Welder for a home shop

[zachatola]

Well guys im looking at possibly buying a mig welder in the near future. I was wondering what you guys would purchase around the $500-600 range. The garage doesn’t have 220 so im kinda stuck with the 110. Also i know 110 is pretty good for sheet metal work, but how well would it work for mini tubing and things like that. Mainly in the frame notching/cutting area. Good enough to make a strong weld? I know they don’t really do good on real thick metal, but i also don’t think that the frames on a classic mustang are all that thick. Maybe preheat the metal with a torch to get good penetration?

[C4Bird]

I am in about the same boat right now (only 110 in the garage) and picked up a miller "millermatic" 135 a few months ago. It works great for all of the small stuff I have put to it. Even some frame work on a pick-up is still holding up and the truck has been through some pretty rough conditions (4x4 rock crawling). The 135 has variable wire speed and voltage, a fairly decent duty cycle, plus most of the feed mechanisms are metal instead of plastic like some other brands. It ran me right at $600. Hope this helps. Here's the link http://www.millerwelds.com/products/...llermatic_135/

-Nate

[zachatola]

Thanks a lot C4 that is exactly what i was looking for.

[C4Bird]

Anytime, glad I could help.
-Nate

[bnoon]

I gotta ask... If you already have 110 in the garage, why not just rewire it to 220? All you need is a small breaker box and some breakers/fuses to accomplish it. I just got mine done this last fall to run a 220V furnace, stove, and future welders (stick, MIG, TIG).

[C4Bird]

In my case, I am not planning to stay at my current home long, and I didn't want to tear up the sheetrock to run a new box and wires. I also plan on buying a nice 220v setup when I have the room. The one car garage isn't friendly on the builds and it is always handy to have a small one around.
-Nate

[rancherlee]

one thing to watch with the bigger 110 machines like the "millermatic 135" (I have the Hobart version of that machine) is that it likes to trip 20amp breakers if you are using the higher voltage settings (sometimes #3 and almost always #4 with mine) I suggest stepping up to a 25 or 30 amp breaker if your garage wireing can handle it OR go to a small 220v machine and rewire for a 220v service.

[esenior]

I'm also looking for a MIG welder...I don't have a lot of welding experience, but would like to be able to do some of the smaller jobs. I already have a 220V circuit run....any recommendations for a good 220V model that won't break the bank?

---Eric

[69Lowbird]

Try the millermatic 175 (220V). It is one step above the 135 and it is still relatively small compared to the 220's you usually see.

[69injun]

I have a millermatic 175 and love it. it is very adjustable and has wire speed tracking, so if you adjust voltage the wirespeed will increase accordingly. I did not like the cart that came with it very much. But I just customized it to my taste. It didn't have a hanger for the cable and gun and it didn't have a push bar. So a little scrap metal and some welding fixed that.

[69boo307]

millermatic 175 here! but I spent $50 making a 25' extension cord for it to reach from my dryer outlet to my garage :D

[boodlefoof]

Ditto Millermatic 175! Love it!

[bnoon]

millermatic 175 here! but I spent $50 making a 25' extension cord for it to reach from my dryer outlet to my garage :D

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA! My dad used to do that with his old stick welder when I was little (I'm 33 years old now). He wouldn't make a point to tell mom that he was welding many times and when she'd turn on the oven to make supper and he'd weld another bead it would pop the main breaker and shut off the entire house, LOL! Good times... thanks for bringing that memory back!

[myclone]

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA! My dad used to do that with his old stick welder when I was little (I'm 33 years old now). He wouldn't make a point to tell mom that he was welding many times and when she'd turn on the oven to make supper and he'd weld another bead it would pop the main breaker and shut off the entire house, LOL! Good times... thanks for bringing that memory back!

Same thing here. Good times indeed.