Welder Recommendations

[stevem5215]

And of course I'll have to throw in my welder. The Harbor Freight 90amp basic no gas Mig. It's just a cheap welder that I use maybe once or twice a year and if all you are going to do is to fix broken welds or put a hook or two on a bucket and just not use it every day it'll do the job. For better looking welds and anything that you care about get a better one. I'd love to have a DC one too as mentioned the welds are better from them. But cost is a factor and my $85 bucks is working as intended.

 

[gstrom99]

thank you Eddie and Arly.

one of my nbors in the country has a NG relay station welding fabrication business.. I will learn from him. I just today thought of getting my own welder, but wanted to seek your thoughts first. I'll ask my nbor too. Arly, cannot read that make and model? Can you pls post your welder info

30+ years ago I bought a used Ben Parsons 160amp MIG, for like $1k. It's more than paid for itself, several times over. I just replaced the torch (cable from the welder to your hand) 'cuz I melted it through, dragging it over a fresh/hot weld seam. The place I bought the welder from (in like 1987) is not only still in business, but had the "Binzel" torch in stock.

HTP: MIG/TIG/Stick Welders & Plasma Cutters | USA Weld

Buy a good unit (220v if you have that avail), from a local "old time" welding supply house. They were "local" at the time...

 

[rgr33]

Most of my welding is fixing old equipment, and doing favors for neighbors. I don’t do enough work to justify an expensive machine, so I started with a Hobart 140, but after awhile I decided to get a 220 v.

Got a good deal on the Yes 120/240v unit, and keep it at the higher voltage.
In the past 3 weeks, I welded a buddies front bumper back on his old Jeep, and repaired the hitch on a 100 gallon orchard sprayer.
It’s kind of a joke, but I always tell them, “no charge, and no guarantees “

The Hobart is used only for thin metal, and I probably have ruined more things than I have fixed

 

[2manyrocks]

Been a long time since I bought a welder, but I'd say buy an inverter mig welder. Be sure to buy good quality mig wire unless you want to clean off a lot of welding spatter that could have been avoided by buying good wire. Also buy a good helmet to protect your eyes and some decent welding gloves.

 

[LouNY]

Been a couple of years since I bought a welder.
My Lincoln AC stick welder was purchased in the late 70's,
then my Hobart Handler was bought in the mid 80's.

There is a small Miller stick welder sitting on a shelve in the back corner that I have never plugged in,
got it for free when I bought my old milling machine 15-20 years ago.

Then my wife just bought me a little ARCCAPTAIN TIG200PACDC which hasn't even been plugged in yet.
Been acquiring the miscellaneous bits and pieces to use it.
This may be interesting, I used to be quite proficient with torch welding and I had a welder back in the 80's that showed me how to TIG and coached me a bit when the job was slow.

 

[5030]

2 suggestions only... One, go to Harbor Freight and buy the welder you want. One, they have an iron clad guarantee two they are everywhere so no need to buy online or from Amascon becauae if the mail order welder fails, you are SOL and HF welders are very competitive, price wise.

Any welder you buy today (new), will be an IGBT machine. Transformer welders are no longer produced. I prefer a transformer welder but you can only buy them used today.

I would not buy a 110 volt welder and moden welders today are usually dual voltage anyway so at some point you get 220 in the shop, garage, you are in business.

220 welders are capable of a lot more amperage that a 110V welder, and IGBT machines atr very user friendly, the higher end IGBT machines even come with pre sets to make welding even easier.

For me, brand is inconsequential. All do the same thing basically so I buy mine from Harbor Freight. I realize they are built offshore but the days of domestically built welders are long gone. Even Lincoln Electric which is assembled here (Euclid, Ohio) are made with imported parts.

Myself, I own 2 HF welders, a TIG machine and a MIG machine that euns gas or gasless. I also own a Linclon gas driven ad/dc stick machine and 2 Hobart Handlers, 190 amp transformer machines plus 2 HF plasma cutters and a Hyper Therm plasma cutter. They get used almost every day as I own and operate a welding and machine shop.

Again, before jumping into ANY welder, go on HF's website and take a hard look at their machines. You won't be disapointed.

 

[welderskelter]

Hello to all,

In my 60's and have had a ranch for 30 yrs. Any and all metal fixes I have taken to a nbor, but now it's time to get my own welder.

My main applications would be fixing existing broken things [like BBQ pits, metal fence, farm machinery, etc]. I am sure if I enhance my welding skills, I will engage in many other metal-based projects if I had one.

Looking for make and models of welders that would fit my needs. I know you get what you pay for, and not looking for really cheap products, but do not want to bust the bank either. If you have any questions, pls let me know?

Thank you in-advance for your help & suggestions!

If you have all new metal and looking for much work being done then buy a wire welder if you want. But sounds like you dont want to break the bank. Watch craigslist and pick up a good ac-dc machine. An ideal-arc 250 Lincoln would fit you nicely. Thats what I have. Lincoln is the smoothest. Trust me.

 

[mediplt]

I bought a cheap wire welder with an option for using rods. Then watched a lot of YouTube videos. I am no pro but I got the general concept before I went through the first spool of flux wire.
This is the one I found on Amazon.

135A Flux Core MIG Welder, 110V 3-IN-1 MIG/ARC/Lift TIG Welding Machine with 1 lb .030'' Wire, MIG Torch and 5 PCS Rods, Gasless Welder with IGBT, DC Inverter, Synergy For Repair Work​

Now I am willing to look at a better quality welder. 75$ was worth gambling to see if I could do it. I spent a minuim of 75$ everytime I had to take my projects to a welder. Now I only take him serious work that could threaten my life if my weld didn't hold. My welds are not nearly as pretty as his but I haven't had one fail yet. Welding with wire is really easy, much easier than stick welding...

Good luck

 

[kpsp50]

Look up PrimeWeld you can get the 180 mig which is 110/220 volt, flux core/gas, stick and also comes with a spool gun for aluminum welding all for $500 with a 3 year warranty shipped to your door good luck