 110 for what seemed like forever, then got a Hobart Handler 187. Night and day difference and if I had it to do over again I never would have bought the 110. It still sees use as a camp welder, but that's it. The HH187 is right in the ballpark of the other machines you listed. The 187 only needs 12ga wire and a double pull 20A breaker to run it so it's really not much cost to run the wire. I'm only about 10 minutes from you and would be happy to help with the wiring. Also, since I'm close, if you wanted to test drive my 187 that would be no problem.
 
That Miller is an awesome piece, and should work on a 110 or 220v circuit. I'm pretty sure it's dual-voltage, but it's still very capable on 110. I'd recommend getting a Miller helmet, too. For my money, there's none better. It's incredibly light. I just changed the battery in mine after 4.5 years of near-daily use.
 
Chuckman said:
I bet that youve got 220 close to your garage if its attached to the house.
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I have one in my laundry room, like 3 feet from my garage. I thought I could use that as a bandaide until I was wired up. My dad was already giving me a hard time about cutting corners, though. :bounce:

willness33 said:
The 187 only needs 12ga wire and a double pull 20A breaker to run it so it's really not much cost to run the wire.

I'm only about 10 minutes from you and would be happy to help with the wiring. Also, since I'm close, if you wanted to test drive my 187 that would be no problem.
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I would love to swing by. PM sent.
 
REDLYNER said:
I have one in my laundry room, like 3 feet from my garage. I thought I could use that as a bandaide until I was wired up. My dad was already giving me a hard time about cutting corners, though. :bounce:
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I would love to swing by. PM sent.
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It's not really a bandaid to make an extension cord with a dryer plug on it for running the welder. I've done worse before.:rolleyes: PM sent back. Absolutely, come by and check out my setup.
 
If you decide to go with 110V, PM me . I have a Hobart 140 that I'm lookin to sell.
 
catfishblues said:
That Miller is an awesome piece, and should work on a 110 or 220v circuit. I'm pretty sure it's dual-voltage, but it's still very capable on 110. I'd recommend getting a Miller helmet, too. For my money, there's none better. It's incredibly light. I just changed the battery in mine after 4.5 years of near-daily use.
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Wrong. Yes, Miller does make some dual voiltage welders, but the one he listed ain't one of them.
 
I have a Promig 100 (basic 115v Lincon).
It's been OK for quick jobs, it's really convenient to be able to just pick it up and move around the garage, or out into the driveway etc.
it's been fine for making bumpers and such, but I tell you, there are a lot of times I wish I had a 220 box, and I'm working towards running the wiring so I can upgrade.
 
Roughshod said:
Wrong. Yes, Miller does make some dual voiltage welders, but the one he listed ain't one of them.
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Right. My bad. It is still a nice welder, though. I've played with a 140 and a 180, and the auto-set feature is a great feature. Necessary? No. Easy? Yes. And it does get the parameters right for a nice bead in the flat position. I don't understand why the 211 is the dual-voltage model in that line, that's a big welder to run on a 110 circuit!
 
220v is easier to learn on, but if all you have is a 110 power, the smaller units are very useable.

the biggest problem with using a 110v welder is getting proper power to it.

find out what your outlets are wired with, 14ga, 12ga, you'll want 12ga minimum ( newer houses are usually 14ga if I remember )

10ga is most desirable ( nice 20amp circuit to run the welder off of )

be sure the welder is the only thing on the circuit in operation while in use

if you have to use an extension cord, use the shortest run with the largest gauge wire ( 10ga, no longer than 50ft is ideal )

DO NOT use a 14gauge cord, you'll hate life !!

Yes, I have a 110v welder ( Lincoln Migpak 115, has gas ability ) , it works well for what I have needed it for. I run flux core wire as I don't have anywhere inside to weld at this time ( wind blows gas out of the weld, and creates problems )

my shed is power off the house panel via 10/4 cord, to a panel in the shed I do have 220 to the shed, but not enough amperage to run the welder, compressor and plazma cutter.
Welder and plasma cutter share a 20amp outlet, you ain't cutting and welding at the same time. compressor is on the opposite side of the panel ( also 110v, but could run 220 if desired )

I have also made a 30ft 10ga extension cord with a power box on the end ( one 20a single outlet and a duplex GFCI, separate circuits )

this is what works for me, been this way for 10+ years, I just work within the limitations of my setup. Not building tube chassis, but could if wanted to with what I have.
you don't have to have the cool kid setups to play in the sand box.
 
