New guy,,looking for advice on what welder to buy

admin

Hi, I am in the process of restoring a WWII Jeep,,and although I am an accomplished aircraft mechanic I have neverever laid a bead down,,I will be doing welds primarily to mild steel,,(the frame) and the tub wich is made out of 18 guage steel.highly doubtful I will be welding much else but once I get decent,,maybe I will start doing other things so I want to buya welder that I can "grow" into,,and I want quality,,I have been doing some light reading here and elswhere on the forums,,and I am thinking pehaps a Miller 211 MVP? I do have a 3 plug dryer recepticle in my garage that a previous owner installed,,so I guess that means I have 220V there? I have not checked with a meter to be certain but it looks like it might be connect to  2 20A breakers at the panel. I know a want to use the gas bottle not flux core,,thanks for the advice!
Reply:Hello and welcome. Take a minute and add your location to your profile so we know where you are at.The MM 211 is an excellent machine. It will allow you to do up to 1/8" on 110v power and up to 3/8" on 230v power. A nice all around starter mig. If you don't need the portability, you can often save a bit of money on 230v only units like some of the Hobarts.You might want to look into taking a night class at a local high school or community college. When you sit down and add up what material, gas, wire, electric and so on will run you, not to mention instruction, a class is usually stupid cheap. Around me it breaks down to about $11.50 an hour and you get all the material you want to practice on in class. If you apply yourself it's really easy to burn way more than that in an hour. Also many places not only offer welding classes, but auto body classes. Many times the auto body classes deal with welding thin body panels, an art in and of itself. Not only that, but you get the experience of your instructor to help with your project, plus possibly the use of some of the schools specialized tools..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:Hi Niblet - Welcome.  The Miller 211 is a great machine from what I hear that should serve you well for years to come. I have the Hobart version of that machine, the "210 MVP" with gas (MIG) and I have been very happy with it for two years now and many, many welding projects later. The nice thing I've found with the Hobart is that you can dial it down to do light stuff right up thru 3/8"+ easily. Plus, the Hobart is less expensive than the Miller (let it be noted that the Miller brand is top quality stuff- I just couldn't justify the price diff. for a part time welder like me). Sounds like that outlet is a 220v one (I'm not an electrician though). Two 20amp breakers sounds light, but a qualified electrician might be able to get that upgraded to 40 or 50amp service and the right 'welder plug style ' (NEMA 6-50R) outlet like I believe it should be for a welder.
Reply:I agree on the 211 too.  Actually , the 211 is in the current rebate program which may help with you starting out. Check local suppliers and get a package deal with a 125 tank too. Get the price and then ask how much for CASH . http://www.millerwelds.com/landing/build-with-blue/
Reply:thanks for the replies fellas!
Reply:I just bought my 211 at my LWS for less than I could find it online.  I got a great price on the welder and I also bought a 150 tank filled with C25.  Check your local suppliers and shop around.  I checked two places and the other would have cost me more for both the machine and the gas.  The 211 is a really good machine.  I am not building ships or bridges in my garage so the 211 is all I will need for a long time.
Reply:My brother down in Indiana is working on a 46 Willy's. He has an older Miller 180 which he has good success on the thin components of the body. I just looked real quick and agree, that maybe you should check a couple of local suppliers for a Deal!
Reply:Hobart 210, as good as the Miller and in my area over $200 less than the Miller. I have one it works great. With the money you save on the Hobart you can buy a 150 cf of c25 gas for mig welding. Both the Miller and Hobart should come with a regulator (if you buy new) so all you need is gasGood luck!