Mig welders, suggestions..?

I have it upside down right letting the epoxy bottom cure. Still needs a couple days to fully cure.

 

Here is the YT vid I did.

 

From some one who is a self learner skip the head aches and go 220volt learn how to mig weld with gas then if you want to play with flux core have at it. A 200 plus series machine is the way to go. Tig welding is a lot of fun and can be challenging.

 

Look at Everlast. I have one myself. Comes with a 5 year warranty, best in the business.

https://youtu.be/zJY330lOG3M


https://youtu.be/aYegvdWhbcc

 

I have a syncrowave 210. Lil pricey, but handles everything I need.

 

I’ll chime in a little bit, having taught a couple buddies to weld now and having gone through a couple multi-process machines.

In my opinion, you really have to ask yourself if this is something you’re interested in. Are you wanting to weld because you will have a small project a couple times a year, or will you being trying to find all sorts of stuff to fab? My experience has been that once people can start laying down a good weld, they just want to weld more and projects just seem to appear out of thin air, since it significantly opens the door to the capabilities of what you can do. Having said this, my opinion is to save your money and buy something reliable and well known. I know it’s more expensive to just start, but if you buy a used welder or a HF special, having just started out, you won’t really know if something is wrong with a welder. If this happens and you do start welding things, it could start teaching bad habits which will be more difficult to get rid of at a later time.

Secondly, always buy a welder that can weld material thicker than what you think you are gonna weld. I say this for a couple of reasons.
1) generally, the thicker the material it can weld, the easier it will weld thinner material since the range of amperage on the welder is higher.
2) normally the above statement correlates to duty cycle. Cheaper welders tend to have lower duty cycles. So if it’s a 10% duty cycle, it’s 1 minute on and 9 minutes cool down. Buy the highest duty cycle you can afford.
3) as you find more things to weld, you want versatility in your welder and lower end, or intro welders, can lack in this category. Keep that in mind.
4) lastly, while the MIG process is fun, TIG is even better.

In regards to machines. I’ve had the following:
1) HF special - hated this thing. Almost turned me off from welding. It never worked, didn’t matter what I did.
2) Millermatic 211 - great welder. I would highly recommend this as a MIG machine for someone starting out.
3) Lincoln 210 MP - Same comments as above. The only reason for going to this machine over the miller is that this one has more versatility and could TIG weld in DC. Absolutely awesome welder.
4) Esab Rebel 215 - I bought this on a whim when I started showing one of my buddies how to weld with the Lincoln, which he ended up buying and still has. ESAB is killing it in the multi-process welder game. While I liked the Lincoln quite a bit, the ESAB is laid out a bit better and just has all sorts of more options for the TIG process.
5) Esab Rebel 235 - I liked the 215 so much, I purchased the 235 since it has 250 amp TIG capabilities to weld the big stuff. It has dual gas ports for C25 and Argon, to keep both torches hooked up at all times. I very much disliked having to disassemble the whole welder on the 210MP and 215 when switching from MIG to TIG.

All of those machines are in order of cost, but you can’t go wrong by picking up a good brand welder. I highly recommend option 3,4,5 if you can swing the cost.

Just my 2 cents.

 

I see that there are plenty of guys here doing some welding. I have not read every ones reply, but a couple that I have read 220. They are right the machine you choose will run much better on 220. Welds will look and be better also. 220 is the way to go.

 

Yes sir!! I still make mistakes after welding for 5+ years and that thing makes me look like a pro.

Depending on when your 175 takes a dump, there is word that ESAB is releasing a TRUE multi process machine to include AC TIG. If they keep the 250 amp rating for TIG and include AC, I’m buying that machine. The 235 does everything so well, that I don’t foresee any issues, but with added capability. About my only concern with it now is torch heat when TIG welding, but I just can’t justify the cost of a water cooled torch......yet.

 

Here is the boat presently.
Thanks for the compliments.

It's for sale. I want to build another.

 

Thanks guys for the suggestions and tips, will check out the recommendations.

 

Ciao, if your just beginning your welding adventurers you won't go wrong with with Hobart, Miller and Hobart are owned by the same parent company. If you have the garage space i would suggest 220V one with wheels and gas for a cleaner weld. One reason i got my Hobart is that i didn't like all the digital readouts (more things to fail) and i paid as i remember $1,200 for mine.



child proof bathroom towel rack.

 

True that.

My machines are analog as well.