Which welder

[kyojin]

I am going to be getting a welder for Christmas. I'm looking at getting a wire feed one. I want to be able to weld medium to bigger things like suspenions and frames. How much am I looking at spending for a cheaper one? Any recommendations? Thanks for any info.

Josh

 

[TigerStripe40]

I am going to be getting a welder for Christmas. I'm looking at getting a wire feed one. I want to be able to weld medium to bigger things like suspenions and frames. How much am I looking at spending for a decent one? Any recommendations? Thanks for any info.

Josh

If you've got 220, spend the extra $$$ for a Miller 175, or a Lincoln 175 MIG welder. If you have the extra $$$ get a 210 or 250 amp unit.

FWIW I think a 220 volt Miller or Lincoln 175 is probably going to be the best all around home welder.

For 110 volt welders, I hav eused a Lincoln 135amp mig and a Daytona 135. They are priced similarly. I liked the controls on the lincoln better, but the Daytona had a better feel to it, and put down better welds.

 

[Hickey]

Miller/Lincoln/Hobart 175 amp. Pick your favorite color.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I love my Millermatic...

 

[Milner]

I have a hobart and love it....but I think you are good with any of the major brands mentioned, and I'd add esab for yet another color option....
The off brands are harder to find consumable for.

I would highly recommend a 220v machine if you can swing it.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

We had Hobarts at the old shop, and my dads company had dozens of them... great machines. But, it seemed like everyone of them had a broken adjustment knob, all were equipped with "vise-grip" knobs... any one else see this?

BTW, like Marc said, go 220V. That way you can turn it up hot enough to do some framework, axles, etc... but it can be turned down* enough to do bodywork, etc.

*Assuming Hobarts can but wired like a Millermatic: removing one leg of the 220V power supply gives you 6 levels of 110V power.

 

[Caleb]

Like mentioned pick your color, Red, Blue, Yellow, or Grey...get the corresponding machine...be sure to get 220V...you will regret it if you don;t (trust me, speaking first hand here)...like mentioned 175 is a great machine (I love my MM175) if you have the extra coin get the bigger 210 or 250 models...but the 175 tends to be large enough for most typical welding (no spray transfer and wouldn't do aluminum with it though)...

 

[Shawn]

How much is Santa guna fly yer way? That might be the deciding factor.

 

[kyojin]

thanks for all the responses guys. That helps a lot. Sounds like a 175 amp would be a good choice. Also looks like all the major brands would be fine.

 

[mowlasley]

I have welded with all of them (worked for a sheet metal shop) and I preferred the Miller units. Lincolns are fine, too. Hate Hobarts.

 

[tiny2085]

I have a hobart handler 110V and it does fine for what i want. I would recomend a 220V just so if you had to you could weld some this stuff. Miller makes hobart, so there almost identical in the 110v series excpet miller has no set heats where as hobart does.

 

[Tjjeepjunkie]

Millermatic 210 is perfect and you can always buy a spool gun for that model later and weld aluminum, When purchasing the welder let me know i work at Airgas.

 

[BioNuke1]

I love my Millermatic...

Me too me too!

 

[fergusor]

I was told that miller now owns hobart and uses miller parts in them. I have a hobart and have used the hell out of it and never had a problem. I would recommend the 220.

 

[Caleb]

I was told that miller now owns hobart and uses miller parts in them. I have a hobart and have used the hell out of it and never had a problem. I would recommend the 220.

for as far back as I can remember Hobart has always been owned by Miller...they do use similar parts, most the parts from the Millers switch over to the Hobarts, a lot of the similar parts in the two are plastic in the Hobart, versus being metal in the Miller. Miller is thought of as the industrial grade of the two...Hobart is still a great machine though, but I'll take a Miller over a Hobart anyday...

 

[Shawn]

Hobart is still a great machine though, but I'll take a Miller over a Hobart anyday...

ya,,,, take over payments.....

Miller is nice but you will pay for the name.