Best affordable MIG welder out there?

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I've got a background in sculpture, and did basic MIG / TIG work in school. Welding was my favorite thing to do, and I still have a nice end table I fabricated from round bar stock.I've been wanting to get back into it, but I don't have the budget my school did. I'd like to get a MIG welder, and while I'm budget-minded, I don't want to end up buying crap. I don't see myself welding anything over 2" thick and probably 1" or less on average. What's the most affordable MIG welder out there that will work well? Do all of them have hookups for shielding gas? I've used stick welders before, but would prefer a wire gun over that, especially for smaller pieces.Any advice for a n00b?
Reply:Short answer: A Millermatic 211(lincoln equivalent is no doubt pretty much the same) will weld up to 3/8 plate single pass, cost around $1000. Look up the rest of the specs. Everybody that has one seems to love it. Anything smaller is generally for lighter sheet metal, particularly due to the low duty cycle. If you really want to weld 1" to 2" plate you'll need an industrial unit, like the 350P around $3500.JasonXMT 350 MPA Dynasty 280DXSuitcase 8RC / OptimaSpoolmatic 30AThermco Ar / C02 mixerAssorted O/A gear
Reply:Originally Posted by BCRDShort answer: A Millermatic 211(lincoln equivalent is no doubt pretty much the same) will weld up to 3/8 plate single pass, cost around $1000. Look up the rest of the specs. Everybody that has one seems to love it. Anything smaller is generally for lighter sheet metal, particularly due to the low duty cycle. If you really want to weld 1" to 2" plate you'll need an industrial unit, like the 350P around $3500.Jason
Reply:This subject has been covered in great detail a number of times. I recommend you do a search inside this forum, as well as read this sticky - http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=20883. You'll get the same answer. A $300 flux core machine has a limited scope of application. Unless your project falls in that scope, you won't be happy. Guaranteed.JasonXMT 350 MPA Dynasty 280DXSuitcase 8RC / OptimaSpoolmatic 30AThermco Ar / C02 mixerAssorted O/A gear
Reply:Originally Posted by BCRDThis subject has been covered in great detail a number of times. I recommend you do a search inside this forum, as well as read this sticky - http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=20883. You'll get the same answer. A $300 flux core machine has a limited scope of application. Unless your project falls in that scope, you won't be happy. Guaranteed.Jason
Reply:i own 2 small migs and they work good for thin up to 3/16" but that is pushing max and multi passthe cheaper machine with FC with the good wire will do yard-art, innershield FC is good wire cleans easy. if you go with the 99 bux-special you will out go it quickly.i would opt  for scraping an extra 100-200 more and buy the 140 Hob...parts are available so is service. its a  (milleridealarc 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 own 2 small migs and they work good for thin up to 3/16" but that is pushing max and multi passthe cheaper machine with FC with the good wire will do yard-art, innershield FC is good wire cleans easy. if you go with the 99 bux-special you will out go it quickly.i would opt  for scraping an extra 100-200 more and buy the 140 Hob...parts are available so is service. its a  (miller
Reply:its a open questioni paid 45 bux,usd for the little handle 125  used with ductape on gun have seen them for 165.00 with cart in pawn shopthe lincoln was given,, but needed new gun and work lead got close to 200 in it  works goodwarranty on a little mig is your best friendidealarc 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:On a related tangent, what's the minimum budget for a plasma cutter? I know they're not cheap heh, but for cutting intricate shapes, they were amazing to use.
