Plasma cutters and MIG/TIG welders

[Bob in St. Louis]

I've seen no threads recent enough that "fit the bill" for what I'm looking for, so.....
....I find myself with a little spending cash in my pocket, and I'm thinking it's time I get some metal working equipment. Specifically, a plasma cutter and welder. I'm not looking to stick weld, I'm limited to 120 volts and I've got $1500 max (although, I'd like some change left for helmets, gloves, supplies, etc...)
Those are my only limitations on the matter.

I plan on building myself a smoker, car stuff, and general dabbling around the house. I have no plans on major metal working, so cutting and welding super thick isn't a concern. Aluminum would be neat to work with as well.

Having an automotive background, names like Miller, Hobart and Lincoln are familiar and I already respect. But since I'm basically playing around the house I don't really need a true industrial grade. That being said, I'm not sure I have much faith in the Harbor Freight type equipment.

Thoughts?
Thank you!

[Bob in St. Louis]

Is the brand "Lotos" worth looking at?
They got some combo units that are attractively priced. I'm worried that they're cheap foreign junk though.
>> THIS << (www.ebay.com/itm/Lotos-Combo-50A-Plasma-Cutter-MIG175-Mig-Welder-FREE-SPOOL-GUN-LTP5000DMIG175-/141177685857?pt=BI_Welders&hash=item20ded88761) is the pair I'm looking at. Or would they just serve to frustrate me

[mikey]

You can pick up a Miller 135 cart and bottle for probably less than $1000. It's a great little welder for the money you can weld up to 3/16 with it runs on 120. I've had mine since 2000 and use it for all my sheet metal work. For my big stuff I've got a Miller 250 and for stainless aluminum and other stuff I've got a miller syncrowave 200 tig. For a plasma cutter I've got a thermal dynamics cut master 38.

[mikey]

The combo pair you're looking at look like harbor freight quality to me

[Bob in St. Louis]

Mikey, that's awesome information, very helpful. Thank you VERY much.
I'd never heard of that brand, and for the price, I think you're right.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Here's a question, maybe I'm missing something. I'm checking out two Hobart (same company as Miller) welders. There's $80 difference in price, and the cheaper one is a "kit". Now granted, the kit unit has a cheap helmet that will probably go in the trash based on reviews, and the regulator is "fixed". But there's a 20 pound difference in the item weight and size. The cheap one seems much more massive than the light one.

Here they are;

Hobart 500550 (http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500550-Auto-Wire-Welding/dp/B002VECKTM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403572171&sr=8-1&keywords=hobart+500550+auto+arc+130+wire+feed+mig+ welding+kit) $450
Hobart 500559 (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X43F38/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1CVTZKMDPZHO&coliid=I3HD0SK1KAAW66) $530

Am I missing something there?

Also, here's the plasma cutter I'm looking at:

Hobart 500534 (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R8UN6G/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1CVTZKMDPZHO&coliid=I2RFPRVGLYIEEO) $820.

...and...is there anything you see there that makes you think "Oh, no...he shouldn't buy that"?

Remember, the thickest I plan on working with is 1/4" and the idea of aluminum working is appealing (with the purchase of a spoolgun)

Thank you for taking the time to look!
Bob

[Bob in St. Louis]

(sorry, links have been fixed)

[Build-It-Break-It]

The problem with the smaller Hobart welders is you can't find tune them and believe me you'll need to at times. There settings are fixed with wire speeds and voltage settings.

With the Hobart plasma cutter I don't like the built in air compressor , but I can see its use for someone who doesn't have a large enough home compressor to keep up with the plasma cutter. The problem is moisture build up. With an external air compressor you can better monitor and control moisture entering the plasma cutter then with internal. I'm sure there's an internal filter tho, but the more one machine does the more things can break.


I've used the smaller Hobart welder when i first started out welding but I've since upgrade to the millermatic 251 because the Hobart was to small. That being said, I'd personally buy a little bigger now so you won't have to later.

There's companies like longevity, Eastwood,everlast (aka never last), thermal arc etc. I'd look into the thermal arc for your price point. They have a welder that does mig , stick and tig all in one. Tho I'm not a fan of the combo type welders, this might be the best bang for the buck. Thermal arc makes great welders. I own there new thermal arc 186 tig and it works flawless. Most welders now are all made in China at the same or similar manufacturer just labeled different. Longevity has a 5 year warranty but they're not a big name company that a lot of people have heard of.

