Welder money to spend

[keifer]

I got the ok at work, (maintenance for apartments), to buy a welder. Yeah,Yeah dont ask what i will be welding in an apartment,,, anyways, i forsee this welder spending alot of time in my garage. Perk's you know? I am looking for your recomendations.
1st-- Has to come from Home Depot,(credit card)
2nd-- Looking for 120volt mig
3rd-- I am not sure about gas vs gasless ect
4th-- Most of the welding would be 3/16-1/4 not alot of sheet metal (Jeep)

Just looking for a good all around welder i guess.

any part #'s, prices, and info is greatly appreciated.

I do have an old ass Century 220 arc welder at home for anything major, if i ever learn to weld.

[cnay20]

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@1423314705.1128705135@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdiaddfljkhkjlcgelceffdfgidgln.0&MID=9876

[cnay20]

it's the model 3200 by lincoln

[keifer]

cnay20 thanks, thats the one i was looking at. Any other recomendations?

[CronusTRD]

Can you shop at Lowes?

I picked up a 110v Lincoln 135 Pro Mig from there. According to Lincoln's web site, it is rated for 5/16" w/ flux core. I wouldn't weld anything that thick with a 110v, but it works fine for 1/4". I use a 220v arc for anything heavy duty/load bearing.

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.asp?p=7111

[keifer]

Can you shop at Lowes?

I picked up a 110v Lincoln 135 Pro Mig from there. According to Lincoln's web site, it is rated for 5/16" w/ flux core. I wouldn't weld anything that thick with a 110v, but it works fine for 1/4". I use a 220v arc for anything heavy duty/load bearing.

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.asp?p=7111
quote-1st has to come from home depot (credit card)
That looks like the same features as the weld pak 3200hd amp out-put and 5/16, list for 3200 is $459.00, how much did you give? By the way hows it going Mike?

[IronBull]

Can you get a 110 that uses gas?

[BumpyDodge]

I do have an old ass Century 220 arc welder at home for anything major, if i ever learn to weld.

Not to be a dick, but why don't you try that first?

[PhantomEB]

• Plugs into 120V, 20 amp outlet.
• Gun trigger safety feature keeps welding wire electrically "cold" until trigger is pressed.
• Compact, portable, lightweight and easy to use.
• For welding .023-.035" mild steel and stainless steel solid MIG (gas-shielded) wire (stainless steel wire sold separately). Also for .035" mild steel flux-cored (gasless) wire. Install K664-2 Aluminum Welding Kit to expand the Pro-MIG 135's welding capabilities to include .035" aluminum solid MIG wire.

Looks like a decent machine, just add the Gas conversion and you'd be laughin! Hell I wish I worked for someone who would of paid for me to get a welder that would see more personal use than actual company use. Just keep the thing spotless and they wont even blink.

[mr.tech]

get a weld pack 100 with the gas kit. good all around welder.

[ToddRH]

If it's the bosses money, buy a generator that can power a 230volt machine, and then make a 60' extension cord for it. Now you can weld almost anything anywhere. :grinpimp:

[keifer]

ToddRH I like your idea but I have to use alittle common sense.

BumpyDodge, I do use the old century some, locked a couple axles with it, didnt break while I had them, but they are gone now so who knows.

mr.tech I have the info in front of me between the weld-pak 100 and the weld-pak3200. Why do you recommend the 100 over the 3200? Both can use gas.

Also whats the reasons for using gas? cleaner welds? Less splatter? Better penetration?

Lincoln weld pak 3200hd--- handles a huge spectrum offlux-cored or MIG welding jobs, from auto-body repairs to farm jobs. 120v welder ready to weld mild steel with self-shielded flux-cored wire. Also includes virtually everything you need to weldMIG weld mild steel. Just add a cylinder of shielding gas.comes with welding handshield(crap) instructional video, undercarriage, mild steelprocedure chart inside. The 3200hd has 25-135 ampoutputand welds up to 5/16 steel using flux core wire. 3 year warranty.

[Butler]

Also whats the reasons for using gas? cleaner welds? Less splatter? Better penetration?


All of the above. I have made some super clean welds with flux core but not as many as with gas. The drawback(if it can be called that) is that you cannot weld in the wind and the welding surfaces must be clean with gas.

[DavidLH]

Flux core gives better penetration (ask any welding shop). Or look at the chart inside a welder, flux core is stronger. You get better looking weld and less clean-up with gas, but you sacrifice strength. Don't get a WeldPak 100. I have a WeldPak 100 and a SP 125 Plus. The 100 is cheaper but by the time you spend the extra $100 to convert it to gas you just about paid for a bigger welder (you saved some $$ but have a smaller machine).

[mr.tech]

the wed pack is a good "starter machine" I have a weld pack and a miller 135. I learned on the weld pack and it welds super easy very simple to use and very easy to transport (super light) that is why I like it.

It is also about 8 years old and gets used about 3 times a weak, and still has never broken or needed any thing.

[keifer]

Thanks for the replies. I bought the weld-pak 3200hd 135 amp. Now if the job would pay for welding classes I would be shittin in tall cotten.