Want a MIG welder, but what kind?

[MoArk Willy]

but want a toy, basically.

Thanks, Chuck

Did you say how much you wanted to spend for this "toy"? Sorry if I missed it.
That would go a long way in pointing you in a direction more suitable for you and your budget.

 

[California]

Harbor Freight ships to Canada. ...

But watch out for Canada's import duties (taxes). One of my first Ebay sales was a $7 slide rule to Canada, I think to an antique store owner. The customer went nuts when she was charged some exorbitant amount for not only import taxes, but also UPS's standard fee for representing her at Customs.

Later, I was selling surplused Y2K computer gear. Most of the Canadian customers understood Customs and only a couple cancelled their auction win after determining total cost.

Hopefully the process works better now.

 

[Big Barn]

But watch out for Canada's import duties .

Hopefully the process works better now.

Nope. It’s hit and miss.

 

[MoArk Willy]

But watch out for Canada's import duties (taxes).

Interesting. I suppose one in Canada could place the order and get to the checkout phase to see the final cost.
I imagine it would have to be calculated at that time for payment.

 

[Deere Dude]

OP here. Still looking. Am interested in some you guys mentioned such as Everlast, Miller and Hobart. Not sure about HF, just a little gun-shy about their expensive stuff. I want 110 and 220 so I can use my generator for remote area welding. I am kind of a sledge hammer for a finishing nail kind of guy. But, I need to talk to my neighbor to see how gas works and where to get it along with the cost of keeping a supply on hand.

I finally got a little money to play with but I would figure about $700 would be all the fun I need at this time. Taking a trip soon and all my projects are done so after Sept I will start looking at sales more closely.

Thanks for the tips,

Chuck

 

[m1garand762]

Gas last a while once you get good. Any welding supply has it, it's not that expensive, some steel shops and fabbers around here sell it as well

 

[MoArk Willy]

If you can weld indoors without any wind (or fan) then gas is fine. Many welders prefer arc or flux for windy conditions. Wind can blow the shielding gas away from the weld.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Sale here

HTP Welder Sale August Only | JIMBO'S GARAGE - YouTube

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Simply check your budget and buy the best unit that makes sense. Dual voltage inverters on 115v will walk on plain 115v machines. Try a couple and make a choice. good luck..

Yes they do.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

One thing you really don't see or get explained (how convenient for the manufacturer, and how unfortunate for the consumer!) is that most 200 amp transformer, and even some inverter MIGs are really not much more than 150 amp MIGs. They are very seldom rated at maximum duty cycle. You'll see a duty cycle rating fo 30% say at 130 amps or something like that, but when you get to 200 amps, you are down around 5% duty cycle. People will say that it doesn't matter, but those are the people that have never used a true 200 amp MIG like the Power i-MIG 200 at 35% duty cycle at 200 amps. When you compare, compare rated duty cycles and rated amperages. That is a far more fair comparison between units when you are factoring cost of the unit into the purchase decision, trying to get the most per dollar spent.

 

[Oldpath05]

3k, wow wee!!!!! Can Miller really justify that price, why is it so much....... Is This Your Forever Welder? Miller Multimatic 22 Review - YouTube

 

[dragoneggs]

3k, wow wee!!!!! Can Miller really justify that price, why is it so much....... Is This Your Forever Welder? Miller Multimatic 22 Review - YouTube

Looks very nice... love how you can easily and quickly switch from one process to the next. If it were a thousand less, I would consider selling my MIG and getting it instead of saving for a dedicated TIG as is the plan now. With shop space a premium, all in one on a single cart with multiple tanks would be ideal.

 

[Oldpath05]

Looks very nice... love how you can easily and quickly switch from one process to the next. If it were a thousand less, I would consider selling my MIG and getting it instead of saving for a dedicated TIG as is the plan now. With shop space a premium, all in one on a single cart with multiple tanks would be ideal.

Yeah its nice for light duty welding and if one wants or needs to tig. I have a 7 year old Miller Matic 211, it does most of the welding that I need, then a 1980s Miller Dialarc for the heavy welding and gouging.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yeah its nice for light duty welding and if one wants or needs to tig. I have a 7 year old Miller Matic 211, it does most of the welding that I need, then a 1980s Miller Dialarc for the heavy welding and gouging.

I probably have the same 211 transformer as you... a little newer and I like it. I have a Hypertherm for gouging. But crave a TIG.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Leaving this right here for comparison to the unit just mentioned above. 30% less price, and a quite a few more features. Could this be the best MTS welder yet? Everlast Lightning 225 Review - YouTube

 

[Ritothebull]

Leaving this right here for comparison to the unit just mentioned above. 30% less price, and a quite a few more features. Could this be the best MTS welder yet? Everlast Lightning 225 Review - YouTube

Mark do the new Lightning machines hold your settings where you left off when you power them down or do you have to save them?

 

[Richard]

OP here. Still looking. Am interested in some you guys mentioned such as Everlast, Miller and Hobart. Not sure about HF, just a little gun-shy about their expensive stuff. I want 110 and 220 so I can use my generator for remote area welding. I am kind of a sledge hammer for a finishing nail kind of guy. But, I need to talk to my neighbor to see how gas works and where to get it along with the cost of keeping a supply on hand.

I finally got a little money to play with but I would figure about $700 would be all the fun I need at this time. Taking a trip soon and all my projects are done so after Sept I will start looking at sales more closely.

Thanks for the tips,

Chuck

Welp, Deer Dude.... very near me (in Lenoir City) is a metal fabricating shop that last count, had something like seven (7) Lincoln 256 MIG welders....NO LEADS, just the welder box. Their most expensive one was $900 and as I recall, their least were $700 with $800 probably being what's left.

Another TBN'er bought two of them for himself. I'm contemplating one but my wife says no more toys.....

I've been there, they exist. They also had/have chop saws, some kind of self loading screw gun, BOXES AND BOXES of flux core wire for the welder. They offered to fire one up for me (didn't do it) so they're very nice about this and want to move these things out.


Here's the thread I started with the info.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/428985-lincoln-power-mig-256-under.html

 

[Deere Dude]

Welp, Deer Dude.... very near me (in Lenoir City) is a metal fabricating shop that last count, had something like seven (7) Lincoln 256 MIG welders....NO LEADS, just the welder box. Their most expensive one was $900 and as I recall, their least were $700 with $800 probably being what's left.

Another TBN'er bought two of them for himself. I'm contemplating one but my wife says no more toys.....

I've been there, they exist. They also had/have chop saws, some kind of self loading screw gun, BOXES AND BOXES of flux core wire for the welder. They offered to fire one up for me (didn't do it) so they're very nice about this and want to move these things out.


Here's the thread I started with the info.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/428985-lincoln-power-mig-256-under.html

Thanks for the tip. They sound like a good enough deal. I sort of lost interest in welders the last few months. If they were an hour away I would check them out closer but that seems like the other side of the world to me.

 

[Richard]

Well...you know.... I was thinking Hohenwald was outside of Chattanooga. Seems I was confusing it with Ooltewah.

My bad.

 

[MossRoad]

No idea why it got locked. Opened it up again. Please continue discussion. :confused3: