OT- MIG Welder Do you have one? I need advice

[sparx]

I want to get a small mig welder. I know the difference between gas and gasless. Gas will give cleaner welds due to the gas shroud, but I see a lot of gasless units for sale.

Are the Harbor Freight welders totally junk as is claimed on the net?

I fpimd a couple of Linclon brand a at Home Depot and Sears that should be OK.

What do you have? I want it to weld 1/8" and smaller, for example to attach a metal divider trunk plate to my 66.

Sparx

 

[sparx]

I find this interesting, but not sure who makes it for Eastwood.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...akeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

 

[BubbaB1966]

Lincoln MIG running flux core wire, but also have gas for the cleaner welds. 110V unit, works great on the body panels. Harbor Freight units are crap, along with most of the Chinese junk they sell. Don't waste your money, buy a good quality unit like Lincoln or Miller. Check the local pawn shops. I got mine there and saved a ton.

 

[Fstbk]

I have a Miller 135 that I bought about 15 years ago, I will always own it. I can say that because since it is a Miller I can get parts for it....I dont think I could for even a 5 year old Hobart. I also like the metal rollers, stay away from plastic/nylon feed rollers.

Just find a used unit from Lincoln or Miller. I think Hobart was purchased by Lincoln a few years ago, but without knowing what year a used Hobart welder was made you may not be able to order parts for it in the future.

Harbor Freight, I vote no. Dont get me wrong, I have a store locally and have nothing against it, but unless you can get it uber cheap and get a cheap 5 year warranty you may just end up buying it twice over the expected lifetime.

 

[DukeGnarley]

I have an older 220v lincoln 155 with a gas conversion on it. it's a great welder but on the really thin stuff it runs a little too hot. for most of the stuff you'll find on a mustang a 110v would probably suit you best.

 

[ashford]

i have a miller 135 i works really nice in stuff bigger than 1/8 on lower heat it seems too touchy, i also had a clark 130en which worked better than the miller on sheet metal but was useless when the heat was turned up

 

[mtaqua]

I got the clarke 130en. It works well for sheet metal, many people complained about how bad they sucked; but none of those people who were complaining owned one. Most of the expendable parts are the same as the lincoln they sale at lowes. The one thing I don't like about it is not having infinite power adjustments. Looks like the eastwood one you linked to does, I'd go for that one. The clarkes are cheaper than the millers/lincoln/etc. But mine works, and has done many welds. That being said, you generally do get what you pay for, and I am sure the other more expensive ones are better. My plan was to do body work with the mig, a little frame and cage work; then on the next car spend the money and get a decent tig for the moly work.

 

[palerider94]

I'd try the eastwood for that price. They make quality paint and supplies. I'd like to think they wouldnot put their name on a junk machine. Although I have a Lincoln 135 and I lke it a lot. Bought it used of ebay.

 

[sparx]

I found this: K2787-1 - New, $392.85, Free Shipping, WeldingSupplyUSA - Century/Lincoln K2787-1 Wire Feed 140 Welder

Then I found this for about $80.00 less and cannot figure out the diff: K2787-2 - New, $317.43, Free Shipping, WeldingSupplyUSA - Century/Lincoln K2787-2 140 Amp 110 Volt MIG Welder

They look the same?
Not sure what the smallest guage they weld.
Thanks for the replies so far all.

 

[ashford]

I found this: K2787-1 - New, $392.85, Free Shipping, WeldingSupplyUSA - Century/Lincoln K2787-1 Wire Feed 140 Welder

Then I found this for about $80.00 less and cannot figure out the diff: K2787-2 - New, $317.43, Free Shipping, WeldingSupplyUSA - Century/Lincoln K2787-2 140 Amp 110 Volt MIG Welder

They look the same?
Not sure what the smallest guage they weld.
Thanks for the replies so far all.

same welder unit. looks like a promo the threw in the gas stuff and dropped the price. i bought my miller 8 yrs ago for $700 with the same accesorys as the cheaper on. the clark was $240 just welder.

 

[horseballz]

Yeah,
It looks like they give you the gas set up AND a cart for $75 less! With free shipping on both, it seems like a no-brainer to me.
My $.02,
gene

 

[palerider94]

Wow seems like a nice deal for a lincoln. But whats the deal with the century branding?

 

[rebel65]

there really needs to be a sticky about this kind of information, it gets asked infrequently but is an important question that a lot of people ask.

 

[Hack]

Get a brand name, 110 v is plenty for most people. I bought a Hobart many years ago. It still works great. You want to use gas to get nice welds.

 

[Jester67]

I have a Miller 135 that I bought about 15 years ago, I will always own it. I can say that because since it is a Miller I can get parts for it....I dont think I could for even a 5 year old Hobart. I also like the metal rollers, stay away from plastic/nylon feed rollers.

Just find a used unit from Lincoln or Miller. I think Hobart was purchased by Lincoln a few years ago, but without knowing what year a used Hobart welder was made you may not be able to order parts for it in the future.

Harbor Freight, I vote no. Dont get me wrong, I have a store locally and have nothing against it, but unless you can get it uber cheap and get a cheap 5 year warranty you may just end up buying it twice over the expected lifetime.

I have a Hobart 220v 180 amp. A little over kill for the mustang but since I have owned it I have found lots of uses. Hobart was purchased by Miller several years ago and since then they have kinda of merger the brands with the smaller miller and larger Hobert units being the same with different paint. I found a great deal on my at Tractor supply they run a kit around this time of year with a cart small 25 (i think) cf bottle and a self darkening mask gloves slag hammer and some other nice things for less that the price of the welder.

 

[sparx]

Ordered the welder

Well, I ordered this unit: K2787-2 - New, $317.43, Free Shipping, WeldingSupplyUSA - Century/Lincoln K2787-2 140 Amp 110 Volt MIG Welder

Can't see how I can go wrong.

Additional questions for you all.

Is the hood Harbor Freight sells any good this being the hood that changes shades?

Is the gas cylinder Har Freight sells good, for argon/co2?

TY for all the help!
sparx

 

[Jester67]

I used a HF hood at a friend and it seamed slower than mine going both ways could have been me or the welder or all the above. It worked but I am not sure I would want to use it for all my welding as my eyes where very tired at the end of the day and that does not happen with the Hobart unit I have.

Dont know about the cylinder but it should be ok but small I. I upgraded to a 125 after the second recharge it paid for its self fast Still have a small cylinder but never use it.

 

[sparx]

I used a HF hood at a friend and it seamed slower than mine going both ways could have been me or the welder or all the above. It worked but I am not sure I would want to use it for all my welding as my eyes where very tired at the end of the day and that does not happen with the Hobart unit I have.

Dont know about the cylinder but it should be ok but small I. I upgraded to a 125 after the second recharge it paid for its self fast Still have a small cylinder but never use it.

125 lb is it?
How much does gas cost?

 

[palerider94]

Got mine fronm TSC - got size #2. They have an exchange pgm after you buy the tank. The 20lb tank was always runing out. Here is a link to give you some idea on price. Shielding Gas Cylinder, #2 Size, 40 cu. ft. - 3804843 | Tractor Supply Company

 

[sparx]

Got mine fronm TSC - got size #2. They have an exchange pgm after you buy the tank. The 20lb tank was always runing out. Here is a link to give you some idea on price. Shielding Gas Cylinder, #2 Size, 40 cu. ft. - 3804843 | Tractor Supply Company

Is that filled or empty?