Novice wants a MIG, advise ?

[Spike56]

I am still researching a MIG. So far, I am sticking with the "name brands" that I know: Lincoln, Hobart (Miller) and Everlast. What I **think** I want is a 110/220 capable machine and
- can use large spools (8")
- capable using flux core in addition to (argon+co2) with wire
- do NOT need stick or TIG capability (already have a Miller stick)
- 10' leads would be nice

So far, considering a Hobart 140, Lincoln 140 (or maybe Lincoln Handy Mig k2185-1?) and Everlast 200ES. Checked a larger Miller / Lincolns locally, the next sizes up almost 2x prices. As mentioned, the Hobart, Lincoln and Miller are sold local, so any "options"/ parts... would be available.

Honestly, I am somewhat frozen by all the specs and features. I'd really like some opinions. This machine is mainly for Hobby use. Thin gauge tubing / thinnish rebar (wire, maybe up to 1/2"). So, trying to stick with a name brand, one that is easy to load spools, adjust and as trouble free as possible.
Perhaps, the ones I mentioned are all about equivalent? But I would appreciate advice from "experts" before buying and having regrets.

 

[jaxs]

I'm no expert but I've seen a lot of home shop welders in use. You are correct in sticking to name brands. 120 volt capability sounds fine until you realize other more important features must be compromised in order to keep price down. Lincoln Pro-Mig 180 and Hobart 190 are my top recommendations in the bang for buck department. For mobility I have a 25' extension cord plus 4' extension cord with NEMA 6 50 receptacle and popular 30 amp and 50 amp male plugs so I can use dryer & range outlets in a pinch.

 

[jwmorris]

Need something closer to 250 amps for a good job on 1/2” steel.

Look at the specifications page for the machine you are wanting. This is the one for the Lincoln 140

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200405530_200405530?gclsrc=aw.ds&&utm_source=google_PPC&utm_medium=Welding&utm_campaign=Sub%20Brand_Lincoln%20Welders&utm_content=lincoln%20140%20welder&gclid=Cj0KCQiA45qdBhD-ARIsAOHbVdEf28L3-a--E29BPUHmfCJWNBu5XV3jTYpjCX53PGxdYZy6tFdoIYQaAl4MEALw_wcB

Max Weld thickness is claimed to be 5/16” thick and that’s a long way from 1/2”. A duty cycle of 20% at only 90 amps means you can weld for 2 minutes and you have to sit for 8 minutes even if you are only set at 90 amps, not the full 140.

I do have a couple of the small Lincoln 240 volt welders and while they are Ok for many projects and great for tacking things together, while being much better than their 120v counterparts still leave a lot to be desired when welding things out if there is much welding.

 

[stumblinhorse]

I have a Hobart 210MVP. I am the same as you for what I use it for. I had never had any welding experience when I bought it. No one showed me anything other than YouTube. I put in new floors in my 69 d100 and new quarter panels in my 01 2500. That is why I bought it, now I used it for repairs around my place. Good enough for me.

 

[oliver1555]

If I didn’t already have:
Lincoln 225 stick
Lincoln 140 MIG
Lincoln 256 MIG
Lincoln Squarewave 200,
I’d give this a serious look. The first link is to Lincoln Electric and the second is an overview on YouTube.
POWER MIG® 211i MIG Welder

 

[WranglerX]

Any welder that is 120 Volt AC and has output of 140 amps or less is not going to handle anything with a thickness above 1/4 inch or more...
I have Hobart Handler 140 (older 4 voltage setting model) and use primarily GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Weld) process which is solid wire and shield gas... My machine does 1/4 inch ok.... But it also requires proper preparation of weld joint (grinding clean & proper bevels)... Also spec say you can use the HH140 on a 20 amp standard circuit.... NOT SO.... At "top setting" (4 or 5 on voltage switch) it can draw up to 24.6 amps which will trip a 20 amp breaker every time, solution for me was to install 30 amp breaker and appropriate wiring for welder use only....

IF you plan to do a lot of big welds (3/8 to 1/2 inch) you really need a 240VAC machine on at least a 40 AMP circuit..... If most of your work is on 1/4 inch or less yes you can use a 120V machine and if you need to do thicker materials you can do multi pass but penetration may not be as great as with 240V machine.... Or other option if welds are in really big stuff, and your 140 Amp machine can not do it is farm out the welds to a shop or welder on wheels....

Kind of hoping HOBART will bring out a inverter machine that is FCAW/GMAW only and has same capabilities as theri 210MVP machine... Gave up stick for MIG and will never look back, and tried TIG, either too old, too blind, or too uncoordinated so that is not a plus for me.....

Another thing to consider with "China" brands is what is their tech support in case you have a problem, and do they really have a supply of replacement part should you need repairs....OR is potential machine "disposable" if something goes wrong....

