Welder Purchase Help

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I want to surprise my husband with a welder for his birthday.  I do know that he needs a mig or tig welder.  I wanted my budget to be at $250, but some other posts have made me now think this is too low.  I've increased it to be no more then $400.  I've found one at Northern Tool the Mig 135.  He is looking to make bike trailers with this welder.https://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...2691_200332691Can anyone advice me if this is a reasonable welder or give me some recommendations?  The reviews on their site seem to be good, but would like more advice for those who are experience.Again, this is a surprise so I won't be able to ask him any questions.Thanks!
Reply:Trailers that attach to Bicycles?Yes.Trailers that attach to a Car/Truck for carrying Bikes/MotorcyclesNo.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:it all depends on metal thickness the 115 volt machine wont handle that thicker a metal, does he have a stick welder yet?
Reply:First poster - yes bicycle trailer not motorbikesSecond poster - he doesn't have a welder at all and will be learning
Reply:Also any other suggestions on welder?  Again, would like not to go over $400 and would be happier if there was something around $300, but not looking possible  ....
Reply:The MIG 135 you found at Northern tool will be fine for hobby welding on non-critical items; which I'll include bicycle trailers in this catagory...It's also good for making decorative items, welding sheet metal for automobile repairs, basicly welding thin steel sheet or thin pipe/angle iron/flat stock.You might consider getting him a welding helmet and gloves too.  Northern tool and Harbor Freight tools both sell inexpensive auto-darkening helmets and gloves.  If you have a local welding supplier (LWS), you might talk to them about the other accessories.  They'll have a selection of higher priced, higher quality equipment as well.Get your hubby a good book on basics of welding too; since it sounds like he's going to learn as he goes.  I liked:Welder's handbook, by Finch.  You can get the latest edition from Amazon.com for ~$20.  It covers all kinds of welding.  If your husband gets the welding bug, it will help him with information on the other types of welding processes and equipment that are out there.Miller's website also has lots of good info for the novice....Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:For that amount of money, I would look on Craig's List classifieds for a used machine.  Stay with Miller, Lincoln or Hobart brands.   If there is 220 volt power available, a 220v mig, like a Millermatic 175 or 180 is a very good choice for general light steel fabrication.   The Millermatic 135 and 140 migs are 110 volt and are good machines if 110v is all that's available for power.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I found this on craigslist for $350.  Let me know if this is a good deal.  Thank youhttp://orlando.craigslist.org/tls/1100097072.html
Reply:This one as wellhttp://orlando.craigslist.org/tls/1100015886.html
Reply:freckles,The first welder is a Harbor freight. You can do better.For that kind of money plus a little change, you can buy a Lincoln 225 AC in the 200 range. and in the 400 range,  a Lincoln AC/DC 225/125 tombstone stick welder NEW!  But you can find them on ebay or craig's as well   It isn't MIG or TIG but rather its called "stick" or more appropriately known now in the industry as SMAW or MMA.  with much less maintenance and long term operating issues.  If you get mig or tig, then you will have to buy/rent/ lease a bottle of shielding gas.  Which when filled plus the initial rent or lease money could get close to 150 bucks or more. A 10 pound box of rods are between 25-30 bucks and probably would build several bicycle trailers.Stick welding will give you the best bang for your buck.  If you learn to stick weld,  MIG is easy to step up to, Tig a little more difficult but still fairly easy.  I really think you will find stick much more simple to deal with. So many times,  people on here buy a MIG then forget they have to buy shielding gas, so they have to run EXPENSIVE flux core wire that has its on "shield" flux inside the wire.   After a couple of rolls of that, you will wish you had the shielding gas.   Keep in mind,  if he were a professional, and I were trying to give you advice on what to buy him,  my recommendation would change.  But for an amateur hobbyist,  a stick machine in light fab work is just fine.  Its limitation is that sheet metal is more tricky to weld, but it can be fun to learn.  Also remember you will need 220V service to the welding area for power.  Those 110 V migs you were looking at (90-140 amps usually) are not going to be satisfactory on anything but the lightest material.  Hope this helps.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Hi Freckles I would advice against the Harbor freight one, The Sears one looks like it might be made by Lincoln or is similar, It has a cart and some extra goodies. At only 5 minutes of use that would be the way to go as the person should still have all the manuals and a warranty. Plus you'll be able to get it serviced at Sears if it should ever need it.Also sounds like since the owner lost their job you might be able to negotiate on the price and with the savings get you husband some extras he'll need to go with it.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Thank you!  I've decided not to surprise him.  I think I will let him look at everyone's comments and decide.  I'm hoping just knowing I want to give him this will be a surprise enough.  I can't thank you enough for your help.  That's the kind of stuff that makes you believe there are still great people in this world.
Reply:Hello freckles!This is the "tombstone" welder that lugweld mentioned, you can see where it got its nick name!http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100053881Good luck!Ken.#1. If you don't like what I wrote, or if it offends you, then don't read it!#2. I am living life the way I see fit, if you don't like the way I'M living, tough sh**!
Reply:Its the welder that I have and use allot, this is mt third one I have owned, not because anything was wrong with the other 2, they where great welders! Attached Images#1. If you don't like what I wrote, or if it offends you, then don't read it!#2. I am living life the way I see fit, if you don't like the way I'M living, tough sh**!
