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Fri May 23, 2008 9:33 pm

I have a warning about Eastwood's made in England spot welder; the one that uses a copper coated electrode in the gun and it has to be connected to a 110 volt arc welder: don't buy one; they are junk.
I bought a new one about nine years ago and the few times that I could get it to hold an arc, all it would do was burn a hole through the sheet metal. The owner of an auto body repair business told me that he knew eight people who had bought them and none of them worked.
I work on pre-1968 VW buses and I use a pretty new Miller spot welder that I got through egay for about $200. For places where the spot welder with the tongs won't reach, I have an old Marquette spot welder (built in transformer) with a gun that uses copper coated electrodes and will do a spot weld from one side. I've, also, used plug welds and tack welds.

Sat May 24, 2008 11:37 am

If i was to get a welder from Home Depot I would get the K2185-1 model. That's the most basic one with gas hookup though. My buddy has the other one that's just wire fed no gas and I can still get some pretty good welds out of it. Haven't used it on anything much more than exhausts for him and skateboard fun box coping for me so far though. I'll be doing some welding with the one first mentioned on my bus as soon as I go pick it up. Should be cool. Where would be a good place to look at getting a bottle and some gas though? Never thought to ask my friend where he gets his. Don't see him as much anymore though.

Sat May 24, 2008 11:45 am

The K2185-1 is a good basic low end starter unit. You will for sure want a gas unit. Even though you can probably use gasless wire with the welder.. trust me.. you don't want to.

For the gas, look up Welding Supply in your yellow pages. You can purchase a bottle, or rent one.

Sat May 24, 2008 12:17 pm

Isn't the gas for oxygen displacement so you're not just basically welding in elements that could cause internal oxidizing? An "impure weld". That's what I've read I think.

Sat May 24, 2008 1:43 pm

zxylon wrote: Isn't the gas for oxygen displacement so you're not just basically welding in elements that could cause internal oxidizing? An "impure weld". That's what I've read I think.

As far as I know.

The non-gas flux wire has something inside of it that makes it work without the gas.. but the welds aren't as good.

Sat May 24, 2008 2:01 pm

Yeah, it's like rosin core solder. Just something that makes it weld smoother. But even rosin core solder works alot better with some flux. Shiny and better flow. I imagine it's the same with gas. Less impurities giving a better weld.

Sat May 24, 2008 2:02 pm

It's called shielding gas because it shields the weld from the atmosphere.

Sat May 24, 2008 2:03 pm

zxylon wrote: Isn't the gas for oxygen displacement so you're not just basically welding in elements that could cause internal oxidizing? An "impure weld".

Thu May 29, 2008 9:33 am

Anyone have any feedback on the Northern Industrial welders from Northern Tool? I found someone locally selling the NI 125 amp unit ( http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200342925_200342925 ) with a full tank and helmet for $350. Seller says unit is about 5 months old with maybe an hour of usage. The welder, new, from Northern Tool is $260 shipped.

Can someone tell me if this welder is any good? The specs on the Northern site only specify .030 size wire -- will that limit its capability? Does this sound like a good deal?

Thanks in advance!

Thu May 29, 2008 11:06 am

I don't think that the used mig welder is a great deal, since a new wire welder is $230 plus shipping, and includes a regulator and hose. You get two small rolls of wire with it: .030 in. flux core and .030 in. solid wire.
The last mig welder that I bought was a new Millermatic 220 volt model, and I bought another guide tube and installed it so it could use .024 in. wire (better ffor welding 20 gauge sheet metal).
You need to find out which company actually manufatures the wire welders and in which country.
If you can't spend much money, you might see if you can get a deal on a Lincoln weldpak wire welder or a Hobart Handler wire welder.

Thu May 29, 2008 11:41 am

Here's what I calculated if bought new:
$230 for the machine + $30 shipping
New 60cf C25 tank filled: $149 + $11 sales tax
Helmet, tips, etc, ~$35
So new I'd be spending about 230+30+149+11+35 = $455.

I called Northern Tool. It's made in China. Uck. On the other hand, I'm not equiping a production shop, I'm using it for Ghia restoration and around-the-house projects.

