[98TJKrush]

My biggest question is it a good price (I think yes) and is it a good all purpose welder to learn on. I have zero welding experience but I have been researching a TON and watching lots of videos. I was really leaning towards a MIG as it is supposed to be easier to learn but after I saw the cost I can’t really justify it to try something new.

Right now my welding goals are to be able to build a rear bumper, maybe a skid or two, and patch a few body rust spots. Eventually I would like to be able to patch the frame if needed and build a roll cage but those will be much later after lots of practice.

Ad info:
Has the wheel kit, AC rang is 40 - 225 amp, DC -/+ range is 30 - 125 amp. Input 230 VAC 50 amp, it has a 20% duty cycle. Also, never been used. The only thing I see is that the duty cycle is kind of low but since I'm only using it for home use I don't think it is a deal breaker.

Any thoughts or help would be appreciated!

[jsc7002]

Its nice since its an AC/DC but check CL you can find them cheaper. I see some AC arc welders go on there for $50 all the time.

[baldeagle1]

I agree yu can find a ac welder cheaper. AC/DC is better but not needed to learn with. Thin metal, like body panels, are hard to do with a stick. But again it can be done. Done all mine this way. Personally, I think all should start with a stick welder. Get decent at it then work up to a good mig. In welding school we learned to use the ace/oxy torch first then stick, then mig, then tig. Good luck

[BigBass]

It sounds like a little Lincoln buzz box. They're good reliable welders and for garage projects they're a good choice. I've literally made thousands of dollars with one. Also with the right attachments you can run every mig, tig and stick off of it. The biggest down side is a 20% duty cycle but thats not so critical.

[rustywrangler]

I have one of them and they are a great welder. If you want to learn on stick to start, the AC/DC model is very nice. The hardest part for you to learn is going to be the sheet metal work with a stick welder.

You also need to look at your electrical in the garage. Can you get 50 amps to your machine easily??? Both my mig welders only draw 23 amps max so 30 amp circuits. But a 50 amp outlet in the garage is a bit more work depending on your current electrical box.

I know the thing will hardly ever draw the 47 amps it says with the thickness of metal you are running but I have run my buzz box on the 30 amp circuit vs the 50 am circuit and I can tell you it welds nicer on the 50 amp setup.

Things to keep in mind when buying a high amp welder is what I am getting at.

[98TJKrush]

Thanks for all the good feedback everyone.
I still need to run the circuit for the 220v so I will make sure to put one in that is a 50 amp. I might be a sub panel as I read in someone else's post that it's a good idea if you can plus I only have one outlet in the garage at this point.

[rustywrangler]

Sounds like a garage electrical upgrade is in order anyway. Keep an eye on the costs here because you may find it cheaper in the end to buy the mig and put in a lower amp box in the garage.

[98TJKrush]

Good point, that is one cost that I haven't checked yet. Another new development, the guy said that he only had 60 amp service to his house and therefore never got to use the welder. Hmmm I’ll have to look how to check what the service is to my house first. Obviously I'm not an electrician and didn’t even think about what was coming into the house. I figured I could just put a 220 breaker with the higher amps and run it up to the garage.

If I go with a MIG I was shooting for a Millermatic 180 (Ether way 220v outlet will need installed but with diff. amps). I’ve found them new (Nothing used yet) for $800. Which I might be able to swing but when you add in another $200-$300 for the helmet, claps, arg tank, etc… It get’s pretty far out of my price range. I was really hoping to spend about $600 to get something to learn on but would also take me from patching body rust to welding a frame. I don’t want to out grow it in 6 months. Sounding like I’m really going to have to hunt for a good deal or more likely fork up more cash

[Holder350]

Originally Posted by BigBass

Also with the right attachments you can run every mig, tig and stick off of it. The biggest down side is a 20% duty cycle but thats not so critical.

I dont know where you get your information, but that welder cannot be used for a mig setup, that is a constant current box, and you would need a constant voltage/constant potential power supply to support a mig outfit

Originally Posted by 98TJKrush

If I go with a MIG I was shooting for a Millermatic 180 (Ether way 220v 30 amp outlet will need installed). I’ve found them new (Nothing used yet) for $800.

If you are just learning, I would get a HF mig special, they can be had for about $200 bucks, they are not a welder that you are going to be welding all day every day on, but neither is that stick with a 20% duty cycle (thats 2min of welding then 8 mins of cooling)

You will be much happier with a MIG, or Flux cored machine. for patching pannels and such, and that HF welder is a 110v unit meaning it can be taken pretty much anywhere without the need for a 220v power source.