Reply:Thanks - I just found this one on Home Depot and game back here and had posts with the same model.  Funny!http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...5X-_-100053881
Reply:Freckles,That's the one and not a bad price.   If you still want to suprise him,  get it.  You won't be sorry.  It will do everything the average person needs.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:It doesn't come with wheels, but there is a kit he can buy later, or do what I did and make the wheels and a longer handle the first project for the welder!Heres a thread I did on just that.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=28132#1. If you don't like what I wrote, or if it offends you, then don't read it!#2. I am living life the way I see fit, if you don't like the way I'M living, tough sh**!
Reply:That Craftsman mig in the second ad should do the trick for 110v mig welding and is a good price.I think it is a good idea to let him choose.   He may love mig and hate stick, or the other way around.  If he has any past experiences with welding, he probly has an idea what process he wants to use.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Freckles; If you still want to surprise him, you could present the book, the hood and the gloves together with his own 'Registration" and 'Handle' on this site, but still let him decide about the machine. If a great deal shows up on CL, (there was a Free older Linde machine in this area a few days ago!), you might want to reconsider and grab it, but remember that good deals there aren't uncommon.
Reply:Originally Posted by freckles527I found this on craigslist for $350.  Let me know if this is a good deal.  Thank youhttp://orlando.craigslist.org/tls/1100097072.html
Reply:just bought sa200 for 100 bucks off a guy needing money originally wanted 400 didnt look too good. I am currently in orange,tx. i have cranked it to see if motor was stuck.i did put clean fuel, oil and water cleaned it up alittle. I am a beginner to the welding world. I dont know if I'm taking on a bigger project then i need to but i would love to fix it and see it run. i know carb needs work and needs points. starter and alt are fine dont know much about magnetos. would like any help steering in the right direction would like to do as much work on it myself as possible. any help greatly appreciated.
Reply:Originally Posted by ricmo1just bought sa200 for 100 bucks off a guy needing money originally wanted 400 didnt look too good. I am currently in orange,tx. i have cranked it to see if motor was stuck.i did put clean fuel, oil and water cleaned it up alittle. I am a beginner to the welding world. I dont know if I'm taking on a bigger project then i need to but i would love to fix it and see it run. i know carb needs work and needs points. starter and alt are fine dont know much about magnetos. would like any help steering in the right direction would like to do as much work on it myself as possible. any help greatly appreciated.
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1This one isn't that bad of a deal:The welder isn't top shelf- pretty bottom shelfbut...The Tank is a good size and runs about 200+Hood- 50.00Regulator- 50.00Gloves- 10.00Magnets- 3.00Knock the seller down to 300.00 and could be a decent machine to build Bicycle trailers.The Lincoln Stick machine is going to be a good unit also but the learning curve on thin stock steel for Bicycle trailers will be steep.
Reply:Millions of welders train on stick first.  It isn't hard to learn as attested by many of these members here with their first experiences.   Mig welding can make a welder "lazy" and many times doesn't help someone establish proper puddle development and manipulation.  Mig welders have a harder time learning stick than people who never learned anything because they have to "retrain" themselves to be able to produce a good weld.  Stick welders rarely have issues sliding behind the mig torch and laying a solid bead.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweldMillions of welders train on stick first.  It isn't hard to learn as attested by many of these members here with their first experiences.   Mig welding can make a welder "lazy" and many times doesn't help someone establish proper puddle development and manipulation.  Mig welders have a harder time learning stick than people who never learned anything because they have to "retrain" themselves to be able to produce a good weld.  Stick welders rarely have issues sliding behind the mig torch and laying a solid bead.Originally Posted by ricmo1just bought sa200 for 100 bucks off a guy needing money originally wanted 400 didnt look too good. I am currently in orange,tx. i have cranked it to see if motor was stuck.i did put clean fuel, oil and water cleaned it up alittle. I am a beginner to the welding world. I dont know if I'm taking on a bigger project then i need to but i would love to fix it and see it run. i know carb needs work and needs points. starter and alt are fine dont know much about magnetos. would like any help steering in the right direction would like to do as much work on it myself as possible. any help greatly appreciated.
Reply:Originally Posted by freckles527Thank you!  I've decided not to surprise him.  I think I will let him look at everyone's comments and decide.  I'm hoping just knowing I want to give him this will be a surprise enough.  I can't thank you enough for your help.  That's the kind of stuff that makes you believe there are still great people in this world.
Reply:I bought my wife a Plasma CutterEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Thanks Ken Dennis for info ill do that. Just found local shop with a very helpfull gentleman working. He has lined me out, as too the first steps in getting her back online, and they carry most all parts or he knows someone who does.
Reply:I saw the Lincoln 225 ac welder at Lowes for 279.00.Home Depot will price match plus give a 10% discount.The is a good welder that will last a life time.You wont want to sell it after buying a mig welder.I would avoid used welders for now.Lincoln 225 in AC/DC would be the one if you can go 550.00.Bought my Lincoln 225 in 1964.Never thought about selling it.I have a MIG,seldom use it because handling gas cylinders is a pain..
Reply:Another thread back from the dead since the last post was in 2009.....No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Man farmer37 must have been diggin deep to find this one.www.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:An old thread that deserves to be brought up again.The new posters seem to be smarter.Why are these old posts appearing lately?