I need a welder recommendation

[mrn2obelvedere]

Hello all,

I want to buy a mig welder. I want to use gas shielding, because I don't like chipping away at slag. Also, I do have access to a 220 volt outlet. My needs are primarily for thin gage mild steel (building frames/chassis tabs/sheetmetal work/etc), so I don't really need the biggest baddest welder.



Do any of you have any recommendations for a decent gas mig welder?

[oestek]

We've been using HTP welders for years with outstanding reliability and results. Check the MIG 140 for a robust 110 machine.

http://www.usaweld.com/HTP-MIG-Welders-MIG-140-s/21.htm

[DaleLee]

If you are looking for a small investment, the 220 Lincolns available at Home Depot are pretty cheap. Add your gas bottle and you should be able to do everything described.

[Rick D]

I've used Miller for mig and as stated by Kevin the HTP but I use their Tig never used their mig. What ever you buy any of the brand names will do what ever you need. just don't buy an off brand because it's cheap. You will have a hard time getting parts if you need them down the road. Also if you have a local welding supply store try to buy from them because they will be able to help you if you have any problems and will have the consumables you will need. Plus you can get the gas from them. Hope this helps.

[mrn2obelvedere]

The ones I have seen at home depot don't come with bottles...what do I need to do to use gas with one of these units? Would a lincoln 180 HD weld pak work for me?

[bmms]

just bought a 211, great unit! the autoset actually works well too!

[mrn2obelvedere]

just bought a 211, great unit! the autoset actually works well too!

A 211...what...is that a Miller, a Lincoln?

[rivs68]

I would recommend going to a welding supply and see what they have to say, most carry the popular brands, and the prices are usually competitive...It's a one stop shop...welder, gas,wire...Whatever you need and a better selection...I bought my Lincoln "mig"from a local Praxair about 5 years ago...works great

[bmms]

A 211...what...is that a Miller, a Lincoln?

it's a miller, w/DVS (dual voltage 110 or 240) in a compact unit

[mrn2obelvedere]

I looked at the Miller website and it says the 211 can weld up to 3/8" in a single pass...this is really more welder than I need I think. The thickest stuff I can see myself welding onto might be welding up sway bar mounts to my rear end housing...nothing more thick than 1/8.

Do you guys think the 180 might work for me? This is a 230V welder which welds up to 5/16" thickness in a single pass (still likely more than I'll be doing).

Also, considering that I'd be doing mostly thin gage stuff (like up to .125" thickness), is there any advantage to using a smaller welder for me? I understand welding thick stuff is important sometimes, but when I want to weld something thin (say a quarter panel patch for instance) I want to have the flexibility to be able to do this without blowing holes right through the metal. In other words I don't want the lowest setting to be too much for small stuff. Would the larger welders have a problem with this?

[bmms]

I looked at the Miller website and it says the 211 can weld up to 3/8" in a single pass...this is really more welder than I need I think. The thickest stuff I can see myself welding onto might be welding up sway bar mounts to my rear end housing...nothing more thick than 1/8.

Do you guys think the 180 might work for me? This is a 230V welder which welds up to 5/16" thickness in a single pass (still likely more than I'll be doing).

Also, considering that I'd be doing mostly thin gage stuff (like up to .125" thickness), is there any advantage to using a smaller welder for me? I understand welding thick stuff is important sometimes, but when I want to weld something thin (say a quarter panel patch for instance) I want to have the flexibility to be able to do this without blowing holes right through the metal. In other words I don't want the lowest setting to be too much for small stuff. Would the larger welders have a problem with this?

if you were going to spend the money on a miller I'd get the 140 or the 211 the 140 is quite a bit cheaper than the 211 and the 211 is just a little more then the 180. the 180 wouldn't be worth the savings compared to the 211 in my opinion. if you just want to do light body work and it's just for home use I'd buy the better of the two 110 lincolns from home depot that would suit your needs just fine, and if you have to weld say 1/4" you can do so with flux core or you can preheat your material with O/A torch, crank up the wire speed and weld thicker material with mig wire. But believe me you'll eventually see the many uses of a welder and you'll want a bigger unit. I am partial to miller if I went back in time I'd at least buy the miller 140 over the home depot welder. just FYI the lincoln migs that home depot sells are pretty much made exclusively cheaper for home depot

[Motorcitydak]

You will need that tank itself, regualtor and proper hose for your machine. Mine has a barbed hose fitting, others have a push lock tube setup. You keep the regulator and hose. When you run the tank empty, just take it back to the store and exchange it for a full one. The initial gas setup will run you $150-$200. I pay $20 iirc to exchange tanks

[Twentyover]

Think a bigger machine has more cooling so you get more duty cycle at lower power. If you're not welding big stuff, just use a smaller wire (to keep wire speed high and speed variation low)

[John Wright]

Also note that the larger machines, usually have more adjustability in them. So even though they will handle thicker materials and have larger duty cycles, they give you the ability to fine tune your settings. Whereas the smaller welders have preset selections that you have to use. These infinitely adjustable settings will come in handy vs the preset selections on the thinner gage materials.

[69LT1Nova]

Miller. I've used a lot of welders and Miller just makes a nice product at a "reasonable" price. The fine tuning of the larger models is super handy, even if you'll never weld 3/8".

[mrn2obelvedere]

Ok this is a newb question, but I notice that the welders come with different wire sizes depending on the welder. Some come with 023 wire, some come with 030 wire. The question I have is with regards to the liner. If you are using a liner for 030 wire do you have to use 030 wire or can you use smaller wire with this liner? Same question but opposite direction, If I had an 023 liner would I have to change this to an 030 liner to use 030 wire?

[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