Best place to buy welder

SMOKEmUP · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 6:00 pm Post subject: Best place to buy welder

I'm looking to buy a welder, 220 V mig. Any suggestions on which one and place to buy it.

Paul P · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:34 pm Post subject:

http://cgi.ebay.com/LINCOLN-POWER-MIG-180C-MIG-WELDER-PKG-K2473-1-W-CART-/360339690482?pt=BI_Welders&hash=item53e5eb53f2

This is it I think with a cart free shipping.

af2 · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:02 pm Post subject:

Yep!!!
I bought mine from Airgas when they said they would meet any ones price.
I printed out the same company's page from Ebay and the manager at Airgas said they made $50.00 on the deal.

I assplained they make more on consumables so quit bitchin!! LOL

That is a good deal!!

10sec.et · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:38 pm Post subject:

i like my Lincoln MIG. and the one i had before that. tough little welders. some say they are junk but i have yet to see any proof of that. the old MIG, i would weld until it shut off (WAAAYYYY over normal duty cycle), have a couple beers while it cooled down, and go right back to welding. my buddy now has that machine and its nearly 20 years old and still welding fine.

squeeezer · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:02 am Post subject:

i am currently looking @ the millermatic 180
the local prax air is giving me a good deal (small town) Wink

MufflerBearings69 · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:01 am Post subject:

miller and hobart are essentially the same machines- use the same parts to build em- miller have more options on them.

i have had a hobart handler 175 for my entire adult life and cant complain- i turn 30 in october.

I wouldnt shy away from a Lincoln though either- used many of them without issue too.

I would, however, suggest nothing smaller than a 175A welder. And if you want the ability to mig up some aluminum later, buy something that a spool gun can be added onto.

Just some food for thought. Around here, tractor supply co. has the best deals on hobarts... Thats where mine came from. Airgas sold us our miller engine driven and were fine too.

SMOKEmUP · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 1:45 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info, I'll keep that in mind. I haven't bought one yet, waiting for some things to sell before I buy the welder.

Knarley Darley · Member Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 1158 537254.14 points

I have a MillerMatic 250 That is about 20 years old and works great. I have used the heck out of it with no problems. It even fell out of my truck once (dont ask) so it looks like..... well not pretty, but hey, it still melts stuff together.

squeeezer · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:53 am Post subject:

any luck with a metal glue gun yet?

SMOKEmUP · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 11:24 am Post subject:

Paul P · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 12:05 pm Post subject:

This is nice but the fixed frequency would affect aluminum welding.

This is a good video explaining the affects of frequency in aluminum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftL2NP3TCok

Other than that it seems pretty nice.

af2 · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 5:04 pm Post subject:

SMOKEmUP · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 6:14 pm Post subject:

I wasn't looking for a TIG but the price is what caught my attention.

clay · Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:14 pm Post subject:

I've never used a TIG with the adjustable frequency. I have experienced the arc wander mentioned in the video and would love to try one with the adjustable frequency, however I wouldn't let it be the deciding factor in buying. The main feature I like is the foot pedal current control - mandatory (for me anyway) on aluminum and still nice on steel but not mandatory. Clay

10sec.et · Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 3:48 am Post subject:

i noticed, in the video, that the tungsten was balled in the first part where arc wander was the worst but was sharpened later on. the sharpened tungsten will give more arc control and less wander. IMO, the frequency setting is not a deal breaker. once you get used to the machine, you can over come some of the short comings.