I guess my real question is: do you think I would I be better off spending that $350 on a Lincoln 125amp from eBay, and forgo the gas?

Thu May 29, 2008 12:01 pm

Forget the made-in-China wire welder and buy the Lincoln wire welder; you can always buy a cylinder and regulator for it later, when you can afford it.
Before I bought the new Millermatic, I bought a used Lincoln SP100 mig welder (replaced by SP125) and it worked fine for welding bus sheet metal. Mig welders are hard to find used and I sold it easily for $300.
Consider buying a Hobart Handler wire welder, if you want to save a little money. I think that it is Lincoln that owns Hobart.

Thu May 29, 2008 2:32 pm

Campy wrote: Forget the made-in-China wire welder

I kinda thought the same thing when I learned it was Chinese. I decided to order a refurbished Hobart 125 from ToolKing for 250 and free shipping. Like you said, I can add gas later.

Thanks for your input.

Thu May 29, 2008 9:51 pm

Is that the Hobart Handler? I have heard good things about it.
Mig welders are so popular, it can be hard to find a good used one for sale.

Thu May 29, 2008 10:28 pm

Campy wrote: Is that the Hobart Handler?
Indeed it is.

I also have a 2nd chance offer on eBay for a "new-in-box" Lincoln 175HD for $350. I almost cancelled my Hobart order and jumped on it, but a few factors stopped me.
- It's a little too good to be true. I'm kinda afraid it may be a Home Depot return item. Heard too many stories about that.
- Seller is a new member with an all-numeric username and a feedback score of 1. Smells fishy.
- 220V could be an issue. I have no problem wiring my garage with an outlet, but if I rent a garage to do my body-off, 220V may not be available.

Anyway, thanks for the good advice!

Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:00 pm

i bought the newest lincoln 110v model today the power mig 140t and
its so easy and starts the melt right away so clean and so consistent!!
cant believe i hold back buyin this and kept using my mastercraft (canadian brand for two years) ](*,)
best advice buy the best mig welder u can afford Youll save time and money in the long run considering all those grindin and cleanin up of welds.the cheap welders are just plain inconsistent.. :roll:

Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:14 am

Quote: I think that it is Lincoln that owns Hobart.

I believe it is Miller not Lincoln that makes the Hobart units. Hobart itself is a major manufacturer of commercial grade machinery for any number of purposes, (Industrial, Restaraunt/Foodservice, Commercial/Institutional) I'm pretty sure the Hobart company has Miller make them...I was shopping for welder components last week, and Hobart and Miller welders had identical components (listed as Miller/Hobart in the catalogs), and showed these components up under the same part numbers.

I am a welder by trade, I use mostly Lincoln units, so I have some bias....but Miller/Hobart units are excellent too.

j.

Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:35 pm

I agree with infinity that, just like brakes, you shouldn't skimp on the mig welder that you buy. Get a good brand and it will last for years.

Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:55 pm

The Hobart I got has been terrific. It's a factory reconditioned 125, for only $250, and free shipping at the time from ToolKing.com. It was not long at all before I was making decent flux core welds. I'll be getting the gas conversion and a tank shortly. Good call on sticking to the USA brands.

BTW, I highly recommend ToolKing's selection of reconditioned units. Mine was a 'B' stock, which meant that it had a couple of scratches.

Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:09 am

Ya, Hobart is owned by Miller. Don't buy a cheap China welder, it will just bit you in the @$$ and make welding feel like an art you can never master. Cheap China welders have little resale value and hard too get parts for. Get a Hobart or a Miller they are the best. I'm not a big fan of the red, but they are ok. I ussally have more troubles with Lincolns then any other welder I've used. A Hobart 140 works great on thin sheet metal and with proper base metal preperation it can weld heavy stuff too. The Miller 251 is a great all around machine that will grow with you. Tip go with C25 gas (75% CO2, 25% Argon) as it runs much cleaner. Also set up to the 150 sized bottle for the 140 Hobart and a 250 for the 251 Miller. The gas is cheaper in the larger quanities. Those baby bottles will runout way too fast and don't cost that much less to fill. Just my 2 cents worth.

-Winslow Haselwood
SAW Industries