Welders

[Used2jeep]

Hey all.

NOTE: You get what you pay for I understand but there is also a VALUE component

Small, hobbyist welder - I've use a smaller Hobart (140 maybe) as well as the equivalent Lincoln. I don't own one but am seriously thinking about it.

Saw the little Titanium briefcase jobber at Harbor Freight.

Any opinions of that machine or others? Really don't want to spend the $500ish for the "big boys" in that type of machine.

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[PWillette]

I tried one of the small HF suitcase models just because it was so cheap. It did the trick but it's certainly less than a quality piece of equipment. IMO you'll be better off saving for one of the established name brands...Lincoln, Miller, Hobart. Then again, depends what your plans are...the HF model will get you by.

 

[Used2jeep]

I tried one of the small HF suitcase models just because it was so cheap. It did the trick but it's certainly less than a quality piece of equipment. IMO you'll be better off saving for one of the established name brands...Lincoln, Miller, Hobart. Then again, depends what your plans are...the HF model will get you by.

I was just thinking go-kart thickness and whatnot. But any type of glitch would Pitch me off to no end. You're right, I'll just "be good" for a while longer and just the hobbyist Hobart/Lincoln/Miller.

 

[PWillette]

You won't regret it...the HF model is extremely light duty and if I recall the duty cycle sucked.

 

[Blksn955.o]

My brother is a certified welder and he went to his local supply shop and started buying the incidentals and talking with the staff.

After establishing himself as a regular the shop started telling him about their trade ins or referb units from the big names. He ended up getting a decent deal on a used unit.

 

[P52Ranch]

I have welders from both Miller and Lincoln and have been very happy with them. Many years of faithful service. I don't have any experience with the welding equipment from HF. They may be perfectly suitable especially for hobby uses.
Note: certain mass merchandise stores sell Lincoln branded equipment at a much lower price that at your welding supply store. They look similar but they are not the same quality of machine.

If you have the budget some of the new Multi-Process machines are awesome. MIG, TIG, TIG Aluminum (on a Miller or ESAB) and Stick. (The reason I have a Miller amongst a couple of Lincoln machines.)

I would recommend that whatever you get make sure you can hook up an Ar/CO2 bottle to it and run solid core wire. Solid core doesn't require near the amperage to run. If the machine only runs flux core and is a 110V machine then you will have duty cycle issues. Also with gas, you can insert a spool of stainless wire and MIG weld on stainless.

Oh, and the Plasma torch for cutting is a must have IMO. Not sure how I got by all these years with an acetylene torch.

 

[Fly by Nite]

I have a basic Hobart Handler, 90 amp I think. Been using it for over 30 years! It was about $500 back then. It's been a solid unit, tho did have to replace some diodes a few years ago.
Only has two adjustment knobs, one for voltage, one for wire speed. I used it for everything from sheetmetal to heavier jobs like fabrication and tractor repairs. Can be used on thicker metal if you do proper prep and/or do multiple beads.
Flux coated wire can be a mess, step up to a true MIG to use shielding gas.

I recently stepped up to a $750 TIG welder (Alpha-tig). It's incredible for sheetmetal and thinner materials. Also allows me to weld aluminum.

Check out the forums on GarageJournal.com or just hit YouTube for reviews.... and post back here to let us know what you learned.

Eastwood has one of their basic units on sale for $299. Includes the gas solenoid and regulator. Looks like a good value but do your research first:
https://www.eastwood.com/mig-welder-110vac-135a-output.html

 

[Beachin 74]

I have a Hobart 140 good machine for thin stuff. Uses Miller consumables so obtaining parts is easy. You are right, you get what you pay for.
Using it to tack up my cage on the 74' back in 2013.

.

 

[frinesi2]

A guy I know used on of those HF titanium tig/mig welders for his farm work for about a year (mostly mig work). He liked it for mig but it missed the mark on tig. He just upgraded to an AHP which is apparently what people are recommending as the middle place between HF welders and Lincoln/Miller for tig.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I bought one of the cheapest ESAB units from cyberweld.com.
I used it for some frame repairs and track bar mounts on my 69.
It did the trick using 7/32 7018.

As an electrician, getting good power to one of these units is VITAL. It makes A LOT of difference.
NO 100ft extension cords!!!
I'd rather longer leads than any cord at all.


I'd love to try one on a 240 volt circuit.
As it is, my 20A garage circuits are close and stout enough.
Wasn't worth the hassle to rewire for a few welds.

 

[Used2jeep]

Yeah, just looking for a small hobbyist style machine. But don't want to replace it in 10 years or whatever (not that I will be welding in 10 years probably).

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Yeah, just looking for a small hobbyist style machine. But don't want to replace it in 10 years or whatever (not that I will be welding in 10 years probably).

I'd have to look up my model, but it is stick/tig only, not mig which might be best for body work I'll have coming up next.....
Live and learn.

 

[Silver-Bolt]

Years ago I spent some decent $$ and bought a Lincoln Pre MIG-255. Killer machine but way overkill for my current use. In hindsight I should have bought a nice TIG and a smaller MIG. I have far more use for a TIG than I do a MIG. Miller, Lincoln, ESAB, and Hobart are the main quality players. Look at the duty cycle more than the max amps. You can get by with a smaller machine that has a higher duty cycle.

 

[mtap]

This

 

[FairFrank]

I don't understand why you are doubting. To my mind, the usual 120/240V welder is more than enough for day-to-day works. Like a Hobart 140 which you mentioned or 210(this)

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