Disclaimer here is I am hobby welder and do repairs around the property and make implements for CUT tractor and such.... Will not do major welding things like repairs on trailers and such that may fail out on roadway and leave me a liability risk or my load abandon along the road way until it can be properly retrieved.... Cautious. yes, foolish I hope not...

 

[etpm]

I have an old Lincoln SP125 Plus welder. It is a 125 volt machine. It has the HUGE advantage of infinitely variable voltage and wire speed. Cheaper machines don't have this feature and I have used these machines and they are not as versatile. A 125 volt machine will only weld 1/4 or less steel. Unless the steel is pre heated. A weed burner works well for this. Even though I love my little Lincoln if I have bigger jobs for wirefeed welding I use my Miller. It is a 240 volt machine and has a 300 Amp 60% duty cycle. If you think you are going to weld much stuff thicker than 1/4 then buy a 240 volt machine. With a 240 volt machine you can weld aluminum too. For sure get a machine that will take 8 inch spools. And get a 12 foot whip if you can. All MIG machines can use Flux core wire, some don't come with the ability to use gas. The cheap ones. You want to avoid the cheap ones anyway. If you do get a 125 volt machine you will need a 25 Amp minimum circuit to get the maximum amperage from the machine.
Eric

 

[swines]

One of the things to consider is how long you think you'll be welding. Is this for short-term use on a specific project or is the welder a tool you're going to use over a number of years? I started with a small welder in the mid-1980s and soon wished I had a more versatile and larger machine. I ended up buying a 300 amp ESAB welder that I've now had for 25 years. It was a lot of money when I bought it, but it's been worth every penny as it has welded everything from 18-gage sheet metal to 1/2-inch steel plate, and I've even set it up to weld stainless on a couple of projects. While a good welder is pricey, if you think it's something you'll need for 10 or more years, the more features you buy now, the cheaper it will be in the long run and the more flexibility you'll have in the work you do.

If you're new to welding, a machine with synergic capability can be a great help. It will get you close to the optimal setting in wire speed, and electrical current setting. This gives you a starting point to learn the settings you find work best for you. If you keep a notebook of projects with welder settings and comments on performance, it doesn't take long to buildup a knowledge base that is specific to your working methods.

 

[1 of U]

you didnt state your price range !

i would tell you buy a 220 machine first then add
a 110 machine , on 220 look for a used 180 amp
machine and up , be nice if you can find a 250 amp
though , doesnt really matter what color as long as it
not beat to ****, and the liner doesnt have any hard bends in it .

 

[Wolfy]

My father had a Miller 251 that he bought new. I dont know the specs but it certainly will weld 1/2". He lost it in a garage fire so he went out and bought a used 250. No issues with either machine other than you need to replace the liner every so often. Theres a dealer within 20 minutes so thats a great peace of mind. I like both of those and have also used a Miller 211 which is the next size down. I dont need a big wire feed as I have a Lincoln tombstone but I would love a smaller wire feed as the Lincoln burns thru sheet metal even using 3/32 -6013 on 40 amps. I also used a Hobart at work, not sure of the model but it is 110 volt, my impression is the Miller is a better built unit.

 

[ratflinger]

Everlast in the 200 - 250a range. They have MIG only units that will run 120/240. Easy setup, 8" spools, attractive prices, seems to be what you are looking for.

 

[Spike56]

Thanks to all that replied! It would appear from the responses; I need to seriously consider spending more $$ than I had anticipated and probably choose a 230V model. Now, as time allows, I am looking at different line of machines, so it is a complete reset for me to understand which capabilities and what the machine comes with. Had no idea when I began this search there would be SO MANY machines and OPTIONS and variables.
Perhaps, I would be better off at my local Air Gas store and just pay the price? I am typically scared off by Big Box stores that offer anything that "appears" to be the same but has cryptic "XYZ" numbers attached or ordering this type of equipment online. Have a sneaking suspicion that while a Big Box machine would likely work fine for me, the machines are not the same as say Airgas would carry?
Again, thanks to all. Will have to sell my Miller Stick to afford the quality equipment all recommended. Offered to sell previously but no local takers. Have a Miller Thunderbolt XL 225 AC/DC. Maybe I was asking too much, don't know. Not into shipping anything.

 

[Wolfy]

I would never sell my stick welder. Maybe I weld more thick rusty metal than average but I have to have 6011 rod.

 

[Spike56]

I would never sell my stick welder. Maybe I weld more thick rusty metal than average but I have to have 6011 rod.

Selling *may* be a mistake, you are right. But need the $$ to fund a new machine. Besides, the vast majority of "planned" welding would be thin wall sq. tubing and or thin gauge rod/wire. I am a total HACK at welding. Any "serious" welding here (which is not much) that requires strength or safety, I call a local friend who is a certified welder by profession.

