Welder selection advice
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 279
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From: spokane
Welder selection advice
Hey, I know this isn't exactly related to our trucks but I really respect and appreciate all your opinions.
So, its been a little over a year since my HF mig welder got stolen from my garage, and I'm looking into another one finally. Does anybody have any experience or opinions about "drico group" welders?
I'm looking into this welder... Drico 150a mig/arc welder
At its price point it seems like an almost too good to be worth the money kind of deal. Amazon has mostly good reviews on it, but I can't seem to find very many reviews in general...
Anybody have any thoughts or opinions on it before I potentially pull the trigger?
Also, they have another welder with basically the exact same specs with the exception of the voltage being just slightly higher. slightly higher V link
Any pros or cons between the two? The voltage difference seems like its small enough that there isn't going to be any difference between the two.
Look forward to your opinions!
So, its been a little over a year since my HF mig welder got stolen from my garage, and I'm looking into another one finally. Does anybody have any experience or opinions about "drico group" welders?
I'm looking into this welder... Drico 150a mig/arc welder
At its price point it seems like an almost too good to be worth the money kind of deal. Amazon has mostly good reviews on it, but I can't seem to find very many reviews in general...
Anybody have any thoughts or opinions on it before I potentially pull the trigger?
Also, they have another welder with basically the exact same specs with the exception of the voltage being just slightly higher. slightly higher V link
Any pros or cons between the two? The voltage difference seems like its small enough that there isn't going to be any difference between the two.
Look forward to your opinions!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 765
Likes: 13
From: Edmond, OK
Is a Hobart Handler 140A MIG out of your price range? ~$500
Here's a used Hobart,
https://spokane.craigslist.org/tls/5848870689.html
Thermal Arc is another good one.
https://spokane.craigslist.org/tls/5895285369.html
May try Century,
https://spokane.craigslist.org/tls/5866974491.html
Here's a used Hobart,
https://spokane.craigslist.org/tls/5848870689.html
Thermal Arc is another good one.
https://spokane.craigslist.org/tls/5895285369.html
May try Century,
https://spokane.craigslist.org/tls/5866974491.html
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,104
Likes: 384
From: Southern California
IMHO, when you buy a welder like that, you will wonder why you can't really weld with it, figuring it's you and become discouraged.....IMHO, pass on anything that is like that. Hobart is ok, but save your $ for a miller.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2014
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From: spokane
1320stang, I would prefer to keep the cost at about 250 or below. The main thing about the linked welder that appeals to me is its versatility of being able to go between 120 and 240, especially since I don't have an available dedicated 240 I can use. When I want to use my 240 arc welder (I think the only reason they didn't steal that one too is it weighs about 80 pounds) I have to run a cord from the house to the garage (fortunately they are right next to each other). Also it being capable of flux and gas shield is nice.
I have experience with crappy harbor freight welders and I would have to disagree with you here. It is easier to lay a nice bead with better equipment, but certainly not impossible with cheaper machines. In my opinion your bead quality is based around the quality of the wire you put through it, not the machine it self.
I have experience with crappy harbor freight welders and I would have to disagree with you here. It is easier to lay a nice bead with better equipment, but certainly not impossible with cheaper machines. In my opinion your bead quality is based around the quality of the wire you put through it, not the machine it self.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 852
Likes: 466
From: Albuquerque and Colorado
I started with a cheap brand and used it about five years. When it broke I bought a Lincoln, i think there is a world of difference especially when welding thin stuff.
I understand budgets but I'd never go back to cheap machine. Also the name brand ones can be fixed whereas you can't get parts for the cheaper ones.
I understand budgets but I'd never go back to cheap machine. Also the name brand ones can be fixed whereas you can't get parts for the cheaper ones.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2014
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From: spokane
Just an update to help with overall opinion. I think that Amico is the "parent" company that makes drico. I can't find anything to confirm this 100% but I'm pretty positive. So if anybody has experience with an amico welder that they could interject into the discussion I think that may be helpful as well.
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Joined: Sep 2015
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I got Eastwood 175. It's a great little machine. I use CO2 as shielding gas. I use Lincoln wire and the thing runs great. Gives me no issues. I can weld thin sheet metal when I do rust repair and weld thick angle iron and such when I build random stuff for the yard. Didn't break the bank and there's a spool gun to weld aluminum. I never have as I don't have argon shielding gas and don't need to weld aluminum
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 135
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From: Robertsdale, AL
I myself don't mind my "portable" $90 Harbor Freight special. I can weld a nice bead with it on the go.
I shopped Craigslist for my big mig, it's a Hobart Ironman 230. It had never been fired and I picked it up for $900. It welds some pretty beads
At work I had the boss man buy me a small Lincoln it's a 210 mp, mig/tig/stick machine, it does well for a dual voltage welder, it will go into thermal protect if you use it too long. I can take it off the cart, unhook the gas and put the flux core on it, or hook the stick welder setup and be fully portable. It is great for a novice because you can dial into material thickness and the machine is basically set.
At my second job at the body shop and I use the biggest POS Miller ever, it's an older 180. It is need of a major overhaul, I have changed the liner, tips, rollers etc and it still has drama. Sometimes it acts like it is getting no gas. Some days I just want to run over it with my truck.
Depends on your skill level and what you want to do, I am not brand loyal, I have used Miller, Esab, Lincoln, Hobart, Harbor Freight, Snapon etc etc. The newer Dual Voltage welders are a good all around base to keep around the house.
I shopped Craigslist for my big mig, it's a Hobart Ironman 230. It had never been fired and I picked it up for $900. It welds some pretty beads
At work I had the boss man buy me a small Lincoln it's a 210 mp, mig/tig/stick machine, it does well for a dual voltage welder, it will go into thermal protect if you use it too long. I can take it off the cart, unhook the gas and put the flux core on it, or hook the stick welder setup and be fully portable. It is great for a novice because you can dial into material thickness and the machine is basically set.
At my second job at the body shop and I use the biggest POS Miller ever, it's an older 180. It is need of a major overhaul, I have changed the liner, tips, rollers etc and it still has drama. Sometimes it acts like it is getting no gas. Some days I just want to run over it with my truck.
Depends on your skill level and what you want to do, I am not brand loyal, I have used Miller, Esab, Lincoln, Hobart, Harbor Freight, Snapon etc etc. The newer Dual Voltage welders are a good all around base to keep around the house.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 479
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
IMO, Stick with one of the big 4. Essab, Hobart, Lincoln, & Miller. Even a good used machine! Decide what you NEED and ignore the wants for now. I tend to stay away from the all in one machines.
I currently have an old Lincoln weldpack 3200 for light stuff and a tombstone for heavier stuff. Works for everything I could need. I bought a precision tig a few years back. As nice as it was to have tig capabilities, I found myself using the dc stick function much more.
These no name machines are cheap for a reason.
I currently have an old Lincoln weldpack 3200 for light stuff and a tombstone for heavier stuff. Works for everything I could need. I bought a precision tig a few years back. As nice as it was to have tig capabilities, I found myself using the dc stick function much more.
These no name machines are cheap for a reason.
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