Best Buget Welder To Buy?

[culp7]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

On a mig welder, choose your dealer and support network that treats you best. My big steel jobber is a Miller dealer so I bought a Miller welder recently so I can get needed stuff from them.

Either is great though. I have a 15 year old Lincoln 110 volt Mig and a 15 year Miller 220 volt big Mig. Both are super.

On engine drive welders, Lincoln owns the market. Find any big construction job, bridge, or pipeline and it will be all Lincoln on the job site. It's literally like 99 percent Lincoln engine drive machines.

As you can likely tell, I am a big welder guy. I spend a lot of time on the welding forums and read the books too. I even have the title "welder" on my business card. Some days I do better than others, but it's my passion.

Thanks Tx Firefighter, you have been a huge help in deciding.. So as a Shopping list I need a:

Welder, Welding Wire, Gas W/ Bottle, Gloves, Helmet, and Gas regulater?

Am I missing anything that I would need to start welding?

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by culp7

Thanks Tx Firefighter, you have been a huge help in deciding.. So as a Shopping list I need a:

Welder, Welding Wire, Gas W/ Bottle, Gloves, Helmet, and Gas regulater?

Am I missing anything that I would need to start welding?

You've got it covered. Depending on which welder you buy, it will come with the regulator and hose. You can usually buy gas bottles real cheap on Craigslist. Just look at the bottle and find the latest hydrostatic date. It will be a year stamped into the bottle near the valve. Make sure it is within the last 10 years. Buy it and take it to a welding house and swap it for a full one.

For gloves, I use normal leather work gloves for most mig work. Some spots and shot beads don't make enough heat to need the big heavy welding gloves. Only if I'm running beads for long lengths do I put on the thick ones.