where to shop for a welder

Mark @ Everlast · Feb 25, 2013

If it says Lincoln Exaclibur. It's top of the line. If it says Lincoln fleetweld, it's just under that. There are plenty of good everyday rods out there. One of the best welding rods I have used is also the cheapest. It. U.S. Forge by Messer. Anything I have used has been smooth as silk in that brand...Several companies around here sell them cheap, but it's not at all a bad rod. Hobart used to be my go to rod before Airgas quit selling them as their mainline and went to the cheapo Radnor brand they in house sell which hasn't proven to me a very good rod, though someone might like it.

daugen · Feb 25, 2013

Shield Arc said:
Are you talking about GTAW, or SMAW rods. :confused3:

SMAW to start
thanks

Shield Arc · Feb 25, 2013

I've had pretty good luck with 5/32-inch Radnor 6010. The local AirGas is having some 5/32-inch ESAB 10P 6010 shipped in for me. I really like the 1/8-inch 10P.

Shield Arc · Feb 25, 2013

daugen said:
SMAW to start
thanks

I think you'd really like Hobart's 335A 6011, and ESAB Atom Arc 7018. I ordered some ESAB Acclaim 7018, when it comes in I'll give a review of what I think of it.

k0ua · Feb 25, 2013

I have been using the US forge, because it is convenient to buy locally, cheap, and seems to give good result. Not saying it is best or anything like that, just a good rod.

James K0UA

Gem99ultra · Feb 25, 2013

>looks like a direct factory ship deal. Anyplace else I should check out? Do the welding supply shops sell welders competitively<

I'm in the very same dilemma. I'm within a couple of days of buying a small MIG welder. At this point, I'm pretty settled on the Millermatic 211 MVP. The thing that has me stymied is the difference in internet prices and the brick & mortar prices. Brick & Mortar is asking about 20% more for the same machine and supplies.

I love to support local businesses. But 20% upcharge on an already expensive welder is outrageous. They'll have my normal continuing consummable supply business as well as the occasional accessory business. I just don't feel they're right in a 20% upcharge (plus tax!) simply because they have rented some rag-tag building and hire some illerate to write up my order.

So, at this point, I'm totally undecided. Done with rant

Shield Arc · Feb 25, 2013

Gem99ultra said:
>looks like a direct factory ship deal. Anyplace else I should check out? Do the welding supply shops sell welders competitively<

I'm in the very same dilemma. I'm within a couple of days of buying a small MIG welder. At this point, I'm pretty settled on the Millermatic 211 MVP. The thing that has me stymied is the difference in internet prices and the brick & mortar prices. Brick & Mortar is asking about 20% more for the same machine and supplies.

I love to support local businesses. But 20% upcharge on an already expensive welder is outrageous. They'll have my normal continuing consummable supply business as well as the occasional accessory business. I just don't feel they're right in a 20% upcharge (plus tax!) simply because they have rented some rag-tag building and hire some illerate to write up my order.

So, at this point, I'm totally undecided. Done with rant

When I bought my Lincoln V350-Pro, I got my best price on the Internet. Called my local welding supply to get a price from them. To big of a ticket item for the counter guys. They turned it over to the outside sales rep. He called a couple days later. $500.00 higher! I asked him to trim some fat because I wanted to buy from them, he couldn't do it. When the machine arrived, it didn't work quite right called the local welding supply to see if they had any ideas. Store managers sent the outside sales rep to my house, because he use to be a repair tech for ESAB. He worked with the welder for 45-minutes and couldn't figure out the problem.
You have to remember, it's only a job to them. They don't take it personally!

Mark @ Everlast · Feb 26, 2013

k0ua said:
I have been using the US forge, because it is convenient to buy locally, cheap, and seems to give good result. Not saying it is best or anything like that, just a good rod.

James K0UA

They are surprisingly good aren't they?

The Fleetweld 180's from Lincoln are king though for "farm" 6011 use around here a no shop is without them it seems.

cowski · Feb 26, 2013

Hobart's 335A 6011, and ESAB Atom Arc 7018. ++1 just finished up a 50 lb box of them hobart 6011's. and have at least 100 lbs of the esab atom arc 7018s in the shop. welding store recommended inweld 6011 as a cheaper alternative .just got em so anyone ever used inweld?