Inexpensive welders (this is getting tempting)

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
02/06/2016 at 14:52 • Filed to: None

Right now I’ve borrowed a Hobart Handler 140 welder from a cousin. It’s currently set up to use flux core wire, and for what I’ve used it for, it’s been fine. I really like the idea of getting my own welder, though, so I’ve been doing a little hunting around. Today I came across this guy:

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For features, it seems pretty similar to this guy:

http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/powe…

Both have about the same number of heat and wire feed settings. Both will run off a 120 v outlet.

Both are around the same price. For something in that price range, I think I could do a lot worse. Ideally, I’d love to get an AC TIG welder, but I can’t quite swing the $1000+ price tag. But as far as cheap DC TIG machines go, there is this one:

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Reviews seem fairly positive. I’ve currently got $150 worth of Amazon gift cards, so that’d knock the price down to roughly $400. Whether it includes the foot pedal seems a bit hit/miss though. That would likely add another $100 or so to the price.

Do you guys have any recommendations/thoughts on inexpensive MIG/TIG welders?

DISCUSSION (13)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > BaconSandwich is tasty.
02/06/2016 at 14:58

Get a Hobart if you can, if going with MIG. They’re cheap Millers in disguise, so all the basic useful parts (shrouds, gas kits, tips, drive wheels, spool guns, leads, etc. etc. etc.) are common with a Miller and available absolutely anywhere. It may mean not getting quite as much welder for the buck, but what you do get should be pretty solid and has the above advantages. If you go MIG, get a gas kit. Just do it.

Also, one of the big reasons to go TIG (aluminum ability) is not something a very cheap TIG setup is that good for, just as a note.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
02/06/2016 at 15:08

The cheapest Hobart that I can find is roughly $500 more ($750, instead of $~$250). I have heard they were owned by Miller and were pretty much the same. And I totally agree - get the full MIG setup rather than running flux core.

From any reading I’ve done, it seems like you really should use AC TIG if you are doing aluminum. Most of the cheap TIG machines are DC only. I just love the idea of a really clean weld that doesn’t require any sort of slag removal. For the task I’m doing with it right now, it’s fine, but if I were to ever do something more complicated/fancier, I’d definitely want to ditch the flux core and get a gas bottle.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > BaconSandwich is tasty.
02/06/2016 at 15:12

Don’t discount (ha) the possibility of finding an AC TIG unit (or even just a MIG) on Craigslist. That stuff circulates through pretty regularly.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > BaconSandwich is tasty.
02/06/2016 at 15:14

You get what you pay for, with welders more than with a lot of other things. Get the best brand you can afford as the cheaper ones tend to be made of inferior internal components and don’t hold up over time while also lacking basic control-ability. If you’re not planning on doing aluminum a gas MIG set up will suit you just fine, and even then you could always pick up a spool gun.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
02/06/2016 at 15:16

Things in that regard are pretty sparse here. I’ve only seen a few pretty heavily used MIG and stick machines up for sale, and most of them are asking stupid prices. E.g.: I can go buy a brand new Lincoln MigPak 140 on sale for $550, and some guy is asking that (or more) for a used one. I suppose the Lincoln Handy MIG is also an option, but even then, it’s still almost $200 more: https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.hand…

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > BaconSandwich is tasty.
02/06/2016 at 15:19

That Handy-MIG looks like a pretty good unit, but I note it only goes up to 88A. You could probably forget about welding anything over 3/16" thick at the most with that, at least in a single pass. Even my dad’s 172A doesn’t weld heavy all that well.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
02/06/2016 at 15:29

I don’t imagine that I’ll be welding too much thick stuff. So far the heaviest thing (and only) thing I’ve done is some 1/8" plate. I suspect most stuff I’ll be doing going forward will be thinner.

Clown Shoe Pilot > BaconSandwich is tasty.
02/06/2016 at 15:44

Buy quality, but buy it used. I have Miller MIG and Stick/TIG machines that I found on craigslist for way less than new.

Also, you can do aluminum w/ a MIG machine, you just need a spool gun.

Needmoargarage > BaconSandwich is tasty.
02/06/2016 at 15:49

You can buy a Hobart 140 pretty much anywhere online for $500 shipped. I bought mine on Amazon, signed up for their card and got $30 + 5% back, and used a buttload of gift cards. The only other expense was buying a Harbor Freight bottle using a 20% off coupon.

I’ve been really impressed for the quality for the money. I have a bunch of friends with a variety of 120V welders and none of them are even close to as easy to use.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Needmoargarage
02/06/2016 at 16:04

I’m guessing you are in the US? The selection on Amazon.ca isn’t nearly the same. :(

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Clown Shoe Pilot
02/06/2016 at 16:06

I thought with a spool gun you end up with a raised bead at the start, and a crater at the end, unless you trim off either end of the weld?

Like I said, not a ton of used ones out there in my neck of the woods: http://www.kijiji.ca/b-tool/lethbri…
(Kijiji in Canada is way more popular than Craigslist, for some odd reason).

Clown Shoe Pilot > BaconSandwich is tasty.
02/06/2016 at 16:19

Yeah, spool gun aluminum welding’s not as pretty as good TIG, but if you’re just looking to stick aluminum to other aluminum, it’ll do the job.

If you’ve got a vehicle to carry it, it can be worth driving a couple hundred miles for the right machine. I picked up my TIG machine in Dallas for cheap, and it included an owner gas bottle. The cost of driving (430 miles round trip) included, it was still cheap. Also, I think I bought it around thanksgiving so I was going up to visit my mom anyway.

Tohru > BaconSandwich is tasty.
02/06/2016 at 16:43

I bought an almost new 120v 20a wire feed welder off Craigslist for $180 and it's been a great purchase. I forgot which brand it is, though. It's blue and they sell it at Farm and Fleet.