Reply:Depends on your target thickness.  Hyperterm is the best IMHO and offers 110 and 220 V options, so pick a thickness and go from there.  Once you make that decidion, find Jim Colt and follow his direction and you will be good for life.  Just my .02 FWIWBobI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:I am a sculptor, so I will put in my two cents.1.  Most MIG welders will support flux core or gas, although you might have to buy a regulator and a bottle.  (Bottles are surprisingly expensive).2.  I am not sure that you will be happy with the appearance of flux core welds, the gas welds look quite a bit better.   Of course you could start with flux core, and upgrade to gas when you can afford to buy a bottle.  I don't think that I would buy a MIG that I could not use with gas.  Flux core has advantages if you work outside or for thicker material.3. 220V Mig welders are a lot more useful, I think, but more expensive.  I was fortunate enough to get a new Lincoln on Craigslist for $450.  If you don't have a 220V outlet, that may cost you $50 to $100 for material to wire a 220V outlet.  I would install a 50 amp outlet, I probably wire with 6 ga copper wire.4. If you buy a 110V MIG, plan to upgrade later.  If you buy it used you may be able to sell it later for most of what you paid for it.5. Consider getting an oxy-acetylene torch instead, they are useful for a wide range of purposes, including welding, heat patinas, heating, and cutting steel.Plasma is pretty cool.  Lots of people freehand plasma, but I always use a guide of some kind.   I used to have a junky plasma that I did not use much.  I upgraded to a new plasma that will cut 1/2 inch steel.  It works very well, especially on 1/8 inch and thinner.   Be careful with plasma for heavier metal, as the cutting quality goes way down when you get up near the upper end of the plasma cutter rated thickness.  For some reason, the plasma that I own has "fine cut" consumables available, in addition to the usual consumables.   Fine cut is wonderful for thinner steel, I only use the usual consumables for thicker material.If you are a tool junkie like me, you will eventually acquire MIG, TIG, stick, oxy-acetylene and plasma.   TIG is the best welding process for sculptors, in my view, but of course much more than your budget, as used modern TIG welders usually start around $1000.   A TIG welder is also a stick welder, so very flexible in that sense.Good luck,RichardLast edited by raferguson; 11-24-2010 at 03:32 PM.Sculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:For the $300.00 budget you are going to limited in choice. I would be looking to good used old school stuff. Millermatic 35 would be high on my list
Reply:I paid $320 for my Hobart 140 new.  Later, I sold it to a friend for $300.  It's a good welder.  But if you're using 1/2" or 1" thick pieces in your sculptures, you are going to have a problem getting any decent penetration at all with a 120v welder.  The mass of steel you're dealing with will just suck away all the heat.The danger of future injuries doesn't come from whatever pressure you plan to put on the sculpture; it comes from the weight of the steel itself -- which is a lot, in 1/2" or greater thicknesses.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:What you want to do will greatly affect what machine you need. I've worked with any number of art students as the tech school near here gets a lot of students from Temples art campus who want to do metal sculpture. Most who want to work with jewlery and so on concentrate on Oxy fuel, but so do many who simply can't afford a tig or want to work with copper. Those that want to do steel or industrial art, usually gravitate towards mig, but I've had a few who wanted to do heavier work with stick. Those that want to do very detailed work usually want to learn tig because they want very nice welds or want to work with thin materials. Each process has it's strong points and theres really no one machine that works best for all things.If you want to do steel over 1/2", stick is probably a better process. You can get a basic AC stick machine used for $50-150 usually and a nice AC/DC one for a bit more if you keep your eyes open. A 220v mig will get you from sheetmetal thru 1/2" usually with the right prep and multiple passes for the upper end. Thicker steel is doable, but you start needing some industrial level machines at that point. Small 110v migs are good for sheetmetal thru 1/8" with gas, 3/16" with FC if you have a 130-140 amp machine, but you are pushing the limits at the upper end. Those machines are really designed to do sheetmetal..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:if your allowing $300 for a welder, you probably shouldnt even consider a plasma yet...   if your doing sheetmetal a $300 welder might get you by for a while, but if your talking going to 1/2" plate, your talking about a 250amp welder, theyre not $300...tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:The number of times I ever worked with metal thicker than 1/8" thick I can count on one hand. Rare enough to keep a 220 from being a pressing need.Maybe if my work takes off and I sell a few pieces I can afford that nice plasma cutter I'd rather be doing something than nothing, starting to feel rusty after almost 6 years. A clean weld and a decent grinder is all I really need. The rest I can wait on.
Reply:Originally Posted by Guy-MontagThe number of times I ever worked with metal thicker than 1/8" thick I can count on one hand. Rare enough to keep a 220 from being a pressing need.Maybe if my work takes off and I sell a few pieces I can afford that nice plasma cutter I'd rather be doing something than nothing, starting to feel rusty after almost 6 years. A clean weld and a decent grinder is all I really need. The rest I can wait on.
Reply:for your money and material needs (as you describe them) the Hobart Handler 125 EZ might be a consideration. I got a factory reconditioned model for just over $225 and it works very well if you stay within its range, which is bigger than I anticipated but fine for a home shop.I have a review of it at the link below with photos, video and more details if that would be of help.Hobart Handler 125 EZ ReviewTom Hintz, publisherwww.newmetalworker.comLincoln Pro Mig 180Lincoln AC 255Determination