Welding machines????

bluemonster1

bluemonster1

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I want to buy a welder to do fix ups and to beef up parts on my sleds and for other things around the yard.I want to stick with a Lincoln model.I am looking at the Lincoln Mig-Pak 140 wire Feed Welder which has many great reviews on them.Or is it just good enough to go to a stick welder,which are a little cheaper. Now the Mig I would run on a 20 amp circuit.The Stick welder is a 220 and I would have to re-wire probably to a 50 amp fuse. I know with the stick..I could weld thicker material. My dad was a welder for at work and on the farm.He really didn't teach me the in and outs of it,I practiced a bit anyways. I heard the Mig welder would be easier to master and weld better,even if I am still in-experienced at it. Enlighten me please you guys on this,I don't want to buy the wrong one and be pissed off about it later.
 

It really depends on WHAT you want to weld!!! A TIG (heli arc) will weld just about ANYTHING but it costs around $7000.00 for a REAL GOOD ONE!!! They are a LOT SLOWER processes than STICK or MIG,,,but,,, with a spool gun,,,you could also weld aluminum with a MIG welder!!! A decent spool gun attachment costs a GRAND,,, so you'd better look into SMALL HELI ARC welders (around 1500.00).. Although SLOWER than a stick or mig welder,,, TIG produces a BETTER WELD and RACECARS are welded with TIG and NOT with MIG or stick because of the strength and lack of heat (destroys the metal around the weld)... So you see.. IT REALLY DEPENDS on WHAT YOU ARE WELDING!!!! MILLER,, (and probably LINCOLN) has what they call "suitcase" portable welders that are relatively inexpensive and are TIG welders!!!! Gary Oles nosboy
 
I would say that since you're "new" to welding the MIG is you best choice. It'll be easier for you to learn, it's great for body jobs as it's quicker and easier to make little tack welds along your joint (try doing a body job with a stick welder... I dare you) The stick welder is the roughneck of welders, it gets the job done and does it well, but in inexperienced hands it can make a nasty weld. The TIG is your welder if you like a nice, clean weld with no spatter and minimal warpage/heat input, but it's slow and can be hard to tack weld with a loose peice in some situations. The mig is right there in the middle of the two, but with a big plus... it's considerably easier to learn than the other two options. If you buy a TIG welder it can also be used as a stick welder (flip a switch and it's a stick as long as you have an electrode holder) but I really think that the 140 MIG is about the perfect welder to suit your needs. It'll handle most jobs up to 1/4" thick if the steel is prepared right.
 
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Sounds good Gary, but I just want a small Mig probably just to fix small things.I am not going into business ,so the $7000 brand is not for me.Sounds like a Mig would do me,since most of my material I would be welding would not be greater then 5/16" thick.To weld a muffler,or to fix the frame on my little trailers and the sorts.Also for re-inforcing w-arms ...lol.The one I am looking at is $599,but goes on sale and am waiting for the sale price which will be about $150 less. Picking up a solar powered auto darkening helmet,they just went on sale for $99.00.
 
thankyou change_up

Hey change_up.I knew you would tune in on this topic.I am just waiting for Canadian Tire to put that 140 on sale.In the last 3 weeks they have saled 3 other welding machines,so hopefully the one I want goes on sale soon.I don't expect to be welding on anything greater then 1/4 " anyways,and if I had something thicker to weld,I would just do it in layers then.Thanks.
 
Save your money and buy some picks!lol we have a lincon migpak 10 from CT that is 115 volt and will take a bottle if you want but we use the fluxcore wire for welding up the derby cars out in the driveway.Good welder was on sale for 3 bills start of the summer has the nascar stickers on it.
 
