Super Noobie Just Joined and need advice!

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Hey All, My name is Duce and I finally made an account and let the welding tech talk begin.So I am a noob and can't wait to learn more about welding. Previously, I bought a Lincoln Pro Mig 140 and today I just sold it.  I am in the market for a NEW welder and there are just so many out there and I need your help guys and gals. I saved up about $500-600 bucks ish, and I hear people telling me that TIG is the way to go. However, TIG is more expensive than MIG and I don't have that kind of money, (unless you guys can give me some options).So I am thinking about a Lincoln SP-140 T($499 free shipping) or SP-140 C($599 free shipping) and as a NOOBIE that I am, I all i know is that the SP140 C is continuous (whatever that means) and about $100 more expensive. I've gotten Fluxed cored welding figured out and want to move up to MIG (Stainless and Aluminum).  So I am thinking of getting either of these welders and getting some 5% argon bottles to weld aluminum and the subsequent gas(es) needed for Stainless. The majority of my use of the welder is for automotive hobby purposes, IE: brackets, panels, custom roll cages, intakes, strut bars, etc. car stuff.  Can you guys please give me your expertise on What's the best for the $500-700? Thanks all!! Last edited by Absolutist24; 06-25-2008 at 01:56 AM.
Reply:Hello. Welcome to the forum.Move up to a 220v machine at a minimum. If you want to do alum you will need to get a spool gun. I doubt those lincolns will take one but I could be wrong. For alum and roll cages you will need more power than that little lincoln can give you.I would look at the Hobart HH187. I don't believe it will take a spool gun off that top of my head. Its a 220v machine that will do a lot of what you want and in the price range you are looking at.The Miller MM 185 is a slightly better choice. About the same power as the Hobart 187 but will take a spool gun, so alum with it will be significantly easier than the hobart. You will pay more for one. It will be a bit above the top price you listed with out the spool gun, but may be manageable. The hobart HH210 is some what similar to the miller with a bit more power I believe. It also will accept a spool gun.Think hard about what you want to do. You might find yourself outgrowing those machines quickly also. Jumping up to say a Hobart Ironman 210 or Miller MM212 might be a better choice in the long run but you may need to almost double your budget. I think I've seen the Ironman for about $1100. the Miller will be more.You will be limited when working with alum on any of these machines with a spool gun. Thin sheet alum is out and alum past 3/16 is too heavy. They work best on material around 1/8". You use 100% argon on alum. Remember that not all alum is weldable. Alum is not the same as welding steel, its a whole nother ball game. Get good a steel first then move to alum. You have to weld almost twice as fast on alum and prep is super important. Alum also takes quite a bit of power compared to steel so if you are serious about doing alum get a larger machine now rather than later.Same to a limited extent with Stainless. Tig is really best for these, especially thin sheet, but tig starts pricey and goes to "OH MY GOD!" fast. You will need AC tig to do alum and that will close to double the price right there. Minimum for an AC/DC tig is probably close to $2000. used machine run less but becareful if you don't know anything about tig if you look at used. I would have someone who knows tig look the machine over to be sure it will do what you want and that it runs well before buying.If you have the opportunity take a night class at a local CC or votech school. Play with their toys and learn all you can. I wish I had taken that route much sooner than I did.Good luck.Last edited by DSW; 06-25-2008 at 08:14 AM.
Reply:Wow, That's perfect information. Thank you very much. I graduated from University and did have a few days of welding Stick and gas but I am sure that I'll take a dedicated welding course just for the heck of it. With regards to the lincoln, they do have the hand spool guns that you have to buy seperately. I'll take your advice and rethink what I am welding and probably just purchase that lincoln sp140T for now.  Eventually when I make the big bucks i'll get a welder over $2000. As of right now, I bought my car for $1,900 bucks, so buying a welder over that isn't smart for my budget. AWESOME! Everyone is given one noob question.  I'll start asking Gas set up sooN!WELDING web is the Shizzle!
Reply:Isn't that weird that it takes more power to weld something with a lower melting point?DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Why did you sell the Lincoln? 9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Originally Posted by DSW...If you want to do alum you will need to get a spool gun. I doubt those lincolns will take one but I could be wrong. For alum and roll cages you will need more power than that little lincoln can give you....
Reply:Originally Posted by littlefuzzIsn't that weird that it takes more power to weld something with a lower melting point?
Reply:Hehehe, I forgot the back story of why i sold the Pro Mig 140.Okay about 2 years ago, I bought the Lincoln Pro Mig 140 from some guy on Craigslist for $380 plus a cheap auto darkening helmet.  Both were used. After purchasing it, this prick told me that he bought it from another guy and that the deal doesn't include the Gas regulators and some attachments. I felt Jipped and like a fool I didn't do the research before I handed over the dough~So I listed this marvelous welder on craigslist and got a lot of response.  $500 includes the welder and that cheap auto darkening helmet, thinking that people would low ball and I could get $350-450.  Thanks to our Amazingly bad economy right now, inflation works!  So a nice gentlemen came over and tested it out and bought it on the spot.  I felt guilty and told him that there isn't a gas regulator, but fortunately, he said he can get supplies, regulators, and gas tanks for dirt cheap as well as he can swap over the accessories from his other Lincoln welder. So we were both satisfied, I threw in all a pair of leather gloves and welding magnets. So, now I want to buy a NEW unit with the accessories that I was once missed out on. Basically, I got a second chance to do it right and buy brand new. I want to get a 220V but I don't know what Converters or adaptors to buy in order to retrofit it onto my regular garage 110v socket. ***Ah so the 140T is finite, and the 140C is basically like a Potentiometer...with many variable adjustments. *****Last edited by Absolutist24; 06-27-2008 at 02:36 AM.
Reply:I want to get a 220V but I don't know what Converters or adaptors to buy in order to retrofit it onto my regular garage 110v socket.
Reply:As said the 110v line in the garage won't work. I used to live in apartments and ran a smallish 220v machine. Made up and extension cord that would run from either the dryer plug in one place or the range plug in another. I had a coil about 50' in length that would get me to the drive to work on projects. That same 50' cord now lets me plug in in the back of my garage and run the machine almost out at the street. It's not imposible to do without adding a circuit but the extra circuit does help.
Reply:Oh okay, I guess I would have an Electrician install a new 220v circuit for me? Electrical things scare the bajebus out of me because when I was a kid I put a penny into a broken socket and I was never the same again. Hahaha. I'll read on circuitry more online.
Reply:Originally Posted by Absolutist24Oh okay, I guess I would have an Electrician install a new 220v circuit for me? Electrical things scare the bajebus out of me because when I was a kid I put a penny into a broken socket and I was never the same again. Hahaha. I'll read on circuitry more online.