The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest What kind of welder?

I have been looking at all the welders on the internet. I have thought that either a lincoln HD 3200, SP135 (either T or plus), or the Hobart 140 would be in my price range and do what I need to do.

Any suggestions, comments, or words of advice/experience?

TIA

oldbluetruck,

It appears you have given up on the used welder and starting thinking 'new' mig...good choice.

I didn't investigate the specs on the welders you noted in your post. They are probably quite similar to each other.

My thoughts would be this. You can shop price, but as a green pea, you also need service and guidance.

If you have a welding supply house in your vicinity, see what they have to offer, and see if they will try to match a reasonable 'discount' price.

They will have all the consumables and parts for the welder they supply...plus free tips and troubleshooting. You not only get the welder, you get all their experience too.

Realistically size your machine and make sure your shop has adequate power for it.

Be sure your machine will have the shielding gas capability...this is a must.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Stuart

I agree with atomarc,

Buy from a local welding supplier. They will
recommend a unit based on your needs and offer
tips, advice, etc. and usually have parts
readily available.

You will need to buy shielding gas anyway,
so you might as well get both from the same place.

Buy local!

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice.

Stuart, you made a lot of sense in our earlier thread. I do believe it would be best to buy new. Home Depot has a lincoln HD 3200 that seems to be a good homeowner mig welder. It runs on 110 and appears to be nice. I would like to hear from a person who has one. I also like the SP-135 (either the T or the plus). My understanding is the plus model is the entry level shop mig welder and the T model puts the power at numbered levels verses the reostat in the plus. Does that make a difference for what I would use it for? Don't know. Wish there was someone to tell me that.

I like the miller but is pricey. May have to skip the miller and look at the Hobart. As someone put it the Hobart 140 is comparable to the lincoln. So, as you guys advised me, I should see what is selling local and stay local.

There is also a Clarke. Don't know anything about them but they are economical. Affordable.

How does a person know what to buy?

Thanks again to all.

Dennis

I have the hobart 135 ( model before 140 came out) and it has provided very good service. One nice thing about the hobart is that it is manufactured by the same company that builds miller welders so most of the consumables and some of the parts are iterchagable ( my hobart came with a miller gun). Also Hobart has a very good warranty for a home user. Their website has alot of info and "how to" section.

Thanks POSTAL. I will have to check into the hobart.

I also 220 out in the shop for my air compressor and table saw that I could plug into. But am not sure if the extra cost for a 220 machine is worth it.

110 or 220 what is the difference?

220 welders can supply more amprage for welding

110v hobart model 140 = 140 amps
220v hobart model 180 = 180amps

more amps = abality to weld thicker metal and somtimes a higher duty cycle
duty cycle is the time you are actualy welding versus the time the welder must be allowed to cool down.
The other thing to consider is being able to use your welder other places 220v may not be available where you need to weld ( at a freinds shop, or an onsite repair.) The main reson that I went with 110 is because I mostly weld thin metal and can use my welder anwhere that has an outlet but I can still weld fairly thick metal if need be.

You might check with tractor supply. They used to have a package deal with gas, auto darkening helment, cart and a couple of spools of wire. When I bought mine it was a hobart 175 but I think it is a 180 now. This was a couple of years ago but I think it was around 650 for the whole package. I found this to be the perfect unit for me because it will do thin panels as well as 1/4" steel with out straining on either end. One disadvantage was the gas bottle it is to small to do any real welding but I used it up then was able to retun for a credit and upgrade to a larger cylinder. However you have to have a 250v 50A receptacle for it. If you go with one of the HD model check on the prices for a regulator, and bottle for argon. Also the larger units are able to run the 10lb spools of wire which will save money in the long run.

Dennis,

Postal was correct about the amps/thickness equation. I saw the $$$ difference on the 120 volt machine and the 220 volt machine. It was over $200 clams.

The spec sheet indicates the increased amperage allows you to weld 5/16 plate while the 120 volt machine max's out at 1/4 plate.

I think these values are for single pass welding. You can always do a multi-pass weld and satifactorily join heavier sections.

This is where you look at the intended use of the machine. You are going to be doing thin repair sections with a occasional engine mount or cross member.

1/4" would probably be the thickness-de'jour for a home shop , so your $200 would be better spent somewhere else.

This is where your personality comes into play. Would you rather have some extra oink in the machine for that 'big job', or are you a minimalist.

Stuart

Generally, the larger machines give you better duty cycles. Lowe's has the best prices on Lincoln. Use your local shop for all your consumables. Their suport is valuable.