I have a $7000.00 Miller Syncrowave 350 and also a SNAP ON 110 volt 140amp mig welder (around 2500.00) and the SNAP ON does what it supposed to and the MILLEr does what it supposed to do... I could weld ALUMINUM FOIL with the miller ( a trick) and I could weld ALUMINUM with the 1000.00 spool gun on the snap on mig welder!!! YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!! Especially in the WELDING WORLD!!!!! A SMALL 500.00 welder CANNOT do the same things as a MILLER SYNCROWAVE,,,,but,,,,It DEPENDS on WHAT you want to weld!!!! A 500.00 MIG WELDER IS just FINE for the home... PERSONALLY,,, I try and STAY AWAY from the FLUX wire feed welders and WOULD MUCH RATHER use a mig with SHIELDING GAS (does a LOT BETTER JOB).. 80/20 for mild steel and 100% argon for aluminum or stainless (4130 also)... a MIG welder is very versatile and SOME will weld relatively easily.... If you set it up right,, It will weld for you!!!!!
 
nosboy......what are you waiting for,throw them welders in your vehicle and visit me for a while.I'll give you some things to weld for me.My wife's uncle is a fabricater and welder,got his own business out of his place,a real professional to say the least,but he is a dick head.Rants and raves to much,couldn't give me the time of day.Maybe because he has lots of money,he thinks he is better then everyone else.
I'll give you an example.He went to one of the local Yamaha dealers out here and started to work on the owner.Said he has cash in hand and wants a good price on a quad..etc. The owner did not give him the price he is looking for.He then told the owner.."I can go across the border to the states and pick a machine out with cash cheaper".The owner of the place got real ticked off with him and kicked him out of the showroom.Yet my wife's uncle turns to the guy and says "I'll pick one up States side and I'll come back and show you my receipt".
So even if I went to him for some small welding jobs,he would probably charge me an arm and a leg..so I stay away from him.So I decide I will get myself a small welder and learn myself.
 
I said I HAVE a 7000.00 Miller syncrowave,,, I NEVER said that I KNEW how to weld with it!!!!! Just kidding... I've had it for a few years and I've welded a few different types of stainless,,,a few different types of Aluminum and also 1010 and 1018 and 4130 steel... Stainless is about the EASIEST and ALUMINUM takes some getting used to the different settings... Aluminum also sounds a LOT DIFFERENT when welding compared to steel.. The MIG welder sounds like FRYING BACON when it is welding correctly.... ALUMINUM is JUST WEIRD and STAINLESS STEEL looks the prettiest and lays down the best!!! It's just like driving a racecar.. It's all about SEAT TIME... Thats the ONLY WAY you get good at welding......good luck!!!!
 
Lincoln 140C is a nice little MIG and Lincoln now has their own little spool gun for these machines. To be set up to do dteel and aluminum, you could be set up for $1000.00. That would include gas.
 
My spool gun costs me a GRAND by itself!!!!! it sounds like that little LINCOLN is the way to go!!!
 
hey blue try atleast to find a mig that run on 220 not on 110 and try to find one that run with gaz it make a nice and clean weld ... for alluminium you better go with a tig ..my friend got both and let me tell u nothing goes like a tig to do little job on alluminium..not sure how mutch he paid for but he can tig and can weld electrical rod..if its not for allumium buy a mig with gaz that run on 220 with gaz and your gonna be happy with it..canadian tire sell some on 220 and u can connect gaz
 
taylzee said:
Lincoln 140C is a nice little MIG and Lincoln now has their own little spool gun for these machines. To be set up to do dteel and aluminum, you could be set up for $1000.00. That would include gas.
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Thats what I just picked up not long ago and so far its done everything Ive needed it to do without breaking the bank. Payed right around $600 not including tank.
 
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I didn't want a 220 welder.I would like tove the machine around.So I purchased the 140 Mig Welder.There was a slight sale of $100 off anyways.I bought it last week.I already welder up(beefed up) 3 w-arms.I am not a pro.It was a little tricky,but my welds are holding.A little rough,but that is what a grinder is for.I could get gas for mine to,but for now I will use it like it is.
 
so you're only using a flux cored wire? You will me much happier with the solid MIG wire and argon/c02 mix... much cleaner welds and easier to learn with IMO.
 
change_up said:
so you're only using a flux cored wire? You will me much happier with the solid MIG wire and argon/c02 mix... much cleaner welds and easier to learn with IMO.
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^^^^^Thats no opinion, its the truth!!!!!
 
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