I appologize for the numerous questions i've got, but i'm still pretty new to the fabrication / wheeling thing, and i'm looking at picking up a welder and learning to weld. mostly what i'll be doing is small fab work on my jeep, and need some advice about what type of welder i should select. i think the most i'll be welding is 1/4" steel, and i've been told that MIG is the easiest to learn, but TIG is the best for my use, what are the pros/cons of them, and which would i be better suited using? needs to me relatively portable and run off a 120v system. Thanks in advance for the help.

lincoln wire feed is the way to go. i suggest going with some kind of gas add on star9 or something elce. dont use the innersheild wire it's messy and the welds dont look as good(use this to pratices) the gas add on will make the welds look nicer less clean up and less work. this is the easy way to weld.

tig is more of a art then a weld. there are so many ways to do it and so many way to make it look good. it is the best way to fab up small stuff and to do small welds and to fab where every one is going to see it.

stick with the mig and work your way up. now i did not buy mine at home depot but its just out there to see how cheap and easy it is to get in to a good set up


http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100093231

Even though a Home Depot mig welder will be just fine for what you are going to do, be aware that their Lincoln mig welders, and Lincoln mig welders from a welding supply store are not the same.
Just make sure that you can buy consumables for whatever machine you buy (tips, cups, drive rolls, gun liners, etc.) because you will need them.
I buy all my welding supplies from a welding supplier. You're gonna need the gas mix from them anyway,....plus, I fabricate and weld for a living.

...be aware that their Lincoln mig welders, and Lincoln mig welders from a welding supply store are not the same....
Is this similar to the products sold at Wal-Mart? I am also looking for a budget welder, but do not want to get a piece of junk.

If you buy a SP100 (Home Cheapo), or a SP135 (welding supply) you will not be able to mig anything thicker than 1/8". Some will argue, but I wouldn't put my family in it. I found this out the hard way when building my rig. I had to use innershield to burn deep enough to get a good weld, and then chip slag.
I use the 80/20 gas mig when doing anything thin like exhaust though.
If I had it to do over, I'd have gotten the SP170, or SP175 220 volt version which will burn a little deeper in mig mode.
There are better machines for burning mig, but become unjustifyable cost wise for the average guy tinkering in his garage. I'd go with the adjustable heat range versions from the welding supply house too! You can buy them online and have it drop shipped to your house at a fair price.

A welder is an investment. Buy a good welder and get good performance. I have a Miller Millermatic 175. 220V, small, less weight, welds anything you need to weld on a jeep and then some.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_180_autoset/

Search around for deals, I got this same welder, with a cart, tank/gas, wire, mask, and wand out the door for just over a 1000. I couldn't be happier.

I'll toss my $0.02 in here.... Get a MIG welder that is setup to run gas without a doubt. Don't get a 110V machine, you will quickly out grow it and your welds won't be as nice as if you had gotten the 220v machine as with the 110v machine you have to play with the settings more, and run more test beads, etc. than you will have to do with the 220v machine. If you buy a 220v MIG machine, you will be happy with it in 20 years from now.

Here is the downside.... buying the machine is only half the cost. When you add up the cost of the tank, a good hood, a jacket, gloves, having 220v line run to garage, etc. you will be into some $$ real quick. However, you will be happy for years to come.

i got my 220 lincoln at oxarc i paid like 500 for the machine and 150 for the gas add on stuff. and that was like 4 years ago our fab shop has miller welders and there nice but every one has there pick my biggest investment was my helmit but you got to look good doing it!

the reason i need to go 110v is that the shop i'll be doing all my work in (only shop available to me) is not equipped with a 220v plug. i also want to be able to take it with me when i travel to places like moab and run off a small generator if i need to weld something.

This is prolly bigger than you want but I use a Miller DVI (dual voltage input). It can use 110 or 220 just by changing the plug. I only use 110 when I weld sheet metal though. I would definitely buy a bigger welder than you think you need right now. Just because you're gonna want a bigger one in the future, trust me. I would say buy a good one for home (dvi) and if you want one to take with you on trails buy a small cheap mig just to do trail fixes if that's what you want to do. my .02

I've heard good things about this one Hobart Handler 187 (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200328799_200328799)

Comes with a welding cart too lol.
What do you guys (who actually know about welding and such) think?

I've heard good things about this one Hobart Handler 187 (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200328799_200328799)

Comes with a welding cart too lol.
What do you guys (who actually know about welding and such) think?


I got to burn a bead using that machine once. It was VERY NICE!! As mentioned above, I also am using the 110 V lincoln Weld Pack 3200. I don't run the gas, I use innershield wire. It is messy, but I can get good welds AS LONG AS I PREP THE METAL CORRECTLY! I have to do chamfers on anything thicker then 3/16. But I wish I went the 220 route at the beginning. But my garage isn't wired for 220 and my landlord won't invest in the addition:shaking:

I am happy with what I have. It is a good dependable unit that should last for 20-30 years. But I plan on getting a 220 next year and still keep the 110 for the smaller jobs.

I've heard good things about this one Hobart Handler 187 (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200328799_200328799)

Comes with a welding cart too lol.
What do you guys (who actually know about welding and such) think?This is a good machine for doing what we jeep guys do. It will handle all your needs. Before buying ANY mig welder, make sure you can get the consumables for it!!

Just so you know...the ad says it can weld aluminum. It can't.

This is a good machine for doing what we jeep guys do. It will handle all your needs. Before buying ANY mig welder, make sure you can get the consumables for it!!

Just so you know...the ad says it can weld aluminum. It can't.

by consumables you mean tips and such?

as far as consumables go, as long as you buy a us made machine wheter it be Hobart, Miller, or Lincoln. Most welding supply places will have what you need wheter or not it came from HD or theire store. Also I agree with above posts that you should go with a 220v unit, it's not that hard to wire for it. Also you mentioned portability and running it off a generator, most generators have a 220v outlet so it shouldn't be an issue.

I've heard good things about this one Hobart Handler 187 (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200328799_200328799)

Comes with a welding cart too lol.
What do you guys (who actually know about welding and such) think?

I have this machine, it's sweet. When I got mine, it came from Northern Tool as well, but they gave me free shipping and a free cart.

cool, thanks for the info guys, I just went ahead and ordered one.

ESAB Migmaster 250

ESAB Migmaster 250I have one of these. I have spray welded 1 1/2" thick steel with it!

I have one of these. I have spray welded 1 1/2" thick steel with it!

I love it.

Cancel that order and save 150 dollars here: http://www.toolking.com/hobartwelders_500525a.aspx

I got mine here and they carry the same warranty. Lots of threads in the tools forum about the reliability of toolking.

I got a free mig that I practiced with. When I got confident with it, I started using the Miller 251 at the office and realized my free welder was holding me back.

I picked up a hobart 210 and never looked back. Awesome welder built by miller for the garage guy.

Some notes on my experiences:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=538275

I am playing with a Miller Diversion 165 tig. Expect some info on it before long.

Cancel that order and save 150 dollars here: http://www.toolking.com/hobartwelders_500525a.aspx

I got mine here and they carry the same warranty. Lots of threads in the tools forum about the reliability of toolking.


This is a reconditioned machine, not new. No free cart, no free shipping.