Cheap welder needed

[waylonh]

Hello,


I'm totally new to welding, and I would like to say this art is fascinating, and you welders really are artists. My late father was a master welder, and I was too young to get to learn anything from him. However, on to my question.


I would like to purchase a MIG/wire welder. I'm on a VERY tight budget. (MAX $250.00 for now) Hopefully will be upgrading after I start to learn more. My projects will be to the extent of

1. Small Boat trailer

2. Soil Ripper (to be pulled behind 4-wheeler.)

3. Farm repairs.


I have seen some cheap welders at Tractor Supply, and Harbor Frieght. Some start at 200.00. Am I wasting my time with these? I don't need pretty welds. I just need my projects to hold together.

[Alloces]

Waylon :
you know you can start with anything......thing is just remember cheap usually means just that I am not saying that Century or even the HF machines are just cheap .......sometimes you'll buy a real good one but remember this ....IF you buy a smaller machine sooner than later you WILL out grow it .....you want to work on your boat trailer .......just remember I may be the person behind you and would hate having your boat/trailer on the front end of My pickup....IMHO hobart makes one fine machine ......as does Miller and Lincoln.....look around on the net here .......call around where you live(local radio show sales program) and even some used farm machinery places have a used welder for sale at a reasonable price....heck ya might try even running an ad in a local thrifty nickel..I guess what I am saying is look around before ya leap...just My opinion and I could be wrong

[whateg0]

I bought my CH125 at TSC and have had no problems with it. Everybody has their opinion, but if you are prepared to upgrade later when you can afford it, I see no reason you can't buy a less expensive welder now. If I waited until I could afford an $800 welder, I'd still be drooling over catalogs instead of making sparks. $200 does seem a bit low, though. I have had good luck with a lot of stuff from HF, but I don't know that I would buy anything that expensive from them. Others have had problems with the welders there as well. Depending on what you do, you may want to use MIG, and a lot of the less expensive welders do not have the gas valve for it. People will say save for a bigger welder, but if you want to get to welding now, I say go for it. They are right to say that you will probably want a bigger one later, though.

Just my 2.5 cents.

Dave

[Trent Combs]

Hello,


I'm totally new to welding, and I would like to say this art is fascinating, and you welders really are artists. My late father was a master welder, and I was too young to get to learn anything from him. However, on to my question.


I would like to purchase a MIG/wire welder. I'm on a VERY tight budget. (MAX $250.00 for now) Hopefully will be upgrading after I start to learn more. My projects will be to the extent of

1. Small Boat trailer

2. Soil Ripper (to be pulled behind 4-wheeler.)

3. Farm repairs.


I have seen some cheap welders at Tractor Supply, and Harbor Frieght. Some start at 200.00. Am I wasting my time with these? I don't need pretty welds. I just need my projects to hold together.

In that budget, I'd say to look for a used stick welder - if you have 220V available. Look for a AC\DC machine. If you are limited to 110V, save your money until you can run a 220V circuit. All three of your projects could cause serious injury if they fail, so there is no way I'd use ANY 110V machine - and I've run my 110V Hobart Handler hard.

[Hotfoot]

I agree with Trent. The projects you list are all better done with a "Stick" welder than any wire welder you are going to get , even used, in that price range. You will EASILY find a used AC arc welder , usually for $100-125.00...and I've seen many go for under $100.00 at auctions. Evry farm has one, it seems, but they do require 220 volts. MIG welders are really nice, but , again, the projects you list are all 220 volt MIG projects.:)

[BillDaCatt]

If you can stomach the wait, save up until you have about $400 and buy someones used Lincoln 175 or Hobart 180. Lots of the guys are upgrading to the HH187 right now and many of us, myself included, have sold them for $400. Going that route will save you about $300 on a 220v MIG. $400 will also get you into the price range of a new Hobart, Lincoln, or Miller 110v 140A MIG. (OK, a used Miller :rolleyes: )

I agree with the other comments though. For your price range, and what you want to work on, you should be looking for a used 220v AC or AC/DC stick welder. Search ebay and Craigslist.com (http://www.Craigslist.com) for some deals on used equipment.

I found a slightly used drum sander on Craigslist that normally sells for $900 new, and got it for $500. So I know there are deals out there. You just have to be looking for them and be ready to buy when they happen.

Dave

[hmburner]

I have a cheap welder for sale,but i may be too far away. 100$ gets you the welder and spare generator head plus a tig torch. It is brand name (cant remember what) and run by a V4 Wisconsin air cooled engine. I work for a scrap yard and bought this from a hurtin unit a few years back. Its a 200 amp DC unit that was sitting in his fathers garage for years. I was going to use it for lugger box repairs but a 300 amp Canox came along so i use it instead. The unit is located in Welland Ontario and you can call me at home if you are interested

Bill Souther
905 834 3027

[DetailerDave]

I have a little Linde mig machine I want to sell. 100A max. 220V/15A input. Decent condition. Owners manual included. $200

[69 Chevelle]

I have a NIB(new in box) Lincoln ProMig175 if you are interested.

[Trent Combs]

I have a NIB(new in box) Lincoln ProMig175 if you are interested.

If it's going for $250, I know I'd be interested! :D

[V10man]

A Clarke may be the answer.

http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/weldingdepot/WE6524.html

[waylonh]

Ok, thanks guys.


Will a wire feed welder (even with multiple passes) not hold together a small jon boat trailer. Jon boat and motor and equipment maybe weighs 300lbs.



I'm assuming the wire feed is for automotive body work, and not structural welding. Am i right? Also, I only have access to 110v as i'm renting now, and can't make modifications to the garage. So, would everyone agree that I need a stick welder? Also, should I even consider a 110v stick?

[vicegrip]

Please try to receive this as encouragement ......but there is a a tennor , about your questions , that would seem to indicate , that it might be a good Idea to spend some time welding with a friend or aquaintance......before you make a trailer or anything that has to be safely constucted.

This way I feel you will develope the abillities needed , and be able to know what is good for what situation

Good Luck !

[BillDaCatt]

Ok, thanks guys.


Will a wire feed welder (even with multiple passes) not hold together a small jon boat trailer. Jon boat and motor and equipment maybe weighs 300lbs.

I'm assuming the wire feed is for automotive body work, and not structural welding. Am i right? Also, I only have access to 110v as i'm renting now, and can't make modifications to the garage. So, would everyone agree that I need a stick welder? Also, should I even consider a 110v stick?

Don't forget that while braking the weight could be double or even tripple for a short time.

Wire feed welders are replacing stick welders in many operations and conditions. Although the 110v models see quite a bit of body work use, the larger 220v and 3-phase mig welders are commonly used for stuctural purposes.
Stick welders are still very common though, and a good welding shop would be ill-equipped without one. There are some alloys of rod that are not available or are not practical in wire form. Plus a stick welder can work in conditions that make mig and tig impractical.

If you only have 110v available and do not want to, or cannot, run an extension cord from your stove or dryer outlet, buy a 110v stick welder. Just don't expect to get deep penetrating welds with it. You will have to bevel and make multiple passes for anything 1/8" and over.

Dave

[Hotfoot]

Please try to receive this as encouragement ......but there is a a tennor , about your questions , that would seem to indicate , that it might be a good Idea to spend some time welding with a friend or aquaintance......before you make a trailer or anything that has to be safely constucted.

This way I feel you will develope the abillities needed , and be able to know what is good for what situation

Good Luck !

Artfully put, Vise. Very good advice.:)