I am thinking about getting a lincoln pro mig welder from lowes. I was wondering if any of you on here have used one. I have a hook up for 220 and I want to be able to weld roll cages, bumpers and things like that. My rig is heavy so I will need pretty thick tubing. I have a gift card to lowes so thats why I am looking at that welder. I dont have alot of experience welding so thought I would ask you guys your opionion thanks Zack.
lincoln welder
- Thread starter kawzx10
- Start date
iamsparticus
Take your Rig to the Edge
- Location
- Ogden,Ut
i second airgas in ogden i get all my supplies from there and they have good pricing. As for your question yes a 220 welder if you can afford it is the way to go. Practice practice practice is what you need before attemting a rollcage or any other critical are on the vechile dont make a final product until you feel comfortable welding with what ever welder you get. I use a miller 135 110v and it does great with 1/4 and under, anything thicker though it would struggle to get good penertration. The one thing i wish was different with my welder is i wish it had a better duty cycle. Mines 20% and i wish it was 60% or higher so look at that when you buy one, and go for the highest amps for your price range
TEAM FRED
Registered User
- Location
- Centerville
I own a Pro mig 175 and love it.
I believe I bought mine at Lowes.
I believe I bought mine at Lowes.
oldbluechevy78
Registered User
- Location
- Utah, Payson
I used to work at a welding supply store, and I can tell you buy it from the welding supply. The ones you buy at Lowe's and Home depot have a great price, but most of the internal parts are plastic. Your better off buying it from your local welding supply store. Airgas, Norco, US Welding, ect......
The New millers have a great new feature where you can measure the thickness of the material and set the machine to the correct thickness, and have at it. It's a great feature for the novice welder. But I would recommend the supply company they would have the best knowledge of anyone......
The New millers have a great new feature where you can measure the thickness of the material and set the machine to the correct thickness, and have at it. It's a great feature for the novice welder. But I would recommend the supply company they would have the best knowledge of anyone......
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ChestonScout
opinions are like Jeeps..
- Location
- Clinton, Ut
I have a 110 Lincoln from home depot. I dont use it for anything structural but it is a dang handy welder to have. I had it for 6 years and havent treated it with much respect and its still going strong.
Its WAY nice to have for wheelin trips to. You can always find a 110 plug and do some emergency welding when needed.
I have used the 220 version and its great. I wouldnt hesitate to buy one
While I agree that the welding store units are better.............for garage tinkering the home depot, lowes versions are perfect.
You have a gift card. Dont be afraid to use it.
One other good thing about buying it at the big box stores is if you get it and dont like it, take it back!
But I really think you would be happy with it. I would get the most expensive one they have. I want to say there are 3 models.
Its WAY nice to have for wheelin trips to. You can always find a 110 plug and do some emergency welding when needed.
I have used the 220 version and its great. I wouldnt hesitate to buy one
While I agree that the welding store units are better.............for garage tinkering the home depot, lowes versions are perfect.
You have a gift card. Dont be afraid to use it.
One other good thing about buying it at the big box stores is if you get it and dont like it, take it back!
But I really think you would be happy with it. I would get the most expensive one they have. I want to say there are 3 models.
Tan Comanche
Desert Speed Shock Tuning
- Location
- Santaquin
You may also want to consider buying a Hobart. They come with Miller internals just less $$. I have a Hobart 140 (110 V.) and I love it! With preheating I have welded on 3/4'' plate with great success.
iamsparticus
Take your Rig to the Edge
- Location
- Ogden,Ut
WOW 3/4 is very impressive. Hobart is a good option my first mig welders i used were both 110 hobart 140's great welders
I have known plenty of people that have got their 220v welder from home depot or lowes. I think that so long as you are not going to use it like a commercial welder you will be fine, (so unless you are going to quit your job and become a fabricator)
This debate comes up a lot.
I have heard that a screw driver from lowes isn't as good as one you get from industrial supply even though it has the exact same part number. I would think this is something that the manufacture would want to avoid, their name is on the product, they have to stand behind it. Plus why would you go re-tool or re-supply your assembly line just to make a worse product. I know that cost comes in to it but at what point is it reasonable to do it.
As far as welders I am pretty sure the Lincoln Welders from Home Depot have an "HD" in the part number so it makes it hard to say it "is the same welder"
just my .02
nathan
This debate comes up a lot.
I have heard that a screw driver from lowes isn't as good as one you get from industrial supply even though it has the exact same part number. I would think this is something that the manufacture would want to avoid, their name is on the product, they have to stand behind it. Plus why would you go re-tool or re-supply your assembly line just to make a worse product. I know that cost comes in to it but at what point is it reasonable to do it.
As far as welders I am pretty sure the Lincoln Welders from Home Depot have an "HD" in the part number so it makes it hard to say it "is the same welder"
just my .02
nathan
Ya the one I am looking at is a 180 pro it said it was 208 volts. My dad is pretty good at welding so he will probably be doing the majority of the welding til I get better. I would love to get a nice welder from a welding supply place but can't afford it with out the gift card. I just dont want to buy a crappy one that won't weld good enough for structural stuff.
My brother had that welder for quite awhile and it will do just fine with the flux core. He did all the structural stuff along with bumpers and such. It welds atleast 3/8" which is more than any frame and tube or most axles. It all depends on the person welding since a few years ago I took mine to a shop with an industrial welder and the shock tabs they welded cracked.
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i have the home depot or lowes one, i don't remember where i bought it from but they're the same.
i have it wired for 220 and it's been going strong for a couple years with no problems whatsoever. i love it! i have always had it hooked up with shielding gas, i have never even used the flux-core wire. i've had some seriously good looking welds from this machine and i've welded as thick as 3/8" and would not be scared to go thicker judging by the way it handled it. this is with .035 wire, which has made a big difference for me. i've also welded thin stuff and been really happy with it after some tuning. one of the things you lose with the cheaper machines is total wire speed adjustability (free-spin knob vs. knob with notched levels) but that has never bothered me.
another nice thing is that you can get parts for it at hd or lowes and not have to worry about going to praxair or other welding stores that are open 3 hours a day every-other-day only on leap year
i have it wired for 220 and it's been going strong for a couple years with no problems whatsoever. i love it! i have always had it hooked up with shielding gas, i have never even used the flux-core wire. i've had some seriously good looking welds from this machine and i've welded as thick as 3/8" and would not be scared to go thicker judging by the way it handled it. this is with .035 wire, which has made a big difference for me. i've also welded thin stuff and been really happy with it after some tuning. one of the things you lose with the cheaper machines is total wire speed adjustability (free-spin knob vs. knob with notched levels) but that has never bothered me.
another nice thing is that you can get parts for it at hd or lowes and not have to worry about going to praxair or other welding stores that are open 3 hours a day every-other-day only on leap year
hammerdownxj
Active Member
- Location
- TOOELE
X2 on the random hours of the welding stores
Badbuggy
rock star
- Location
- Fruita, Co
I bought one 6 or 7 years ago, that has been used commercially almost everyday since. It has been to the repair shop once, for a cost of about $40.00. I own about 8 welders and that one is used the most. I would buy another one in a heartbeat.