Been looking at MIG welders

[mercdv]

I need some advice. I've been looking at getting started with a MIG welder and I was looking at this one http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...0-1&lpage=none. I know a lot of people say to get the 180 Amp but I just can't afford the extra money. I'll be using it strictly for making tractor attachments and repairs for my JD 2305. I just don't see me needing to weld 1/2". I just don't really know because I'm new to welding. Is that a decent welder?

Thoughts?

[mark777]

Whoa....

Yes it's nice and probably suit your needs for a while, but...my only problem with MIG welders that are 120V is the low duty cycle. The one you've selected is 20% @ 90 amps. If you have a decent Welding supply outfit that's near you, you might want to check if they have a good used Miller/Hobart/Lincoln that's 220V (which is normally a much higher duty cycle). People often trade them in for upgrades like aluminum spool gun ready units.

Mark

[Mouse]

That's a fine welder to start with, I have 3, a 100, and 2-3500. Why 3? the DUTY CYCLE! You can weld 2 min, every 10. The welder has to cool down, if you don't follow this rule you will have alot of problems. Most jobs don't require me to weld for houres at a time, and there is cutting, grinding, and setup to do, so this welder is fine for me. Also keep in mind a mig weld is only 70%, the other 30% is impurities. I don't worry about that 30%, I just add more welds. Good luck w/ welding 101, and have fun, I love to weld!

[440roadrunner]

It's not just duty cycle. You might not need to weld 1/2" but you won't be welding any 3/8 with that, either. I guess it just depends

I have a little Linc 120V that I've had for years, and "cheated" up to 1/4" and MAYBE 5/16 on non-critical stuff, and then filled in with my old AC/DC stick welder. I recently bought a Linc 180 mig (240v)

No comparison to the little old 120V

So---if you can fill in with a cheap used AC buzzbox on heavier stuff, this thing might get you by, but for an extra 250 or so you can have a 240V that will handle a LOT more stuff.

[mercdv]

Is this a big step up? http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...1-1&lpage=none I'm just not sure I can go that high right now. I posted a while back in the Backyard forum but now that I have it narrowed down to a model I figured I would as here.

[440roadrunner]

Originally Posted by mercdv

Is this a big step up?

This SEEMS to be very similar to what I have, but interesting, I could not find it on Lincoln's site. Mine is a "180C" K2473-1 I can't justify the difference in model no's.

I'm no pro, but for me it REALLY does the job. Here's one of my projects:

This is a mod I made on the cylinder mounts on a little Oliver/Cletrac crawler I'm putting together. The cylinders were made to work by changing the mount position. This is made from two pieces of 3/8 plate stacked.



Rest of the project is here:

http://cletrac.org/newbb/viewtopic.php?p=8343#8343

and I Googled the model you posted, here's a piece from Lincoln:

http://content.lincolnelectric.com/p...ature/e727.pdf

[simplicityguy92]

ive got a clarke 130 en they are affordable and they work good. it works rilly good on square tube and angle. when a peice needs lots of penetration i cut my peice about 1/8'' short and space it between or on the other peices about 1/16'' apart then it penetrates all the way through and the peice is the proper length

[Don B.]

buy more than you think you need; I went through 3 cheapie ones (1-Mac Tools--I think it was an Astro a 2nd one I know was an Astro and a Century) all 110v units. burned them all up in short order. I then bought a Millermatic 185,(220v) about 12 years ago; for what I spent on the 1st 3, I could gave bought another big Miller. this one has never given me a minute's trouble! Only problem so far was I had to repl the liner in the gun one time in all them years.

[mercdv]

Thanks guys this is some good information. I'll try to save up for the 220v one. I just don't know how well the Lincoln big box store 180 will be but the welding supply shop in my area is a little more expensive.

[mercdv]

What do you guys think about this one http://store.cyberweld.com/mi211migwewi.html?
I stopped by my local welding shop and he recommended this one.

[cadman56]

That Miller 211 is a real nice machine. I've been looking at that one for a while now, but haven't pulled the plug yet. I haven't heard anything bad about the 211, in fact everything has been positive. Here is a place that has a better price - http://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.co...TIC-211/Detail
I like the fact that it is dual voltage and portable. Good luck and let us know what you get.

[cadman56]

These guys just reduced their price on the 211. This is the best price I've found on the net. If or when I decide to purchase one I'm going to print out the lowest price I've found on the net and then take it to the local dealer and see if they can match the price. Some dealers will and some won't. I would rather deal locally than on the net. I heard these guys were good to deal with. They were recommended on one of the welding forums.
http://www.brweldingsupplies.com/sho...der-907422.cfm

[mercdv]

Originally Posted by cadman56

These guys just reduced their price on the 211. This is the best price I've found on the net. If or when I decide to purchase one I'm going to print out the lowest price I've found on the net and then take it to the local dealer and see if they can match the price. Some dealers will and some won't. I would rather deal locally than on the net. I heard these guys were good to deal with. They were recommended on one of the welding forums.
http://www.brweldingsupplies.com/sho...der-907422.cfm

Thanks for the heads up. When I purchase I'll probably do the same thing as you. I doubt my shop will match though because they don't do much volume.

[cadman56]

From what I hear sometimes the dealer will take a hit on the welder hoping you will buy all your consumables from them, (wire, gas bottle, gas, etc). That's where they probably make most of their money. Worth a shot anyways. Good luck.

[smfcpacfp]

When I first read your post I was going to suggest the Millermatic 211 which I bought this spring, but with a spool feed, filled tank, cart, the out the door price was $1,500 from our local Airgas. The welder itself was $976. Personally, I would only buy a new welder from a local dealer.

It is a great welder and I would highly recommend it. I like the flexibility of the 110 and 220. I have 220 at home, but if you help a friend out who has 110, it is great.

Actually I was going to suggest a stick welder initially when I read your post, given that you weren't going to use it regularly. You can get a lot more for your money with a stick welder. I thought long and hard about whether to get a stick, or mig welder or just welding with an O/A torch before I bought the Millermatic.