The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest I want to buy a mig welder

I just picked up the Hobart 187 model from TSC this past weekend. It's for 220V plus has a regulator for gas sheilding. It is a nice unit. For the little exrtra cost over the Hobart 140 I feel it has slightly greater capability and more guts. Toss the resin core...and use solid core with gas.

tom

I'm looking at gettingthis welder. I don't want to mess with running 220 out to my garage, so I'm limited to 110. I'm going to be using it outside to weld patch panels on the cab of my truck, it won't be doing anything thick. Is this a decent welder, or is there something else in the same price range I should be looking at?

Thanks

I've got a Lincoln, works great, but you need to get the gas setup for it too, will add a few bucks

Bill

Great, now I am all sorts of confused now. I am one click away from buying A Miller Millermatic 212 auto-set, and now I am wonder If I am buying the right machine? Seems like there is an awful lot of stovebolter's here that are using Holbart welders, which say's something about there product and price.
The reason's why I am considering the Millermatic is 1) The auto-set feature, I had a welding course a few years back in my trade school, can't remember all that I was taught and having a machine that will self set up is a big feature for me. I need to re-learn my welding skills and can't go to the local community college to freshen up. So I figure I will teach my self 2)Like MNSmith said "My advice is just like an air compressor be sure to go "Over Kill" with whatever you by. It's better to have a compressor & welder that is too big for any job you may have t hen it is to have to wait for the compressor or welder to catch up to what you are doing.."
I hope I am making the right decision about buying the Miller. I like the Idea about buying the name brand equipment.. Warranties,tech support ect. is a big plus for me ..
I will be purchasing my welder on Friday afternoon. If anybody has any suggestions,thought's,complaints or praise's about Miller equipment I am all ears......Also I am all ears as to why there's so many of you that have Holbart equipment.

Thanks everybody - JOSH

Made my living welding for most of my adult life Josh. I used Miller equipment almost exclusivly, ya cant go wrong with a miller and the miller dealer should be able to talor a machine to your exact needs. Hobart is not the same Hobart that was around years ago. You see them being sold at the big box and discount stores now, probably all coming from offshore. Do what you want but I would stay with a reputable chain of dealers like Miller.
As far as your welding skills go, you need to know the basics, that you have had, then the other 99% is just simply practice. Gather up a pile of scrap and spend a week or two and a couple spools of wire and practice. The MIG & TIG welders of today are an absolute pleasure compaired to what they were 20 or 30 years ago.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

We have a shop full of all types of Millers. Some more than 15 years old, some about a year old. No complaints so far.

Maybe I'm just mis-reading your post, doesn't the welder have everything I need for gas short of the tank? I figured I could just rent it.

Ferndale53,

I looked at your link to the welder. The literature indicates you indeed have all the 'gas-ready' goodies on board already, so you only need a tank of shielding gas. Your best value would be to purchase a small 'owner' tank. They are real inexpensive and you will always use it. Talk to your local welding supply counter person.

Stuart

i would not worry about the name i have a hobart tig a miller mig and a lincoln gas drive. they are all good. i worked for 15 years in a shop doing mil. cert work with hobarts and millers they were old when i started and were still there when i left.

a 110 is just a toy. don't buy a welder thinking it will weld 1/8" that is all i need because some time you or some one will want a pice of 1/2 welded.

Ferndale, if you will be welding outside, the shielding gas will get blown away. Flux core will look like crap, so weld your patch panels inside with gas.

Am I the only one to buy a Clark mig? My sheet metal welds look like hockey daubs with it. I haven't figured out if it's me or the welder.

bound to be you Cletis, "practice makes perfect" ... buddy of mine has a Clark and he does some pretty nice work with it, the heat and feed settings and the speed you move are 99% of success

I found working on heavier material at first helped get a feel for it with no chance of blowing holes - then work down from there

Bill

I can weld like a pro on 1/8" and up with it but I have yet to get the hang on sheet metal. I do a lot of grinding.

I think the lowest setting may be too hot. It's the 220 one.

might be, his is the 110 model - if the low setting seems hot, try faster wire feed, faster movement

Bill

shielding gas will allow for thinner metals and smoother welds but considering its body work sheet metal your going to have to grind it either way so really for sheet metal work it dosn't matter alot a cheap 110 flux core will work just fine if you do get a cheaper harbor freight other company one keep in mind enough money to buy a proper helmet most of the cheap ones only come with a hand held face shield and you need both hands for a decent weld

Shop around and ask alot of questions,the counterpeople should be helpful.

