Blessed with 3 welders, which to keep? Why?

[bobfeather]

from some one that has done a ton of welding do not part with the stick machine !! little migs have their place but you can do anything with a stick welder with the right prep
bob

 

[AJ Clark]

Not being a fan of AC arc welders I would suggest selling the AC stick and the hobart to buy a AC/DC arc welder like a Miller thunderbolt XL. I have had one for 3 years with outstanding service. The DC capability will give you a more stable arc which will produce stronger welds.....I great welder is better than 2 "ok" welders any day of the week.
Just my 2 cents......
That Miller 135 is an excellent little mig also..

 

[Soundguy]

Due to my uncle's recent passing I now have 3 welders, a Lincoln stick 225 ac, a miller 135 mig with large gas bottle and cart and I already had a Hobart handler 120 mig with small gas bottle. I will be putting electric in the barn next month. I don't do a lot of welding but in the short time I have owned the farm there have been some tractor mods I would have liked to do along with things around the farm. I use a 5000watt generator for power right now. I thought I would sell one of the welders and keep one at home and one at the farm. Your suggestions/opinions are valued. I am in Northern Kentucky if anyone is looking for a like new welder after I get a consensus here on TBN. I am looking for a big anvil for the barn too and forging equipment. Projects I want to build include a swing arm post hole digger holder when not in use and beefy strap hinges for the barn doors.

Keep all 3 or sell one of the migs that you like the least.. for whatever reason.

The stick ain't as perty'.. but it will weld the bajeebers out of thick metal, when needed..

some experience under your gloves, and a patient hand.. and an ac stick welder will do lots of work.. maybee not as nice as mig.. but it will get 'er done.

I have a hobart 235AC stickmate XL.. it's first job at my farm was to weld a wing hinge back on my 15' batwing.... That welder cost me about 230$... the farm call for the local mobile welder to come out and do the same job was double that... I figure anything else I've done with it has been 'gravy' 2x over now..

soundguy

 

[3RRL]

Due to my uncle's recent passing I now have 3 welders, a Lincoln stick 225 ac, a miller 135 mig with large gas bottle and cart and I already had a Hobart handler 120 mig with small gas bottle. I will be putting electric in the barn next month. I don't do a lot of welding but in the short time I have owned the farm there have been some tractor mods I would have liked to do along with things around the farm. I use a 5000watt generator for power right now. I thought I would sell one of the welders and keep one at home and one at the farm. Your suggestions/opinions are valued. I am in Northern Kentucky if anyone is looking for a like new welder after I get a consensus here on TBN. I am looking for a big anvil for the barn too and forging equipment. Projects I want to build include a swing arm post hole digger holder when not in use and beefy strap hinges for the barn doors.

I would keep all three also.
Take one of the migs home and keep the AC stick and one mig at the farm.
There will be times you don't want to, or don't have time completely clean, strip paint or rust off something that needs fixing right away. An AC stick with 6011 rod will work for stuff like that. Plus, you can keep them set up for different repairs or projects without a lot of switching around.... even moving them from one place to the other.
I have 4 welders at the ranch plus one oxy/acetylene set up and use them all. The oxy/acet is used for cutting and heating mostly. The other 4 are a TIG that can also stick weld AC and DC, two AC buzz boxes and one diesel/generator AC/DC stick combo.
(OK, a little overboard in my case.)

 

[2manyrocks]

Please keep in mind that a welder can throw sparks about 35 feet if I am remembering the safety warnings accurately. I have some concerns about welding around a barn with well seasoned lumber or other stuff that can catch fire. Besides wiring the barn, please think about what you can realistically do to avoid a fire.

If they are good units, I'd hang on to the stick and at least one mig.

 

[Soundguy]

Awe schucks.. if you havn't started a few grease fires.. you havn't welded enough yet!

soundguy

 

[Wheatland KB]

Not being a fan of AC arc welders I would suggest selling the AC stick and the hobart to buy a AC/DC arc welder like a Miller thunderbolt XL. I have had one for 3 years with outstanding service. The DC capability will give you a more stable arc which will produce stronger welds.....I great welder is better than 2 "ok" welders any day of the week.
Just my 2 cents......
That Miller 135 is an excellent little mig also..

This is my feeling as well. A 110V Mig unit is limited to fairly light stuff but will really shine there. If you were to get rid of one of the Migs and the AC stick, You might be able to afford a nice 230Amp AC/DC stick. DC welding is superior im many situations but you would be able to get by most farm applications with an AC machine.
One more thing to consider is that you can use the stick in outdoor settings where the Mig (gas sheilded) is best used out of the breeze.

KB