[Texas TJ]

im wanting to get a small welder for my personal use, imtired of trying to find time to get my uncle to let me use his welder. i was looking at some of the ones harbor freigth has and i was just wondering what would be best for what i do?
i do mostly .120 wall tubing and like 3/16" plate, mabey a little thicker here and there.

[hoytheld]

save your money and buy a good tool once...such as a lincoln SP 175...or a miller equivilant....you can't afford to buy cheap tools....

[Texas TJ]

i didnt say i was gonna BUY on e from harbor freight.
i was snoopin around their webstie cause i got a 20% off
coupon and i came across the welders, i dont buy anything that
will get heavy or important use frm them, it was just
a thought and i came here to ask yalls opinions on the subject
cause i dont know much about welders aside from the arc welder
i used in highschool

[KC2OTE]

Actually, they sell the Hobart 135 which is a good MIG machine. I'd stay away from anything Chicago Electric tho.

[Mudinyeri]

Do you have access to 220 power where you will be welding? If so, either the Lincoln, Hobart or Miller 175's would be fine. If not, I've just started experimenting with a new Lincoln Pro-Mig 140 and, so far, am very impressed by it.

[Matt Gertsch]

I'm trying to justify a Miller Dynasty 200 DX to my wife. It is an awesome little invertor machine. I was just quoted $2716 for the machine and $578 for all of the TIG equipment to go with it. I'm still working on how to talk my wife into letting me get a student loan to buy it though. If that's way out of your price range, you can get a Miller or Lincoln tomb stone for a couple of hundred bucks. They're really reliable machines.

[92 Green YJ]

Miller 175 gets my vote. we had a chicago electric 220V mig. it did alright, but the cables are incredibly short and the gun unit is just a total POS. you have to take the dang thing apart every time you change the wire spool. it also fried a fuse in it, so we went to the local West Air to get a replacement fuse, and came home with the Miller 175. night and day difference. the Miller is a killer machine. incredibly flexible and adjustable, nice long leads, great quality gun. I'd recomend it to anybody

[Texas TJ]

great info guys how bout some links and good prices

[Kuasimodem]

I've been thinking about this Clarke 130 for doing some light welding. Anybody have any experience with this unit or hear anything good or bad about it?

[Matt Gertsch]

Originally Posted by Kuasimodem

I've been thinking about this Clarke 130 for doing some light welding. Anybody have any experience with this unit or hear anything good or bad about it?

Get one of the "big 3" or you'll regret it. I'm not saying that the Clarke is a bad machine. It will be near impossible to find consumables fot it unless you have a Clarke dealer near you. All welding shops stock Miller and Lincoln. About half of them carry Hobart.

[92 Green YJ]

FYI, Hobart is now owned and manufactured by Miller Electric. If you buy a Hobart now, it comes with a Miller gun.

I personally pikced the Miller 175 over the other companies comparable models because its incredibly flexible with the settings. With the comprable Hobart and Lincoln units, you have 4 or 5 heat settings, click on one thru four. with the Miller, you can adjust it anywhere in between, same goes with the wire speed, you can adjust it anyway you want it as opposed to just selecting fast or slow. Got ours for $750 with a gas regulator, tips, spool of wire, etc.

for buying welders online, try some of these links:
http://www.cyberweld.com/
http://www.welders-direct.com/
http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/we...ml?id=qeYTCgYI
http://www.weldingmart.com/miller.htm
https://weldingsupply.securesites.co...wsecatalogs.pl
and the place we got ours (granted we bought it in house at the San Diego Location, they are a nationwide company)
http://www.westairgases.com/

[Matt Gertsch]

Originally Posted by Texas TJ

great info guys how bout some links and good prices

www.millerwelds.com http://www.lincolnelectric.com/ Dream away!

[Tomb Raider]

Originally Posted by Kuasimodem

I've been thinking about this Clarke 130 for doing some light welding. Anybody have any experience with this unit or hear anything good or bad about it?

I found this welder at my local farm equipment store...orchelien farm and home. There were a couple there with layaway tickets on them....sale priced at 299. Great deal I thought..especially with the cart. Im new to the welding as well....this might be my cheap starter welder. They had one out on the floor....looked just like my buddies craftsman welder, which by the way is a hobart in sears clothes. Thinkin im gonna pic it up on friday. I'll let ya know how it goes!

[Jermy01]

Originally Posted by 92 Green YJ

FYI, Hobart is now owned and manufactured by Miller Electric. If you buy a Hobart now, it comes with a Miller gun.

I personally pikced the Miller 175 over the other companies comparable models because its incredibly flexible with the settings. With the comprable Hobart and Lincoln units, you have 4 or 5 heat settings, click on one thru four. with the Miller, you can adjust it anywhere in between, same goes with the wire speed, you can adjust it anyway you want it as opposed to just selecting fast or slow. Got ours for $750 with a gas regulator, tips, spool of wire, etc.

if you want these features from a lincoln machine....make sure to get the plus model. Price is pretty much the same. both machines are very nice and you'll thank yourself for getting a good one the first time

[92 Green YJ]

Originally Posted by Jermy01

if you want these features from a lincoln machine....make sure to get the plus model. Price is pretty much the same. both machines are very nice and you'll thank yourself for getting a good one the first time

I did get a good one the first time. I got a Miller

I also have an old *** 220v Lincoln Arc welder that sees use on occasion