Just bought and received my Miller 211 with auto set. Pretty Bitching set up. My advice to all of you looking to buy a welder and in particular a Miller, DO NOT , I repeat , DO NOT buy from Miller welder sales. Its were Miller will send you if you want to buy online threw them. Not sure how they are associated with miller probably just contracted out with miller but the customer service is HORRIBLE .. I've been trying to get a straight answer from them about a missing item and I can't seem to get a straight answer and to have them to reply to an e-mail takes a miracle. What ever any of you guys do, Do not buy threw MILLER WELDER SALES, do you self a favor and Buy else were. Just some friendly advice for my fellow Stovebolters.
JOSH

but you need to get the gas setup for it too, will add a few bucks

cause if you buy a 110 w/o gas you WILL spend ALOT of your time grinding up the splatter all around the weld. you will want something that has penetration so you will not be disappointed by spending a few extra $$ up front.

You have one more place to check for your new welder is you local welding supply store sometimes you can get a good price on a used unit from them and they will be very willing to give advice on proper wire size and any questions you have about set up etc. And you will want to run Gas when you are welding it makes for a cleaner weld good luck and have fun

I bought a Miller XMT 300 on EBay for 1000.00 two years ago.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2880442070099708909WNLVpA

It will Tig, Mig, and Stick weld and uses either 3 phase or single phase. The same product new will sell for 6000.00. Granted it is not new but works like new and if repairs become necessary Miller Inc is close by.

I got mine, today, through cyberweld.com who I think uses millerwelds and it seems to be all here but I need a bottle of gas so I can get started.

I bought my millermatic 180 from airgas, totally satisfied and great customer service.

After searching craigslist for months i snagged a barely used Hobart 187. can't wait to start practicing on some scrapmetal. i am a hands on trial and error tyoe of person. but i am glad i found this site for some valueable tips.

Hobart Welders ARE miller welders...... They are owned by miller electric, are the exact same, and have all the same internal components.. Heck, most of the transformers, etc have the Miller "M" stamped on them......

I've got a Hobart 125 with a gas kit, it is great... My next welder will be a Hobart Fabricator (we have one at work... You wanna talk about a BEAST......... You can burn through 1/2" stuff if you turn it up enough.)

I'm running a Hobart 140 and discovered why it's worth spending a bit more up front!!! Your flux core machines, even if equipped for gas....which you eventually will add, don't have a solenoid shut-off for the gas. It won't be long before your gas keeps on flowing when you release the trigger and at $27.00 a bottle it only takes a couple wasted bottles to have to replace the whole handle/line assembly for $100.00+.

Might just as well spend the extra bucks up front and get a machine that will get the job done correctly.....with a solenoid. For my money you can't beat the Hobart 140 110v machine and a GOOD quality adjustable auto-darkening helmet for those lower amp setting welding jobs.

Dave

By using Anti Splatter you will be using the grinder a lot less also. Another thing you can use is Heat Fence this will keep the metal cooler or the heat in one area solving some warping problems.
62 Blue
Don

Well, I just read this whole thread and at the local farm place(Orchelyns, wrong spelling I know, basically a chain store I think) they have all the name brands mentioned here(Lincoln, Hobart, and Miller). Any ideas on what would be the best welder that would be on the budget for a 14 year old wanting to learn to weld and do some sheet metal replacement? The cheapest they had that I saw was a $200-300 Miller arc welder on 110v. Of course, arc welding is supposed to be harder than MIG welding but my brother says he can arc weld but not MIG weld.

you'll be better off in the long run JD, if you can get a MIG, otherwise you'll wind up with 2 welders eventually I'm quite happy with my Miller 140 and a bodyman friend sez he likes it better than an other brand he has at work [forget which]

Bill

That's what I was thinking. But what voltage? Once I get this I'll eliminate my Christmas/Birthday for another year or two, but it won't be as expensive as my new truck this year for $950, I hope! Maybe selling the mower and go cart I have will help, got 'em out by the road with a sign, now if someone would buy them I'd be set.

Jordan,

Look around for a used one, someone is always looking for cash and I have seen Millers and Lincolns go for about $300 that were nearly new.

I would go for the 220 1-phase myself. You can weld up to 3/8" material and down to 24 gauge sheet metal. the 110V models are fine for sheet metal, however barely weld 1/8" material prior to getting hot and tripping the thermal breaker.

With the 220, you can make up a long extension chord and plug it into the dryer or range outlet (did that for years prior to getting the old garage wired)

I would RUN from anything from Harbor Freight. The Clark units are ok at best. I would stick to a Miller, Lincoln or Hobart. There are hundreds of small lincoln SP units out there.

I agree about looking for used for awhile b4 springing for new, and watch places for sale specials [found mine at a Christmas sale] .... my Miller is a 110V and it's excellent for general resto work - done fine welding on the bus frame too, just hafta pace yerself and get the heat just right .... and the Clarke, yeah, that's the one my buddy has, does good work with it as he's been doing professional bodywork welding for 30 years, but he's going to get a Miller and relegate the Clarke to back up

Bill

Okay, I'll scan the papers, won't be getting one for a while anyway.

Hey, I didn't see any mention about Campbell Hausfeld welders so I'm going to ask what anyone thinks of them. I know they make good air compressors, my dad has had one for at least 9 years and it is still going strong. So, any suggestions/stories?