Looking for a new welder

[Shield Arc]

I like that. What would be the difference using 120 vs 240? Also, how easy is it to convert to TIG? I never used a tig welder, but I like having that option.

I have no use for a 120-volt welder:thumbdown:. I have several engine drive welders, I can use in remote places.
I've had this Tig rig for several years now. And my brother-n-law has had this flow meter for several years. They both work great.
TIG Welding Torch Set 2A 25' Valve Head Air-Cool 26V-25R w/Gift | US Seller 799491552128 | eBay
HTP Argon CO2 Mig Tig Flow meter Regulator Welding Weld Flowmeter | eBay

 

[Shield Arc]

If I go MIG, I doubt I will buy and tank. I would just use flux core wire. For some reason though, stick welding seems to penetrate better and give you a stronger weld on the heavier steel. Could just be me.

Mig welding is easy, all it takes is power!:thumbsup:
Far as self shielded flux core wire. Hobart's 21-B, and Lincoln's NR-212 work great. We did this seismic upgrade using NR-212.

 

[Sodo]

I don't have much experience with stick welding

I bet it would take MUCH less time to learn to use your MIG properly (and result in strong welds). Youre proposing to learn to stick-weld, to end up in the same place as a proper MIG weld.

AND proposing to reduce your versatility with a process limited to about 3/16? You wont be able to repair items made of thinner material . Any item 1/8 will be dicey, if at all. Consequenty that stuff will go un-repaired whereas a MIG does even 14ga nicely and 1/16 can be learned with less effort than learning to stick 1/8?

This forum is perhaps the wrong place to discuss MIG, as the general concensus here is rather than learn how to use the tool properly, to dump it and go stick. Many members state a rule they only use it for under 1/8 thick or for tacking. Which requires then; that you never learn to use the tool.

There is some ridiculousness here. Try to imagine a new tractor brand comes into the market. It has slag and hammer marks on all the welds. Imagine the archaic factory assembling these machines and their hopelessness even competing with the cheapest chinese tractor (and the laughter).

It can be difficult to notice the missing details cuz theyre not visible. But two (important) details that are missing on this tractor sub-forum are:
1) how to use a MIG properly. The forum experts NEVER give members tips how to weld properly with a MIG even though they admit its their go-to machine. They change the subject, write about some big industrial machine. Total avoidance.
2) the pics of the bird-poop stick welds that will adorn your eqpt during the months or years you are trying to learn to stick weld; NEVER appear on this forum. Only Stick welds that rival MIG welds, and these are only on test-plates, NEVER a real repair or fabrication or project.

This is a strange dynamic I attribute to the internet world(?) The real world uses MIGs. Try to find a single tractor built with stick in the last 40,50 years. Or even a trailer. You cant, theyre MIG.

I say better off learning to use a MIG properly like the rest of the world (and industry) but sadly its not on this forum. Maybe someday. Id teach it if I could, but Im self-taught and probably have all kinda bad habits. But Ive learned enough to build things properly and make welds that last. So all I do is try to goad the experts into helping members learn to weld properly with their MIGs.

If you have a lot of energy for learning, pour it into learning TIG. That said, stick has its place, for example welding up a crack that you cant grind thick rust off. But rusty crack repairs can be dicey if not experienced.

 

[swines]

I have no use for a 120-volt welder.

Not everyone has an engine driven welder. I have a Miller Maxxstar 140 welder that is 120 / 240. It will put out 110 amps on 120 vac as it uses a ring diode bridge that adds the two halves of the AC together to get the DC. 110 amps is plenty of power to weld a lot of materials. The welder is small, easily portable and makes on-site welding repairs in places it would be difficult to get an engine driven welder or beyond the reach of 100-foot leads. I loaned the 140 to a professional weldor who had to put in an overhead crane in a machine shop and could not get his leads to the crane's location deep in the middle of the facility. The crane is still in use 10 years later.

Would I use it as the go to welder every day? No. But it does provide added flexibility in location welding without having to wonder about getting a big welder or dragging long leads to a location. In fact, I have made up a 300 foot, 10 gage extension cord on a portable reel and can use either 120 or 240 with the welder depending upon the plug interface I put on the extension cord.

Simply because you don't own a specific welding machine or have a use for one doesn't automatically make it a bad piece of equipment. I've done repairs for people on fences and gates in locations that would be nearly unserviceable with a 240 volt welder as no outlets were available and had no access for an engine driven welder.

 

[lzicc]

I can mig weld fine, I just don't want to put the money out for another one. I was thinking that a stick welder would be cheaper and wonder if it may possibly be a better choice for what I am going to use it for. My dad had an AC stick welder in my younger days and they seem to be better suited for heavier steel. I could be wrong in saying that and wanted to get some input.

 

[Jeepnford]

Do you know anyone who has a stick welder you could try out? Since you've already mig welded then you could find out if stick is even worth considering. You know what most of your welding will consist of. I never bought a welder until I took some classes, I'm glad I waited. My first machine was a MM251. I've since added an inverter stick-tig and a used 300 amp transformer stick. I like using them all. Not saying you need 3 welders, but it really comes down to personal preference.

 

[crazyal]

If you picked up MIG welding pretty quickly then stick shouldn't be too much of an issue. The older technology when it came to stick and the improper storing of rods made it hard to strike an arc. But with the new inverters it seams like day and night (at least to me). But my old buzz box was a Sears AC welder that had limited power (maybe 150 amps) and not really knowing which rods worked best with it. One thing to keep in mind is that most inverter welders are DC only and if you want to TIG weld aluminum DC is much more difficult/ costly. That being said the Everlast ST200 is small, size and weight wise. It can easily be stored on a shelf when not in use.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

If I go MIG, I doubt I will buy and tank. I would just use flux core wire. For some reason though, stick welding seems to penetrate better and give you a stronger weld on the heavier steel. Could just be me.

Both work very well. It's really up to personal preference with your desired thicknesses in mind.

For what you are going to be welding, a 120v Mig is too small in my opinion. The 180 amp migs (and above) will do a good job.
For small stick welders, the dual voltage 160 amp machines (or larger) work excellent. I use a Thermal Arc 161 fairly often (stick and tig) and 2 of the school machines I teach with are ESAB 161.

 

[fried1765]

Am I better off going with a MIG? I'm looking at the Hobart Handler 190. A little pricey, but will do what I need it to do.

Blain's Farm & Fleet in Janesville Wisconsin has the Hobart Handler 190 for $649.99 plus $29.09 shipping to Pittsburgh.... no tax.
Blain's has been great for me to deal with, and I doubt that you will beat their price.

 

[bunyip]

I have just bought a new 175 amp MIG/MMA (stick) welder, I had a cheap 100 amp with two voltage setting (high and low) which gave mixed results, this one was four times the price and much more controllable.
My stick welding skills (I use that word very loosely) bear the appearance of a passing flock of ducks and have about the same structural integrity but I am told that with my new inverter machine that stick welding is much easier, I have not tried stick welding yet but will give it a try and see if it is true.
It is a Unimig Razorweld 175, I don't know if they are available in the USA but they are popular here, it is a 15amp outlet machine rather than the standard 10 amp, having said that they are probably available but under a different name.
It is a gas or gasless unit and I am favouring gasless as I spend a lot of time outdoors welding and I believe that gas does not cope well with wind.