what type of 110V welder to get ac/dc/mig/tig

[merrickvilleguy]

Keep in mind I haven't the foggiest what I am doing (last time I used a welder was an oxy/acetylene ... and its getting prohibitively expensive to get gas around here these days)

I am looking to do general repairs around the farm (like fixing the coulter brackets on my 10-153)

 

[sjames]

110 machines are really too small for farm repairs.

If you are on a budget, keep an eye on craigslist for a older ac/dc stick welder.

if you are not on a budget, then get something like a bobcat or ranger.

 

[Agrantina]

yes the 110 are to small for most things around farm equ, I would say a mig for fabrication is by far the best but it doesn't like rust, paint just new metal. Unless you are willing to grind off the junk. A stick you can weld in wind and thru rust or paint but it has it draw backs like rods and cosmetic look. I have both but rarely use the stick anymore. Look here they have pretty good deals. Cyberweld.com - Welding Supplies - Miller, Hobart & More

AndyG

 

[/pine]

I have had no problem welding 1/4 angle, plate steele with a 110 140 'Handler'

I fabricated a bucket grapple using mostly 1/4" stock and have put it through the paces grappling logs etc that are just about at the loader lifting capacity...all the welds are sound...

The welder is very portable...especially using flux core wire and it being 110 makes it very convenient...

Granted I also have 220 AC/DC stick machine for anything bigger than 5/16 which is what the 'Handler' say is the max for that welder...

plus the 'Handler' handles (no pun intended) is ideal for welding cracks in thinner material like mower decks etc...

 

[merrickvilleguy]

Ya I came to the same conclusion when I started shopping around ... at least the stick welders are relatively cheap considering how infrequent they would be used

That was the problem I had with my gas welder, Hadn't been used since we bought the farm last year and the mice ate my hoses that were just hanging off the tanks ... Thought this would be a good time to go electric.

Rob

 

[Kernopelli]

I have had no problem welding 1/4 angle, plate steele with a 110 140 'Handler'

I fabricated a bucket grapple using mostly 1/4" stock and have put it through the paces grappling logs etc that are just about at the loader lifting capacity...all the welds are sound...

The welder is very portable...especially using flux core wire and it being 110 makes it very convenient...

Granted I also have 220 AC/DC stick machine for anything bigger than 5/16 which is what the 'Handler' say is the max for that welder...

plus the 'Handler' handles (no pun intended) is ideal for welding cracks in thinner material like mower decks etc...

Couldn't agree more. I love my 110V mig. I too use flux core wire for convenience. I also have a Lincoln Tombstone arc welder for the heavy stuff but find myself using the mig 90% of the time. I have found that welding 3/8" is no problem with good prep and technique.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

If you do an analysis of the weld, you will find that the 110V mig does not get full penetration on the 1/4 in material. And on 3/8" it will appear to be only surface deep. Yes you can make it hold, maybe. But structurally, the welds are not what a 220V 200 amp unit will make. Flux core does have a little more penetration, and is one reason it is so popular on these small units. Of course, I am talking single pass weld, which you'd typically have in a farm scenario. You can weld up to 1 inch or greater with a 110V mig if you have the patience of Job. But it may not be practical.

I grew up in the grading and clearing business. One day a guy questioned my dad why he charged so much money for clearing oak trees. He said he knew of a guy that would do it for half my dad's hourly price. My dad knew the guy he was talking about, and he had something like a 350 John Deere, and my Dad had a larger 1150 Case. My dad's response: You can hire someone to dig these trees up with a spoon if you want... Point made. The guy hired my dad.AND... My point is that 110V's have their place, but a 220V larger mig can accomplish things a lot faster and more efficiently.

 

[/pine]

My point is that 110V's have their place, but a 220V larger mig can accomplish things a lot faster and more efficiently.

it's a trade off...full penetration (on heavier stock) for convenience...If I had 220/240 service everywhere I have 110 outlets I would have bought a higher performing portable...

most "farm repairs" welds don't need to be x-rayed
Also most repair jobs (compared to beefy fabrications) are not so big that a little extra time to make more than one pass is not a factor on heavier stock...

an expert with a stock of different rods may be able to repair a crack in lighter (sheetmetal) material...but for the average (non-professional) welder the 110 units are superb...IMO...

 

[_RaT_]

I was talking to a welder today about his MIG welder he was using on a very custom fence, a Miller Passport. Super light for ultra portability, could go 120 or 240V and after looking at the Miller site, it has a bunch of power even in 120V configuration. I don't think I have seen a 120 unit with as much power but havent really looked at these what I think are inverter based welders. Any experience with them? My old Millermatic 90 is definitely not strong enough for most of the welding I do. For critical welds I always go back to stick. If I had a larger MIG I would reconsider it. As mentioned, you need to have a clean surface with MIG.

 

[gauthier]

Will don't get an ac only buzz,get you a known brand

Best thing to get that would serve many procceses dc welder,good one 220 plug in,dutycycle is very important muli procces welder[]mig/stich fluxcore and tig..

And the best machine to get in that catagory,is a welder generator