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Hey Everybody I'm back with a rather simple question. What is a good affordable (not cheap but not a "asking for a bank loan" either) type of welder to use for multiple tasks around seemingly easy areas. I have set out for buying a whole new truck bed to replace my rusty hole ridden bed and cab floors that a raccoon can fit through and bite me when unaware (drunk) in the backyard fiddlin' around at night in this thing...as I normally do. Anyway any MIG or Flux core welders to do jobs like I said and more would really help. I been looking, but I'd like to hear some personal recommendations on some good long lasting ones out there from y'all.
Thanx
WhichDoc
ok ok... I was lookin' at that handy earlier today. Thought about it and it's in a great price range too...I like Lincoln products...I'm terrified to spend my money at Harbor Freight for something like this unless somebody can give me a better viewpoint of them. Lookin good guys thanks and keep em coming!
I like for small work a Lincoln Weldpac 100 from Lowe's with the gas set up (I am sure they all come with the regulator now days, but they use to NOT come with it, you had to buy is separate.
And YES on the argon because it makes for a cleaner weld and less slag clean up. 120V makes for no need to run another 220 in the power box, since the compressor should already be in that one.
I have an older 220 Lincoln for the stick welding, bumpers-frames ect.... and ESAB for the heavy duty wire feed jobs. I also have a Miller stick one at work and can use it too.
I am partial to Miller welders - - Miller 140 MIG, a Miller 211 MIG, and a Diversion 180 TIG.
Why two MIGs? So I don't have to swap wires when switching from bodywork using the .023 in the 140 to fabrication with .030 in the 211.
The 140 uses a 20A household circuit and can weld up to 3/16th with proper prep. The 211 uses a multi-voltage plug... 120v or 240v and with the latter can weld 5/16th with prep. The 140 is awesome for bodywork. The TIG is for usually for aluminum, stainless, and detailed exhaust work.
I never use flux core. It's OK for farmwork though IMO.
I am partial to Miller welders - - Miller 140 MIG, a Miller 211 MIG, and a Diversion 180 TIG.
Why two MIGs? So I don't have to swap wires when switching from bodywork using the .023 in the 140 to fabrication with .030 in the 211.
The 140 uses a 20A household circuit and can weld up to 3/16th with proper prep. The 211 uses a multi-voltage plug... 120v or 240v and with the latter can weld 5/16th with prep. The 140 is awesome for bodywork. The TIG is for usually for aluminum, stainless, and detailed exhaust work.
I never use flux core. It's OK for farmwork though IMO.
How do you like that Diversion 180? I've been eyeballing it for over a year now, but haven't had the time to play with one at my local welding shop. I think it would be a great compliment to my Lincoln 215XT with 030 wire.
Don't bother with fluxcore. Dual voltage is great because you can take the welder where you might not have 220 and weld elsewhere...helping your buddies. I have a Miller 211 as well and love it. Lincoln and Miller and others are all good but whichever you choose keep in mind that you'll probably end up using it more than you anticipate, once you've got the equipment and capability. I suffered with a substandard welder for years, cursing it and thinking I was a lousy welder...I guess I'm not so bad, just had a bad welder. Spend enough so that the tool won't limit you...you'll save in the long run as will the finesse and safety of your resulting job. Also, haven't heard anything about them, but good online feedback, regarding the welders from Eastwood. Surprisingly decent prices.
I've got the 135 Eastwood unit. It does what I need it to body-wise. Got it during a "$179 plus free shipping sale" a few years ago. Not sure they'll get that low again.
How do you like that Diversion 180? I've been eyeballing it for over a year now, but haven't had the time to play with one at my local welding shop. I think it would be a great compliment to my Lincoln 215XT with 030 wire.
It's great but I definitely need more practice before building very visible parts or a fuel tanks. The latter is my ultimate goal for now.
To the OP, ya might wanna look into ESAB's latest line of machines.
They even have an "all-in-one" machine that can MIG, TIG, and stick. That Ian guy on SpikeTV's "Extreme Offroad" has been using one lately...
You said you needed a welder for general use, but then seemed to home in on sheet metal. A MIG with gas is the only way to go for that. If you really do need something for general use, with some practice, you can use 5/64" rod and do what you need to do on sheet metal, but it will be much more time consuming because you will have to do LOTS of cleaning between tacks. You will have to weld sheet metal with a series of tacks, not a bead of weld. Otherwise you will warp the crap out of it. Then you will have a welder that really will be for general use. If you're on a budget this is something to consider.
The technique is similar with MIG except you don't have to clean for welding over welding because of the gas.
If you have no welding experience, you probably need to stay with MIG and forget about welding heavy stuff.
I bought the mig/flux welder from Harbor freight and love it. I had the 110 version, but couldn't do much with it. I sold it and bought the 220 version and I'm doing much better. I'm a beginner welder so I don't really need a fancy one yet, and this one was around $280 I think. I don't have a bottle yet so I just run flux and it's sticking parts together fine. (I've been building a bumper with it) I've bought a lot of Harbor freight tools over the years and I've never been disappointed. Yes they are cheap, but I understand what each tool is capable of and respect it. My two cents.
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) in the backyard fiddlin' around at night in this thing...as I normally do. Anyway any MIG or Flux core welders to do jobs like I said and more would really help. I been looking, but I'd like to hear some personal recommendations on some good long lasting ones out there from y'all.
