I'm lookin into buying a welder, do to ease of use (my place and my dads) 110 is going to be the way I need to go as there isn't 220 available at his small workshop out behind his house.

I'm wanting to get one that has gas hook ups, and in the $500 range but I'm not sure which will be my best option. I've gone to tractor supply and they have Hobart, then I've gone to lowes and they have Lincoln I believe it is. I've looked at cyberweld.com and they sell a lot of Miller, which seem to be even higher priced. I guess I'm wanting the strongest welder that I can get for the money..

Whats everyones opinions on which welder/welders are the best, or is there a website I've missed that gives comparisons of many welders?

Thanks

I was in the same boat as you, no 220v, mobility and cost. Locally there are the Home Depot versions of the Lincoln welders for pretty cheap. I've looked at a lot of welders online and was thinking I'd buy a Hobart if going new.
Long story short I bought a HF 120v, 28 amp, welder. I use the welder for assorted things around the house, not building a rig. If it's anything for the rig it's a bracket or something light duty and small, not suspension, bumpers, etc. Because it's little stuff and not being used frequently I decided I didn't want to spend a ton, as such I went with a flux core welder. The welds aren't as clean as a gas machine but their strong and can be cleaned up and painted. If I need something more than what I've got I have people that can do it for me. Space was a consideration as well. I don't have a ton of room in the garage for a full cart and gas tank especially for something that isn't used a lot. My model fits the bill well and it's been fun to tinker with.

You can run flux core on a welder that has gas hookups so long as you aren't using gas correct?? Cause the ones I'm lookin at have the hook-ups for gas and I assumed you didn't HAVE to use the gas, you could just use flux core then switch over if you wanted to use gas...

You can easily run flux wire in a gas type wire welder. Just use the same diameter wire and check polarity (most of the time polarity is switched when converting back and forth)...also-some brands change the tips/cups (but is not necessarily required as there is not shielding gas). You usually get better penetration with flux wire anyway-so if you are limited to a 110 welder-using flux with allow thicker base materials to be welded.

If you're looking for portability and reliability i would say go for the Hobart 140. You can use Flux cable or you can plug the gas tank to it and do perfect welds.

Might sound stupid and such, but would the quality of a hobart from Tractor supply be the same quality I might buy from elsewhere? I'm a firm believer sometimes buying from a company who gets bulk stuff the quality is tuned down to meet production cost requirements...

I know it isn't going to quite fit into your price range, but take a look at the Millermatic DVI or Passport models - best of both worlds. You have size and 110V for portability and 220V when you can use it and need it.

Look for a good used one...I picked up a spare lincoln 135amp wire welder (home depot kind) with new self darkening mask, tank and regulator, cart and assessories for $200. Looks like it has about 1 pound gone through it. Even if you did not want to use the tank-the small tanks usually can just be exchanged (no rental needed)....

Might sound stupid and such, but would the quality of a hobart from Tractor supply be the same quality I might buy from elsewhere? I'm a firm believer sometimes buying from a company who gets bulk stuff the quality is tuned down to meet production cost requirements...

Should be fine - also check prices at Northentool.com

The Hobart 140 is a fine little machine. You just reverse the polarity when using flux core wire. Flux core burns hotter as well - but not as pretty.

i own a lincoln 135sp, its the variable one not with a position switch. i got it for around $400 with regulator from a local welding place. im preaty happy with it but 110 has its limits and are now looking for a 220V welder. i have put about 40lbs of flux core and about 15Lbs of mild steel wire through it.

if they make a switchable one that might be a better choice. also if you have a 220v dryer near by you might look into hooking it to that

My Lincoln Pro Mig 135 (Lowes version) was used for the SAS on this rig:

http://www.watrd.com/swap/swap.php

We just multi-passed the crap out of everything with flux core. Yeah, I'd of been more comfortable doing it with a 220v unit, but I haven't seen any problems related to the weld, and this was done 5 years ago, and I give every weld a quick visual check nearly every time I see that rig (yes, I do crawl under it every time :flipoff2:)

Make sure the breaker can handle the load. The welder was on a dedicated 30 amp circuit for the SAS above... It never tripped the breaker there, but I've tripped the 20 amp (I think) breaker a few times in my new shop (not a dedicated circuit).

If I had to do it again, and knew what I know now, I would have gone with a 220 unit from the get-go, but the 110 hasn't failed me...yet (knock on wood).

Yea my dad's lil work shop has no option for 220... it's an older house and just has 110 ran to it and would be too costly to add 220.. I will be doing a lil welding on my rig, but I will just do the multiple pass thing, after much practice with the welder of course, I have 220 access at my place, (fuse panel is in my garage) but not at my dads so that tosses it out the window... Unless they make a cheap 220/110 welder which I haven't seen...

I have the handler 140 . I think I gave ~$460 with tax on sale at orschlens. Northern had them for about the same. So far I like mine. I have only run flux as some of the stuff has been 1/4" and as stated the flux burns hotter.

Thinking about switching to gas for the roll cage to make it prettier...prob won't bother... just spend time removing the slag. I had a Clarke 130en before the hobart...it wasn't bad either. Sold it to a friend, still works good and now prob 4 years old.