need advice, ordering welder tomorrow..

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

No problem

I've got the lincoln migpak 180 and its an great little welder. I picked it up for $599 canadian.

 

[motaaa]

hah sasquatch is right, the numbers included in the item title or model is usually the amount of amps it puts out..

 

[Iron Ranger]

I bought a Hobart Handler 140 (110v) with a free welding cart and gas hookup for $480 new. I built my receiver hitch with it and the metal thickness was 1/4" all around.

Here's the kicker; I used the flux cored wire instead of the gassed because flux core digs and penetrates much deeper than the solid gassed wire, due to the reversed polarity needed for the flux core(ground is +, gun is -). But it's very spattery, smokey, and doesn't work very well on anything under 1/8" material.

But if you got 230V hookups and the $$$ to buy a 220V, go for it. That way, the solid gasses wire can go from sheet metal up to thicker plate and still get proper penetration.




Miller: Very spendy but reliable+-
Clarke: I wouldn't buy it--
Lincoln: Same as miller+-
Hobart: Reasonable price and reliability++

 

[IRKillroy]

yeah... the Marine Corps using Hobarts.... they have an entire trailer with welding equipment... all Hobart.

very reliable stuff.

 

[motaaa]

yeah i agree with you that miller/hobert are good,
but in my case i need a decent welder within my budget,
so if that means buying a clarke, im gonna buy a clarke. besides, i've heard theyre ok, and since im going for the 220v 190a welder i think it would work fine, by the time it breaks ill enough for a nice hobart anyways..