Best entry level ARC Welder

admin

Whats up guys, Hey i'm about to buy and ARC welder for my house to practice welding pipe with. any suggestions on the best welder for the price/abilities? I'm leaning towards a Hobart Stickmate for the price and the infinite current control. What do you guys think?
Reply:As long as you stay with Miller, Lincoln , and Hobart you'll be ok. Just get a AC/DC machine. Check craig's list for a machine. Posting your location will help .There maybe  a member that knows of a seller or saw a add.
Reply:Originally Posted by welder101Whats up guys, Hey i'm about to buy and ARC welder for my house to practice welding pipe with. any suggestions on the best welder for the price/abilities? I'm leaning towards a Hobart Stickmate for the price and the infinite current control. What do you guys think?
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1As long as you stay with Miller, Lincoln , and Hobart you'll be ok. Just get a AC/DC machine. Check craig's list for a machine. Posting your location will help .There maybe  a member that knows of a seller or saw a add.
Reply:It depends alot on the input amperage/voltage you have available in your shop.  If you don't have at least 50 amps of 220-240 volts available, you're not gonna do well with an old tranny welder.  You could use a 30 amp, but it will severely limit your output.For an inverter, a new TA 161S is hard to beat.  Dual voltage and a solid machine at a great price, DC only though.  Used inverters are a bit trickier.  As Raferguson said, stay with the major brands and you should be fine.  You will need to thoroughly test before purchase-one bad electronic component and the repair on it may cost more than the machine.  For a transformer, go used and a major brand.  Very little can go wrong.  I purchased an Idealarc 250 ACDC for $150.  Got it home, evicted one mouse family and greased the gears.  Plugged it in and burned rods.  Close to 50 years old and hadn't been used in twenty years.  That's durability.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:AC/DC transformer  250 Lincoln Hobart  Miller P&H  Airco they all work Lincoln Tig 300 too , along with the other makes . GE and Westinghouse made welders too . Transformers last forever . Hope you have a 200 amp main and you could run a 650 amp transformer . I run my TM-500  AC/DC on a 125 amp breaker . Get a LN-25  or a 12 VS for mig .
Reply:There's a nice Hobart Stickmate ac/dc on Baltimore CL for $215.  I once got a Thermal Arc Dragster 85 for $50.  Deals are out there if you keep looking."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Times whatever on the Lincoln, Miller, Hobart choice.  As for line service requirements, my old Miller Thunderbolt calls for a 30 amp 220VAC service.  Pretty typical for the smaller "buzz box" machines and the infinitely adjustable amperage is a huge plus.  The old Lincoln "Tombstone" welders are all fixed tap machines with the need to vary your technique to compensate for differing rod and welding requirements.  Not a deal killer as it is common in more advanced welding, but it does add another variable for a beginner to overcome.The "Stickmate" seems to be a clone of the tried and proven T-Bolt system.  Hobart owns Miller and builds some of their branded machines along side Miller in Appleton Wi..  Same components just differing paint jobs.  AC/DC is nice too.  An AC machine is pretty bullet proof and the only trouble the DC seems to be the diodes may fail (mine haven't given any trouble in the 30+ years I have owned the T-bolt).  If you find one with bad diodes they are easy to replace and the folks here will talk you through if need be.RogerOld, Tired, and GRUMPYSalesman will call, Batteries not included, Assembly is required, and FREE ADVICE IS WORTH EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR IT!Dial Arc 250HFThunderbolt 225 AC/DCAssorted A/O torches
Reply:Buy the best machine you can.  Skip the idea of entry level.  I think the notion is a self limiting  factor that risks saddling  one with a substandard POS.Hey~!! It's a hobby. It's not supposed to make sense~!!
Reply:Originally Posted by RaulBuy the best machine you can.  Skip the idea of entry level.  I think the notion is a self limiting  factor that risks saddling  one with a substandard POS.
Reply:I agreeSkip the idea of buying a T Bolt or Stickmate machine for the purpose of welding pipe. The T Bolt and Stickmate are home hobby/farm welders. For welding pipe, you want a machine that will burn 1/8 6010 and 7018 all day long. Look for a Miller Dial Arc 250 ac/dc or Lincoln Ideal Arc 250 ac/dc to do that with duty cycle to spare.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Originally Posted by welder101Whats up guys, Hey i'm about to buy and ARC welder for my house to practice welding pipe with. any suggestions on the best welder for the price/abilities? . What do you guys think?
Reply:Miller and Hobart are Owned and built by ITW