Buying a welder

[greggbzz]

I'm thinking of buying a light duty welder.

Mostly for car body work, possibly fixing light trailers etc..

I have (probabbly a total of 40 hours) experience arc welding, mostly fabricating a very large project in high school, but have no idea what to buy or where to start otherwise.

Looking for a used welder, any recommendation? Is it even worth it?

[togan07]

Originally Posted by greggbzz

I'm thinking of buying a light duty welder.

Mostly for car body work, possibly fixing light trailers etc..

I have (probabbly a total of 40 hours) experience arc welding, mostly fabricating a very large project in high school, but have no idea what to buy or where to start otherwise.

Looking for a used welder, any recommendation? Is it even worth it?

Miller.

/end topic.

lol, but ya for real look at a Miller.

[wawazat??]

First, what welding process-MIG, TIG, arc, oxy-acetylene?

I too am a fan and owner of multiple Miller machines, though I'm buying a Lincoln Square Wave 175 TIG machine to replace my EconoTIG from Miller.

Stay with the big names (Miller-Hobart, Lincoln, ESAB) and avoid Clarke and other HF machines.

[TomsSVX]

I have a Lincoln here... Std 110v input because my old landlord wouldn't let me run 220 out to the shop. Great little machine... Had it for about 2 yrs. now with no issues but running out of wire and gas. I have the SP-135T but there are better machines out there. This machine was cheap enough to make it a good deal and I don't regret it at all. Paid $500 including freight. I had my own bottles so that wasn't a problem either. Check them out... the SP 135plus is a VERY nice machine for 110 but they were not available when I ordered mine

Tom

[lhopp77]

I have a Lincoln Mig 175 (220V) and a Lincoln 225A stick unit. Also, an older Miller Trailmaster 250G self powered unit.

Actually if you are looking for smaller MIG welders several brand are fine--Miller, Lincoln, Hobart.

Check Ebay for these units--to include Ebay Express. I bought my Lincoln 175 in Ebay Express. It was actually cheaper than the bid or other Buy It Now units.

Lee

[subi-crosser]

Originally Posted by greggbzz

I'm thinking of buying a light duty welder.

Mostly for car body work, possibly fixing light trailers etc..

I have (probabbly a total of 40 hours) experience arc welding, mostly fabricating a very large project in high school, but have no idea what to buy or where to start otherwise.

Looking for a used welder, any recommendation? Is it even worth it?

Been being busy, just noticed the post.... I have the Miller 135, 110 v machine that I have been abusing for 17 years. I had to replace the rectifier about 10 years ago. I bought a Hobart Handler 5 years ago, since I need to weld in 5 different shops and needed a welder that fit in a Subaru.
I have no 'bad' report about either machine, but I DO prefer to use the Miller. Could be the fact that I spent a LOT of time with the Miller....

[Stevebsy]

I've got a Hobart Handler 140. It's probably the most amps you can get from a 120V outlet. It can run with gas or with the flux wire. It comes with the regulator and everything except the bottle.

I got mine as a reconditioned one for $400, but it looked just like new from here:
They still have them for $399.99

http://toolking.com

Made in the USA if you can believe it. Hobart is a division of Miller, or somehow they are related. Miller stuff is excellent but $$$. Also, the service from Hobart is very good and they have a nice welding talk web forum to ask questions.

I bought it because it has a lot of power for 120V, and is upgradeable without buying any extra parts in the future. I have 220v in my garage, but I figured if I needed to go weld something, with a 120V I can use it just about anywhere instead of being stuck at the garage. I don't have a tank now, but it welds pretty nicely without one. If I had a serious welding project, I'd probably spring for a tank, but the little that I do does not justify the $ for a tank yet...

[Crazy_pilot]

I bought a MasterCraft (Canadian Tire house brand) flux core machine for $250 ($100 off). Despite the cheap price and the company it's done well for what I needed.