Once you get into welding then buy you a 220v millermatic that you can use in the shop, then sell the HF unit, or keep it on hand full of flux cored wire for those jobs where you need to weld dirty metal.


Just my 2c

[rustywrangler]

Originally Posted by 98TJKrush

Good point, that is one cost that I haven't checked yet. Another new development, the guy said that he only had 60 amp service to his house and therefore never got to use the welder. Hmmm I’ll have to look how to check what the service is to my house first. Obviously I'm not an electrician and didn’t even think about what was coming into the house. I figured I could just put a 220 breaker with the higher amps and run it up to the garage.

If I go with a MIG I was shooting for a Millermatic 180 (Ether way 220v outlet will need installed but with diff. amps). I’ve found them new (Nothing used yet) for $800. Which I might be able to swing but when you add in another $200-$300 for the helmet, claps, arg tank, etc… It get’s pretty far out of my price range. I was really hoping to spend about $600 to get something to learn on but would also take me from patching body rust to welding a frame. I don’t want to out grow it in 6 months. Sounding like I’m really going to have to hunt for a good deal or more likely fork up more cash

Lots of good hints as to what you want to do here. I will be honest, I went big first. I took several courses on welding and fabrication before I went on the hunt for a welder. SO I knew I was going to outgrow any small welder fairly soon. I went with the MM180 as you are looking at. Was it more money up front, yes. Was it worth it in the end HELL YEA.


As far as your electrical service, just look at your main panel. The primary breaker should have the amps right on it. That is how you tell. If you have a 60 amp service in the house, don't even bother with a stick welder pulling 50 amps. You will trip breakers all day long.

A 100 amp panel can handle it as long as you are not running say the dryer and your welder and cooking on the stove all at the same time. See what I am getting at??

ALSO, there is absolutely no reason to get a HF welder to learn on that will not be consistant and you will outgrow within a few months for what it sounds like you want to do with it.

[Holder350]

Originally Posted by rustywrangler

ALSO, there is absolutely no reason to get a HF welder to learn on that will not be consistant and you will outgrow within a few months for what it sounds like you want to do with it.

Agreed, but it would be a much better option than a 20% duty cycle shielded metal arc machine.

[rustywrangler]

Originally Posted by Holder350

Agreed, but it would be a much better option than a 20% duty cycle shielded metal arc machine.

My millermatic 180 is only a 30% duty cycle machine so for the basic welder, a 20% duty cycle machine, stick welder even, you are gonna hardly ever reach that.

[Holder350]

True, but the 180's duty cycle is 30% at about 135amps, and 22volts.

I cant say I have ever had my machine set that high, if I'm using it for globular I might have my volts set that high, but wire feed is usually set somewhere at 150 Fpm.

When I started welding I bought a stick, and a dang good one...but quickly learned that for most things I weld a mig is a better choice. As most things I weld are clean.

I wish I had saved my money and bought a crappy little arc then spent it on a mig like I have now, which I would have had much sooner.

Of course, I seem to always wish I had done things different, like instead of my 250 Millermatic I wish I had just bought a CP power supply and bought a wire feed to add to it.

[dodger889]

For the most part no one that does hobby welding really need a machine that has much more than 20% duty cycle. And when they rate at 20% duty cycle that is at max of what that welder can do. So the larger the amperage the welder is and you are running say at 50% of max amps. Then for the most part you have a welder that is 40% duty cycle. So if you are welding as a hobby then a 20% duty cycle unit will work great for you. Because you will most likely never weld more than 10 mins constantly at a time.

[Ironworker709]

Originally Posted by dodger889

For the most part no one that does hobby welding really need a machine that has much more than 20% duty cycle. And when they rate at 20% duty cycle that is at max of what that welder can do. So the larger the amperage the welder is and you are running say at 50% of max amps. Then for the most part you have a welder that is 40% duty cycle. So if you are welding as a hobby then a 20% duty cycle unit will work great for you. Because you will most likely never weld more than 10 mins constantly at a time.

Very well said..and i've had the Lincoln Pro-Mig 135 110v 20% cycle duty for years before i bought my Lincoln Pro-Mig 180 220v and the 135 machine NEVER hit it's duty cycle and i wore that thing out.