Cheapo welders

[MrE_Powers]

i would have to see it in person and run some beads.

 

[warrior24]

I say no because the inside is all aluminum
windings and heat sink
therefore if you exceed the duty cycle it will overheat and stop working plus not much penetration with 120v.

 

[Iron Ranger]

Never skimp out on a welder, even if it's for odds and ends. There's a reason why harbor freight welders are cheap, and it's not the good kind of cheap either. You can get a Hobart Handler 140(what I got) with a free cart and included gas regulator kit for $480. Best 110V welder I've ever used, nice stable arc control(cheap ones are pretty erratic)

Like what COPPERHEAD85 was saying, it'll be one thing after the other and only a decent welder will do the job.

This is one of the cases where cheaper isn't better(I mean NEVER)

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

You start with stick and go to mig.when you learn to tig....you never wanna look back.
If you had to weld a butthole shut..............it would be TIG.
Tack it with a Mig,Weld it Tig.I once ran threw 30' of 1/8 316 stainless rod in a 10 hour work day,3' at a time................it was a good day!

 

[Beef52751]

i can stick, but ive never tried to TIG. the reason i am goin to buy a 110V welder is because i dont have a 220V hookup in my garage and we would have to cut up our concrete driveway to get 220V out to the garage.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

i bought a good used 110v lincoln with a full bottle of stargon gas, new wire, and a brand new helmet for 350 on craigslist. i love that welder for sheetmetal,

but when it comes to welding thick stuff, i always go back to my 22v airco mig welder, it just has the power i need.

 

[Ranger#1]

if u need to get a chepo one get a big chepo one like one rated at 180 amps [220v] also shop by the duty cycles thats really my selling point

 

[99RangerKrazy]

if u need to get a chepo one get a big chepo one like one rated at 180 amps [220v] also shop by the duty cycles thats really my selling point

Only problem with going by this criteria is that it won't be a cheapo welder.

 

[Chance]

i bought my lil harbor freight 90 knowing that it was only to tack weld everything together, so it could be taken to my cousins shop and be welded with his 220.

oh and to make a cupholder for my truck.

 

[Ranger#1]

Only problem with going by this criteria is that it won't be a cheapo welder.

true but have u priced out a millermatiic 210 latley holly shit

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I know I picked up my Lincoln 180 (180 amps, 220v, 30% duty cycle) for under $600 new.

Excellent machine for the price.

 

[crawlin91]

Friends Dont Let Friends Buy Harbor Freight

Hobart 140s are great little machines for a good price.

 

[Ranger#1]

I know I picked up my Lincoln 180 (180 amps, 220v, 30% duty cycle) for under $600 new.

Excellent machine for the price.

really that is the exact machine i want where did u find it for under 600 i believe iirc there like around 800 i have the 145 i believe it does 1/4 plate pretty well how does your 180 deal with the 5/16

 

[rangerguy1996]

i bought a millermatiic 211 its portable runs on 240 or 120v. sure it cost me 930 but a hobart 212 was 850 id rather pay more and get more. this welder should last for a long time.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Also don't forget about Clarke. They are about as cheap as you can go and still get a decent welder. I have the 130EN, which is the "big" 120v welder. Typical for it's size, it'll do 3/16 easily and up to 1/4 if you go slow and take your time heating the piece up. I have a 220v "AC buzzbox" 220 amp welder for the thick stuff, so I don't mess with large MIG welders.

As for quality, I've got mine set up with gas, and it works pretty well. It's no Miller, but it welds exhaust and sheet metal easily with pretty good results. I've put about a dozen 2 lb rolls of MIG wire thru it and no problems yet. My opinion is that they're pretty solidly made for the price.

BTW, I paid like 280 for mine a couple years ago.