What welders do you all use?

[Crinale]

Well, I'm thinking about picking up a welder, and was wondering what you all use.

Iv been looking at the good ol' Lincoln AC/DC 225/125 "Tombstone" stick welder. From what I've read you really cant get a better welder for the price of one of these, and they are incredibly durable/reliable, as well as being really good to learn on.

So, what do you use?

[Scuba]

110V licoln 135ST.
It can weld up to 1/4" steel with flux core wire.
Wish I could have gotten a 220V welder but we don't have a 220 anywhere in the house.


Stick welding is great but can make trying to tack weld something while holding it in position or whatever a PITA.

[Robinhood4x4]

I've got a 220 miller mig. The cheapest one.

Migs are easier to learn to weld, as striking an arc isn't the easiest thing to do on a stick welder. They do make some nice beads though.

[04 Rocko Taco]

I've got a Lincoln 135ST as well. It works pretty well, I mean I am not going to be welding any rollcages anytime soon, but its good for just about anything I really need. As Scuba said it can do up to 1/4" with flux core, and mine has all the fittings for a gas hookup, I just dont have a tank.

[4x4mike]

I've got the cheap 110v, 80 amp flux core unit from Harbor Freight. I don't have the skill, time or need for hardcore stuff so that's why I have it. It's paid for itself a couple times and is still going strong. Next welder will be another 110V mig with gas. I don't have 240 in the garage but also don't have the need or space for a large welder.

[Robinhood4x4]

You know, I'd almost recommend going with a 110v welder because it's much more portable in that you can use it anywhere. If a friend needs to fix a fence then all you need is a normal extension cord and a 110v outlet. The same can't be said for a 220V.

If you're going to be doing important things like suspension components, bumpers (recovery points), etc, then go for the 220V.

[Seanz0rz]

i have a 220V craftsman mig 180 or something like that. it's either a hobart or lincoln, not sure.

its served me very well. my next will be a miller, a really good one (use one at school, the difference is worth the money, thats all i have to say.

for portability, dad has a 10kW generator that powers the welder nicely...

[CJM]

Cant beat a hobart, Ive used the famed handler 187 more than a few times and been mighty happy-but if you dont have 220v its kinda tough.

If you want portability with a higher voltage welder you need a generator or somelike like Seans talking about.

[Bandit Runner]

I am a beginner welder, and I bought a Hobart Handler 140 last year. It was super easy to learn to use, and I am very happy with it. I have been using flux-core wire, and have welded up to 1/4" thick steel. I have built bumpers and armor with it so far. It is a very nice unit, and not too expensive either.

Good luck!

[Cebby]

I'm a Miller guy (Lincoln convert). I have a MM210 MIG (220v), 180SD TIG (220v) and 140 MIG (110v).

[BruceTS]

I have a Miller 200 MIG, Miller 180SD TIG and my good old AstroMIG130 with a bunch of mods.

[AxleIke]

Miller 175.

I would like to step up to a 211. IMO, for offroad fab work, something that can hit 150A or higher is worth it.

The 175 does okay at 1/4", but it isn't great. It would be nice to be able to turn up the heat a little more than I'm able to.

I'm not doubting you scuba, but I'm suprised that any 110v machine can do 1/4". Must be a helluva welder.

[troyboy162]

ive seen steves welder in action its pretty dang good. I think hes talking with beveling edges he can do 1/4 inch. its a good trick to know to stretch the capability of the 110v setups. also it seems a good extension cord not too long is important with 110 and maxing out. steve that front cross member you put in for me was 1/4"? It did that fine

i pulled the trigger on a hobart handler 210 with a free spool gun for aluminum. it will be a bit before i can mess with it but hopefully I can get good enough to use it to half its potential.

[2ndGen]

Lincoln Invertec 205 AC/DC with Bernard 3500SS cooler.

[Obi..]

Miller 110v for little crap, all else I head into the shop and use the Miller Syncrowave 350. Been picking metal bits out of my shoulder for years. Like Cebby, a Lincoln convert..and I still weld like crap most times. :D

[X-Tool Pimp]

Lincoln Electric Pro MIG 180-Amp Welder :thumbup:

[TMR]

lincoln power mig 255, with a miller spectrum 625 plasma cutter.

I love the lincoln, but after getting the miller... I could easily convert. Both are top quality. If this some something your really going to be using, spend the extra money on a higher end welder.

[MTL_4runner]

I finally pulled the trigger on a 3 in 1 machine (MIG, TIG and Arc) from Thermal Arc and man is it nice to use. Only touble is that up in Canada getting large gas cylinders filled without a lease is a major PITA (largest you can own up here is 50CF.......can you say cartel). The TIG is only DC so you can only weld aluminum if you buy the spoolgun for the MIG process. It has full inverter control which make it super easy to get a nice bead run. It is a 220V machine so I did have to get my garage wired for it but if you are looking for a good welder, I highly recommend.

Here's the machine I got (Thermal Arc Fabricator 181i):
http://www.thermadyne.com/Thermal%20Arc%203in1/Fabricator%20181i/index.php