ok so for christmas my mom and step dad gave me some cash to put towards a welder... i wanna spend no more than about $600... i know lowes, depot, and murdocks has welders that are pretty decent...

i want it to be gas/electric and be able to weld up too a 1/4 and i want a mig.

i mostly want the welder for bumper sliders and what not seems like i could always use a welder... plus it would be able to write it off...

so let me know your opinion which of the 3 big names is better and where has the best deals i only shop at depot on a regualr basis so let me know...

thanks guys, and hope you all had a good christmas...

 

No brainer.....Tractor Supply Company has had the Hobart Handler 187 for on sale for about 2 months now....can't beat it. I have the two models earlier 175, LOVE it. Other than a full production fab shop, it will do all that you need. My buddy got it last month, loves it.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/...&Special=false


I even have a 10% online coupon if you are interested! Hmmmmm, maybe it's time for me to upgrade!

 

nice im stoked haha i cant wait...

 

damn there is no tractor supply near me at all

 

You can mail order it, AND use the 10% off.........just PM me for the coupon if you order it.
Oh yeah, free ground shipping over 100 bucks right now!

 

Oh, it is 220v...make sure you can use/wire it. If you want to be able to burn 1/4", then you MUST get a 220! Others say 110 can do it, don't bother!

 

cool well i figure i can get it wired up i got a few friends that can handle that for me. i can build a house not wire em lol i hate elerctricity been shocked too many times...

damn that is a good deal so w/ your discount and 600 it will be on my door...

cool i will go to the bank tomorrow and deposit this money... then order it up thanks a bunch... i will probably put my order in tomorrow... how does the discount work...

 

i ordered it up haha i cant wait but i couldnt find a spot to type that in so that sucks i was too inpatient. i will have a welder very soon

 

I'm assumin you've welded before?

My experience with welders, I've used Hobart, Miller, & Lincoln, both stick & Mig...............Hobart IS NOT user friendly!

You can buy a nice Lincoln 110volt at Lowes for around $500, then you'll have to buy or rent a bottle.

I bought mine at Home Depot 3yrs ago, Lincoln 100 WeldPak for $400, works great for what I do around here...........if I need somethin bigger, I just go to work & do it......

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

How so? I love my Handler, see no reason why you would consider it "not user friendly". I would not waste the money on a 110 if you plan on doing 1/4" well, especially if you get a 220 for 100 bucks more. Don't hink you can go wrong with any of the big three.

 

That's odd, the coupon said to type in the promo at checkout. It may have been the free shipping and sale on the welder itself that negated the coupon.

 

you may get a welder for $600, but if you get a MIG then you still need to find a place to rent you a bottle and thats not exactly cheap, not expensive but not cheap.


why not a stick welder? they are like $250 for a Lincoln or Hobart, probably about the same for a Miller.. Then you have the other $350 to put towards paying someone to wire the garage for a 220 outlet and steel to start welding!

 

I find MIG to be MUCH easier to learn/do, but that's me. I use my stick for 1/2" or bigger, or big rusty, crappy steel.

Ebay is a great source for tanks, that's how I scored my oxy acetylene tanks. Problem is that not all shops will just fill, they want to "rent" you their tanks and won't touch other tanks...that's where Tractor Supply comes in...
As for the tank, I lucked out and have a Tractor Supply near me. For 20 bucks they transfer your tank to theirs. You still own it, but now you can get refills anytime and not pay the stupid "rental" fees.

It's definately worth it if you have a TSC nearby, no more stupid rental fees...
http://www.gaspony.com/

 

That's the way I've heard it from everyone, personally I've never used anything other than a stick welder.

I've seen people that could run a beautiful bead with MIG, but ran a ****ty one with stick. lol

 

That's me! Seriously, stick is tough to master, at least for me!

Stick is truly a learned skill that offers TONS of versatility. MIG is something anyone can learn in a few hours, and is more useful for the "occasional" welder.

 

I learned on a stick, IMO setting the right wire speed and heat is harder on a MIG. I can lay an awesome bead with a stick welder.. just takes practice..

on the other hand, i can also lay a decent bead with a MIG and a nice bead with a TIG welder.


MIG is nicer if you're trying to weld a variety of metals, I mostly weld heavy metal so a stick welder is fine with me..

 

yeah stick isn't too bad i learned how to weld chromoly, with a tig welder, an old boss in cali had a trophy truck and i would help him after hours...
but i have done all three and mig just kinda fit my needs...
stick welding was really different but i started getting the hang of it...

 

that kinda what i figured... i also ordered up my shift extension on summit and it had a spot so, i figured they removed it for the free shipping... and thanks again for the advice.
i have been looking on ebay and what not for a hood... definately going to need one, i saw one at harbor freight auto darkening, but i know there reputation nice and cheap but not the best... just dont wanna waste my money but i might get one for the now aspect cause i cant spend 200 on a nice one at the moment...

 

yeah i have had no issues with my hobart 210, it is extremely user friendly. i have a millermatic 212 as well, both work awesome and nearly the same, which they should.

i have stick welded, which is ok but Mig is way better IMO.

You should have a great welder coming your way. I wanted that one but I found my 210 on ebay for 550 practically new.

 

haha nice that is good to hear calms my nerves a bit... now give me a bit of time and maybe i can fab some stuff up comparable to yours zack...

maybe gimme like 20 years haha

 

it wont cost me but beer and some material to wire the garage... if even that my buddy isnt big on drinking... and he is a licensed electrician and had never failed on any job i have seen him on, so i know it will be done right...

 

i don't have an electrician buddy, and I'm dying to get some stuff fabbed up, hell i got my hands on 2 welders one day and got a winch plate welded on

i can just imagine what i could get done if i owned the welders lol


I'm buying too many guns too fast(if thats possible), and i want to go wheelin too soon to have a fancy welder in the budget haha


either way, hurry up and get the welder and start making some stuff! I'll be back to Colorado within a year or 2 to go wheelin and i expect you to have your truck fully armored by then

 

haha sounds dope hopefully by then i will have a nice straight thing under my truck and if you need it in a year or two your more than welcome to use mine... and im down to go wheelin with you... i will be posting up pictures when it all comes together...

 

i dont own any guns yet but i keep buying new tools i just bought my self a dewalt radio $150 bucks its a charger too and i can play my mp3 player on it so it was worth it... plus it was another tax write off...

 

u hear ya on the tools, if i don't spend my money on tools it gets spent on guns.. or if i make a commitment to buy a gun (like the gun I'm buying tomorrow) then i don't have money for tools