I ran across a killer deal on my welder and never regretted buying it. Get a good welder to begin with and never look back. Mine is a Snapon 250 and haven't come across anything I couldn't weld!
 
No guarantees, but worth looking around...
I bought a used Millermatic 175 (220v/gas) from National Welders for under $600 complete with gas bottle and flow gauge. The salesman told me that Miller installs the welders in various race shops each year. They leave them for a year or so, then switch them out. Mine was about a year old, and looked like it had never been used. It comes with a new cable & gun, and they gave me the same warranty as a new one. I'm very happy with it. Again, no guarantees, but it might be worth a try. These guys are telling you right though, get a good one, definitely 220v, and be done with it. Good Luck! :)
 
Spring semester is about to start. Sign up for a class and take the class. All the consumables you want and they also have all the steel you want to weld. They have bandsaws to cut your welds and presses to test your welds. Really a good idea.
 
I have a Lincoln weld pak 3200hd and unfortunately I haven't been able to use it in quite some time. When I was using it on a more constant basis I welded anything from sheet metal to 1/2" plate (very light duty of course). I have used millers, hobarts, and other lincolns and these brands are all pretty much the same it just depends on how much power you need and what you plan on welding. This weld pak will use pretty much any size spool of wire flux or solid, gas or no gas. This came with a hand held mask (junk), gas connections (I no longer have), and a bolt on cart (I turned into scrap for repairs), 2 small spools of wire one flux one solid all for around $600 from Home Depot 5 years ago. It is a 110v but like I said I have been real happy with it. I even thought about selling it a couple times but then realized that I'm not sure when I'll be able to afford another one so I just keep it and let it sit in the closet ( I need a house with a garage/shop I hate this townhouse ).
 
Lots of good advice here, but that's just what it is, advice. Do the required research and reading and make a sound decision based on your knowledge and needs. I have both machines. I use both. There is nothing like the portability of a Lincoln Weldpak or similar 110v machine. You can literally take it anywhere and burn. I've used mine at Harlan, Coal Creek, Callalantee, etc. Also, there is nothing like having the power of a 220v machine when you need it. My .02, for recreational hobbiest use, a quality 110v Mig setup running flux core wire is hard to beat.
 
I'm going to try and have someone come out and quote me on installing 220v in my garage. If the price isn't too bad, I'll do that and pick up a 220v welder.

I found a Hobart Handler 187 (reman) for $589, so if I can pick up a mask and gloves for a good deal too, I should be in under my budget.



Regarding the 110's, I saw a new Hobart 140 wire welder with cart, gauges, helmet, gloves, and hammer for $500. Seemed almost too good to pass up. :confused:
 
the 220v upfront cost is well worth it. find yourself a BIG extension cord- I use one from a large boat/dock and can run it waaaaaay out in the driveway. I can sometimes get some nice multi strand heavy gage wire, so If I run across some more, I'll let your know. having it more easily moved around in your shop takes the sting out of the upfront cost.
btw, I used to have a 110v buzzbox and you couldnt give it back to me. learn to battery weld for trail fixes.
 
Whatever you do don't do what I did.

About 8 months ago I went and bought a Northern Tool FluxCore welder.

110v fluxcore only.

Ive been kinda frustrated with it so I just stopped using it.

go ahead and save up the scratch for a good 110 system or if you can wait a bit longer get yourself a 220v system. Just mae sure you get all the saftey equipment that goes with it.

oh and a welders cart is a nice addition to a welder to keep your nice new welder off the floor.
 
REDLYNER said:
I have one in my laundry room, like 3 feet from my garage. I thought I could use that as a bandaide until I was wired up. My dad was already giving me a hard time about cutting corners, though. :bounce:
I would love to swing by. PM sent.
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Until I moved into my current house, I was in the same situation. I had a 110v welder and it did ok, but my 220V is much better... At my last house I did not have 220 in my garage. I made a 50' drop cord using 10/3 (iirc) with the male dryer plug on one side and female welder plug on the other. The cord was long enough to go through the door/window of the laundry room and across to the far corner of the garage.

When I moved to my current house with 200 in the garage, i changed the male plug on my drop chord to the current 220 plug, and now have no issues moving the welder around my shop...

On top of what people have said, I recommend getting or building a good welder cart to hold the unit and gas, plus all your tools/clamps/consumables/etc... and put larger tires on it, so you can go out into the driveway when your friends bring their junk over to be welded...
 
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