Topic: My First Welder (MIG AKA GMAW)

[YotaNate]

OK So I hope this is the best place for this....

I'm tired of not being able to weld... Signing up for the basic course in a few days and I am looking for help picking out my welder.  I have heard GREAT things about the Miller's and I like the idea of the Autoset feature.  I am the kind of guy who only likes to buy things ONE time.  I guess I get that from my father.  Anyway I'm looking for something for basic auto fabwork, nothing crazy just brackets, bumpers, etc.  I also want the ability to weld aluminum in the future and Miller makes the gun for that as well that I can purchase down the road when the time is right.  I don't want to ever have to "upgrade" so this is what I am looking at.....

http://store.cyberweld.com/millermatic175.html

If you all think the 180 is to much then I could go with this...

http://store.cyberweld.com/millermatic135.html

So let me know what you think!  I am ignorant when it comes to this welding thing and cannot wait to start class!  I'll take any input on wire, gloves, and helmets.  Thanks for the input guys!

Nate

[junya92toy]

http://store.cyberweld.com/mi211migwewi.html

[crazykooter]

This is the welder I would buy hands down.  I used one the other day and man o man I could lay beads like ive welded for yrs. It made things soo simple to me. http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.aspx?p=42422  Price is a little rough but ive seen them for sale around 700.00

[peacesells]

I have a lincoln sp170t, older version and it welds flawlessly with .030 and .035 and 75/25 argon co2 mix. Got the setup used for $400 with bottle, regulator, and cart. I also have a pro mig 175 on argon that I havent tried yet and a miller cricket xl, also a great little machine. As far as brands cant go wrong with lincoln or miller, but I would definately go 230v if you have the outlet. The extra power comes in handy, and they generally have higher duty cycles. Read up on duty cycles if you havent done so already. Helmets, auto darkening all the way!! I have a cheapo harbor freight along with about a dozen of my friends and they all work great. Gloves, if you have a grainger suppy near you the have a nice pair for $11 that are better than the 30-40 dollar gloves at the welding supply.

Good luck bud!

[junya92toy]

the beauty of the welder i posted a link for is, it will run off of 120 or 240

[Grunt]

Welcome to the dark side! You will never look at scrap the same way again. Both are good welding machines, do the 220 if ya can float it. Should burn anything ya need. Do it for a living and still can't get enough aftrt all these years... 

[Johnny5]

i bought the miller 180 and have been impressed with the power so far. the money i saved on buying it and from buying a bigger model i bought a plasma cutter. i am a profesional welder also but the 180 is for home use

[tayro123]

i would spend the extra money and buy the miller 180. you will be much happier in the long run, it will have much more power to weld thicker stuff such as bumpers and brackets like you say your going to weld. also when you are welding thick steel i would recommend running flux cored wire because it gets hotter than mig wire but you do have to chip off the slag when your done. just my 2 cents...