Welder - Should I Upgrade??

[johnnydel29]

I think I have feeling I know what the answer is going to be.

I currently own a Lincoln Pro-mig 140, 110V machine. It works great. As I became more experienced at welding, I began to build and modify implements for my tractor, and I am planning on building more. Fortunately, there is a steel factory near me that sells scrap quite cheap. My machine has done a good job so for, but I feel like I am pushing it, always on the highest heat, and ususally I am welding 1/4" steel. I have had no problems so far, and all the welds held fine. Of course, I would have to go slow and sometimes do multiple passes.

Will a 220v machine make a lot of a diffenerence?? Am I actually making this 110v machine work too hard, since I am welding pretty thick material most of the time?

 

[zzvyb6]

I have the same 110 Lincoln, but did better welds with my old Sears 220v AC buzzbox, even on cast iron. I replaced it with a Miller Thunderbolt, but still miss the old buzz box.

I make it a practice to never repair heavy steel with the 110 unit. I want penetration and weld strength (fix it once).

Yes you will need to locate a convenient 220 outlet. Also make a 50' extension cord for the days when the welder has to go to the machine. I've been known to throw the Miller in the front bucket and take my pto alternator out to the wreck in the back 20....

 

[carpenter383]

You can buy a new lincon stick welder for around $250 I think. That's alot cheaper than a good mig welder. Then when you need to weld thick stuff use it. For thin stuff use the 110 unit. I have an old miller 220 mig. It will weld 1/4" pretty good, but I think a stick welder would still be better for the thick stuff.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

used lincoln AC stick welders around here top dollar is about 100......little different learning curve but for most tractor suff, i much prefer a stick over my little sp135 mig...

 

[Kays Supply]

After 20+ years of using my old AC buzz box, I finally passed it on to my son. I replaced it with a Miller Tig / AC - DC machine. It will do Tig or stick. The DC stick is so much better than the old buzz box. I seldom use the Tig since it welds thin metal or thick so well with the DC stick.

 

[billbill1]

I am not a welder at all so this is just for input purposes. I have always heard that the 110V units were for nothing thicker than 3/16" and that they were best on 1/8" or thinner. You just don't get the penetration you need.

 

[sal64]

220 mig welder is the way to go very easy to weld with , stick welder is harder to use .i have a miller 3 phase i can weld almost any thickness steel or sst.

 

[greenmule]

Yeah,a 220/230 mig is much better than a 110,and yep,you knowed the answer,
Also Any dc stick welder is a tig machine,gotta scratch start and of course you'll need the torch and stuff.

 

[JasG]

I would say the answer depends, how often are you doing heavy welding. I have the same model you have and yes it takes a lot more prep to get a good weld but it can be done on thicker material. As far as wearing the welder out or damage to it, that should not be an issue. Most of the welding I do at home is for a friend and it's all 3/16 and thicker material. At work we had a 220 volt wire welder, a 110 volt and 2 stick welders. We got rid of the 220, due to we always used the 110. If it could not be done with the 110, then we would always use the stick.
If you are going to upgrade, you already have a wire welder, I would go with a stick. Can do so much more. Sticks for every application, cast, hard facing, bolt extraction, high strength etc.

 

[greenmule]

I agree,I got a stick machine don't have a mig machine,I can weld down to 1/8 thickness on steel,and up to whatever thickness,but if I was going to buy a mig machine it would be a 220,wouldn't waste my money on 110.

But,stick welding is a nother world compared to mig welding,if the man has never stick welded,than he would be better off getting a 220 mig,

If this was his first machine and he had never welded would advise him getting a dc stick machine.