Welder

83oldyoda4x4

83oldyoda4x4

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2008
Location
Randolph co, NC
I know this has probably been discussed a bunch but here goes. I am wondering what good options there are for a budget welder. I am one that doesn't mind saving up for something nice but wouldn't mind something cheaper to get me by. I am getting tired of dragging my project to a buddy house to weld/repair small projects that would take 10 minutes to complete. I have run a bunch of high dollar welders but don't want to spend 2k for something i will use occasionally. I was planning on saving up for nice mig but this caught my eye.

Any advice on a good budget stick burner or keep saving. I would like to be able to burn 1/4in no problem.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200697383_200697383
 
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If you're looking for input on that specific machine go to the Hobart forum. Lots of legit people there that use a variety of machines on a daily basis and will have unbiased input. It really is a great forum. As for Hobart as a brand, I've been using what is now an old HH187 and it works flawlessly every time I flip the switch on.
 
83oldyoda4x4 said:
Are you running it as a flux core or get a tank and go mig? Just wondering i have never tried flux core before.
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Currently running flux core because I had some of a 10lb spool leftover from my 110v machine. I've never used gas before, only flux core. I am a novice welder who isn't very good.
 
jeepcj3a said:
Looking for one that runs off 220V or 120V?
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Id say 220,

We had an off brand 220 ac welder i hated trying to use that thing. Arc was so inconsistent. Most of the time i would end up driving to a buddy house. Mainly i don't want to spend 3/4 of what i really want and then regret it. If going mig i think a 180/190 size would be about right for what im looking to be able to do.
 
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I'm almost embarassed to say this but seriously consider the Vulcan line from harbor freight for a budget friendly 220v mig machine. You can't go wrong with hobart, miller or lincoln, but I've followed and researched a lot on the Vulcan line just out of curiosity and damn near everything I've read is positive. I've not used an inverter mig before but between Vulcan and Everlast I'd be willing to give those triggers a squeeze. Oh and flux core has its place but once you go gas in a controlled environment you won't ever switch back.
 
So to clarify , the place i used to work at had a miller 250 stick welder, Miller 252 mig and a just got a lincoln 256's for mig. So my welding experience goes from pretty nice welders to a off brand POS stick welder i got for free and nothing in between. lol

I will have to read up on the Vulcan, But the Lincoln 180 that @drkelly mentioned looks like a nice package.
 
Omnipro 220 from harbor freight.

It looks like a clone to my Lincoln mp210, but I had a chance to wed with one the other night and I was thoroughly impressed. Did some mig and some tig, and I would definitely buy that machine 100%.

The Lincoln 180 is a great machine also, and I have been very happy with my everlast welders and plasma also.
 
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Really depends on your budget, if you can afford blue, red or any other name brand buy em. If not ive heard the Hobart are nice just not infinite adjustable. I bought a Miller 210 and like it a lot, 110 or 220. I am a novice and it will probably serve me till I pass it to my son or it craps out. But I like to think serviceability and parts are more readily available. Buy as much as you can afford, never heard anyone say wish I bought a smaller machine.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
 
drkelly said:
I am a novice welder. I recently bought this unit, and have been happy so far.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lincoln-El...uhrOoLPbPvfNsxEdOE1KFpZyTpgpMp0xoCMXoQAvD_BwE
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I'm not a welder but this is my main machine in my shop. Might be an older unit though but still a 220 mig machine. Mine has the same speed and voltage controls. Mine might be the 175 or something like that. I've had it 10 years or more. I run it with .30 wire and gas. I did have to get it fixed once but don't remember what it was. Will burn .25 without a problem.
 
If you are wanting a stick welder, go to FaceBook or Craigslist.
A bit of patience will usually pay off big.
I got an old Atlas Copco for 100 bucks that works awesome. ( as good as any stick machine I've ever used )
There is literally nothing in them to go bad when they just sit ..... and there seems to be one in every old mans garage in NC.
 
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