Need a budget Mig welder...
11-04-2006, 07:02 AM
#4
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I'll spit out my 2 complaints about my Campbell-Hausfeld 105A welder. It's smaller than that Hobart, but, this is still kinda applicable.
1) 120 volt operation. This severely limits you on the power that the welder can put out. I wish I'd gone with a 220V welder. You can get a lot more power out of a 220V unit. Sure, the portability of 120V is nice, but (with me also as pretty much a beginner), I'm limited to about 1/8"-3/16" metal, and even then, only smaller pieces.
2) Adjustability. Mine only has 4 settings for power (kinda like that Hobart, I think). Too cold and it slags up. Too hot and it blows through (talking exhaust tubing here). I'd love to have a dial for power.
I ended up having to buy a Lincoln AC arc welder to do some thicker stuff. For the money spent on both the C-H and the Lincoln, I "could have" purchased a decent 220V Lincoln or Miller welder that would do the job of both. I don't mind the arc welder, hey, I can flat out burn some metal now
but a spool fed MIG would be so much nicer... 
1) 120 volt operation. This severely limits you on the power that the welder can put out. I wish I'd gone with a 220V welder. You can get a lot more power out of a 220V unit. Sure, the portability of 120V is nice, but (with me also as pretty much a beginner), I'm limited to about 1/8"-3/16" metal, and even then, only smaller pieces.
2) Adjustability. Mine only has 4 settings for power (kinda like that Hobart, I think). Too cold and it slags up. Too hot and it blows through (talking exhaust tubing here). I'd love to have a dial for power.
I ended up having to buy a Lincoln AC arc welder to do some thicker stuff. For the money spent on both the C-H and the Lincoln, I "could have" purchased a decent 220V Lincoln or Miller welder that would do the job of both. I don't mind the arc welder, hey, I can flat out burn some metal now
but a spool fed MIG would be so much nicer...
11-04-2006, 11:27 AM
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Myself I do not own a welder and have never welded. But i'm probbaly going to buy the Clarke to experiment with and train with then move up to a 220v model.
Take a look at the Clarke. They are pretty decently priced and come with a good ammount of stuff (Gas attachment, cart, auto darken helmet). The Hobart Handler is supposedly good as well. Made by Miller. The Millermatic is the most expensive of the ones I'm interested in buying. The biggest difference I can tell is like Camaroholic said, the Clarke and Hobart only have 4 adjustable settings for wire feed/power. The Millermatic has infinite type ***** for adjustablilty.
Look on Ebay they seem to have the best deals with free shipping. www.weldingdepot.com and the site you are looking at seem to carry decent deals on the Clarke as well.
Good luck.
Take a look at the Clarke. They are pretty decently priced and come with a good ammount of stuff (Gas attachment, cart, auto darken helmet). The Hobart Handler is supposedly good as well. Made by Miller. The Millermatic is the most expensive of the ones I'm interested in buying. The biggest difference I can tell is like Camaroholic said, the Clarke and Hobart only have 4 adjustable settings for wire feed/power. The Millermatic has infinite type ***** for adjustablilty.
Look on Ebay they seem to have the best deals with free shipping. www.weldingdepot.com and the site you are looking at seem to carry decent deals on the Clarke as well.
Good luck.
11-04-2006, 05:22 PM
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hobarts are good, made by miller..miller uses hobart welders to test new ideas before putting them on there miller line. this welder can plug into any regular outlet, if you do buy this one, sould be able to weld up to 3/16s. my dad is a professional welder, and salesman. ( this is a good welder to start learning how to and to have handy in a shop.
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11-06-2006, 01:56 PM
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my friend has the $300 150v lincoln. used with gas it makes pretty decent welds.
i bought the $600 230v lincoln, since i found one on sale for $400. they're very similar, but the 230 has one higher power setting and thicker gauge wiring.
both are supposed to be able to do aluminum, so i bought a roll of aluminum wire and it's so soft that it bird nests like crazy on the rollers because it gets jammed up in the liner. there is stiffer aluminum wire available but it takes more power to weld with it. they reccommend switching to teflon liner for aluminum wire in general. you'll also want pure argon for aluminum, instead of CO2/argon like for steel.
really though, to weld aluminum, tig is the way to go, but it's waaaay more expensive to get into tig welding.
i bought the $600 230v lincoln, since i found one on sale for $400. they're very similar, but the 230 has one higher power setting and thicker gauge wiring.
both are supposed to be able to do aluminum, so i bought a roll of aluminum wire and it's so soft that it bird nests like crazy on the rollers because it gets jammed up in the liner. there is stiffer aluminum wire available but it takes more power to weld with it. they reccommend switching to teflon liner for aluminum wire in general. you'll also want pure argon for aluminum, instead of CO2/argon like for steel.
really though, to weld aluminum, tig is the way to go, but it's waaaay more expensive to get into tig welding.
11-06-2006, 10:15 PM
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I have the Hobart 140 and I am very happy with it. Here is a piece of 1/4" plate that I vee'd and fused in one pass using .030. Beat the **** out of it with a 3lb sledge and the plate bent before the weld broke.
11-21-2006, 12:07 PM
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Go with 220v. You will be sorry later if you don't. I made the mistake along with several of my wrenching buddies. The Hobart 185 is an awesome welder. You can get new ones on ebay for under $700 with a cart. My cousin has a $2000 Miller and he still uses his Hobart for most of his fab work.
12-01-2006, 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by motorbuilt
Whats the cheapest decent welder for home garage type jobs of 3/16" or thinner? 220v, gas shield
Brandon
12-01-2006, 06:51 PM
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Originally Posted by xfactor_pitbulls
Save yourself some heartache and buy a miller or lincoln 150 amp. They both offer 3 years parts and labor. I have a little lincoln 135 to drag around and two miller 250. Say what you will about hobart, but its a cut rate job that uses some inferior parts, same with clarke.
Brandon
Brandon
Millers and Hobarts are the same though.
12-01-2006, 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by LS1_4seater
Millers and Hobarts are the same though.
Buy yourself a welder that you can get serviced if you have any issues with it. Id definitely stay with the big 3. Parts availability is huge.
12-01-2006, 07:41 PM
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There are some very minor differences. A little more plastic parts. But the basics are all the same.
ITW owns Miller and Hobart. They are both built in the same plant. With basically all the same exact parts. Aside from a few slight differences. Namely the wire feed has less adjustments and the wire feeder is a little cheaper.
http://www.itw-welding.co.uk/itw-brands.asp
ITW owns Miller and Hobart. They are both built in the same plant. With basically all the same exact parts. Aside from a few slight differences. Namely the wire feed has less adjustments and the wire feeder is a little cheaper.
http://www.itw-welding.co.uk/itw-brands.asp
Originally Posted by LS1_4seater
Millers and Hobarts are the same though.