Suggest me a new welder please.

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OK after a year with a knock off welder I believe I fried it due to it not being big enough when needing it and overloading it. I get impatient and think I let it cool down long enough and I don't. Doesn't want to work right and wife said sounds like its time to upgrade. I didn't question her and running with it. I tinker and hobby a lot. Never anything structural. I can see me doing a lot of 1/4 inch with occasional 3/8 inch and a rare 1/2inch maybe. Pretty much all steel nothing else, but might consider trying aluminum later.I was actually working on a project my brother wanted when I fried it. I was in a hurry to finish it before I went back out of town for work even thou he wasn't in a hurry. If I would of finished it his buddies might have ordered some and I could have made some more spare change.So with that said I would think I would need something with an awesome duty cycle for 1/4 inch, also keep in mind I live in south TX and it gets hot which will effect duty cycle also and is good with flux core wire due to meworking outside.What would you suggest? All thoughts and suggestions are welcome.We are on our way to being farmers! Our site is always under construction so check back often for updates.  http://www.philosophyfarmstyle.com/
Reply:do you have a budget or what do have to spend ?mig - stick - tig ? 120 or 220 voltidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Buy stick welder... ...for that thickness you would need powerful mig welder whitch cost a lot of money. And you have to buy gas bottle, wire and torch consumables. Buy non-chinese dc stick machine and some good electrodes. If you need welder for indoor only buy some transformer stick machine, if you need mobile welder, buy some inverter (weight only 5-10kg).
Reply:Tough question since you didn't tell us what you burnt up:- mig, stick, tig?- 110 volt input or 220 volt input- 'knock off' - of what... was this a Harbor Freight unit?Given the sparity of information...As long as you are not going to be welding sheet metal then I agree with ravselj, "buy a stick welder".For the money, a brand new Thermal Arc 161S - 160 amp unit that runs on 110 or 220 volts looks attractive.  It's a light-weight DC-only inverter that weighs 18 lbs and comes with a 3-year warranty.Costs about $600+ with the stick acessories and another $125+ to have the TIG accessories (torch, hose + regulator/flow meter).Rated Output 115V: STICK 100A/ 24V @35%, TIG 110A/ 14.4V @30%Rated Output 230V: STICK 160A/ 26.4V @30%, TIG 160A/ 16.4V @30%For about $500 (Tractor Supply price) you could get an older technology, heavy (104 lbs), transformer-based machine like a Hobart Stickmate LX 235 AC / 160 DC.  Warranty is a 5/3/1 year deal - look it up if interested.  This 220 volt input only gives you high AC output current (225 amps) and somewhat lower DC output current (150 amps).20% @ 225 A AC, 100% @ 100 A AC20% @ 150 A DC, 100% @ 60 A DC That's my take on this...Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:I just noticed the reference to "flux core wire".Another possibility might be the Northern Industrial MIG/Stick 200 Welder.It's a 220 volt input quasi-inverter that weighs 52 lbs. It's unusual feature is that it is both a MIG and Stick welder - 30% duty cycle at 160 Amps.This mean you could do thin sheet metal with MIG and switch to stick for thicker material.$600 with 3 year waranty.If you want to stay with Mig but more well know brands.Hobart Handler 187: An old technology transformer- based welder that weighs weight 68 lb.220 volt input only, max output is 130 amps DC at 30% duty cycle.Typical best sale price is about $550 with 5/3/1 year warranty.Got more $?  At around $1,000 you could buy a Millermatic 211 - very recent and very popular Mig welder.An old technology transformer- based welder that weighs 74lb.  Claims to be able to weld 24-gauge to 3/8 in. thick in a single pass. Key feature is that it operates on 115 volts or 230 volts.Rated Output  90 Amps at 20 VDC, 20% duty cylce (120 V)150 Amps at 23.5 VDC, 30% duty cycle (230 V)Warranty is a 5/3/1 year type.That's about all she wrote - unless you move into the 'professional' serious welder machines - have a fatter wallet!Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:or spend the money and get a mm252 with 30a spool gun. run standard wire on the machine and flux, al, or stainless in the spool gun.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:What I burned up was a Northern 125 mig.Flux core is a must. I play.....I mean work outside behind the house. I like a mig because when I get in the mode I run some nice beads and hate changing sticks. I want to step up to a bigger mig. The northern 125 was just to see if I would enjoy this or not.  I would go with a cheap generator/stick all in one unit if I wanted to be portable and get this little mig fixed, but I don't see the need to be portable. I want one unit to do thin and thick stuff with a great duty cycle on 3/16 and 1/4 inch with the occasional 3/8 and rare 1/2 inch. I would assume most of my welding will be between 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch.Budget of course is always I want it for free, but realistic I have nothing, but I am willing to dig deep and skip some bills to spend a $1,000 or maybe more for a good unit that I would not have to replace and has a good track history. Again I would like to stay with the mig because one day I'll have me an enclosed shop and be switching to solid wire and might try aluminum or stainless then I will already have a good unit. I want it to be a one time buy, not need another unit, and not I shoulda, coulda, woulda, 6months down the road.I was thinking Hobart Handler 210 or the miller matic 211. I didn't see a huge difference between in features between the 2 units. Maybe some one can point them out to me. I was also considering the Hobart Ironman 230, but that jumps up $500+ and I don't think I need that much more power.Thanx for all the replies.We are on our way to being farmers! Our site is always under construction so check back often for updates.  http://www.philosophyfarmstyle.com/
Reply:staying in your budget the Hobart 210 is less $$ than the Miller 211 both will go 110 or 220 volt and handle 1/4" ( and thicker with multi pass) easy  to save  a buck go with the Hobart 210going thicker will cost mo bux  if you want 1/2'' its gona cost or look for usedidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Given that additional information (requirements and $1000 budget) you might want to think about searching craiglist/kijiji  for a used, brand name, big mig machine - as jbmprods suggested a mm252 or bigger.  If you buy such big capacity, you can run the machine all day long doing 1/4 inch steel.Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:Originally Posted by ToolBoxTavernI was also considering the Hobart Ironman 230, but that jumps up $500+ and I don't think I need that much more power.Thanx for all the replies.
