I'm taking a welding class at a CC in my town and am looking at buying a welder. I will use it to build bumpers, skids, and other jeep parts. What do you guys suggest for a beginning welder to buy. Don't want a machine I will outgrow to fast, but don't have 2k to spend either. thanks, judd :D

Search. I normally don't do the go search answer but this has been covered a bazillion times.

I'd recommend a Lincoln Powermig 200 or Miller 210. Either can be had for around $1100 and will do anything jeep related with ease.

Hard ot go wrong wit the Miller 210, can welld 1/2' and penetrate 3/8', and has spool gun attachements whick look like they should work good.

Im looking at buying a Plasma cutter anybody got any good comments on what to get.

Originally posted by bk005
Hard ot go wrong wit the Miller 210, can welld 1/2' and penetrate 3/8', and has spool gun attachements whick look like they should work good.

Im looking at buying a Plasma cutter anybody got any good comments on what to get.


I agree, go blue. I am currently thinking of a hobart 210, but I just don't know if I can bring myself to turn my back on miller, even though I know they are the same machine.

I bought a spectrum 500 off a guy on this board a while back, and I immediately learned something about plasma cutters:

Go big or Go home.

That is a big honkin fawker of a machine, rated to gouge 1/2 and cut thicker stuff.

I am glad it is the big dog though, cause all those ratings don't account for cutting on jeeps that are covered in mud and cow shit and God knows what else, then under that is a nice coat of primer and paint. You need a big machine to get through all that crap and get down to business on your material you are cutting.

Harbor Freight 110V. Welds 1/2" mild steel and can be used as a plasma cutter.

or you canSEARCH :rolleyes: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by foley



I agree, go blue. I am currently thinking of a hobart 210, but I just don't know if I can bring myself to turn my back on miller, even though I know they are the same machine.


good thread comparing the H and MM 210's

http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3033

- jack

Search broken?????? :flipoff2:

At home, a Hobart 175:

http://frankenfab.com/Work/hobart.jpg

At the office, a Dan Mig 140 & Miller 251:

http://frankenfab.com/Work/miller.jpg

The plasma, an Esab Powercut 650:

http://frankenfab.com/Work/esab.jpg

This one is in the storage room, a Synchrowave 250 TIG. It belongs to one of the guys (and his wife doesn't know about it). He takes it out and dusts it off once in awhile, and I have played with it quite a bit.

http://frankenfab.com/Work/synchro.jpg

No regrets with any of these machines.

thanks guys.
Gotta go figure out that damn search thing now :flipoff2:
Judd

Originally posted by SeanP
Harbor Freight 110V. Welds 1/2" mild steel and can be used as a plasma cutter.

or you canSEARCH :rolleyes: :flipoff2:


Q: What would the query be for the Harbor Frieght 110 v?

A: Cheap Pieces of shit;) :flipoff2:

Love my Miller products. I have learned with the MIG units to go with the 220v units. I did have a 110v unit and spent more time waiting then welding.

What's your budget?

I got my Hobart 175, full tank, autodark hood, wire, and some tips from cyberweld.com for right at $1000.

i bought the miller synchrowave 180 sd with the cart for $1500ish i think. no MIG with it though. TIG and stick.

Originally posted by SeanP
Harbor Freight 110V. Welds 1/2" mild steel and can be used as a plasma cutter.

or you canSEARCH :rolleyes: :flipoff2:

:laughing:

Buy a real welder Miller, Lincoln or Hobart.

think i'm gonna get the Miller 185. would like to get the 210 but it's twice the cost. whaddya think? Judd

Originally posted by foley



I agree, go blue. I am currently thinking of a hobart 210, but I just don't know if I can bring myself to turn my back on miller, even though I know they are the same machine.

I bought a spectrum 500 off a guy on this board a while back, and I immediately learned something about plasma cutters:

Go big or Go home.

That is a big honkin fawker of a machine, rated to gouge 1/2 and cut thicker stuff.

I am glad it is the big dog though, cause all those ratings don't account for cutting on jeeps that are covered in mud and cow shit and God knows what else, then under that is a nice coat of primer and paint. You need a big machine to get through all that crap and get down to business on your material you are cutting.

Im just passing on info but..... THe size is dependent on what type of circuitry it uses; and they can both get the same amount done, even moreso now that the technology is very widely availible.

i bought a hobart 175 too and never looked back, it's sweet, and i have used 110 volt migs and did alot of waitingmyself. as for my plasma cutter, it's a micro cut 380 that i read about in petersons about a year or so ago. the article had a web site for htp products in illinios but i found the same thing later at harbor freight for about $50 cheaper. i really can't bitch about either one of them. i cut my name in a rail road spike with the plasma cutter, that is good enough for me.

.....anybody use stick? why or why not?

I would go with stick, it is a little cheaper and is good for really getting a technique down as far as pentration and quality, then move on to mig or tig. I just picked up a nice 220 buzz box, ac/dc. 100 bucks used but still new.

I too would (and did) go with a Miller 210. I paid $1100.00 for it and it has done everything I've asked of it.

Also, it is very easy to use!

:beer:

Originally posted by Judd
think i'm gonna get the Miller 185. would like to get the 210 but it's twice the cost. whaddya think? Judd


Dunno about the 210, but I picked up the MM175 about 2 weeks ago from Cyberweld.com, it was $660 and since I'm close to them it arrived the day after I ordered it. http://www.cyberweld.com/millermatic175.html

Andy

Originally posted by Murph



Dunno about the 210, but I picked up the MM175 about 2 weeks ago from Cyberweld.com, it was $660 and since I'm close to them it arrived the day after I ordered it. http://www.cyberweld.com/millermatic175.html

Andy

cyberweld and indiana oxygen are about neck and neck in price, but i found indiana oxygen to be a little cheaper. i can say that bill keesling at indiana oxygen has excellent customer service.

disclaimer - i have no affiliation with either of them.