What does every use for their small welding jobs? I am checking out this Century 90 amp welder from the Home Depot

 

A Miller 140 with Autoset always with argon & CO2. Awesome for bodywork with .023 wire.

For 3/16 or thicker it's the Miller 211 using 220v on .030 or .035 wire.

 

Do you do any 110 Volt welding ?

 

If you can get a real welder with shielding Gas , they provide much better welds !
Eastwood has some nice Multi voltage small ones .

 

Here's what I tell everyone, and I've been an AWS certified welder for 20+ years. You better buy something where you can drive to the store to buy the parts when something goes wrong, wears out, warranty work, etc. Something is going to need repaired/replaced at some time and if you have to order it on-line or ship it to where???

HIO Silvers' suggestions are right on unless you prefer Lincoln, ESAB, Hobart or some other brand name. I'm not saying your choice is bad or wrong but you should consider the above aspects.

NOTE: HIO didn't say it but the Miller 211 will operate with 120 OR 240 volt power. My local dealer said Miller is offering a 100 or 200 dollar discount in Oct? But the 211 is $1000.00 more then your Century.

A more equitable comparison would be the Millermatic 125. $550.00
Millermatic 125
Power cord with plug (110~120v)
8-ft. (2.4 m) M-80 MIG gun and cable assembly
8-ft. (2.4 m) work cable with clamp
Argon and AR/CO2 mix flow gauge regulator with gas hose
Hobart® spool of .030-in. (0.8 mm) solid wire
Quick Select drive rolls for .024-in (0.6 mm) or .030/.035-in. (0.8/0.9 mm) solid wire, and .030/.035-in. (0.8/0.9 mm) flux-cored wire
Two contact tips for .030-in. (0.8 mm) wire

Whatever you choose, it's nice to be able to get parts/consumables when needed. Don't forget you'll need a tank of AR/CO2 mix gas. I think it's around $125 to own one. You'll get better welds using shielding gas with flux core wire.

Dan

 

The Miller 140 is a 110V machine.

Per Deckertd above, yes, the Miller 211 is both 110V and 220V using the "MVP" - a multi-voltage plug and auto-sensing circuitry.

If I could have only one machine it would be the 211 but changing wire is a pain... The main reason I have two welders is because of multiple projects in different build phases.

 

I am using a Harbor Freight flux core 110v mig welder. It was cheap and if it breaks down, I will just replace it. So far I have run about 10lbs of wire through it and have had to replace a few copper tips and one tip shield. Both of which were available for pick-up at my local HF store. I have welded body metal all the way to frame work. Yes, I do have clean-up to do after as the splatter is excessive. The welds are strong and i get very good penetration. Over all I am very happy with it's operation and completely surprised by it's reliability for the price.

 

I have a little Lincoln weld pak 100 that I converted to gas, it's a great little machine for doing bodywork. going to invest in a 220v machine one of these days so I can do chassis type work.

 

Gas + flux core wire? Is that true or a typo?

 

It better be true since I run my Miller XMT 300 that way with an AR/CO2 mix. FWIW, some people call it dual shield.

Dan

 

One great advantage to a 110v machine is it's portable and can be used anywhere 110v power is available. 220v outlets aren't everywhere. --a dual voltage welder would be ideal.

My welder is a 110v Lincoln 140C with an 80 cu. ft. bottle of 75%/25% Ar/CO2 with a Lincoln K520 cart.

 

Seems like a bunch of money for something I have no idea how to use

 

If you think that high take your truck down to the loco body shop an ask what the cost would to have done that your want to weld job done on..

Not counting body work but just welding.

If your a young man like I was when I turned 17 my parents ask what I wanted for Xmas an, I said a gas welding gauge setup. an. I'll buy the tanks

Well I think it really ended up at Birthday & Xmas for that yr. which, I had for many yrs.

The when working at Kaiser steel later bought a 220 Lincoln when, I had free 220 50amp service.

Once you own a welder you'll wander why you waited so long to buy one an you'll always miss it when it gone.

Orich

 

Time for a welding/bodywork class at the local high school or community college/tech school.

 

This is actually a good idea