I'm looking at getting a small welder for the garage. I have not welded in years but used to be ok with a MIG wire welder. I will be using it for simple weld and grind of sheetmetal or tacking parts of the suspension together to take to a pro for better welding. I wanna use 110V power source as I don't want to add a 220V in the garage.

Do you have any recommendations for MIG (Flux - gasless) vs ARC?

Anyone purchase a cheapy unit lately they recommend?

 

Hobart Handler with the gas setup, which would make it an actual MIG welder (Metal Inert Gas). You can't go wrong. Also, Lincoln and Miller have 110 models with a MIG setup. If you run a Flux-cored/inner-shield only type wire, (small machines without the gas setup), you will have a harder time welding sheet metal. I have an older Lincoln MIG welder and it is really nice for small projects.

Just as a side note, I wired up a separate 220 source in the garage for my Miller 250X MIG welder and it was rather inexpensive and well worth it.

 

There has been some in depth discussion on this topic some time ago. I would strongly suggest that you stay away from the El Cheapo no name brands and stick with something like Lincoln, Miller or Hobart. If you intend to use it for sheet metal, stay away from flux core wire and get one that uses shielding gas. The shielding gas I would suggest would be 75% Argon/25% CO2. I would also suggest you get a quality regulator that indicates consumption and bottle pressure. Always close your valve on the bottle between use as the welder will do a leak down when not in use in attempt to alleviate line pressure between the regulator and the welding unit.

I suggest that you spend the extra money on a gas unit as it will save you the time and frustration that you would experience with flux core unit and they simply make for a much nicer weld.

 

The flux core wire works really crappy with anything thinner than 1/16". It tends to blow thru the tinner gages. You will definitely want to use the gas. As Branden said, Hobart, Miller and Lincoln all make nice 110v models that will work well for sheet metal or the tacking of thicker stuff that you are talking about. Don't go with a HF or other off-brand models, as parts can be very hard to get. Any MIG welder will also run the flux core wire, if you want to tack thicker stuff also. You just reverse the polarity and load the flux core wire.

I would also suggest that you pick a unit with a dial control for both wire feed and heat. It will give you much better control when you have odd gages or some surface contamination.

 

One other quick note, I would also suggest that you invest in an auto darkening helmet as well. I love mine and wouldn't be without it.

 

As others have stated...go with a name brand. You can't get parts for the el-chepo off brand ones when they break. Something else to consider is where can you get the parts. Check and see what brand parts the local welding supply house carries.

I prefer my 220 Lincoln. I can weld heavier steel when needed. I do not just use it on thin sheet metal.

I wired into my kitchen stove circuit for it. I dropped a plug unto my garage. I also use it for the 220-60 gallon upright compressor though.

Just don't let anyone cook at the same time! (I am single).

The auto darkening hoods are great too. I love mine.

 

I have a 110v Lincoln mig and a auto dark helmet. The welder works great on body work, and tacking heavier metal. I use a lincoln stick to do all frame work. Good Luck

 

just a quick note , gaseless great for outdoor , as gas ones will get blown off the weld, welding indoors, stick with gas, get the best u can afford .

 

I have a Lincoln 175+ MIG that I was for most welding tasks but when I am working on thin metal or aluminum I use a Henrob.

 

I think 53olderthanme wants some examples of what kind and model you use in the shop and what price comes with each unit.
As far as welding in your home garage--what is the best for under 350.00 bucks? Bill

 

I seriously doubt you can find any name brand welder that is worth having for that price. Not with the gas bottle, regulator, hoses, and supplies that you need to start welding.

 

Well how about 450.00----Bill

 

lincoln mig-pak 10 not too expensive, can convert to gas, and 110v. Also, it's small enough to put away without taking up much floor space. A little more expensive is the mig-pak 15. These can be found at Sears, Northern tool, Walmart? Who knows where else, but they're common. Here's one on E-pay now. http://cgi.ebay.com/Lincoln-Mig-Pak-...QQcmdZViewItem

I borrowed one to put my Jeep back together, and I liked it. It was nice to fit the gun up into those tight spots. However, I'm holding out to buy something bigger. Like a Hobart Handler 187 240v.

 

I've got to agree with all the above posters.


Stick with a brand name... I have a Miller 200 amp and a Hobart 100 amp (my first one) and an old Lincoln tombstone stick machine.. they are all good units and never had a problem with any of them. One additional thought... buy local.. think about trying to get support/return/repairs from a e-pay seller. Support is much more forthcoming if you purchased from your local supplier. A good counter man at the welding store can save you $$$ and time with suggestions oF expendibles, technique changes and such. Store name boxes...H.F.... Homier, (i.e. Chinese junk) are pretty much disappointing from plug in till you set it on the shelf and forget it. Parts are impossible to find, results with them are disappointing and they can turn a fun project into a frustrating chore. Not what our hobby should be.

My one caveat to H.F.... their autodarkening hood is a decent one and I've improved my welding greatly using one.

Gas for sure. The only place you should use flux core is out of doors where the wind will blow away your shielding gas. Bare wire/gas gives a prettier weld bead with less splatter = less clean up.

110v vrs 220v. you can probably weld up to 1/16...maybe 3/32 with a 110 volt machine..(with a 10-20% duty cycle) You'll never have the duty cycle or heat you need for anything larger. The suggestion about sharing a breaker (although not code) worked for me for several years. My compressor and welder shared a breaker. My thoughts were that I'd never been welding and using the compressor at the same time. a plasma cutter changed that arrangement and now my compressor and my welder are on seperate breakers. And, it's not that expensive for the homeowner (or the homeowner with an electrician buddy) to do.

A 220v machine is much more versatile. Your material range is much broader and if you ever decide to do aluminum or plow stock, you will have the machine to do it.

Another plus for local supply house.. Check with your local guy about trade in units or off lease boxes. Lots of times they will take one in, recondition it and resell. If you tell them your budget and what you're looking for they will see a potential sale and keep you posted. I bought two welders that way. Used ain't necessarily bad when it comes to welders. Same can be the case with a good regulator and tank setup. Most tanks can be rented for cheap and refills aren't that expensive (compared to this hobby anyway). Owning your tanks makes you responsible for certification and pressure testing when the time comes.

I also agree with Sid... buy the best unit you can afford or save a little more for a better one. If you buy a cheaper or lower rated unit and as your skills/hobby changes and you have to upgrade, the cheap unit will have NO resale.. You can always get a good price on a heavier welder.

You need to think of a welder as a major investment tool. Like a compressor or drill press or lathe. Their cost should be amorterized over years, not just one project. You already know from experience how handy they are for hundreds of projects/repairs/favors/honey-dos. For a decent machine I think you're looking at the 400-500 buck range to get a bead going. But if you divide that over the number of years you use it... it ain't that expensive... plus it's a fun tool... that's worth a bunch. Compare it to a lawnmower ?

good luck on your decision.

later
John

 

I got a Lincoln 110 Mig at Home Depot last year. I forget the exact model # but it cost about $380. I then got a bottle and got it filled for about $125 at the local gas suppliers. I used it a couple of times, making a frame for my mustang gas tank install and also used it to weld some holes up in the bed from the PO. I also used it to repair a lawn mower deck. It came with a DVD to watch and it took a little practice. I'm happy with it.

Happy Welding.