Welder question?

[tef]

I favor the "cracker box" as well. More versatile and just as easy to use with a little practice. Don't worry about splatter and "dauby" welds. Penetration is what matters not looks, especially for hunting projects etc. Good luck with it.

[arcfiddler]

Ditto what Brushtrooper said. If you are on a budget, just starting, a Lincoln 110 wire feed is the only way to go. Get one that has the gas kit with it but start out with the flux core .035 wire.

Easy to use, very portable, and very forgiving. Buy plenty of spare tips as you will eat them up until you get the hang of it.

If you are not in a hurry, go to any home depot and ask for the "receiving guy or gal." Tell them you are looking for a reconditioned 110V wire feed welder. A buddy of mine got one for $200 that looked like it fell out of the back of a truck doing 80 mph down the highway.

Full warranty and works just as good as the one I bought new back in '98 and still use on occasion today with ZERO issues. Opt for the 10 pound spool of wire and the adapter.

I got a $800 airless sprayer for less than half price going this route ( home depot). Looked like new except for the RECON and a number engraved on it.

I have 5 welders ( 220 V wire feeds, cracker box, and an engine driven), all Lincolns but one.

I would certainly recommend going with a Lincoln.

Also, check out the following site for some some good, cut to the chase welding info:

http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/

Good Luck!

[Bill]

I bought a $99 mig welder from Harbor Freight on a budget, and you do get (or not get) what you pay for. I have built multiple smaller projects, I would never consider using it to weld a car hitch or something that life depended on. The welds are never pretty- I grind them afterwards so I'm not embarrassed.

One piece of advise- if you are working in your garage, you probably have outlets on a 15 amp branch circuit that many lights in your house are also on the same circuit. Result? You'll trip the circuit breaker. Instead if your laundry room is next to the garage (mine is), plug in a heavy extension cord into the 110V outlet above the washer, those are on their own 20 amp circuit and you will not trip the breaker when you weld. Lesson learned in San Jose!

[mikey]

Thanks for all the advice everyone... Now if I can manage to smuggle a few hundred bucks out of the checking account and convince my wife that "I've always had that welder, what are you talking about". I'll be good to go!

[Bowtech32]

Thanks for all the advice everyone... Now if I can manage to smuggle a few hundred bucks out of the checking account and convince my wife that "I've always had that welder, what are you talking about". I'll be good to go!

Good luck with that....Women have a sixth sense.....

[AfterLife]

definately mig
small miller will last a long long time
and runs off of 110v