 

[mikester]

If you don't have someone knowledgeable to work with in person consider taking a welding course to get you started.Buying a welder is like buying a vehicle, so many options its hard to do if you if you don't know what you want. Even harder if you've never driven before...

 

[newbury]

Selling *may* be a mistake, you are right. But need the $$ to fund a new machine. Besides, the vast majority of "planned" welding would be thin wall sq. tubing and or thin gauge rod/wire. I am a total HACK at welding. Any "serious" welding here (which is not much) that requires strength or safety, I call a local friend who is a certified welder by profession.

So you've got a friend who is a certified welder AND a

Miller Thunderbolt XL 225 AC/DC.

which is a great stick.

I've an Everlast 300A, which is a good stick, and bought a YESWELDER MIG-205DS because it was on sale for ~$320. And I needed LESS power.
/edit - I had used the Everlast for (among other things) to patch some holes in a mower deck. It was touchy getting it turned down so it didn't blow holes in the 10 gauge.

I'd suggest you keep the Miller and look about for another lower price Mig that your friend might support.

 

[K5lwq]

For thin wall stuff a 120V Mig will be fine. Keep the stick for the bigger stuff and spend some time with your friend that is a good welder. He can teach you some tricks that will get you going.

 

[California]

Again, thanks to all. Will have to sell my Miller Stick to afford the quality equipment all recommended. Offered to sell previously but no local takers. Have a Miller Thunderbolt XL 225 AC/DC. Maybe I was asking too much, don't know. Not into shipping anything.

I'll take a different approach from the advice you see in this thread:

You have two pro-grade welders for heavier material. You could get started in the world of MIG with a very inexpensive dual-voltage MIG for your lighter work. See my review thread of my flux-only Amico 130A over on WeldingSite to illustrate the absolute cheapest end of the wire-welder market. $149! +$30 for a four year exchange warranty. You don't need to deal with a local welding store for support. You wouldn't need to sell anything to afford a hobby-grade welder.

I've had this a year now and I love it. It's the ideal fill-in for work lighter than what a stick welder does well. At that cost, who cares if its a throw-away after 4 years - and this seems unlikely if no problems have appeared by then.

Amazon has listings for the YESWELDER MIG-205DS that newbury mentioned, and several lesser cost/quality brands. Many MIG's under $200. Just research to find which are real brands (Yeswelder, Amico) and which are one-time batches. This is something new, cheap welders intended for the DIY market at maybe a fifth of the cost of a professional welder.

Just a thought. You might prefer to start with expensive pro gear supported by a local vendor. But there are now alternatives that didn't exist until recently.

 

[JimRB]

I have a Handler 130 that I kept popping the 20 amp breaker. Breaker may be worn out. I bought an Everlast 230I dual input voltage. I installed patches on a Scag mower deck. Worked great. I think that metal was 11 gauge. Welding seems better with the 240 volt machine than the 120 Handler. Could be that I had the roller tension wrong on my old Handler. I should probably get rid of the Handler but it runs off my Honda 5000 generator. Not sure if the Everlast would. That said I have only used the Handler away from the farm twice.

Before I got the 230i i put money down on a Lincoln welder of the same capacity. After waiting 6 months and no product due to the China flu I ordered the Everlast. Yes, many vendors are selling Chinese welders with American names on them. Yes, they may say it is American engineered blah blah blah. Just pick what you like. Note that support from Northern Tool or Harbor Freight may be different than Everlast, Hobart, Miller, Esab, Lincoln ...

I also have an Everlast tig welder. Kind of want a plasma cutter but I just bought a new bicycle that really blew through my toy budget for a few years. I do need some 1" square tubing benders to fix a trailer, unless I find someone around that can bend things for me. Note I am not a welder but I weld. Just like I am not a machinist but I have a small metal lathe and a mill.

 

[Spike56]

If you don't have someone knowledgeable to work with in person consider taking a welding course to get you started.Buying a welder is like buying a vehicle, so many options its hard to do if you if you don't know what you want. Even harder if you've never driven before...

Good idea about taking a course, but that is next to impossible where I live. Have researched it exhaustively. The closest is about 70 miles away and it is a "full" course, which I am still working so can't attend. There was a "continuing ED" class at one time (about 35 miles away) but the community college stopped offering it.
The problem with working with my friend (certified) is the same. When he is working, so am I. On the weekends, it is next to impossible to hook up with him... family, errands, cattle. on and on.
So, while that is a terrific thought, it is just impractical. My friend also is mainly a fence / gate welder and is out in the field with his Lincoln generator machine. So, he mainly does stick. I still could learn a lot from him, but again, just can't hook up easily if at all.