Opinions please

[Mykal]

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?...ductId=1072945

Thinking of getting that one. I dont know much about welding. I plan to learn but I need to do it hands on while I do it.

Most stuff I have welded has been 3/16" or less.

What should I be looking for in a welder? I dont want to spend more then $600 at most.

Is this a good choice or is my money better spent on a different one?
Thanks

[tjblair]

I have one very similar to that It does pretty well.


Do you plan on using it as a gas mig or flux core?

[limegreentj]

that is a good choice, but i know that the lincolns sold at lowes and HD are not as good quality as the ones sold at welding supply stores. they are special models that are close to the ones sold at welding stores, but they use less quality parts in them, and you can only get parts for them from lowes and stuff. instead of any weld supply.

basically, all you'll ever need to weld is 3/16ths 1/4 inch is overkill for anything on a jeep. and even then, if you know what you are doing you can weld 1/4 inch and somewhat thicker.

you want a machine with a high duty cycle. a 20% duty cycle (for example) means you can weld continuously for 2 minutes out of 10. the higher the duty cycle the longer the weld time.

you also want to find one that can run mig and flux.

[Mykal]

Flux for now, gas later.

I was always told that when I buy a welder to make sure it has the hookups for gas. So far Ive only welded non structural things and all with flux core.

[limegreentj]

flux core will work for ANYTHING. even body work, but it will be hard and make your life hell.

you can weld cages or anything with flux core. its a little trickier cuz it burns hotter.

the only real advantage of gas is that it looks nicer. but if you are good with flux core you can lay an almost identical bead.

[tjblair]

I have a Gas mig that I am looking to get rid of. I bought it off of DMG about a year ago.I used it for a few projects. including my cage and gas tank relocation. and I built some jack stands with it. I just needed somthing a little more variable. It still works good and has a small bottle on it. Pm me if you are interested.

[limegreentj]

mykal, some will disagree (mostly the people that never used them) but i have a clarke 125en (same as the 130en), and i seriously love the thing. the only thing i can complain about is that it only has 6 foot leads. but that hardly ever bothers me.

right now, they have a 180en (220v) at summit for $275+shipping at summit.

you can also find different models on ebay around the same price. they went out of business, but you can still get parts for them online and you can get parts for mine at sears.

my clarke is honest to god, comparable to a lincoln, hobart, or miller.

ive used welders anywhere from $100 all the way to $5000 dollars and mine (for a 110v welder) will compete with lincoln hobart and miller 110v's

[Mykal]

Thats good info. Thanks! Only problem with 220v is I dont even have a garage and everyone I know that does have one isnt wired for 220V.

[limegreentj]

Thats good info. Thanks! Only problem with 220v is I dont even have a garage and everyone I know that does have one isnt wired for 220V.

thats why i LOVE my 110v. i can take it anywhere and do almost anything a 220v will do.

[steveg0690]

Looks fine to me. I have a smaller Lincoln handy mig. It does well for what I use it for, I'd like to get a larger one someday but right now I don't "need" it. I've done TONS of sheet metal and body work with it, I even built my gas tank with it. Welds up to 1/4" (so it says). But If i'm doing anything that large or important, I get out the Miller Thunderbolt stick welder. It will weld anything.

[limegreentj]

x2^ i plan on buyin a lincoln stick welder for the super heavy shit ill never weld...lol

[jackb1]

i know that the lincolns sold at lowes and HD are not as good quality as the ones sold at welding supply stores.

I thought they were just a lower comparable model rather than a lower quality. For example, a 130 from lowes will have a 3 or 4 step amp switch but the "higher" ones will have an infinately variable switch. I think the drive wheels are made a little sturdier, etc, but the actual electrical inner workings are the same quality. Does that make sense?

Either way, I layed a lot of weld with a Lowes Lincoln 110v flux and it never gave me any problems. As a home user, I would buy one again in a heartbeat.

[limegreentj]

^ that sounds about right. but i have heard from others that they cant find parts for theirs unless they went and got/ordered it from lowes.

like for instance, if the drive wheel breaks, you cant just go and get a replacement/upgrade from a weld supply shop, you have to order the same weaker one from lowes, cuz the other one wont fit.

i dunno though.

[highlandercj-7]

Wire your garage for 220v, that's the first thing you need. Look into Hobart welders at TSC. You get more welder for your money. The Handler 187 is a great deal for the $$. http://www.tractorsupply.com/welding...welder-3807126

[limegreentj]

i disagree, you dont NEED 220v

ive built TONS of stuff, and done TONS of work in my garage with no 220v tools. sure, 220 is nice, but its not really needed

[tjblair]

^x2

[anodyne33]

If you're not in a rush, it may be worthwhile to look for something used. MFSteve sold me his old welder and gave me a hell of a deal on it. It's worked fine for me the handful of times I've used it. After seeing some some of the work he did with it I'm pretty sure I'll have plenty of room to grow with it.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...me=MIG+Welders

[trailerrails]

I have one of those welders and it has been good. If I needed to weld something thicker I hit it with the torch first to get it hot and then burned a weld in. Flux core is great, just messy.

[Super Scout]

Im not certain about lowes welders but their stuff in general is inferior in quality. I worked for my dad at his hardware store for 13 years, he has been in the business for 40. Lowes and Home depot have their inventory built to their specs. We are the service reps for alot of brands shop vac, milwaukee, poulan, Black and Decker, remington, and many more. I have part books where it was ill say Shop Vac 800 and on the next page Shop Vac 800 (lowes) Shop Vac 800 (Home Depot) Some stuff is not available on certain items esp if that was were they made their cut. Simple things like using plastic gears instead of steel, 4 bolts rather 5. I could honestly write a book of stuff they pull. Im not saying what they sell is complete garbage just not the highest quality and you will not be able to get all the parts should you need them.

[mxg342]

I have an SP135T that I have used for years. It just keeps going. I've welded a bunch of different thicknesses with it. For a 110V unit, it's been great.

On the other hand, I'm going to step up to a 220V unit before too long but that's more personal preference than anything. I'll probably keep the 110V unit around for sheetmetal work.

[limegreentj]

the hardest thing for me, was going from a 220v at work to a 110v at home

the 220v had 100% duty cycle, and mine has a 40% duty cycle. it was really tough to get used to

[CESCO]

Why is 220v any harder than 110v to run?

[trailerrails]

Why is 220v any harder than 110v to run?

He was saying 110V is harder to run than 220V. Or just more frustrating because of the limited duty cycle.

[CESCO]

guess I meant running it to the garage.

[trailerrails]

guess I meant running it to the garage.

My old garage was built into a hillside and the 110v power to the garage was buried under ground for 20 feet. I did not feel like digging all that up. My new garage has the houses breaker panel in it, so hooking up 220 was a cinch.