Good Welder?????
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devino246
Official DIYGK Chem Nerd
I personally like Lincoln Electric, but Miller and Hobart are good too.
Lynx_Genisys
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keep in mind thats a 240v unit
realy good, but be sure you have a place to plug it in.
also note you will need to get a bottle and gas.. unless you're just gona use flux wire..
i personaly like the Millers.. i think everyone i've ever used has been a miller, they're tried tested n proven, and usualy not over priced..
realy good, but be sure you have a place to plug it in.
also note you will need to get a bottle and gas.. unless you're just gona use flux wire..
i personaly like the Millers.. i think everyone i've ever used has been a miller, they're tried tested n proven, and usualy not over priced..
If it doesn't say Miller on it, it's just blue paint meant to trick you. I would get a Lincoln, Miller, or Hobart. Although, the HF 90 amp unit is good enough for small work like a go kart. I've only used Miller machines personally, and I like them. The MM140 is a nice 120v unit that can run flux cored or MIG wire, but can also be hooked up with different bottles to do aluminum (argon) or stainless (tri-mix). With a small bevel on the metal, you can easily weld 1/4" mild steel with this unit. Now, it will cost considerably more than the HF unit, but it's very high quality. Also, it can hold 10lb spools so changing them often isn't a worry.
bighead
New member
Lincoln 175t is what I use. It is my first welder though. One year and no problems. I paid $500 for the welder and bottle. It was a slightly used welder when I bought it.
I bought a 125 amp hobart welder off northerntool...theyve discontinued the specific one i bought, but theres some variation of it for sale now. its a 120 volt deal, and i've been able to weld up to 1/4 inch steel with it (FCAW). i paid around $300 for it, highly reccomended. needs every bit of a 20 amp breaker though...
The Mechtician
Gargamel Jr.
My tool of choice is a little backpack 100 amp DC inverter stick/TIG unit I picked up on eBay a few years ago. It ran me just over $300 at the time, and came with a 12' TIG torch with a manual gas valve as well as a stinger for stick electrodes. It's the size of a shoebox, has enough jam to burn 1/8" 7018 rods, and gives me the ability to weld stainless and CroMo. The only thing I don't like about it is the lack of HF start.
EDIT; I see that things have advanced a bit in the years since I bought my unit, this was the cheapest TIG machine I could find on eBay: DC-TIG160S-ii Inverter Welder ABS waterproof. Be aware, it's made in China! You definitely get what you pay for...
For someone just starting out, try looking for a used name brand unit at your local industrial/machinery auctions. Buying a no-name flux core unit or a no-name inverter welder and having it break down on you while you're learning to weld is a surefire way to get fed up and quit before you've even got started!
EDIT; why not build your own stick welder? If you have a utility engine and a good sized alternator off a truck or something, you're 2/3rds of the way there Check these out: Homemade welding machine thread @ Practical Machinist forum and Diy-welder.com/
EDIT; I see that things have advanced a bit in the years since I bought my unit, this was the cheapest TIG machine I could find on eBay: DC-TIG160S-ii Inverter Welder ABS waterproof. Be aware, it's made in China! You definitely get what you pay for...
For someone just starting out, try looking for a used name brand unit at your local industrial/machinery auctions. Buying a no-name flux core unit or a no-name inverter welder and having it break down on you while you're learning to weld is a surefire way to get fed up and quit before you've even got started!
EDIT; why not build your own stick welder? If you have a utility engine and a good sized alternator off a truck or something, you're 2/3rds of the way there
Check these out: Homemade welding machine thread @ Practical Machinist forum and Diy-welder.com/
devino246
Official DIYGK Chem Nerd
craigslist is good too
Ha, we have also got 240V standard here in South Africa. I would hate to have to worry about whether I have the correct voltage all the time
devino246
Official DIYGK Chem Nerd
Yeah, it does kinda suck. For my crappy HF arc/tig welder, I just made a 25ft extension cord and plug it into the dryer outlet inside.
@Dan, here in the US, 3-phase is industrial. Houses only have a 240V power supply :/
@Dan, here in the US, 3-phase is industrial. Houses only have a 240V power supply :/
yer same with here i have 3 phase power in my shed
Bluethunder3320
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i have 120v... lol. my $100 harbor freight 90 amp FCAW works perfectly... i have not one thing bad to say about it.
i even use HF wire sometimes. i find it not too bad actually. most people hate the stuff though.
for me, welding frames, no more than 1/4" thick, it is a wonder.
and on my circuit breaker, sometimes it blows when i weld for a long period. i have to reset it every once in a while, but its not far away, it doesnt bother me.
i even use HF wire sometimes. i find it not too bad actually. most people hate the stuff though.
for me, welding frames, no more than 1/4" thick, it is a wonder.
and on my circuit breaker, sometimes it blows when i weld for a long period. i have to reset it every once in a while, but its not far away, it doesnt bother me.
just converted 1.2mm to inchs and its .047
So, about the same size wire. .023 is the smallest you can get in solid MIG wire and I believe flux core is .035 at the smallest. Anyways, back on topic, I would get a name brand welder used before I got a new Chinese one, even if used cost more.
bighead
New member
Whats the duty cycle of your welder? I see friends paying no attension to there welders duty cycle.
My Lincoln has a 30% duty cycle. So I can weld for 3 minutes. Then let cool for 10 minutes. I am new to welding so I think thats how it's understood.
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