Who knows about small welders?

[2stacksuperdog]

So were looking around at small welders and were wondering if they're worth buying or not. We have a 240 Mig but its a pain in the butt to move around for small jobs here and there. I figured you guys(and gilrs) would have some experience with these.

Here is a couple we're looking at:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/jobsmartreg%3B-125-amp-mig-fluxcore-welder

http://www.harborfreight.com/90-amp-flux-wire-welder-68887-8494.html

[2stacksuperdog]

Thanks for anybody's input

[hatcity]

Heard this guy is pretty good

[vision386]

Check out Millers website,i have one of their small multi-process MIG/TIG setups and am nothing but happy with it,it serves its purpose well for what I do with it......................................................Mark

http://www.millerwelds.com/

[1957B61Vt]

I Bought a millermatic 211 mvp it is fairly portable and it runs on 115 or 220 volt will weld 3/16on 115volt one pass and up to 3/8 on 220volt .

I use it alot but it was not real cheap around 900.00 on sale around 1100.00 full price it weighs around 80 lbs.

so far I like it .

a friend of mine bought a cheap one at TSc. We were both less than impressed he did not have it long 115volt farm hand or job smart I don't remember now what it was . the smaller hobart 140 work's well for up to 3/16 they are around 450.00 made by miller

work bought one we used it lots trouble free. Steve

[j hancock]

I will second/third the motion for Miller. I have also had pretty good luck with Hobart brand which is part of Miller.

[Maddog13407]

yup Miller or Lincoln. don't waste your time with a POS from Harbor Freight. we have had a small 100amp Lincoln for about 20 years and still welds like a top. I think the new model is a 130 or 150

[rsb502]

Miller, Lincoln or Hobart(Miller) I have a few year old Hobart 175, its a 220 welder running solid .035 wire and gas I weld anything from sheet metal up to 1/2 plate, gotta go slow on the 1/2 and pre heat to get it on one pass. I would go with a Hobart, Miller or Lincoln dual voltage and run .030 solid wire for something easy to transport and use wherever, I would probably use flux core wire in .035 if I wasn't going to go .030 solid and use gas, the flux core only fills about two thirds the same space per foot of wire as solid core. I have had friends buy the cheaper welders from Harbor freight and Northern and they were toast after less than a year in hobby use, its just not worth it for the price difference and the tips and nozzles are easy to buy for the name brands at any welding store or TSC, CoOp, or farm store.

[b61mack]

I would go for the gas welder, better than flux core welder.

[2stacksuperdog]

We have a big Esab now which is the same as miller just a different color. We were mainly getting a small one to hook to a generator and put in dump body to weld some small patches in.

[rsb502]

For what you want to do flux core .030 or .035 in a 140-160amp welder will do fine, I use a friends Hobart 140 with .030 flux on his trailers all the time (saves me from taking my welder down there and him from bringing his trailers here). Welding with flux core wire isn't as pretty as gas shielded but if you slow down and watch the weld puddle like a stick welder and keep your electrode in the puddle long enough to build up a good bead the spatter goes way down and it can be controlled better, just think of it as a stick welder and go slow and watch your puddle. I actually dime weld with solid wire most of the time and with flux I back and forth it across the seam pausing at either end long enough to get penetration then pull the weld puddle thru the middle of your run to keep it hot on both sides. just my two cents.

[2stacksuperdog]

For what you want to do flux core .030 or .035 in a 140-160amp welder will do fine, I use a friends Hobart 140 with .030 flux on his trailers all the time (saves me from taking my welder down there and him from bringing his trailers here). Welding with flux core wire isn't as pretty as gas shielded but if you slow down and watch the weld puddle like a stick welder and keep your electrode in the puddle long enough to build up a good bead the spatter goes way down and it can be controlled better, just think of it as a stick welder and go slow and watch your puddle. I actually dime weld with solid wire most of the time and with flux I back and forth it across the seam pausing at either end long enough to get penetration then pull the weld puddle thru the middle of your run to keep it hot on both sides. just my two cents.

Thanks

[2stacksuperdog]

For what you want to do flux core .030 or .035 in a 140-160amp welder will do fine, I use a friends Hobart 140 with .030 flux on his trailers all the time (saves me from taking my welder down there and him from bringing his trailers here). Welding with flux core wire isn't as pretty as gas shielded but if you slow down and watch the weld puddle like a stick welder and keep your electrode in the puddle long enough to build up a good bead the spatter goes way down and it can be controlled better, just think of it as a stick welder and go slow and watch your puddle. I actually dime weld with solid wire most of the time and with flux I back and forth it across the seam pausing at either end long enough to get penetration then pull the weld puddle thru the middle of your run to keep it hot on both sides. just my two cents.

Thanks

[41chevy]

You can pick up a Miller Flux Core 110 / 220 volt and it has an optional gas kit and also an easy swap to reverse polarity to do aluminum. I have one I take with me to job sites with a Honda Generator. Cost me about 4 or 500 for the welder, one hundred for the gas kit. Gen I picked up after the Sandy panic off Craigs List. If I want to do Aluminum it's another 150 for the spool gun. Paul