Welder

[Phyguy]

Looking for a used, but good condition wirefeed MIG welder recommendation. I'm looking for a relatively compact unit and prefer 200/230 volt input (or maybe the flexibility between 110 and 230 input). I know very little about welding, and I'm looking for a hobbyist rig but good and dependable quality.

Any ideas? Pointers?

Thanks.



---------- Post added at 11:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:03 PM ----------

This would be a cool unit to have as I have some very limited experience with a similar unit recently. But, damn...hard to explain that expense to the wifey....

https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...a=X&ei=6nIDUde_IJL68QStuYDwBQ&ved=0CD4Q8wIwAA

 

[Allied Offroad]

Anything Miller is going to be the awesome, its the only welder I will purchase, you can see them al in the pic!! TRUE BLUE!

Unless I am not seeing something, you will need to purchase a push-pull gun or a spool gun to do aluminum with that unit. I have never seen that suitcase before but it looks super useful, and i may purchase one. It looks identical to my suitcase, but is self contained. confirm it has AC/DC and some sort of pulse feature if you want to do aluminum without a spool gun.

My unit

Miller - Multiprocess Welders - XMT® 350 Series

I can't go on enough, about how badass Miller products are, and you absolutely can not go wrong with Miller. I have ran Lincolns, and ESABS, those pale in comparison. Plus you will have your Miller for 20 years.

 

[Allied Offroad]

I just looked that welder up, I'm definetley getting one for small mobile installs. I just installed Kanakarys WSI bumper at his house before the Snoball 500, that thing would have been perfect!

 

[Mil T]

For a hobbiest welder, I think those others are a bit overkill and your need does not warrant that unless you will be doing some major fabrication which also means many many more tools besides a welder.
I am a hobbiest type welder and have built my own bumpers, cages, skids etc. etc. for my various off road vehicles. I have had a miller matic 130 that runs on 110v for many years. I do not try and use 30 or 35 wire. I use 23 which works very well in the 110 model. NOW. if I had it to do all over?? By a 230 volt mig welder so you can make really good welds. The 110 is limited and a 230 is not when it comes to quality of weld once you get there.
Miller, Lincolna and Hobart are good company's and most weld shops have parts for them so you won't be buying something that you can't get parts for.
If price is a major issue then 110 is obviously cheaper. And what ever you buy, get a gas set up with it right away. Don't try and use just flux core wire.
Mil T

 

[GRI]

For a hobbiest welder, I think those others are a bit overkill and your need does not warrant that unless you will be doing some major fabrication which also means many many more tools besides a welder.
I am a hobbiest type welder and have built my own bumpers, cages, skids etc. etc. for my various off road vehicles. I have had a miller matic 130 that runs on 110v for many years. I do not try and use 30 or 35 wire. I use 23 which works very well in the 110 model. NOW. if I had it to do all over?? By a 230 volt mig welder so you can make really good welds. The 110 is limited and a 230 is not when it comes to quality of weld once you get there.
Miller, Lincolna and Hobart are good company's and most weld shops have parts for them so you won't be buying something that you can't get parts for.
If price is a major issue then 110 is obviously cheaper. And what ever you buy, get a gas set up with it right away. Don't try and use just flux core wire.
Mil T

I was going to say all of the above. A 110v welder can weld up to 1/4" steel single pass. I have a Hobart handler140 with tank and it does what I need

sent from one of those damn cellularized telephones