Author Topic: Help with choosing a welder (Read 5199 times)

CJDavis · « **on:** Dec 16, 2008, 11:16:42 PM »

Need help with picking a welder. I need one to build an exo cage, bumpers, etc.

I was looking at the Lincoln 225 stick welder. I'm thinking of sticking with a stick welder due to money constraints, pardon the pun....
what amperage and voltage should I be looking for? Does the Lincoln sound like a good choice?

Thanks

88_Pathy · « **Reply #1 on:** Dec 17, 2008, 09:36:08 AM »

What is your budget? A 140amp mig should be fine but not optimum. I would say a 220v 180amp would be the best for an exo.

CJDavis · « **Reply #2 on:** Dec 17, 2008, 11:08:25 AM »

around 200....

94MtnYote · « **Reply #3 on:** Dec 17, 2008, 12:27:31 PM »

we use the bigger version Lincoln Idealarc 250 at school and it works very well. stick is mostly suited toward thicker metals and it will take a lot more manipulation skills to weld up tube with stick. a 3/32'' E7018 electrode would be appropriate depending on the wall thickness of you're material. 3/32'' 7018 is generally run b/t 70-100 amps
Another thing to consider is the duty cycle of the 225 although it's probably more than adequate.
I would save up a little more and get a nice used wire feed.

anyway good luck!

Twisted · « **Reply #4 on:** Dec 17, 2008, 03:51:39 PM »

With a budget like that the best bang for your buck will be an older ac/ dc stick welder. Lincoln, miller,and hobart are all good brands, if you look on craigslist, you can usually find a good deal on these older stick units.

However, depending on you welding skills, it might be worth it to save up a little longer and purchase a 140 amp mig welder(hobart 140 is a good choice for welding on a budget), for most people they are easier to get use to and make sound beads without as much practice. ( defiantly important for the projects you have in mind )

joeshmo · « **Reply #5 on:** Dec 17, 2008, 08:40:47 PM »

i ended up picking up a new lincoln 180 for the price of a hobart 140, just look for sales

Twisted · « **Reply #6 on:** Dec 17, 2008, 09:48:06 PM »

Nice find.

CJDavis · « **Reply #7 on:** Dec 17, 2008, 10:00:38 PM »

So that stick welder isn't going to work for an exo? If it's a practice thing and time thing, I can work on that...

Twisted · « **Reply #8 on:** Dec 17, 2008, 11:39:09 PM »

Both types of machines do the same thing, they both fuse metal together... its just takes more practice with a stick welder ( especially tubing )

CJDavis · « **Reply #9 on:** Dec 18, 2008, 10:01:39 AM »

what about these?

Miller Arc-stick Welder AC-DC 220V $250 obo
- Lincoln Mig Welder with Regualators 220V Industrial $300 obo

Let me know what you guys think...

Birfailed · « **Reply #10 on:** Dec 20, 2008, 03:52:07 PM »

Can you borrow a welder instead? It'd suck to throw cash at a welder your not gonna like. I finally dropped about 1100 bucks into my welding setup and I'm finally happy with it. Lincoln 180c with 25/75 gas

87pickup · « **Reply #11 on:** Dec 23, 2008, 06:52:08 PM »

You cant go wrong with a millermatic 210. I have been abusing mine for 5 years and have never had 1 single issue

4RunnerChevy · « **Reply #12 on:** Dec 24, 2008, 07:18:47 AM »

Save up and buy one of these numbers, around $7000.

joeshmo · « **Reply #13 on:** Dec 24, 2008, 05:48:02 PM »

mind if i borrow that?

RABIDYOTA · « **Reply #14 on:** Dec 31, 2008, 10:21:36 AM »

check pawn shops, craigslist i found a lincon 110 wire feed for 185.00 uses shielded wire but u could upgrade it to gas with the kit or harbor freight always has some on sale

YodaKrawler · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 01, 2009, 01:59:00 AM »

you know the first cage that i did on my 85 i got a lincoln 135 (which is a 110) from lowes and a .035 flux core wire and had a couple of pieces of little tubing from notches and practice and i rolled a couple of time and it held up just fine. i would say that all depends on what you are used to. just be care full cause flux core burn hot and you have to weld a little slower than solid wire with gas.
just dont try to use the solid wire with gas cause it doesnt have enough amps to weld 120 wall tube with that 135 in my opinion. but since then i have upgraded to a miller 180 220 volt welder. so i can used gas.

snowshreder · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 02, 2009, 11:14:37 PM »

The old "buzz box" stick welders where mostly all DC. Some of the newer ones are AC/DC... much nicer. Either way.. they are hard to learn on, and even harder to make nice smooth welds. I would get a cheaper flux core Lincoln weld park... Flux core can be very strong if you learn to use it good. Also they are very cheap. I have a Lincoln power MiG 250, and a little 110 Lincoln weld pak... just picked up a Miller tig maching. All of my machines I bought used.. one on ebay and the other 2 on Craigs. Lucky I got tanks with the big mig and the monster tig. Big 5 foot tanks, and a local boot legger fills them for me. Sadly, "4runnerchevy" guy got ripped off...$7000... that's a production machine... no joe welder needs that. My Miller Syncrowave 250 , AC/DC TIg, and Stick. I bought it of a home owner for $1400.. with a cooler, and 5ft tank... and ton of rods... he used it to build custom turbo pipes. You really need to watch Ebay, and all the papers... and the local net papers... go look at the machines... always know what you looking at and learn who your buying it from, and what they used it for. When I die... everyone's gonna bug my old man to get my machines... I bought them, knowing I will never sell them. No matter what. Even though I don't do it for a living, A. I use them every month B. I own them outright C. I will never have to pay a welder... EVER. D. I got great deals on them... and last they are fun to use and will last beyond my lifetime. Always buy great machines.... no china crap. You will get what you pay for. Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, Hypertherem, and Themal Dynamics. They are like Ford, Chevy and Dodge... it's what runs in your family. Be an American, buy American... we don't ever want these companies to go out of business.

kneedownnate · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 02, 2009, 11:29:17 PM »

A 135/140 mig will do great for what you want. I have a hobart 135, and one thing that helped with my decision was seeing how nice a job it did on another member's exo cage. I can't remember who, but the thread was titled something like "got cancer, built an exo cage". Look it up and check out his work!

joeshmo · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 03, 2009, 10:47:12 AM »

the bandit on pirate 4x4

junya92toy · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 11, 2009, 10:15:41 AM »

You can run the lincoln 135 welder on .120 wall tubing with no problems. I can welded 3/8s plate with mine and it will pass a bend test. I run 030 solid wire and c02. Bevel the edge of the tube to get a even stronger weld. This should go for 110 or 220. I paid 550 for my welder and I have run spool after spool through it. Also if you are concerned about getting a good weld on thick metal, preheat. Im a certified structural welder btw.

grifter679 · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 11, 2009, 09:02:08 PM »

I just bought a Hobart handler 185, its 220v 180 amp welder, less than 700 bux shipped from Northern Tool, it comes in on friday and cant wait to start using it

jrock · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 21, 2009, 12:18:59 PM »

Quote from: CJDavis on Dec 16, 2008, 11:16:42 PM

Need help with picking a welder. I need one to build an exo cage, bumpers, etc.

I was looking at the Lincoln 225 stick welder. I'm thinking of sticking with a stick welder due to money constraints, pardon the pun....
what amperage and voltage should I be looking for? Does the Lincoln sound like a good choice?

Thanks

Anyone have input on the Lincon 225? Found one online for $200.