A good budget priced welder?

[PapaPerk]

Made in USA is important to me too! Is that asking too much? Lol

 

[wyeguy]

Missed that. Sorry.

 

[BukitCase]

If you want made in USA, best look for a used Miller dialarc or similar - the new Millers are apparently "assembled" in USA (from foreign parts), for the most part - and especially in your price range.

I've seen a couple of Dialarc's in CL recently, one went for $350, other was listed at $400. Woulda bought one of those, but I already have a 250 amp ac/dc by Solar (old enough it's still all copper), a 4 yr old Miller 252 (when they were supposedly still made in USA) with 30A spool gun, and an Everlast I-tig200T (200 amp DC tig, 160 amp stick with dig and hot start).

At least Everlast is honest enough NOT to put a big USA sticker on it with small print saying "assembled" - plus it's got a 5 year warrantee. Oh, and it weighs 22 pounds compared to about 90 for the Miller, and will run stick on my 8 kw genny 'way out in the field when I need it to.

We'll see how it goes; Tig is not an essential to me, so I was willing to chance it for 1/4 the cost of the same features in a Miller :confused2:

Not sure I'd survive tellin' the wife (as cool as she is) I was buying another welder at this time anyway

Absolutely nothing you could buy new at that price is gonna be made here any more - period. Sorry, but that's just the way it's gotten... Steve

 

[Arc weld]

If you want new for under $500, go with a stick welder like an Everlast. Even a good used MIG will probably be over $500. If you want to weld up to 3/8" get a 220 machine.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

We've got a 140 MIG under 500.00 now. I'm not sure on availability and can check. It is sort of a silent product until our new website gets put in. It's an inverter, and it's a new line of "economy" MIGs we have.

 

[Scooby074]

3/8 to 1/2 is a little much for 120v migs. Yes Im sure someone will chime in and say how they welded up a nuke reactor with a 120v mig.... But really more amps are better.

If USA is important and you have experience with Millers, no since reinventing the wheel here and have a look at millers machines. The MM252 will be a lifetime machine for you that will handle all you want. You'd have to increase your budget significantly though. THe 211 is considerably cheaper, but maxes out at 3/8.

What about stick. A Thunderbolt Ac/Dc is in your budget and can handle all your thinking of throwing at it.

 

[Farmagain]

I bought a cheap welder without realizing the duty cycle on the cheapies are low, like 5-15%. That means they will overheat and kick the breaker before you can burn one rod. I sold it at a loss and bought a used Lincoln tombstone at an auction. I've built a bumper for my tractor, even welded some 1/4" rods on 1" plate. It goes on and on....

 

[BethelHntr]

The miller 211 is a nice machine but doubles your budget. If you find a mig at least get one that runs on 220/240v, Way more heat for penetrating the bigger stuff you mentioned than the 120v class.

 

[Arc weld]

An Everlast inverter is a better machine than than AC/DC Thunderbolt and probably half the price and twice the duty cycle. Kind of a know brainer if you ask me.

 

[Fordman1981]

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

Check out the miller multimatic 200. I bought one and love it I have been working on an aluminum project with it and am very impressed with it. They have went down in price since I bought mine too.