Help me decide

[BrentD]

I posted this same thread over at WeldingWeb so I could get a broader opinion base. I'm trying to make a decision on what I want for Christmas this year and have a tough choice to make. I already have a Harbor Freight 110Amp MIG (the 94164 model) and a Harbor Freight oxy/acetylene rig.

My choices are a used Miller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DC arc welder or a new Harbor Freight Inverter Plasma Cutter. The Miller I can get for $350. The plasma cutter I can get on sale for $650 and then I have another 20% off coupon...

If you had to choose what would you get and why?

 

[firefighter9208]

Plasma cutter. I don't know anything about the Harbor Freight one, though.

Chris

 

[JB4310]

The stick welder, you already have a torch.

I've survived, even thrived some of the last 27 years of being in contracting business with out a plasma cutter, could not of with out a stick welder.

 

[shaqer74]

I posted this same thread over at WeldingWeb so I could get a broader opinion base. I'm trying to make a decision on what I want for Christmas this year and have a tough choice to make. I already have a Harbor Freight 110Amp MIG (the 94164 model) and a Harbor Freight oxy/acetylene rig.

My choices are a used Miller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DC arc welder or a new Harbor Freight Inverter Plasma Cutter. The Miller I can get for $350. The plasma cutter I can get on sale for $650 and then I have another 20% off coupon...

If you had to choose what would you get and why?

Plasma Cutter! But sorry to say your 20% off coupon most likely is only good for regular price?

 

[BrentD]

Plasma Cutter! But sorry to say your 20% off coupon most likely is only good for regular price?

My local HF has never given me any problems using 20% off coupons off the sale price. I bought my MIG on sale, then used a 20% off coupon on top of that. Total for the Welder and the extended warranty was only $150 before taxes at that time.

 

[bobodu]

Stick welder if you wanna do some real work. Plasma cutter if you wanna make sheet metal cut out signs. Like someone else said (more or less)...I've lived plenty long and hard without plasma but you can't mend a plow without a good welder.

 

[Kevin M]

Another vote for the stick welder ! You just cant beat a good welding machine!

 

[careyo63]

Stick Welder, even my elcheapo has worked good in getting me out of quite a few jams over the years. Thinking of it I believe it been one of the best Harbor Frieght items I've bought over the years.

Carey

 

[BHD]

I my self would vote for the welder,

unless I was interested in cutting a lot of light materials, Yes I want a nice plasma cutter, but so far for 40+ years I have got buy with out but I could not have done it with out the welder,

 

[2ndgenguy]

+1 for the welder. Can't get by without a good stick welder, not if you want to weld anything tractor worthy. Plasmas seem to keep getting cheaper anyway.

 

[oldhippy]

Should you decide to go with a plasma cutter you might consider a Parker plasma cutter. I bought one last week and it cuts better than the high dollar plasma cutters that we have at work. I pretty much don't have a stick welder but could hook up cables to my TIG and use it. Stick welders have been used forever and work great. I would say go for both.
big dan

 

[jaquetarr]

I vote for the welder. In most cases it's already broke & you need to put it back together. Or you're making something & need to join all that flatbar.
The Plasma cutter is nice, but You'll use the welder 10:1
I got both. When you need the plasma cutter, nothing else will do, but the welder will get more day to day use.

Rgds,
tim

 

[Steve C]

I posted this same thread over at WeldingWeb so I could get a broader opinion base. I'm trying to make a decision on what I want for Christmas this year and have a tough choice to make. I already have a Harbor Freight 110Amp MIG (the 94164 model) and a Harbor Freight oxy/acetylene rig.

My choices are a used Miller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DC arc welder or a new Harbor Freight Inverter Plasma Cutter. The Miller I can get for $350. The plasma cutter I can get on sale for $650 and then I have another 20% off coupon...

If you had to choose what would you get and why?

I would get the ac/dc welder. I bought a used Montgomery Ward 250 amp AC/DC machine 30 years ago and it is one of the best tools I have ever owned. I have built wood stoves, trailer hitches and trailers with it. I have just recently purchased a lightly used 295 Amp AC version of the same welder for $75. It is a very nice running machine. Now I have a welder for every barn. When you have to put down a lot of metal with good penetration, nothing beats a stick welder!

I think the thunderbolt is priced a little high....unless it is very new...

 

[NBstunter]

right now i have a 300 amp arc welder and a flux core mig. i SOOO want a plasma cutter! id go for the plasma cutter but you do already have a torch. i had the arc welder a year before i got the mig i have had the mig 2 months and havent used the arc for welding 1 thing since. mig is the best all around welder if you ask me. the arc is only good if you plan to be welding something an inch thick or more.

 

[BrentD]

I think the thunderbolt is priced a little high....unless it is very new...

It's a 2003 model, has never been outside the shop and comes with 2 100 foot welding cables

 

[Steve C]

It's a 2003 model, has never been outside the shop and comes with 2 100 foot welding cables

The cables are worth half the price of the welder! It is a good deal if you have a use for such long cables.

local craigs list ad

http://saginaw.craigslist.org/tls/1501427924.html

Miller Thunderbolt Welder - $150 (Bay City)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2009-12-08, 8:13PM EST
Reply to: sale-5gpsq-1501427924@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Nice stick Welder, some extra rods, nice xmas present 989 686 0601


•Location: Bay City
•it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

 

[bobodu]

the arc is only good if you plan to be welding something an inch thick or more.

Oh that's funny!!!
I guess the door panels on my truck must weigh 8400 lbs. each....

 

[jenkinsph]

Get the stick welder, of your choices it is the better quality tool and with long leads you will be satisfied with this purchase.

The best way to setup a good shop is to buy good tools as you can afford them, and stay away from cheap tools.

 

[JB4310]

I said get the stick cause the mig you have is incapable of heavy work, if you already had a 200 amp mig then you could probably get away without a stick.

That thunderbolt is an excellent all around machine, I have the same thing I just bought off GL, I had the ac only version of it for 30+ years so when I saw the dc version I figured I couldn't go wrong.

Came with the little 8 ft leads which are worthless to me, I already had 25 footers. 100 footers are almost to much, cut em in half and make 2 sets, sell one and get some money back.

 

[NBstunter]

Oh that's funny!!!
I guess the door panels on my truck must weigh 8400 lbs. each....

ok let me ref-raze that a stick welder is only not a pain in the *** on metal close to an inch thick. for normal little jobs its so much easier to use a mig instead of changing rods and dealing with the stick of an arc welder on welding something thin.