My small Lincoln stick welder just bit the dust (still have a Lincoln wire feed welder) I do not do much welding so I am considering a hf 180 ac/dc stick welder, for the price.
Do any you have any experience you can share about HF welders

 

I would personally look on craigslist or something and pick up a used welder of better quality than the HF...not that I have any real experience to give you with the HF...just my 2 cents...
I see the lincoln welders all the time pretty cheap in my Craiglsist. Check there first.

 

That is very good advice.

 

Also check the pawn shops. I bought a like new miller mig for less than 1/3 of the new price. Had to buy the bottle/wire new. Works great. chuck

 

your final decision on a welder should depend on its intended use... If you plan on doing primarily heavy welding (1/4" and up...farm equipment, heavy plate and angle iron) then a stick welder will serve you well, although a hi amp wire machine will work also. You're looking at the 200 amp and up work there
If you plan on light gauge projects, sheet metal work, body repair then I'd say a MIG machine would serve you better. Light gauge tubing, 1/8" plate... body repair... that type of thing..
thickenss will also determine the amperage you need.. for all light gauge work like body sheet metal and such you can do with a 110 volt machine 90-110 amp welding current.
For 1/4" and down anything between a 100 - 200 amp machine will serve you well.
Heavy stuff... 200 or better..
I agree with the assesment of H.F. Cheap import junk.. although you can get good deals on name brand tools sometimes, but basically low quality tools... Stick with a name brand... Miller, Hobart, Lincoln... you can always get replacement parts...even on weekends and they have good service reps...
I have a Hobart "suitcase" welder, 100 amp 110 volt for light stuff and it does a great job using either gas or flux core. For larger material I have a Millermatic 200. A 200 amp 220 volt machine that will handle anything else I tend to stick together.. I normally run both on GMAW... only using flux core for outside windy conditions. (the wind blows the shielding gas away). Flux core wire needs more clean up than GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding...gas shielded) It tends to splatter more.
I also have a Lincoln 225 amp ac/dc stick welder that I haven't turned on for several years since I bought the wire machines..
I think wire welding is a lot easier to master than stick and much easier to see and control your weld puddle.
I bought both of my machines used.. from welding houses that had leased them out then refurb'd them and sold them... you can get some really good deals if you're patient (?). Check with some of the supply houses and watch the "Machinery and Equipment" column in the classifieds.
Anything over 175 amps will probably require 220 volt service so plan on that expense also (if you can't do it yourself.
Safety equipment.. A good helmet with the proper shield.. You can get away with lighter gloves with wire welders... but with stick, get some good heavy welding gloves. A fire extinguisher close by and readily accessable is a must as well as a bucket of water for cooling your welds. Clamps, pliers, vice grips and a BFH are almost a necessity. Wear long sleeves and long pants that are not tucked into your boots.. no sneekers... hot metal goes thru them like...well hot metal !!
hope that helps..
john

 

get a miller wire feed welder, got one and thats all we use in our welding shop. we use flux core wire burns better with clean lookin beeds. gotta tell ya get it it pays for its self.

 

and for the pants, no cuff on the leg.. let whatever it is bounce off and keep going away from you..

sam

 

ah. you set your heat and wire speed right u can weld in shorts and flip flops .

 

Check his original post, he has a wire feed (mig) welder already. What can't you do with it and is it just a low amperage unit? Do you have it on gas or gasless?

 

You CAN...but it only takes just one blob of spatter between your flip-flopped toes to make you wish you just were safe to begin with.

I believe there is no shame in taking safety precautions... but I get the point you are trying to make with the properly set up welder.

Since you still have your wire feed, that should be all you need for most stuff as brucewolff said...save your money for truck stuff!!