which one?

[Slagking]

Since I've started welding, I have developed several skills. One of these skills is getting new close friends that want me to weld for them. I have been doing several handrails, railings and other welding jobs that have required me to weld outside, it odd positions and sometimes in very windy days.
I have a Clarke 95 with fluxcore and it has worked just fine for the railings and thinner railings. I have concerns about railings that are thicker, the 1 1/2 , 1/8 thick square tubings that I know I'll be having to weld together at future jobs.
Will a nice "new" HH135 or MM135 be the way I should be looking. Will either of those welders be better then the Clarke I'm using now? I have looked at the Max 150 as I also like to stick weld and I could use that handy little welder just like I now use the Clarke.
Okay all you experts, lead me the way !!

SLAGKING.............I was going to wait and let others comment but changed my mind for some reason.............Why not set them both down side by side and weld with them.............Take those girls for a twirl.............Actually set the big 3 or 4 down side by side and see how they compare..............

then let us know ......................Enjoy the quest for knowledge..............Rock..
SSCOTT@MILLERWELDS.COM

[morpheus]

If it were me I'd sell the Clarke on eBay or in your local paper and buy a HH135 if you have a 110V and portability need.

- jack

[Arbo]

Rule #1-Do NOT buy a welder at Lowes or Home Depot...Those guys in the orange or blue aprons know less about welding than my seven year old daughter.

Rule #2-Do what Rock said. Find a good welding supplier and test drive some units. That way, you can see what options you like and dislike. Take a look at how the machines are put together. Check out the HH135, MM135, and the Lincoln 135+.

Rule #3-See rule #1

Once you have welded with any one of the big three, I suspect you will sell the Clarke pretty quickly. Maybe one of those "friends" will take it off your hands.

Did I mention...Do NOT buy a welder at Lowes or Home Depot!!!

[Franz]

Arbo, you forgot to mention on the list of places to never buy from, Harbor Fraud, and Northern Howdowescrewya, and a few others.

Also seems to me, a fellow looking to upgrade welders just ought to be lookin to go to a 175, either Miller or Hobart, or at least test drive one of them to understand the difference in performance. There's a second advantage to having a 240 volt machine, a lot less of your "friends" will have a welder plug available.

[Scott V]

There's a second advantage to having a 240 volt machine, a lot less of your "friends" will have a welder plug available.



Franz,for some reason I could see you with 480 volt three phase machines.

[Pat]

Slagking,

If portability is not a real big concern, or you have a generator, the HH175 package deal at Tractor Supply sounds like it was made to order for your applications. You would have a longer duty cycle and be able to weld thicker material if the need arrises.

Pat.

[Franz]

"Franz,for some reason I could see you with 480 volt three phase machines."


Actually, I have at least 4 that are 240/480 3 phase. I have a propane fired Bobcat for my really good frineds.
I also have a 200 amp 3 phase service at my home shop.
Of course, the quickest way to get crossed off the Good Friend list is to fail to follow me back home and help unload the equipment and put it away. I don't mind workin my *** off for free, and even providing equipment and consumables, but it really gets old quick when I gotta load the equipment, do the job, and unload the equipment and put it away too.
Add in getting named as a co-defendant in a lawsuit for a job you did free, and the list of friends drops off. Factor in being called a **** fool for owning so much equipment, and then getting called to loan out a pump or generator when the power goes off, or asked to fix their generator cause they left it sitting for3 years since they used it last, and you can shorten the list up more.
Attrition among "friends" comes into play rapidly when you're paying for equipment and working it for free.

[Slagking]

Thanks guys. I need 110v capable because I build handrails that are too long for building in the shop and need to be put together on the job site. So far all these handrails and railings have been near buildings or homes so 110v power is always there. I'll post pictures soon of some of the handrails and railings I have made. In the shop I use my stick because of the size of the work I do, and just dancing around from side to side with only a stinger is so much faster and easier then rolling around a mig with the short leads. Also space is a factor in the shop and sometimes no room to roll a machine and welder around. The stinger is way to go there for me. But installing and building( sticking together) at the job site is what I need the fluxcore for.
Thanks for all the help.
Tom

[Roger]

You could use a Miller Maxstar 200 and power it from 110V or 220V for stick or TIG welding. Most houses have 220V 35amp dryer outlet & 50amp range outlet that you could plug into unless house uses natural gas. Inverter welder uses less amps making more practical for this use. Some extensions and adapters to plug into available outlets and your welding with 220V.
Ernie Leimkuhler,
ernie@stagesmith.com
hangs out at newsgroups:sci.engr.joining.welding
and uses Maxstar 200 sometimes with readywelder spoolgun to MIG weld aluminum away from his shop. Google Groups search will find his posts.