SIXFOOTER

What would you do?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...8968&rd=1&rd=1

more confused than ever
LOL

RobRace10

If it is your first welder, go with the Lincoln Mig. Also I would use with gas rather than the flux core wire if it were me.

JoeRags

Go gas... even if you have to spend a little more money. You'll be much happier.

SIXFOOTER

So why not the TIG? Any limitations or whatever? This is my first welder and I want as much flexibility as possible. I'll be learning whatever technique I end up with, but what makes the mose sence?

Fastguy

Get the Lincoln, its a popular brand and you will be able to get parts for it. Never heard of a "Smiley" welder. I have a Lincoln SP series MIG that I have had for 13 years and run hundreds of feet of wire through it.
A TIG is more expensive, requires two hands and a pedal and is much harder to learn and more time consuming. A MIG is what you would want for hobby type work. Skip the flux/gasless setup, they make a spattery birdcrap weld.

MoneyPit

I agree with the above. Get the MIG. Do not mess with the flux core. I just bought a Hobart 180 Handler. It is a Mig/flux unit. Just throw the flux core wire away. With a little practice, and following the chart in the wire compartment you will have nice welds in about an hour. Stay within the directions and recommendations, and it is pretty hard to mess up, unless you are welding some really thin stuff.

Joe45

I have a Hobart 140 mig/flux welder. Couldn't be happier. The flux core wire is intended for outdoor use. Using gas outdoors, the wind can carry away the shielding gas producing poor welds. Flux outside,gas inside. Hobart I believe is linked somehow with miller. Parts are interchangeable. You can search to be sure.

BB72

I am using my neighbours Miller 130 , a 120v...or 110 where you are and it has more than enough juice for anything you could need. Use argon sheild too. Mig is the easiest and friendliest to use for beginners.

stingr69

Miller XP130 is a nice piece. I bought that as my second welder. MUCH better than my Craftsman!

-Mark.

Twin_Turbo

MIG is the easiest to start and splatter some filler wire on metal and fuse the 2 together (fuse! not penetration), however to do properly with the limited view of the weld puddle and the inability to adjust your welding process while you are welding makes MIG much harder to do properly than tig. The only real problem with tig is hand eye co-ordination and having to do 2 completely different handlings with both arms/hands. Nothing a little practice won't solve.

Mikes*Corvettes

It depends what you need to do.
Mig for mild steel:ie body panels and frame work
Tig for stainless steel and alluminium

norvalwilhelm

I like the lincoln SP 175. It is a 220 volt unit and run GAS. Forget flux core.
Tig is not that usefull for normal welding chores. Great on exhuast, stainless and aluminum but normal frame repairs and general repair nothing beats a gas/mig.

I have mig and tig and almost never use the tig.

rexx78

Of the two choices, go for the Lincoln. If you have 220 V in your garage, get a 220V. Do not buy a no-name welder. My dad had one for 10 years and he swore at it everytime he used it. Stick with Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, etc...

I have a Millermatic 135 (110V), it works great but I'm sure someday I will want the 175 (220V) to do some thicker material. Learn and play with the mig, then get the tig later.

MYBAD79

Depends on what you want to weld. For small projects a $120 flux core welder can be sufficient. If you plan on using it frequently I'd get a better welder. You can weld almost anything with a MIG welder. $650 for a used welder seems high, is this the same welder that HomeDepot sells for $599 with accessories ?

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS...gln.0&MID=9876


If the link doesn't work go to Homedepot.com and search for:

Lincoln Electric
Weld-Pak 175HD, 208/230-volt Wire Feeder Welder, Comes With Everything Needed To Weld Mild Steel
Model K2338-1

zwede

Miller and Hobart is the same company. I have a Hobart 140 and it came with a Miller gun.

I'm very happy with the Hobart. It comes with everything you need for gas shielded welding except the bottle. Be sure you have a good outlet and no extension cords. The welder needs every bit of juice you can give it. I ran a new outlet just for the welder. Dedicated circuit, thick romex. I paid right at $400 and it was new.

evil herbavore

Definitely the lincoln........using shielding gas makes the whole thing MUCH cleaner.


That 175+ should have the infinite power control....makes dialing in the weld power much easier.


Understand that until you have tons of experience welding very thin (thinner than exhaust pipe) is a PITA.....you have to weld a spot, then weld somewhere else or let it cool for 2 or 3 minutes. AND your can't bridge gaps on thin metal very easily.....so good fit up of the pieces is critical...doing your homework on fit up makes for a much easier job.

I'm Batman

As everyone has said, go with the gas. As long as it's not too windy, using it outside isn't a problem.

Hobart makes a good machine, my dad's 220v MIG is one of theirs - he got it for a good price with free shipping from Northern Tool.

Clarke also makes a good machine, my 110v MIG is one of theirs - it's durable and they have great customer support.

NHvette

I LOVE my Clarke MIG - 130 Amp (120v) - plenty for auto work.
Great bang for the buck ... and get the fan cooled model.

http://www2.northerntool.com/product..._200311005.htm

They do have 220v and higher amperage models, also.

iree75

Got mine with an the gas setup - empty tank/stand auto dimming helmet from weldingdepot.com for around $500.

1Z87L8

and if you do buy a welder off of EBAY
stay away from Seller NSX23 out in CA

total ripoff artist, took me almost 2
months to get my money back from Paypal
thankfully i make all my payments with my CC
so i had extra protection.
ended up getting a FULL refund and boy was he
ticked off.