Alright. I think I'm in the market for a welder. What does everyone have for a welder? I've "grown up" with my dad's Hobart Fabricator with a Tweeco gun. It's pretty sweet, but I'm looking for something that's 110 volt. Something that really has my eye right now is a dual voltage unit. I'm looking at a Millermatic 211, Hobart Handler 210, or a Lincoln Power MIG 180.

They are all 140A on 110V but when you go to 220V the Lincoln is only 180A where the other two are 210A. Dad and I might go welder shopping on friday and take a look. He deals locally and has been getting some good breaks from those guys lately so we'll see what they have to offer.

Right now I want to be able to weld light stuff. Sheet metal, exhuast pipe, etc but I'm sure down the road I'll get to where I want a bigger welder. I'm thinking of just going big right now and getting it over with

-Jake

 

Gas is the way to go for welding sheet metal with a MIG. So get the whole set up. All of the ones you mentioned are good. I've got a 110v lincoln w/gas set up for body work. Not good for thick stuff. Also check "duty cycle" for the welders. If you are going to be doing a lot of body work, I'd look into a TIG outfit.

 

Duty cycle is one area I'm a bit fuzzy? Can you explain that?

-Jake

 

My FIL has a Miller 211. I really like it a lot. Nice little machine. Does all we need it to do for work.

Here is a little more on duty cycle: Miller - Help Me Choose - What's Duty Cycle

 

Take a 10 minute time frame. Basically, for example a 30% duty cycle will allow you to weld at full amperage for 3 minutes. The other 7 minutes would be spent for the machine to rest and "recharge it's batteries".Miller - Help Me Choose - What's Duty Cycle

 

Mike, you're quicker than my hunt and peck typing.

 

LOL, just a by a little.

Keep in mind that most of your welding won't be done at max amperage either, which is what duty cycle refers to.

 

OK, that sounds simple enough on the duty cycle. The welding supply shop that my dad deals with only sells Lincolns. I like the Lincoln, I'm just worried that 180 amps may not be enough for that oddball heavy stuff that I might have to weld. We are going shopping on Friday but probably won't come home with one. I want to save some more money and make sure I'm buying the one that I want.

Looks like most of the Millers have auto set. Tell it what size wire and thickness of material and it sets it for you. Kinda cool but not really a feature that I need as I've spent enough time welding I can usually get it close enough.

-Jake

 

Jake, I just have a little 130 amp, 110v Clarke MIG, and a gas bottle. Works fine for what I'm doing now, mainly sheet metal, but I plan on upgrading to a bigger unit in a year or so. If you have the cash, get the bigger one. I'd love to have a Millermatic!!

 

I had to bring home the shop's Miller 130 to weld some stuff on combines for work. Dad and I were trying it out in his shop this morning before we go to town. That thing is pretty sweet really. We took two 1/2" plates and welded them together. I could do it in a single pass, but multiple passes would probably be better.....

We'll see what the experts have to say later this morning!!!

-Jake

 

Let us know what you decide bud.

 

I AM SET!

Lincoln Power MIG 180!!!

It's a dual voltage. They got one out of the box and set it up so we could try it. Dad and I played with it for a bit. Set it on 110v first and it wasn't too bad. Switched over to 220v and it was a whole different animal! It's kind of like comparing a 12 year old boy to a grown man. The 12 year old can get the job done, but the man will do it better!

Anyway, I took a 1/2" plate that they had been running a plasma cutter on and welded a cut back shut. It was probably an 1/8" gap. It did pretty well. I'd never used flux core before either, but that was pretty sweet. We didn't quite have it turned up all the way and when I flipped that 1/2" plate over it was a little on the orange side.

I'm sold. Now to gather the money and rally the finance manager.....

-Jake

 

So, time has gone by and I never did get a welder bought. I'm really glad I didn't because I fell you-know-what backwards into a Lincoln 225 stick welder. Yes, it's old. Yes, it was free along with about 20 lbs of rods! I've been messing around with it, getting a feel for it. Never really stick welded before but I've got lots of good teachers to give me tips. Anyway, it's my new toy and I'm in love with it. Not sure how it's going to work on sheet metal though, probably not as good as a small MIG, but I should be able to weld about whatever else I want with it.

-Jake