Advice on a mig welder

[JoeKan]

Okay, I think I've convinced myself that I'm going to purchase a mig welder and do the welding myself. I'm not sure what would be a good welder. I saw a Sears Home Hobbiest Mig Welder for what I can afford (around $150). Can anyone tell me if that is a good welder or not? I can't afford an expensive one, so if you could advise me on one around $150 that would still keep me in good graces with my wife (you know what I mean).
Thanks again. I am so pumped up about restoring this old truck. If anyone is around the KC area, lets do some shop talk one day.
Joe

[jmedero]

I have one of the sears gasless ones and it works fine for body work. You cant do any frame work or stuff like that. But for shaving handles, rain gutters, and patch work just fine. It is a little messy unlike the gas ones but at the end of the day it works fine.

[msgross]

I'm no expert welder but the saying goes "you get what you pay for" from what i've seen. I don't think that you'll get a MIG for that price, maybe a wire feed (flux core) without gas.... Tractor supply has a little handy one as well.

I found a Miller 135 on Ebay with helmet, gloves, cart and bottle for $550. That might be outside your price range but I know I can sell it for that price as long as I take care of it. Even the lincoln mig's at Home depot are $400+. I wouldn't buy any from Harbor freight either....

I guess it all depends on what you plan to weld and your budget. Do you have a buddy with one that you could "rent", you would be further ahead in the end I think.

Here is a website with a lot of welders..
http://store.cyberweld.com/index.html

[kdrodworks316]

I have a clarke 180 en, its a small 220 v thats gas or gasless. It came with an autodimmer helmet and the regulator and a cart for under $500. I build chassis and suspension parts with it every day and it lays down a nice bead with good penitration. I have only had one problem with it in 5 years, It burned up the rectifier, it was about $100 to repair it. Good little home welder in my opinion

[ChopperDr]

For $150 you need to get lucky and find a good used Lincoln or Miller 110V with gas. You can expect a welder to last a long time if treated well. A new unit for 150 might not be the greatest, will probably cause more frustration than it helps out. I don't recommend it, but I have lied to my wife about how much things in my shop cost.

Chop

[RunninLo]

Originally Posted by ChopperDr

but I have lied to my wife about how much things in my shop cost.

Chop

I have NEVER done anything like that ever

I have a lil Clarke 110 too. Not too bad. I used it during my garage "remodel" while I was without 220v. Gotta say it won't hold a candle to any of my lincoln machines (powerMIG 255 and nice 220a Tig/stick machine that I can't remeber the model #) but for the $450 I paid w/reg.,helmet,gloves, and 2 spools of wire it's earned it's keep. going to be my sheetmetal machine so I can quit changing liners and drive wheels/tips on my Lincoln.

I have a couple of old Lincoln 220a "tombstones" that I've used on framework in the past too. no good for sheet but a few old farmboy can tell ya how good those things can be.
Josh

[Imperial Kustom]

Hit the local pawn shops. I picked up my 110v Lincoln at a pawn shop for 200 bucks. Auctions are always good too. Got my 220v Miller at one for $60!!!!!

[ChiefRocka]

I've had my MillerMatic 250MP for around 16 yrs now, with absolutley no problems at all. It's a 250 amp model, that at the time cost me over $1000.

I weld anything from sheet-metal all the way up to a bridge if I wanted too..
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Power for days, but still can do the fine stuff.....
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You can see a glimpes of it on the left:
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Deep-sump on a Vette fuel tank...
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[JoeKan]

Home Depot has a Lincoln 125 HD for 419.00 and a 140 hd for 524. Do you all think either one will be good? I'm just planning on using it to weld patchs and floor pans on, nothing heavy (at least not now).
I think I'll have to go with something this expensive because I doubt if I ever find one for $150 that will be worth anything.
Have a good one,
Joe

[Alan's Classic]

For what you want to do it will work fine. I've used one before with the gas setup and it did OK. It's a good hobby welder.

[JoeKan]

Does anyone know about this model of Lincoln? I think it might be worth it? What say you?
Thank you,
Joe
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/tls/876290636.html

[RunninLo]

new it's a $6-700 dollar machine. If it lays a good bead and comes with bottle it's an ok deal. I like my 220 machine for frame work but you could do it with that one.

Josh

[60ratrod]

lincoln's are good machines in my opinion. my buddy has a miller that we literally almost ran the wire out of welding this and that on his 77 blazer, my 60 and my 72. my high school metal shop had a good little portable lincoln that i used time after time on the various projects that i did in metal shop. that appears to be a good deal. i would see if the guy could give you a small demonstration of the welder to check to see how it operates, kinda like a test drive so to speak.