mig welder witch one???

[jarfly]

I am lookin at a new mig welder for my project(all i have is an older linco welder great welders but i need/want a mig welding)

I was wornding what model/brand to get?
Do thay make a welder with a mig/stick combind in to one?

 

[chvlfrk]

I am lookin at a new mig welder for my project(all i have is an older linco welder great welders but i need/want a mig welding)
I was wornding what model/brand to get?
Do thay make a welder with a mig/stick combind in to one?

=================================
I assume your current Lincoln is a arc welder (stick)?

Kinda depends on what you wanta spend?

You can pick up a Mig Fluxcore Lincoln for around $400 at Home Depot (that's what I have, 100pak) or a gas Mig for around $550+ then ya gotta get/rent a bottle............

Mine works great for all the more weldin I do, but if I was weldin daily, I'd go with a Mig gas personally!

 

[jarfly]

sheet metal, roll cages, bumpers that sorta stuff

 

[Destroyer000]

ive got a lincolin welder 175 got it for 500 bucks.. 220v FANTASTIC welder.. the hobart handler welders are nice too the 187 is pretty much identical to my 175 it has a few more heat settings which is nice.. those can be found at tractor supply... the 175 can do what your looking for an wont break the bank

 

[Ranger5.0]

i got me a lincolin migpak 10 like, 8 years ago, and its never let me down. My advice would be an entry level welder, and a quick and dirty welding class. Once you get realy good, and confident, you can step it up a notch, and buy somthing that can do stuff like spray welding, and that my friends is cool stuff

 

[Maverick]

I've got a Lincoln 125 Migpack 220 wirefeed. It's and excellent welder. We've done everything from frames to sheetmetal to roll cages and so on. My dad bought it like fourteen or fifteen years ago and we've only ever replaced the leads once and thats it. I would definenately recommend it.

 

[Danger FX4 Ranger]

You can't go wrong with Lincoln, Miller or Hobart. When I was in trade school my favorite machine/set up was a Lincoln DC 600 (yes, It is 3 phase and is much to expensive for most home owners, but it was an excellent machine). It was capable of stick , wire or tig welding, depending on the accessories and packages you purchased with it.

 

[jrmustranger97]

I run a Millermatic 251 MIG machine. Its great. I prefer Miller but Lincoln makes a great machine. I think I would only buy a Miller, Lincoln, or a Hobart. Hobarts are the cheaper of the three, but seem to be pretty capable machines. Also, I wouldn't buy anything too small. It's always nice to have some power when you need it. Check out the Millermatic 180 (5/16" in a single pass) or the Millermatic 212 (3/8" in a single pass). The 180 is just about a $1000. Not too bad for a really nice machine. Also, you can get a multiprocess power source and they run about $3,000 not including a wire feeder and and all of your leads. The problem is that MIG is run off of a Costant Voltage power source while Stick and TIG are run off of a Constant Current Power Source. I looked into a multiprocess unit when I was buying my welders and decided it was not worth it. If and when you want to upgrade your stick welder I would suggest going with an Inverter. 200A of power in a welder the size of a small suitcase. Plus they are TIG Capable. I never stick weld anymore. If you have TIG and MIG capabilities there isn't much left to stick weld. Unless of course you just happen to like cleaning slag...! Anyway good luck! Let us know what you end up with or feel free to ask more questions! I think it took me 3 or 4 months of looking before I decided.

 

[almostclueless]

My next MIG will be a miller 140.......runs on 110, fully variable heat, gas equipped.

 

[THE WHITE RHINO]

i have a millermatic 250 works tits buddy has 251 a little nicer same welds

 

[blackbronc]

I worked in structural steel for years. Millers were the best with Lincolns a close second. Lindes and hobarts were less reliable. Lindes were very good for spray arc but burned up circuit boards regularly. These were all 3 phase industrial machines. For home use I had the 220v 175amp Lincoln and it worked great. Go with as many amps as you can afford since that's what gets ya good welds.

 

[canyoncritter]

ESAB and Miller makes some multi process machines, but myself I don't like the ideal of buying a packaged item...Gives me the feeling of buying a ghetto blaster( and no I'm not talking about the Tommy gun type) that has the cd player tape deck and stero built in one....

stick with the big names, lincon,Miller,hobart,ESAB.

I suggest getting a 220 machine, the little 110 buzz boxes are great if your stuck with 110, but your going to be running it on the edge most the time on much more than sheet metal.

If you can afford it I would suggest one of the "big box" ethier a 210 or 250 amp range...once and for all kind of buy....but any of the 175-180 machines are great too for pretty much eveything with in reason.And semi portable.


weldingweb.com has alot of good info on buying a machine to suit your needs.

also if you looking to save a few bucks, sometimes places like toolking.com will have refurbs,same warranty as a new one....


Blackbronc funny you say that about the lindes, I have a old linde 225 mig,single phase and the thing will spray like no tomorrow.

 

[canyoncritter]

ESAB and Miller makes some multi process machines, but myself I don't like the ideal of buying a packaged item...Gives me the feeling of buying a ghetto blaster( and no I'm not talking about the Tommy gun type) that has the cd player tape deck and stero built in one....

stick with the big names, lincon,Miller,hobart,ESAB.

I suggest getting a 220 machine, the little 110 buzz boxes are great if your stuck with 110, but your going to be running it on the edge most the time on much more than sheet metal.

If you can afford it I would suggest one of the "big box" ethier a 210 or 250 amp range...once and for all kind of buy....but any of the 175-180 machines are great too for pretty much eveything with in reason.And semi portable.


weldingweb.com has alot of good info on buying a machine to suit your needs.

also if you looking to save a few bucks, sometimes places like toolking.com will have refurbs,same warranty as a new one....

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

you can also go to dealer miller or lincoln and lease a new one............its kinda like renting it for a while for a test drive.find the size machine that fits your needs.......