All companies mentioned sell plasma cutters as well. But like I said for the money your personally trying to spend and the work you plan on doing any one of those manufactures could work for you but customer service comes into play when needed. Just make sure if you do get one from the smaller companies ,make sure you can get consumables locally.

Hope this helped.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Ahmad, thank you!
That's some great information. I've got a large air compressor, so I really don't need the one in the cutter, nor do I want to listen to it, as I'm sure it'll be loud (my compressor is in the basement, so I can't hear it out in the garage). I've not been able to find a plasma cutter that I can afford that doesn't have it's own internal compressor.

Thank you again for taking the time to help!
Bob

[Roberts68]

I bought my Mig200 from these guys... USA Weld, HTP dealer (http://www.usaweld.com/Default.asp) and you will probably get Diana, Steve or possibly Jeff on the phone.
Check them out before you buy.

[mikey]

Hobart is the same as miller. Just outdated parts ie not junk just use newer designed parts in the millers. For the money I'd get the miller.

[Roberts68]

Hobart is the same as miller. Just outdated parts ie not junk just use newer designed parts in the millers. For the money I'd get the miller.
To their credit, I think it is even closer than that... didn't Miller actually acquire Hobart in the last couple years?

As for the Harbor Freight, Eastwood etc... I have heard a few stories of distress but have no personal experience.

I have been happy with my purchase and support when I struggled with oil contaminated seam welds and so on. Customer service above and beyond from USA Weld.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Alright, I think I'm about finished shopping for the welder and cutter. I'm ready to "push the button".
However, I start checking out helmets and they range from $40 to $700.
I guess it's safe to assume that anything sold by Lincoln, Hobart, Miller it going to be fine. But I don't really want to spend $150 on a helmet.
I'm tempted to by one of those forty dollar 'skull helmets' and be done with it, but I'm sure there's a reason they cost $40.

Thoughts on that one, please?

[mikey]

Hobart is the same as miller. Just outdated parts ie not junk just use newer designed parts in the millers. For the money I'd get the miller.
To their credit, I think it is even closer than that... didn't Miller actually acquire Hobart in the last couple years?

As for the Harbor Freight, Eastwood etc... I have heard a few stories of distress but have no personal experience.

I have been happy with my purchase and support when I struggled with oil contaminated seam welds and so on. Customer service above and beyond from USA Weld.

Yes they've owned them for several years not sure exactly how long but it's been a while

[mikey]

Get the $150 one your eyes will thank you the first time you burn them. Beleive me it's painful. ....... As for pricing try tractor supply, feldmans, home depot ect also. You may also be able to work a package deal with your local welding supply store. When I bought my tig I got a bottle assortment of rods tungsten and cups ect for virtually the same price as the welder itself. Auto darkening is the best allows you to have both hands free. No nodding your head to close the helmet and losing your spot.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Great info, and good point on "the extras" when shopping.
Auto dim is mandatory though. I never was good at keeping my spot after dipping the head.

[Bob in St. Louis]

I'd like to thank everybody that took the time to share some of their knowledge with me. I greatly appreciate it.
Here's what I ended up getting. All told, with glasses, helmet, gloves, magnets, etc..etc... I spent about $1400, which is about all I had.
I've got a few dollars left over. Not enough to buy any more equipment. Well, unless a decent bottle of Bourbon counts as equipment.

Thank you again, and I'll leave you with a photo of my new toys (cause if there ain't a pic, then it didn't happen). ;)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2014/06/062814New_zps5e3c003c-1.jpg (http://s85.photobucket.com/user/BobinStLouis/media/Welding/062814New_zps5e3c003c.jpg.html)

[BossaNova]

Congratulations. Northern tool has a nice welding cart with drawers if you're interested.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200395734_200395734

[Bob in St. Louis]

Thanks Mark, that's a good looking unit. My plan was to build my own. Sort of a "first metal project" type thing. Coincidentally, I just got back from my local "farm and home" store and saw the prices of metal. Wow. Yea, that cart you linked to would cost me $500 in materials alone to build. I need to find a "real" supplier for metal, first off. The other requirement would be to have/build a card that will house both machines.

I cut up an old circular saw blade as my first plasma cutting experiment. My 10 year old daughter now wants to use the machines. Cool.