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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,150 Likes: 3
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,150 Likes: 3 |
If a guy wanted a welder for basic fabrication tasks at home, what would you recommend? I know it’s a very loaded question but I figured I’d start the conversation. I’ve welded before but not even close to being comfortable with picking out a welder. I have to start somewhere and it’s a nebulous subject.
S. Mtboomer is right. You haven't really told us exactly what you want to weld on. That could have a lot to do with what we suggest. I also don't know how many here are actual welders, or just home hobby welders?? Here's my suggestion for different jobs: 1. 110v miller 130, for very small projects. Being able to plug into a regular 110 outlet makes stuff real nice sometimes and fluxcore is all you need for some small projects. Steel dining room tables and chairs for example, or simple repairs on sheet metal or even handrailing. 2. Miller 175 220v machine is great, but you may want to step up to the miller 180 or 211 if you ever want to use an aluminum spool gun. Those work great when paired with a 180 or similar. Build your own car trailer with these units. No problem. Easily build handrail, gates and fences. 3. Miller inverter: These are a multi process machine, which makes them extremely nice. Run stick, mig or tig off of these units. They are powerful and lightweight. If you want to weld on 1/2" plate at home, you can do it. Weld 1" baseplates on steel beams, you can do it with this machine and the right process. Get a suitcase and run .052" dual shield. Build your own steel building, or a barge in your backyard. I recently saw a Miller 304 XMT at a pawn shop, and it was cheap. There's a lot of utility in these machines, but they are not inexpensive. Thanks for all the suggestion folks. Mostly I’d be welding mild steal or med carbon 1045 upto 1/4 or 3/8”
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,058 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,058 Likes: 3 |
I taught welding for a junior college for 2 years.
First year was starting the program.
The 3 in 1 machines was the most cost effective way
To get the program going.
Thermal arc, maybe ESAB now?
Inverter machines.
Been told by the Miller rep that inverters are trend. Transformers are outdated.
The 3 in 1 do everything ok But nothing well.
Had a Miller XMT when i welded for a living. Great machine.
Had one quoted last week. XMT 450 + wire feeder. $8300.
Dave
�The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.� Lou Holtz
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 21,959 Likes: 14
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 21,959 Likes: 14 |
Ben... Keep an eye out for me for a used Multimatic 235+/-. Or whatever you recommend as I move toward MIG. No rush at all... Thanks
If you are not actively engaging EVERY enemy you encounter... you are allowing another to fight for you... and that is cowardice... plain and simple.
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59,240 Likes: 39
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59,240 Likes: 39 |
If you want to stick with a mig get a Lincoln easy mig 180 for thinner stuff and an older Lincoln tombstone for heavier stuff, and I say an older one as they have copper windings in them and weld better than newer ones with aluminum windings.
If money is not an issue get yourself a Miller 252 and cover all your bases, very expensive welder though. A friend comes out and welds patches on my combine. He used to run his wire welder of his engine drive. Now he just uses 1/8th inch 6011 and his engine drive. Does a nice job with the sheet metal. But he is about half a hand. I have used a Mig for years now and I still have a stick, it has it's place that's for sure.
Paul
"I'd rather see a sermon than hear a sermon".... D.A.D.
Trump Won!, Sandmann Won!, Rittenhouse Won!, Suck it Liberal Fuuktards.
molɔ̀ːn labé skýla
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59,240 Likes: 39
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59,240 Likes: 39 |
I’ve got a millermatic 252 and bobcat 250.
Covers everything I’ll ever do.
Bought years back, before Slo Joe inflation.
No telling what they run now. I just looked up a 252 and it was on sale for $4299.00, Lol, do you remember what you paid for yours?
Paul
"I'd rather see a sermon than hear a sermon".... D.A.D.
Trump Won!, Sandmann Won!, Rittenhouse Won!, Suck it Liberal Fuuktards.
molɔ̀ːn labé skýla
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Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 2,707 Likes: 3
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 2,707 Likes: 3 |
Ben... Keep an eye out for me for a used Multimatic 235+/-. Or whatever you recommend as I move toward MIG. No rush at all... Thanks Will do!
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 14,338
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 14,338 |
Lincoln has pretty much upgraded its entire line of welding equipment and at the moment has between $100 to $600 rebates on their purchase. I have their Power Mig 250 I purchased some 20 years ago, and for a little more portability purchased their Power Mig 180 Dual Voltage last year. Both are excellent machines. But they now have the POWER MIG 215 MP multi-process welder for the same price as what I paid for the 180, and it's still a dual voltage but Welds MIG, Flux-Cored, Stick, and DC TIG though I wish it was AC/DC.. still at $1,999.99 with the rebate, or $2,529.99 that includes spool gun for DC Aluminum.
Welds MIG, Flux-Cored, Stick, and DC TIG.
Phil
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 296
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 296 |
I have an old Century stick welder and a much newer Hobart 140, which seems to work well, but I've only used flux core so far. I should probably get a small tank of Argon at some point. I recently started welding again after a very long time. I would describe my current welding abilities as fairly terrible. I was planning on welding new floor plans into my old Studebaker, but I don't yet have the skills. I need to take a welding course. I would look at a CO2 / argon mix of 90/10 ( C-10) or 80/20 ( C-20) myself. Depending on the wire you are using.
