I need a welder recommendation

[MotownChevy427]

Millermatic 140! i think all you change is the tip-according to size of wire ect

[Motorcitydak]

Rite, all you have to change is the tip itself. Takes maybe 30 seconds if that. You use the .023 wire for thinner stuff and turn your energy setting down. The .030 and up is for thicker stuff that you can put more heat into with out worrying about it warping

[mrn2obelvedere]

If this is the case then why do they sell different liners for .023 and .030 wire?

[rivs68]

I've never seen a different liner based on wire diameter...Drive rolls and contact tips should be the only difference. However, if for some reason they are offering different liners...I would say get the larger one... JMO

[John Wright]

I have to wonder if .007" of slop will make any difference in the feeding quality....but we use Bernard here at work with really large wire compared to what you are talking about, so we don't change the liners unless drastically changing the wire size. Anyway, I figured that I would link to their page so you can read it and you can decide what you need to do for your situation.

http://www.bernardwelds.com/articles/article22.htm

[waynedang]

As a cheap SOB, I decided to get online and look at other alternatives to an expensive miller or lincoln machine from my local welding shops. I found that there are many off brand machines out there although if they do not come with a good warranty, it would not be worth the low price. I found a company called Longevity welding on the net that sells very low cost units for the poor people like myself. I bought from them after reading some reviews from a couple of forums including pirate 4x4 and welding web, ETC, but I was also able to get on there own forum (www.freeweldingforum.com) where I was able to talk to some of the customers direct about the equipment, and determine how well the equipment would work out. The MIG welder that I purchased cost me $850.00 shipped to my door. the M200 is a 200amp MIG welder with a built in wire feeder and a multi use stick welder as well. this machine runs off IGBT technology which is also used by miller and lincoln. better warranty at a better price, if your cheap like me, check out the machine here:

http://www.longevity-inc.com/product...-M200-IGBT.php

glad to be of inexpensive service.

[John Wright]

When scoping out the cheap machines....make sure that you can find a good supply of the consumable parts that you will need for just the wear and tear items.....tips, diffusers, nozzles, liners, guns, whips, drive wheels/rollers, ect....if you can't find these parts when they wear out, then I would say that you didn't get such a good bargin on the cheap machine.

[507caddy]

Another thing about buying a brand name is resale, I have been shopping around for a used miller 180 and have found that I might as well buy a new unit. These welders do not seem to drop in price.
As far as the miller auto-set, from what I have read it works great. I am saving for this unit which is a little smaller but I have a nice miller stick unit which works great on anything thicker.