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Help chosing a welder

NullSmurf

NullSmurf

Das Bruce
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
7,858
Location
Aurora, CO USA
Besides drawing an arc with a screwdriver blade, I have never welded. It seems I have had a number of small job needs every year. However, before I chose, what can you tell me?

It appears that 110V MIG or wire feed welder should do.
 
Millers are the only way to weld. Go 220V or bigger though.....
 
Miller or Solar.

Like Matt said.................Go 220 if you can but, Miller makes a decent 110v welder if 220 is not an option at all.
 
It's just a hobby thing. I'm not going to pull more wire to my shed, so it'll have to stay 110V. Forgive me for asking the question. I'm likely to wind up with some cheap POS from Harbor Freight, or eBay.
 
NullSmurf said:
It's just a hobby thing. I'm not going to pull more wire to my shed, so it'll have to stay 110V. Forgive me for asking the question. I'm likely to wind up with some cheap POS from Harbor Freight, or eBay.
Click to expand...

Nah! You can get a pretty good Miller 110v welder. You might as well find someone to dothe odd job for you than go buy some POS Bruce.
 
jfields said:
NullSmurf said:
It's just a hobby thing. I'm not going to pull more wire to my shed, so it'll have to stay 110V. Forgive me for asking the question. I'm likely to wind up with some cheap POS from Harbor Freight, or eBay.
Click to expand...

Nah! You can get a pretty good Miller 110v welder. You might as well find someone to dothe odd job for you than go buy some POS Bruce.
Click to expand...

:laugh: I'd rather buy the POS and F* up the job myself!

edit to add: I'll lurk for months, probably. A opportunity for a Miller or similar quality box will present, eventually.
 
I really don't like garage welders, but they work in a pinch.

Get 220, get a gas adaptable welder, you can use fluxcore for lawn decorations, but if you want structural integrity get one you can use some shielding gas with.

Also wire in or have an electrician wire in a seperate 220 circuit from the house, or make sure all computers are turned off before welding.

I don't really have a preference of Miller or Lincoln, my dad's garage welder is a lincoln, the big migs and tigs at the shop are both lincoln and millers, and they all work just fine.
 
NullSmurf said:
It's just a hobby thing. I'm not going to pull more wire to my shed, so it'll have to stay 110V. Forgive me for asking the question. I'm likely to wind up with some cheap POS from Harbor Freight, or eBay.
Click to expand...

Well, then you may as well just throw your money down the toilet.

A "cheap POS" from Harbor Freight or eBay (an even worse idea) won't work very well for very long especially if you have no experience with welding.

Even if you have a good Miller 220v wire feed welder and don't use it very much, the wire gets oxidation built up on it (causing the welder to not function properly, the wire to jamb, etc.) and you won't be very happy with it.

If you don't plan on welding very much then you really shouldn't waste your time buying welding equipment. You're much better off brining your small jobs to a welding shop in the long run.
 
coventrycat86 said:
NullSmurf said:
It's just a hobby thing. I'm not going to pull more wire to my shed, so it'll have to stay 110V. Forgive me for asking the question. I'm likely to wind up with some cheap POS from Harbor Freight, or eBay.
Click to expand...

Well, then you may as well just throw your money down the toilet.

A "cheap POS" from Harbor Freight or eBay (an even worse idea) won't work very well for very long especially if you have no experience with welding.

Even if you have a good Miller 220v wire feed welder and don't use it very much, the wire gets oxidation built up on it (causing the welder to not function properly, the wire to jamb, etc.) and you won't be very happy with it.

If you don't plan on welding very much then you really shouldn't waste your time buying welding equipment. You're much better off brining your small jobs to a welding shop in the long run.
Click to expand...

It'll be the latter for now. I plan to take a class at the community college in the fall and will chose a model then.
 
I bought a Miller mig welder last year, and have loved it thus far. I only have 110v in my garage so I had to go with the Millermatic 135 model. It is great! You could save a bit of money and get the Hobart, which is made by Miller but uses some plastic parts in the drive mechanism.
 
NullSmurf said:
coventrycat86 said:
NullSmurf said:
It's just a hobby thing. I'm not going to pull more wire to my shed, so it'll have to stay 110V. Forgive me for asking the question. I'm likely to wind up with some cheap POS from Harbor Freight, or eBay.
Click to expand...

Well, then you may as well just throw your money down the toilet.

A "cheap POS" from Harbor Freight or eBay (an even worse idea) won't work very well for very long especially if you have no experience with welding.

Even if you have a good Miller 220v wire feed welder and don't use it very much, the wire gets oxidation built up on it (causing the welder to not function properly, the wire to jamb, etc.) and you won't be very happy with it.

If you don't plan on welding very much then you really shouldn't waste your time buying welding equipment. You're much better off brining your small jobs to a welding shop in the long run.
Click to expand...

It'll be the latter for now. I plan to take a class at the community college in the fall and will chose a model then.
Click to expand...

That's an excellent idea, take a welding class and get some suggestions and exposure to some different pieces of equipment and take it from there. :thumbs:
 
Hey Nully,

I was talking to my brother yesterday about your question and he was telling me that companies like Miller do indeed make 110v MIG welders that may suit your needs. These run around $400.00 to $500.00 or so vs a larger 220v unit which you pretty much can't touch for less than $1,300.00 The problems with these 110v units is the duty cycle which are usually around 30% vs a 220v or larger unit which run 60% or better.

He also suggested that if you're looking to take a class, make sure that they teach MIG welding because most times they just teach you how to stick weld.

The main issue is what you want to weld, sheet metal, where those 110v volts units will probably suit your needs BUT if you're going to be welding dirty/rusty metal a MIG unit won't work so well.

If you can, please give me some more details as to what you'd like to weld.

Welding takes LOTS of practice, my brother is a pretty good welder as opposed to me who doesn't fare so well. :D
 
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