Lincoln HD3200 is what I use. Can't beat it for the money. Great service and has never had a problem. Comes with everything but the gas bottle.

Thanks Houston,

I have been following your progress and am impressed. You are doing a great job.

The lincoln HD3200 was high on my list. I think they are around $450 at Home Depot and the auto darkening hood is about $99. If I apply for a home depot card and use it for this I can save 10%. Buying a mig for home projects for around $500 is great.

It works for me.

i think buying local is a good deal too, but you will have years to buy supplies from your welding shop after your initial investment. i have only bought used welders and never got a bad deal. even the ones i resold i didn't loose money on. i currently have a hobart 220 volt mig. i paid about 250 for it and it was missing about $20 in parts. works great. i've bought 100's in wire and gas locally but my initial investment was low. also i have never bought a new bottle. you can find used ones and trade them in. sometimes i've got them for free. i even got money back one time for trading in a nitrous bottle and got the gas for free. i have almost 20 bottles of O2, acc, and sheilding gases and still buy them if i see them super cheap. you also save on the hazard mat fee if you refill multiple bottles at the same time you only have to pay one. so i use them all down till i have one left and take them all in. some places may not charge this but all welding shops do. i also bought a hobart arc welder for 200 that they couldn't sell because it was so big. this is a fantastic machine and would have cost over 1000 new. i sound a cheap skate but don't overlook the "used" factor. i wouldn't buy a 110 volt welder or you'll bet the next project will be too big for it.

I have the 135 in the T and the plus, the plus will weld a little thicker material than the T but when the potentiometer burns out in the plus it costs huge dollars to fix. The T is also cheaper to buy I have used both welders on body work with exelent results (using sheild gas).
Good luck

i have a lincoln weld pack hd .. imo it is the best all around welder its a 115 opional gas hookup with heat control and wire speed.. excelent for bodywork or evne some frame work ..

I also have the 3200 , have had it for about a year and it is great , no troubles. Welds anything I need to do around the homestead , I went with 110 instead of 220 for the same reasons as those listed above plus if I need to go portable I just throw my coleman generator in the back of the truck and the mig and off we go. I've probably used it out of the truck like this about 20% of the time.

Miller is usually more expensive than a Lincoln.Miller uses a copper transformer,while Lincoln uses an alluminum one.Which means the Miller will outlast the Lincoln.

Now I am completely confused...So the welders at the Depot are pretty good? And lowes has good welders also..Someone make a decision for me.I want to spend 300$..maybe 400..M/G

i'll help, send me the 400 and i will buy something for you. i think lowes and home depot just sell lincoln migs and arcs just like lots of others. i think if you don't get in a hurry and shop you will get a good deal. i just got about 12 20lbs rolls of alum mig wire at a auction. it was very cheap. i also just made the deal for a miller plasma cutter i will pick up this weekend. just have patience and keep an eye out.

Mike, I think you will find the Lincoln welders at Lowe's and HD to be identical except for the model names. I think they do that so you can't compare prices on the "exact" same model between chains.

I talked to a Lincoln rep at a street rod show and he told me that there is no difference in the quality or features between the Lowes/HD models or the ones sold by other dealers.

Hobart and Miller are made by the same parent company. Hobart is available through Tractor Supply, not sure about other chains.

I've got a (Lowe's) Lincoln Pro Mig 175 (220 volt) and I like it very much. Wiring the 220 volt outlet was pretty easy for my garage, but on the other hand 110 volt portability is nice too if you don't see yourself doing heavier fabrication. For body work either will do nicely.

I'm not sure $400 will get you a mig with a gas kit, more like $500 plus tax the last time I looked.

Hoggy, I am curious on how do you get your bottles filled (apparently) without paperwork? I have a large set of O/A bottles that I inherited from my dad and I'm having a heckuva time getting paperwork from the supplier.

old cheby trucks are to stovebolt.com as welding machines are to http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/


Good guys and good advice. Tell them what you want to use it for. They are oriented to blue (Miller) and Hobarts, but they know their stuff.

thanks for the info guys on the welders that are out there, just got my cab corners from Classic today..waiting for my dash plate (radio)..someone cut out a big hole for a radio.And will do some fabricating on the fenders..Gudda take my bed off.Lot of work..

Hoggy..aluminum mig wire..?/Is that the way to go for welding this sheet metal..Cab corners..dash plates ect..

Mike G,

The only way you can cash in on Hoggys Mig wire find is if you have an aluminum bodied AD....very rare indeed!