Reply:Welding 1/4" on a 210 or 211 I think you will tax the duty cycle. I would by a 250 amp machine either used or possibly a HTP or like cheaper unit. While your right about the neatness of the mig welds nothing beats the burn of a stick when you get in heavy welding and the are a cheap way to supplement a undersized mig I do it all the time as my mm175 is tooo small.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:I'd go with an MM211 in that case.  I've got a 180 amp Lincoln and it's taken a few years but I'm outgrowing it.  The 252 is nice but about 2 1/2 times your budget.  It seems like the under 200 amp class aren't powerful enough to do various transfer modes well.
Reply:Ok well let me ask this question.What would be the duty cycle on each unit (IM230, HH210, MM211,) for welding 1/4 inch steel?We are on our way to being farmers! Our site is always under construction so check back often for updates.  http://www.philosophyfarmstyle.com/
Reply:I guess let me put it like this. If I put it on the recommended setting. EX: wire speed X and voltage X for 1/4inch steel what would the duty cycle be or how long could or should I go?We are on our way to being farmers! Our site is always under construction so check back often for updates.  http://www.philosophyfarmstyle.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by ToolBoxTavernOk well let me ask this question.What would be the duty cycle on each unit (IM230, HH210, MM211,) for welding 1/4 inch steel?
Reply:maybe a 211 for most stuff and a cracker box for the every now and then thick stuff350P 30A spool gun cut master 51  syncro 250 other stuff " take a dog off the street and make him prosper and he will not bite you sad the same cannot be said for man" i didnt use punctuation just to piss you off
Reply:Now I'm thinking HH210 & later I can get a Stickmate LX 235 AC / 160 DC (About $1,500) or just go with the IM230 (About $1,700). So with only $200 difference roughly cost is all in now or break it up.We are on our way to being farmers! Our site is always under construction so check back often for updates.  http://www.philosophyfarmstyle.com/
Reply:Now after more research and looking at the spec sheets I am having real mixed feelings. The duty cycle is better on the IM230 than the stickmate.Here is links to spec sheets.HH210 http://www.hobartwelders.com/pdf/spe...ler_210MVP.pdfIM230 http://www.hobartwelders.com/pdf/spe...ronMan_230.pdfStickmate http://www.hobartwelders.com/pdf/spe...te_LX_ACDC.pdfThe IM230 duty cycle is about 28% at 250 amps while the Stickmate is 20% at 230 amps.Now with the cost almost the same for 2 units vs. 1 unit and the one have a better duty cycle it seems worth going all out for the IM230 is the way to go.Suggestions and Thoughts wanted please.Last edited by ToolBoxTavern; 06-14-2011 at 11:31 AM.We are on our way to being farmers! Our site is always under construction so check back often for updates.  http://www.philosophyfarmstyle.com/
Reply:i vote the HH210 and stickmate.. use the extra 2 bills for extra hand tools or consumableseither is a good comboidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Originally Posted by prop-doctori vote the HH210 and stickmate.. use the extra 2 bills for extra hand tools or consumableseither is a good combo
Reply:sounds good and free shipping save 50 buxidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Originally Posted by prop-doctorsounds good and free shipping save 50 bux
Reply:It's still a toss-up.For certain, I suspect that with either approach, you won't have your original problem (I fried it due to it not being big enough when needing it and overloading it.)So what's in your future?  Aluminum?The dual voltage (115/230V) HH210 and 230V stickmate gives you the versatilty of both wire feed and stick.  Dual voltage mig would be nice.  Stick allows you to access all the usual plus special electrodes - like cast iron.Likely you could tackle more application BUT - no aluminum right now unless you later buy a sppol gun.. even then you might be limited to about 1/4 inch with the HH210 - unless you stick weld it, then you could do 1/2 inch but not with high quality or good appearnace.  Also, how good a stick welder are you?  This is a factor also.The IM230 + spool gun gives you masive 'pro' power right now and you'll all set up for aluminum to 1/2 inch thick.  You loose the versatilty of the 115/230V HH210 and special rod access of stick.That's a tough call... and it's your call. Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:IM230 + spool gun!