Welder Recommendations

[5030]

I have a PrimeWeld MIG 180 and its the best welder I’ve had. Comes with a no B.S. warranty for three years. This machine will make you look like a pro welder. Primeweld is in New Jersey with a full staff. When you call they answer and help you right away. Best $550 bucks I’ve ever spent. I went the 15 foot Lead and not sorry I did.

They might be in Jersey but I bet the machines come over in a container...

I upped the leads on my Pro Tig to 24 feet as well as the coolant hoses so I can leave the machine by the 220-1 plug and weld in another bay. When increasing the lead length, all one has to do is increase the gage of the leads accordingly. The torch leads as well as the coolant hoses are all sequestered in a zippered sheath so they don't get abraided when dragging across the shop floor.

 

[Runner]

Built by Lincoln Electric and rebadged Monkey Wards.... There is absolutely nothing to fail insude of them other than the contactors getting dirty and that is an easy fix as well. Little sandpaper to remove the oxidadtion on the contacts and that is it. Even my ac/dc is stone simple, just another set of contacts on a physical switch.

Compared to a modern solid state IGBT machine, it's a reliable rock. Being a transformer machine however, they are power hungry.

The old Monkey Wards 225 served in my Dad's shop from the mid 60's to 1991 when he passed, and has been working for me ever since.

 

[5030]

Again, for the umpteeth time, the HF machines are built overseas (as are 99% of welding machines are today but if one fails, you are stuck with dealing with a service center and the resultant wait for it to be repaired, something I cannot have, consequently I went with HF IGBT machines simply because if I have a failure, I don't have to wait at all. Just a trip to my local HF (10 minutes) nets me a new machine. The get the old one back and Get a new one, no charge, under warranty.

Having said that, I have not had any of them fail to date, but there is always a chance. I have 3 of them btw.

Unless you are a electronics wizard (I'm not), repairing an IGBT machine is not in my realm of repairs.

Modern machines are nothing like the old Lincoln Tombstones were, today's welding machines are chock full of components that I cannot fix anway.

Kudo's to Everlast. Bought their water cooler and so far it's run flawlessly, plus the Everlast has a huge coolant tank and a real vane coolant pump as well.

 

[2manyrocks]

I got a Lincoln tombstone in a trade. The issue I saw was the guy''s dad stored it in a humid environment and made the selector switch stick. Other than the selector switch, the insides looked like one big heavy hunk of transformer and that was about it.

 

[LouNY]

The old Monkey Wards 225 served in my Dad's shop from the mid 60's to 1991 when he passed, and has been working for me ever since.
View attachment 3631757

Nice cart and setup.

 

[paulsharvey]

Man, I know those old Tomb stones are known for working forever; but in today's age; it's very very bulky, heavy, and more money than more capable machines. It looks like TSC still sells an AC only version, for $550. It is 240v only, AC only, has a power cord that's only 6 ft long, and doesn't even have DINSE connectors. I dont see how Anyone could recommend that in 2025.

Now, if you have one, no reason to get rid of it. If you get a used one, for Cheap, keep in mind just replacing leeds, stinger and ground, might cost more than the box itself.

 

[paulsharvey]

Heck, did some searching, and unlike modern welders, the AC225A is rated at 20% duty cycle, at all outputs... Now, I have Zero doubt that at 80 amps, you can probably run it close to 100%, but not according to the manual. I dont "think" they actually even have a auto trip duty cycle; meaning your warning is the burning wire smell


Edit: I know i sound like I have a grudge, and I Don't. I like the old Lincolns just fine, but compared to modern alternative, they just aren't a "good" choice for the money.

I often don't agree with 5030, but he's right on this; if easy replacement is a Key, HF is a good option. They are priced above the Amazon ones, and really very very similar, but returns/warranty are easier. Vevor 4 in 1, 185 amp, tig/stick/mig has been a good machine, and it was right around $200. Easy to use too.

If you go Old, transformer, that's fine; but you Want Dinse connectors, and dial adjustments, not taps.... Some old machines had a tap for 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 160, 200. You want more selection; maybe 85 amps is perfect. On mig machines, some of the worst had Hi/Low and that was it....

 

[2manyrocks]

I wouldn't recommend a heavy tombstone welder when the inverter ones are so much lighter to store and to move around. My Lincoln tombstone is sitting on a wheeled cart just to be able to move it.

 

[paulsharvey]

Oh, so, one item i forgot to add to things you might want; a fire extinguisher, or at the very least a 5 gal bucket on sand. You might never need it, but when/if you do; you want something right there handy. Not the time to hunt a hose,

 

[Runner]

Nice cart and setup.

Thanks. I have built a couple of welder carts.