Last edited by Knarley_Bob; 08/28/23.
A gun in hand is worth two cops on the phone.
MOLON LABE
LET'S GO BRANDON!!
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 16,149 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 16,149 Likes: 3 |
An old tombstone Lincoln meets my welding needs, but mine are probably different from yours.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3 |
For a beginner and small jobs it would be hard to beat any of the 140 class machines you can run on 120V. The duty cycle is a bit of an issue if you end up with some bigger jobs, but you just need to take more breaks and let the machine cool down more often. I used a 135 Miller to build my hot rod and it was sometimes a push to do some of the fabrication I needed to do, but it worked out fine in the end. After that I wanted to move up to a 180 or 210 Millermatic but couldn't find one around anywhere for less than new price and as a hobbyist I just couldn't justify the expense. I ended up with a 251 Millermatic for a great deal from a shop that was upgrading all their welders to the latest and greatest Millers and it is great machine, but more than I need for my occasional projects. I would like to have a MIG machine eventually for some future projects I have in mind, but that is way down the priority list at the moment...
I do still have a Miller buzz box I've had for 40 years that works great and at times it is the only tool for the job.
Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability.
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,058 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,058 Likes: 3 |
I’ve got a millermatic 252 and bobcat 250.
Covers everything I’ll ever do.
Bought years back, before Slo Joe inflation.
No telling what they run now. I just looked up a 252 and it was on sale for $4299.00, Lol, do you remember what you paid for yours? It’s a 2008 model. I wanna say i paid $2300 cash for it.
Dave
�The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.� Lou Holtz
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Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 243
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 243 |
got an older Miller 211 mig unit with MVP(multi voltage plug) can use 120 or 240 volt... does everything i need from auto collision repair to heavier fabrication... many similar units available from Lincoln, Esab, Hobart ect... That's what I have and I like the heck out of it.
It might be lonely at the top, but it's a bitch at the bottom.
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59,240 Likes: 39
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 59,240 Likes: 39 |
I’ve got a millermatic 252 and bobcat 250.
Covers everything I’ll ever do.
Bought years back, before Slo Joe inflation.
No telling what they run now. I just looked up a 252 and it was on sale for $4299.00, Lol, do you remember what you paid for yours? It’s a 2008 model. I wanna say i paid $2300 cash for it. Damn, quite a difference. I was fortunate and was given a miller 252 for basically the cost of a whip, the guy had it all fuqked up and I repaired it and put a whip on it. Smoothest welder I've ever used. knowing what I know about the 252 and other welders I wouldn't hesitate to drop the money on a new one if I needed a new welder.
Paul
"I'd rather see a sermon than hear a sermon".... D.A.D.
Trump Won!, Sandmann Won!, Rittenhouse Won!, Suck it Liberal Fuuktards.
molɔ̀ːn labé skýla
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,058 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,058 Likes: 3 |
I’ve got a millermatic 252 and bobcat 250.
Covers everything I’ll ever do.
Bought years back, before Slo Joe inflation.
No telling what they run now. I just looked up a 252 and it was on sale for $4299.00, Lol, do you remember what you paid for yours? It’s a 2008 model. I wanna say i paid $2300 cash for it. Damn, quite a difference. I was fortunate and was given a miller 252 for basically the cost of a whip, the guy had it all fuqked up and I repaired it and put a whip on it. Smoothest welder I've ever used. knowing what I know about the 252 and other welders I wouldn't hesitate to drop the money on a new one if I needed a new welder. Best i remember i gave $1800 for the 252 prolly 8 years ago. I say “gave”. I used safety bonus Visa cards from when i was working offshore oilfield. Cost me $0.
Dave
�The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.� Lou Holtz
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,058 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,058 Likes: 3 |
They use the millermatic 252 at work. It’s not a 100% machine.
It’ll run .035” well.
It’s the cheap way out for fabrication. Not convinced on durability.
Which is fine for hobby / home use.
To bump up to .045” it’ll take a transformer / inverter and wire feeder.
Dave
�The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.� Lou Holtz
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,337
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,337 |
I bought a new Miller 251 when I retired in 2007 with an aluminum spool gun..... $1500 .....the supplier I bought from for 30 years gave me a deal for my retirement... I’ve got a millermatic 252 and bobcat 250.
Covers everything I’ll ever do.
Bought years back, before Slo Joe inflation.
No telling what they run now. I just looked up a 252 and it was on sale for $4299.00, Lol, do you remember what you paid for yours?
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 5,203 Likes: 5
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 5,203 Likes: 5 |
Life is good live it while you can.
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Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 12
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 12 |
Personally, if plate steel is on the menu, I wouldn't go less than 200 amps and I'd stick to Miller. I have a Millermatic 210 that does anything I'll ever need. Simple, tapped, transformer machine means less to fail. All of today's electronics are great until they fail seven years down the road.
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