MIG Welder for Beginner/Light Use

[KennyG]

I would guess the HF machines are a reasonable choice and dual voltage (rather than 110 only) would be a good idea. My Lincoln is 220 only and there have been a few times a 110 machine would have been handy. My only real contribution is to buy good wire. I know people who have become very frustrated with wire breaks and snarls. In almost 15 years I've never had a wire feed problem and I use only Lincoln wire.

 

[5030]

Dollar for Dollar, I feel HF machines really aren't the steal they used to be. Their Cheap cheap ones are extremely primitive, their middle of the road ones aren't cheap but offer less features (without increasing quality) over the better cheap ones of Amazon/Vevor. The Vulcan line up are pretty dang expensive for what they are. I kinda see it, if you need (are willing to pay for) Vulcan, then get Hobart/Miller/Lincoln. If you don't need that level, the direct importers are the way to go.

The exchange part mentioned by 5030 is the only advantage I see with mid tier HF, and the bottom tier, I would avoid. I have a Cichago Eletroc blue, 150amp (maybe 180 amp?), AC/DC transformer, and although it works, the sliding bar current setting, non-dinse connectors, ect, very very primitive.

I totally disagree. Have you priced welders lately? I bet not. I weld own a welding and fab shop, you don't. Enough said. The Vulcan line is as advanced as any welder on the market today at any comparable price point. Same with the Titanium plasma cutters. Everything today is transformerless IGBT, so0lid state.

 

[5030]

I would guess the HF machines are a reasonable choice and dual voltage (rather than 110 only) would be a good idea. My Lincoln is 220 only and there have been a few times a 110 machine would have been handy. My only real contribution is to buy good wire. I know people who have become very frustrated with wire breaks and snarls. In almost 15 years I've never had a wire feed problem and I use only Lincoln wire.

I've experimented with may different wires and I've found from experience that INE wires work the best for me and the price is good as well. At least Lincoln draws their wire at their Euclid, Ohio plant. My dad retired from there btw.

 

[5030]

Candidly, I don't much care what you buy or use. I know what I need for my business and that is what I purchase. I do admit I own a Lincoln Ranger engine drive ac-dc high frequency smaw welder as well for field jobs. It's a good transformer machine with a rock solid Kohler cast iron block engine. It's 35 years old, bought it new and will never sell it.

 

[garry1p]

I use Forney Flux Core Wire in my HF 125 FCW and recommend it over the Vulcan wire sold at HF

 

[YanmarFever]

If you want a decent welder buy a Hobart , Lincoln, or Miller, you will pay more , but the machine will outlast you and your kids can inherit it someday.
I was a welder for over 30 yrs and for 12 yrs I burned a 30lb spool of 0.45 wire a day welding irrigation equipment then ornamental iron security doors.
I always bought quality welders (Miller) they can run 8 hrs non stop and parts are made here in the US.
chinese welders are cheap because they are made from garbage components, you get what you pay for.

I realize a lot of you are just hobbyists, or want a welder for repairs and the chinese model will do that, but for the long run buy American made,
you wont regret it.

When I retired from welding full time, I sold my US welders many years later for the same price I paid for them in the early 80s.

 

[etpm]

I have been welding for a long time. About 20 years ago I bought a heavily used Lincoln SP125 plus MIG welder for $250.00 that also came with a medium sized gas cylinder. That welder is still going strong. I also have a slightly older SP 100 welder and it also still works great. As near as I can tell the only difference between the welders is the model name.
I use the SP125 Plus for MIG welding and the SP 100 for flux core welding. These machines have infinitely variable wire speed and voltage. For me this is a huge benefit because I can fine tune the welding. If you want a USA made machine and don't mind used these machines are a good bet if the price is right. Though they would be over 20 years old.
I also have a Miller that is good for 300 amps continuous. It's a beast. And way more machine than you want or need.
However, imported machines have really come up in quality and reliability. And down in weight because of the use of inverter technology. I feel that this is a bonus. The machines use less electricity. And inverter technology is now a mature technology that is well understood, so reliability for inverter machines has gone up.
Most of the light welding I do now is flux core. It is cheaper after all and the weld strength should be the same as MIG.
Because import machines have gotten better they may deliver the best bang for the buck, even if compared to a used Lincoln, Hobart, or Miller. If I was you and were going to buy an import machine I would try to buy a dual voltage machine because if you ever get 240 power installed it makes a big difference in what you can weld.
Other folks have said that Project Farm on YouTube has some reviews on these small welders. I have always found his advice to be good. So if an import machine is in your future check out Project Farm.
Eric

 

[paulsharvey]

Let's take the Titanium Unlumited 140. It's 110v only, $599.99, and is less powerful, double the price, then a lot of the Vevor/Yeswelder/others, all with only a 90 day warranty.

 

[dlctcg]

MIG Welder for Beginner/Light Use... So, like you (back in 2018) I was looking for a welder & after all my going back & forth on this & that... I wound up purchasing the HF Vulcan OmniPro 220 (their Vulcan machines were not out yet... & I scored it on sale for $799)... So, I'm no welder, I'm a grinder (welder will understand that...lol) but the HF welder has been first class & even makes me look good. My brother is heavy equipment mechanic & certified welder & has used my HF welder many... many times helping me with project at our place & is always impressed by it...

As others stated, no matter what you buy... definitely try for a dual voltage welder, the 220V does make a difference & as your skills grow it nice to have the option... After having my welder for only a few month I installed the 220... same machine... big difference.

 

[paulsharvey]

I'm not arguing they are bad (Titanium/Vulcan), just that they Are more money than equivalent imports, and that if you Need the higher end machine, in that case, go with a better machine.

I would advice anyone to skip the Chicago Electric welders. They do work, but you will regret the purchase later, and wish you had put the $150 towards a $250 machine.