A good budget priced welder?

[PapaPerk]

Hello, I'm interested in getting a welder for home use. I'm accustomed to using MIG at work. Have done stick and TIG as well.

I really like miller welders and basically what I have always used.

With that being said... What is your recommendation on a good quality, reliable welder at a low price for home use. 3/8" steel max is probably good guideline... 1/2" at most.

Thanks

 

[Ken45101]

Well, I'm not sure that you will get anything for "low price" but I have a Miller 211MVP (mig) and a Miller Thunderbolt XL (stick) that are good units.

For really keeping the cost down, find a used Lincoln 225AC Tombstone welder on Craig's list. Sometimes you can find them as low as $75. They are supposed to be bulletproof and last forever.

 

[adirondackmtnman]

I bought a Hobart Handler 140(owned by miller's parent company) a year ago. Paired up with a tank and cart I have about $700 in it. Welds turn out pretty nice for a smaller unit, although it would be nice to have an infinitely variable heat setting rather than a detented, preset knob. That's the only gripe I have about it. For 1/2" steel you'd need to make a couple passes, but it can be done. It's compatible with a spool gun as well if you wish to do aluminum.

Sent from my LGL35G using TractorByNet

 

[gwdixon]

If you are set on MIG then you know from working with it the initial costs are not cheap and require constant replenishing of the gas. Welding outdoors is an iffy situation as well. Dirty metal usually found on a farm is problematic.

If you'll "settle" for stick there is a lot of versatility available, including scratch-start TIG (but more expense for that feature). I went with an Everlast PowerArc 200 and had enough of a budget savings to get an Everlast PP 70 plasma cutter. Plus, you can get a discount by being a member of TBN with this company.

There are some Longevity machines available but I don't have experience with them.

If you are stuck on Miller/Hobart then prepare to pay for the name.

 

[Shield Arc]

I have the Everlast Power Arc 200 as well. Best arc I've seen for the money. I have also run Longevity's Stickweld 250. Very nice machine, and has adjustable hot start and arc force:thumbsup:. It doesn't have the range as my Lincoln V350-Pro has, but doesn't cost 5-grand either!

 

[muddstopper]

I am not all that brand loyal, I own Lincoln and Miller and once owned a hobart. My miller is the 175mig and I use it for most everything. My old standby is a ac/dc lincoln tombstone stick. I prefer the ac/dc over just the ac tombstone because I dont like welding with ac. The ac/dc tombstone is perfectly capable of stickwelding pretty much anything I want to stick together. If want to get into serious welding I have a lincoln ideal arc 250/250 stick tig, but dont really need it for my hobby use. I bought it because of the tig capability and wanting to play with welding aluminum, and the fact I got a bargain in it.

I guess for a budget welder, the Ac/Dc tombstone would be my first choice, and actually was when I bought mine 30+ years ago. For mig, my old hobart was a 110v 125 amp machine that turned out to be to small, and I now have the 175 miller which is marginable when it comes to thicker material, but for angle iron and 1/4in wall tube it works just fine. I used my brothers 110v 135 amp lincoln and didnt like it either, again to small. If i was in the market for another mig, I would probably look for a 200+amp model, but thats just me.

 

[ericher69]

Hello, I'm interested in getting a welder for home use. I'm accustomed to using MIG at work. Have done stick and TIG as well.

I really like miller welders and basically what I have always used.

With that being said... What is your recommendation on a good quality, reliable welder at a low price for home use. 3/8" steel max is probably good guideline... 1/2" at most.

Thanks

What is your budget?

Everyone's interpretation of a low price is different!

I just sold my 220volt Lincoln SP170-T mig and with CO2 was rated at 3/8 single pass (although after using my 252 rated at 1/2" I think the smaller mig was probably inadequate for 3/8) Guy bought it for $500 no bottle

 

[PapaPerk]

What is your budget?

Everyone's interpretation of a low price is different!

I just sold my 220volt Lincoln SP170-T mig and with CO2 was rated at 3/8 single pass (although after using my 252 rated at 1/2" I think the smaller mig was probably inadequate for 3/8) Guy bought it for $500 no bottle

I'm thinking under $500.00. Is that too low for MIG machines? I may have to go with stick.

 

[adirondackmtnman]

You could buy a Hobart 125EZ for under 500. Can't hook up gas to it, and its a little harder IMO to see the puddle with flux core wire but it'll weld up dirtier metal better, and work outside in the wind better. You may end up spending more in the long run though as flux core wire runs about $10/lb. (At least around here) as opposed to about $3/lb. For solid wire. You may indeed be better off with a stick welder for economy's sake...less moving parts to worry about.

Sent from my LGL35G using TractorByNet

 

[wyeguy]

I've been doing some looking recently and have a budget like yours. The Northern Tools MIG 135 was rated one of the 6 best by Popular Mechanics. I think its being replaced by their MIG 140I, which has better features & is spool gun ready. For my skill, use, and budget, $350 for this type of welder looks pretty good. Reviews look decent, too.