So I broke down & bought a MIG welder...

[Nebraska_e28]

I needed some exhaust welded up over the weekend & ended up at Menards for the little unit below. It was supposedly on sale so I was out the door for $449 + tax. Tack on an auto dimming helmet for $50 and I was all set! It's only a 110 & I opted to use flux core for this project but it seemed to do the job ok for now till I can get some gas. The sucky thing is it's made in China. I've been told recently to stick with Chevy & Fords of the world when it comes to welders. I have an old Miller & Lincoln Electric arc welder that are both older than me but still going strong.

What do you guys think? Money well spent or would I have been better off searching around for a name brand? I'm debating taking it back. Thoughts on this? Also since I'll mostly be doing light stuff, would there have been much benefit in going with a 220v unit?

representative picture & listing from vendors website HERE

[1st 5er]

Don't return it until you finish your exhaust.
Then you can honestly say it's not really what you need to do the types of welding you need to do.

[Nebraska_e28]

Don't return it until you finish your exhaust.

It's already finished.

[1st 5er]

Edited above to add;

Then you can honestly say it's not really what you need to do the types of welding you need to do.

[ldsbeaker]

I just got one for xmas, too.
I guess it's all in the prep and finish work, because I know a guy who did a COMPLETE quarter on his e28 with a much cheaper unit, and it looks awesome. I can't have my own shop right now... (hell, if the housing office catches me welding, I'm SURE they will throw a fit), so a 115v unit is a must. Have to upgrade my fusebox, though.

I bought this one (for $50 more less than 60 days ago, it turns out...)
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... _200332691

Haven't used it yet, waiting to get some gas. But will be starting with exhaust work as well. Have any pictures of your work? I was told to just throw the wire they send with the unit out, or practice with it. Apparently quality wire and flux core will work wonders with these cheaper units.

[1st 5er]

...I know a guy who did a COMPLETE quarter on his e28 with a much cheaper unit, and it looks awesome.

You sure that wasn't an an E12?
OK, mine wasn't a COMPLETE quarter.

[ldsbeaker]

...I know a guy who did a COMPLETE quarter on his e28 with a much cheaper unit, and it looks awesome.

You sure that wasn't an an E12?
OK, mine wasn't a COMPLETE quarter.

Yup, I'm sure. It was apexilude. You friend did some nice welding... When are YOU gonna take it up?

[tsmall07]

Go to a proper welding shop and buy a good grounding clamp. More people are frustrated with their arc stability because their machine came with a crappy ground clamp. Even the name brand machines aren't always immune. Some Chinese machines are decent, but a lot aren't. I hope you did your homework. I've been looking at getting an Everlast PowerTIG inverter myself. I haven't read up much on the MIGs.

You probably won't get much out of a 220 box on exhaust and sheet metal.

Go to weldingtipsandtricks.com; watch all the videos and read all the commentary.

[1st 5er]

When are YOU gonna take it up?

I've done a few things, none of which turned out pretty.
But, they've all held.

[tsmall07]

I'm sure you know this, but be careful welding galvanized metal (like exhaust pipe). The fumes are extremely toxic. I've used an old vacuum to suck the fumes away.


PS. I really like welding threads.

[Cooperman]

Thanks for the tip on the website. I picked up a 220 MIG a couple weeks ago, but have never welded anything in my life. Should be fun learning.

[tsmall07]

Thanks for the tip on the website. I picked up a 220 MIG a couple weeks ago, but have never welded anything in my life. Should be fun learning.

Take a class on oxy-acetylene welding and from your local community college. Getting this background will greatly reduce your head scratching and times of anger. Of course, a MIG class isn't a bad idea, either.

[davintosh]

Hmmm... That thing looks portable. Any chance you do house calls?












I have GOT to get a welder one of these days.

[johnnye23]

Ibought this for sheet metal work and absolutely love it !Gas bottle was another $200 . And the welder came with a three yr warranty .

[Nebraska_e28]

I think it comes with a 5-year warranty, but perhaps I should check parts pricing & availability should something go wrong beyond that.

Hmmm... That thing looks portable. Any chance you do house calls?
.

Sure thing! It's quite portable.

[tsmall07]

I think it comes with a 5-year warranty, but perhaps I should check parts pricing & availability should something go wrong beyond that.

Some chinese manufacturers require you to send the unit to China even for warranty repairs. Some have service centers in the US (like Everlast). Find out what is required of you for warranty items as well.

[mooseheadm5]

I'm sure you know this, but be careful welding galvanized metal (like exhaust pipe). The fumes are extremely toxic. I've used an old vacuum to suck the fumes away.

Exhaust pipes are aluminized, not galvanized. Zinc fumes are toxic, but happily the effects are not lasting or cumulative.

OP, you should get a TIG setup for your M&L.

[tsmall07]

I'm sure you know this, but be careful welding galvanized metal (like exhaust pipe). The fumes are extremely toxic. I've used an old vacuum to suck the fumes away.

