A good budget priced welder?

[BukitCase]

Gee, Joshua - my welders are red, blue AND green - (although the red one isn't a Lincoln) - I figure it's fitting for me, since I used to be a video tech, and you need all three colors to get a picture :laughing:

James, I've been wanting one of those "star trek welders" for years - got neighbors on one side that I'd LOVE to see "wink out", with nothing for the forensics guys to find :mur:

I concur on the bias thing - priced a Miller Maxstar 200DX - nearly identical specs as the Everlast I-tig200, except the Miller weighs 37 pounds vs. 22 pounds, costs just under $2600 vs. $700, by now it's likely BOTH have foreign made parts, and the $1900 difference means I will probably be able to add yet another capability to my home (retirement) shop. (Like an Enco mill/drill for those larger holes, custom parts for old tractors, etc...)

'course, we all know about opinions - besides that one, the difference between your opinion and mine is that mine's RIGHT :laughing:

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

i would get a miller acdc thunderbolt .to me the variable setting beets the lincoln taps.i would add a lincoln 140 tap wire welder.between those 2 .they will cover most all of home/farm welding.i would not get a ac only or dc only stick welder.to cover aluminum you can add a kit to the lincoln.

No, you can't add a "kit" to the Lincoln tombstone to do TIG AC. You have to have a High Frequency box, which costs more than both welders combined, and is not practical. You can add a scratch start TIG torch to it (though it is discouraged by Miller and Lincoln on these entry units) to do DC TIG welding, but you won't Do AC just by adding a Torch kit.

 

[ericher69]

Canox AC/DC Sparkler 225A/150A


Has all the rod sizes and amperage on the front of the machine and can be bought used for around $150

Chinese welders are fine if you want new (but cannot afford) and a 5 year warranty (with some hoops to jump through to get it)

I considered them but was looking to buy once and (hopefully) be done.

 

[cowski]

No, you can't add a "kit" to the Lincoln tombstone to do TIG AC. You have to have a High Frequency box, which costs more than both welders combined, and is not practical. You can add a scratch start TIG torch to it (though it is discouraged by Miller and Lincoln on these entry units) to do DC TIG welding, but you won't Do AC just by adding a Torch kit.

i am sorry mark you need to reread my post.i said nothing about tig.lincoln offers a liner,tip, wheel kit for their 140 amp migs to weld aluminum.it works.i have one of your small welders which i like. my neighbor has a longevity mig and he likes it. to everyone, you need ac sometimes on the farm to weld magnetized steel. it just welds better on ac.acdc thunderbolt is old proven technology like spark plugs and gas engines.a acdc thunderbolt has a 100% duty cycle on ac at about 100 amps.this is enough for 1/8 6011.you can use the 225 setting to gouge.7018 restarts better on inverters or larger transformer welders.a thunderbolt is a good farm welder that will last a long time.inverter welders are more portable and use less amps.

 

[joshuabardwell]

I will say this about transformer welders: there are some things you can do with a transformer that you can't do with (most?) inverters. Like... carbon arc torch.

Hmm... that's about it, I guess.

 

[yomax4]

You will need 300-400 amps to effectively carbon arc with a transformer. Otherwise the stress of even 1/8" carbons will be very hard on the unit. You could choose Chamfer Arc rods and do similar to carbon arc on a smaller scale. 400 amp inverters on 3 phase do a good job on carbon arc but for the price of a 400 amp inverter.I would forego any carbon arc at all. Plasma also gouges out weld pretty well you just have to turn it down. Much more surgical than carbons.

 

[ThomasH]

Scooby -

You really don't do you arguments any favors by being extremely rude.Your opinion is no more or less important or true than anyone else's.

As far as transformer versus inverters reliability goes, I have been using Miller inverters (two of them) for 10+ years, and have not had a single failure. I started working with inverters with the Miller XMT300s and am now using XMT304s, and have nothing but good experience with inverters. I also have a Hobart Handler 185 for light MIG work, and am looking to upgrade to a larger MIG unit. From my experience, it's important to buy a heavy duty unit that isn't working the internals as hard as a smaller unit would. With a 5 year warranty and components that are made the same part of the world as the Millers that I currently own, I am probably going to get an Everlast PowerMig 250, so I can use dual-shield wire and not be pushing the MIG to it's max. Also, since the newer inverters give you more control over the arc, I am looking around at replacing one of the XMT304s with something like the Everlast PA300.

All in all, after 10 years of use, I am looking at different welders in order to get better and easier welds. I don't care if it lasts 8+ years or 20+ years.

Just my $.02 worth...

 

[cowski]

yomax what is effectively? i use mine at ac 225 to gouge and cut.it still works.can a 160 amp dc inverter cut thick steel? i recommend thunderbolts because they are a versatile, budget priced US brand welder. josh i have never seen a carbon arc torch.

 

[Shield Arc]

i have never seen a carbon arc torch.

Here's one. Everybody should spend at least 40-hours behind one of these. :laughing:

 

[muddstopper]

Interesting discussion on china made. I am one of those folks that doesnt shop at Wally world because of the made in china junk. I go out of my way to buy American made when ever i can. A very big BUT is in order here also. I wont do without because i cant find made in America. Recently a buddy of mine was in the market for a plasma cutter. He's a real tight wad most times, well about all the time. I tried to convince him to try a Everlast, even tho I havent tried one, dont own one, and have never used one. I guess you could say my suggestion wasnt based on experience. Of course my buddy has another buddy that told him not to by the china machine because it is junk, Never mind the fact that he didnt own one, or hadnt used one either. Wasnt even a person that does hobby welding. His argument was a little stronger than mine I guess, because my buddy bought a miller Spectrum 625. Around $1500 or so. I do own a miller plasma cutter and cant say he made a bad choice, but my point is it doesnt matter which machine the guy bought as much as the reason why he bought it. Word of mouth has destroyed many a company. What being said doesnt have to be true or factual, you just have to say it loud and long enought to get someone else to believe it. I cant honestly say my Miller or my buddies new miller is any better than a Everlast machine would have been. What I read on internet forums are all I know about the Everlast machine, I aint even seen one. I think I can say that if all of a sudden I needed a new welder or plasma cutter, and didnt have the funds for the big name brands, I would probably buy the Everlast and not think twice about it. I am not a professional welder and dont depend on my welding for income. If i did, I would probably know a little more about the different brands of welders and be in a better position to justify the cost of the more expensive machines. I think a lot of the naysayers probably dont know anymore about welding than I do, they just like to be heard more, thinking they are impressing some other fool on this stupid internet. Like that really matters.