welding supplies

texasjohn · Jul 7, 2006

I've just gotten a Miller 175 MIG welder. Where is the best place to get supplies such as tips, liners, welding wire, gas, etc. Options in my area include:

TSC
Home Depot
Harbor Freight
somewhere on the internet.. I buy lots on the internet... where to go?
Alamo Welding Supply in Austin (haven't fouind a closer welding store)

Opinions welcome... particularly regarding internet sources.

hudr · Jul 7, 2006

I have a wonderful GasTech welding supply store about 30 miles from me (a bunch of employees that weren't satisfied when AirGas bought out a local store). I use them for bottle rent and what-not. But, for lots of consumables, I use the Harbor Freight store in the same area. Matter of fact, I just finished ordering a set of leads for my old Lincoln AC225 from the HF online store.

ronjhall · Jul 8, 2006

Have you tried TSC. Looks like there are couple stores around Austin. They carry Hobart supplies. The local one by me has all the tips for my gun and many other supplies.
I bought supplies and welder from http://http://store.cyberweld.com/. Good service and OK prices.

MadReferee · Jul 8, 2006

texasjohn said:
I've just gotten a Miller 175 MIG welder. Where is the best place to get supplies such as tips, liners, welding wire, gas, etc.

Why not go to the Miller web site (www.millerwelds.com) and select "Where to Buy" to find you local welding supply shop that carries Miller products. They will have all the consumables that you will need. When I had my MM175 all I ever used was tips and a nozzle. I would not worry about a liner as the one in the gun will handle .023 and .030 wire and I doubt you will ever wear it out.

You can also let your fingers do the walking and check the yellow pages. For an on-line dealer I use www.weldingsupply.com.

Shop around for wire and C25 gas. Prices will vary significantly from dealer to dealer. For example, my Miller dealer's prices on shielding gas is way higher than a large regional distributor. You also have the option of buying or leasing tanks. I bought mine and exchanged every time.

My MM175 liked Harbor Freight .030 and .023 wire. It was cheap and worked fine for everything I was using it for. If I was going to weld high pressure pipe welding or something similarly critical I probably would have gone to a much better wire with a significantly higher price.

You'll like the MM175. I did all my projects on one until this spring when I upgraded to a MM251.

RobJ · Jul 8, 2006

About anywhere really. Welding supply store will usually be the highest price. I'd look for the best deal and easiest to get to.

PBinWA · Jul 8, 2006

For tips and liners you will have to go to a welding store or online retailer that deals with Miller/Hobart parts. Home Depot only carries Lincoln and the tips and liners don't interchange "properly". (you could probably get the tip in but it wouldn't be seated properly).

Most welding stores carry Miller and there are lots of welding places on the web and eBay has some dealers using their store services (Quimby).

PB

FamilyFarm · Jul 8, 2006

John,
I have not purchased from them, but in doing some research on purchasing a Miller welder, I found an ebay seller that goes by weldingsuppliesatioc. They have a feedback score of 21,680 with over 700 positive transactions just in the last month! I don't know how their prices compare to local purchases, but they certainly seem to offer just about everything and obviously sell lots of it. From their ebay store, I found this information: "INDIANA OXYGEN CO. IS THE OLDEST WELDING SUPPLY CO. IN AMERICA "UNDER SAME OWNERSHIP", SINCE 1915". I also found their website at www.indianaoxygen.com
I hope this helps.
Terry

MadReferee · Jul 9, 2006

I have bought some stuff from Indiana Oxygen(IOC) from eBay. They are probably one of the largest internet welding supply dealers. They are also highly recommended on several of the welding forums.

However, take their price, which includes shipping for the big stuff, to your local welding supply store and see what kind of deal you can get. When I bought my MM251 this past spring my local MIller dealer had them for just a few dollars less than IOC. Needless to say I bought local. It pays to check around as the internet is not always the cheapest.

bigdad · Jul 9, 2006

For the $$$$ and selection, I like TSC.

texasjohn · Jul 9, 2006

I give you guys'replies a 5 star rating for me! This was exactly what I was looking for... expert advise from them that's doin'

Seems that I'm in a great position... and can now use stuff from TSC or HF without concern.

I'll check the net sources yáll mentioned and I really thank you for them... nothing like getting pointers that work. Using the Miller "where to buy" I located a supplier in Round Rock... 10 miles away and numerous in Austin.

www.weldingsupply.com looks like a supplier where if they don't have it, you don't need it!!

Great to know about weldingsuppliesatioc and www.indianaoxygen.com on ebay...

I'm looking forward to checking around and seeing where I can get the stuff I need for reasonable pricexs. I have a bottle, thus only need to get it filled.... after a learning period, I hope to be posting welding reports here.

thanks again, all.. I printed everybody's reply so I can remember it.... !!!