Exhaust pipes are aluminized, not galvanized. Zinc fumes are toxic, but happily the effects are not lasting or cumulative.

Good to know!

[Karl Grau]

The guy in the cube next to me used to be a master welder in our operations dept. I buy his daughter's Girl Scout cookies every year so I won't need to worry about welding until she's too old for Girl Scouts.

[Brian in TN]

Miller or Lincoln are the best migs by far. I dont recall the model #s, but I was a pro welder back in high school using the carted gas versions of these. Not cheap, but badass. Wish I could afford one.

[Coldswede]

I'm sure you know this, but be careful welding galvanized metal (like exhaust pipe). The fumes are extremely toxic. I've used an old vacuum to suck the fumes away.

Exhaust pipes are aluminized, not galvanized. Zinc fumes are toxic, but happily the effects are not lasting or cumulative.

OP, you should get a TIG setup for your M&L.

Also if you drink milk before you weld zinc the toxic gasses attach themselves to the calcium (I think it's the calcium) in the milk and your body eliminates it much faster and easier

[tsmall07]

I'm debating taking it back. Thoughts on this?

Well, what was the decision? How did the welder perform?

[Nebraska_e28]

\update

The machine got the job done, but I went with my gut instinct & took it back (after using the 1/2 roll of wire that came with it) for a full refund. Got lucky there...

I found out the other day I can get a comparable/better Hobart model for about $100 less & it should do way better as far as longevity. Through some online reading it sounds like Hobart got bought by Miller & are made in the same production factory (or something like that).

Soo... I have my options narrowed down to this:

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3


Thoughts?

[athayer187]

I've got this one:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_256722-1703-K24 ... y_sold%7C1

Price is more in line with the other offerings (I believe the Lincoln you posted requires 220V input), and it's available locally. Pair that with a 10-20% Lowes coupon, and it's a hard deal to beat. I have read that you'd be hard pressed to get more than 140 amps out of a 110v wall socket Anyway. The biggest thing with 110v welders is to remember that they're rated at 20% duty cycle, and that you'll probably need multiple passes on anything thicker than 3/16". Go slow, prep well, and you can get very good looking welds out of a small machine.

[tsmall07]

I would get the Miller box. I've never liked any Lincoln as much as the Millermatics I've used and I like the personal service you get from a miller dealer instead of dealing with Lowes. I think you can get Lincoln machines from local dealers as well, though. The only product I would buy from Hobart is an arc welder.

Also, as an FYI, Miller dealers will generally let you finance a welder for a year interest free.

One more thing:
Check to see if your local Miller dealer will service your welder (warranty repairs and otherwise) if you order it from someone else (such as that website). I think they will, but it is worth a phone call. It would be a pain to have to send the welder back to who you bought it from if you need a warranty repair. I would always purchase from my local distributor. Miller dealers tend to be owned by localally.

[demetk]

I've been using my cheapo Astro 120v mig welder for about 10 years now, sometimes with heavy duty use. I think I paid like $250 for it and it came with the regulator. I guess if you have the money then spend it on the best welder you can buy but there is no reason you can't do basic welding on the cheap.

[Coldswede]

For normal automotive use I'd get the Hobart. Cheap, handy size, no hassle 115v power. Sounds like a pretty nice little unit.

Now if your going to be welding 3/8 plate all the time go up a few sizes.

[gidgaf]

I was a welder for a few decades, and went thru a few machines.
Look at the "duty cycle" in the specs. There's a few Harbor Freight kinda things going around with 15% or 20% duty cycles- that means you don't really weld, you do a lot of tacks. You weld an inch, wait a half minute, weld an inch, wait a half minute. You might not notice doing some sheet metal projects, but for anything bigger it will annoy you beyond belief.

[Cactus]

I was a welder for a few decades, and went thru a few machines.
Look at the "duty cycle" in the specs. There's a few Harbor Freight kinda things going around with 15% or 20% duty cycles- that means you don't really weld, you do a lot of tacks. You weld an inch, wait a half minute, weld an inch, wait a half minute. You might not notice doing some sheet metal projects, but for anything bigger it will annoy you beyond belief.

^
Stick > Mig > Flux core. Tig not included because I've never done it.

If you mig, renting gas is typically cheaper than buying, because you don't need your own certified tank. I like stick welding because I can usually pick a stick well suited to what I'm doing, rather than being constrained to whatever wire is on the spool. Most of the welding I've done was big stuff like half inch plate. I have welded a straight pipe on a race car once, and some other miscellaneous thin welds.

Two keys to welding properly
1. Spend at least twice as much time prepping/cleaning as you do actually welding.
2. Practice.

[ElGuappo]

I work in the credit dept for Airgas NCN, and we sell both Miller & Lincoln.
We also offer in house financing from 10 months to 30 months, and Lincoln has their own 0% financing for 12 months only.
Plus you can get a cylinder(not bottle!), wire, hood, gloves...all in 1 place.