Stuart

i haven't had any trouble at all. all the bottles i bought at auctions or picked up for free. we have three main suppliers in town here airgas, praxair, and kirk welding. all are chain stores and have found all to be very helpful and no troubles getting them filled. i tend to lean toward the one w/the cheaper prices but have found another to be more leanient in trading in bottles. if i get a new bottle if it is questionable or past it's date they can pressure test it or even change valve if it is old. then once you get one of their bottles thats marked sold you are in like flin. i even trade them in at other suppliers. just trade them in each time you go in. they always seem happy just to have me buying the gas. i have three of the big size bottles and you can't even buy those now you can only rent them. mine are marked sold so i just keep tradin em in. yep these are the real big rolls of wire they won't even fit in my 220 hobart, they are for like a seperate feeder and you want regular wire for carbon steel. i also got about 3000 lbs of arc rods at the same auction, that's a lot of rod! i also bought about 25 trailers (at the same auction)that need a little work so i will burn a few of em up. i was looking for that aluminum bodied ad but it wasn't there that day. yes very rare that's what i bought the aluminum wire for, when i find it all the customizing i will do. hr

Aluminum Body...that must be a son of a ..... to weld, I used to weld construction fence...burned thru a lot of fence..made small holes large..

R-Bo...thanks for the lead,,a lot of info I needed..I know exactly what i need now.Thanks

I usually know exactly what I need before I buy it. It is after I own it that I find somthing better or cheaper :p

Very good advice on going to a good weding shop.The Lincolns seems to be Ok if your just gonna use them occasionally,for light work.A couple of my freinds have burned up their Lincolns just doing body work.Reason is Lincoln uses an alluminum transformer whereas Miller uses a copper one.If I was buying one I would invest the extra $$$s and buy the Miller.My only welder is an old Miller AC 220V stick welder,which I have had for about 35 yrs.It still operates as good as new.I have looked at the Mig welders but decided I didnt really need one.

I like my Lincoln HD3200 I bought from Lowes. I don't know a lot about welding (never welded before) but am learning on my truck and it is going well.

I even lend it out to friends and they like it, too. It runs off 120 AC so we use it anywhere.

One other consideration on the 110/220 question. this past week my sister-in-law needed some eyelets welded onto her metal fencepost so that we could connect the barbwire fence to the metal post. The old wooden post next to the metal one had rotted out. We were several hundred yards from any power source. I changed my Lincoln 110 Mig Welder from Mig to Flux and connected it to a 3500 watt generator in the back of my brother-in-law's pickup. Worked like a charm. The Lincoln has also worked well on my trucks and cars from very thin sheetmetal to fairly thick materials. Anything over 1/4" and I'll probably just use a 220V stick welder or oxy/acetylene anyway. Just my $0.02 worth.

Someone mentioned the Clarke welder. I looked at them and I found that all the cables are shorter and the welder has to be right up to the work. It was considerably cheaper though. The Clarke is probably OK, but for a user who only needs to weld a couple of times a year. Hobart and/or Miller would be considered an upgrade.

My experience with Clarke is like you said "Short Leads" and the gun is hot all the time, if you touch the gun to the work it welds itself to the work, not very convient.

I bought a Lincoln 115 V weld pack from the depot today...Was in a rush to try it out..and the dam spool unraveled on me..ha ha ha ..Should have read the directions a little better. Did some practice on a step side support..Works pretty good, I think I can get by with this. 250.00 plus the solar helmet.100.00,gloves..30? Not a bad day, had to buy the boss a ceiling fan to keep her happy..so over all its been a good day.. (for me)

I bought a used Lincoln 250 amp wire feed, and I think it is one of the best purchases I have ever made. I would be just as happy with a Miller, it's just that the Lincoln was available. I have a Miller Dimension 400 stick welder as well, ( don't worry, I found it at the auction for $700.00, the auctioneer cried when he dropped the hammer ). I used to have a 110V wire feed with the 4 position switch to select the heat, and it worked fine. The difference is that the big welder with its infinite voltage and amperage controls makes welding sheet metal so easy that I sometimes think I know what I'm doing. My thought is to buy the best machine you can afford. I have MIG, TIG, stick, and gas units, and I use the MIG about 80% of the time.
Bob

ive been looking at a welder made by an outfit called HTP. its a mig,tig,and stick unit all in one. looks like a pretty good set up. have any of you guys used or heard about HTP welders?

thirtyniner

One buddy of mine has an HTP, he loves it-it is MIG & Arc together.