Welding Machine for building gates

admin

Ok all,so obviously I'm new here and this is going to be a complete newbie question, but I am wondering what kind of welding machine would be needed to build gates for a fence.I grew up around my dad's shop when I was a kid (he worked for a big company then) and I remember the miller and lincoln names but thats pretty much it.I write software for a living but my dad has finally opened up his own business, built a building and moved all in. He is in wholesale fence supply (so he sells fence material to contractors) but he will also have a gate shop there. They'll build gates in all sizes starting with pipe is small as 1 5/8 .065 and going up to 4" schedule 40 at least I'd imagine, I remember seeing some pipe as large as 12" when I was a kid but I think that was mostly for onsite jobs.long story short I know he needs a wire welder but I don't even know where to start in the model he would need etc. If I asked him he'd never tell me because he'd want to buy it himself so I want to get him this but I also want to get something that is capable of doing anything.Im sure an ARC welder would work too but I remember that they mainly used the wire welder when I was younger so I'd perfer to pick up one of those.If anyone has suggestions on any other brands and/or the models I should be looking at I'd be greatly appreciative.ThanksZach
Reply:In my humble opinion, a Miller, Hobart or a Lincoln are the brands you should consider. Your local welding supplier will be very important.  If you buy something made in Lower Slobovia from somebody who you can not talk to across the counter, you are asking for trouble.END OF LECTUREI offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Big junk of change for  something that may not be what he wants.I would let him buy his tools.You're probably way more valuable setting up the IT/Website etc for the business.If he is a die hard Lincoln man then Miller is out and vise versaEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:There's a lot of bits and pieces to this.Shop vs field use...  Shop only machines usually are heavier duty and run on 230v power. They tend to be larger and heavier for use nonstop. On a budget I'd suggest looking at the Hobart Ironman series of machines for the most bang for your buck if you don't need a full industrial machine to run day in day out. Any of the medium sized Miller or Lincolns 200 amps and over would work well. You can often find some decent deals on older large transformer constant voltage power sources and separate wire feeders as well. They aren't portable, but usually you get a ton of power. Be careful, some are 3 phase only, while most of the "all in one" migs are predominantly single phase.Field use wire machines you have a couple of options, each with it's own advantages/ disadvantages. 115v mig welders are good for thin material, but lack the power to do more than 1/8' material under real world conditions despite what the manufacturers literature might say. Small cheap 115v migs won't even do 1/8". If I had to get a 115v only mig, I'd go with the 140 amp machines from Miller ( MM140), Hobart (HH140) or Lincoln. Take a minute and read the attached links on the sticky on 110v migs in the general welding questions section to get a better understanding of the limitations of these machines. In general I would not recommend a 115v mig unless all you do is sheet metal. 230v "hobby" migs, usually are smaller and lighter than their shop counterparts since they aren't designed for continuous use, and cost less. They will do up to 1/4-3/8" ( depending on the model), under real world conditions, but need to be run off at least a 5-6 KW continuous rated genset if you don't have 230v power available on site. Again Hobart machines usually get you the most machine for your money. The HH187 from Hobart is an excellent machine if you can still find one. Hobart upgraded it to the HH190 and discontinued the HH187. You can occasionally still find clearance deals on the HH187. Miller MM180 and Lincolns 180 would be two other good choices. These machines could double as light duty shop machines.There are also dual voltage machines that will run on 115v power up to 1/8", and on 230v power up to 1/4-3/8" ( depending on the model) these give you the best of both worlds. The ability to do 1/8" and under on 115v power out in the field, and  the power to do up to 3/8" if powered by 230v in a shop or from a gen set. The down side is they are more expensive than the 230v only units. Miller brought out the 1st of these with the MM211 a few years back so it has the longest track record. Hobart's new HH210MVP is a very close copy of the Miller. Lincolns 180 dual is a distant 3rd. It has less power than the Miller or Hobart. Miller also makes the Passport Plus. It's the lightest and most powerful of all the units, and is a lot more durable. However it's significantly more money. If budget isn't a concern the Passport would be my choice hands down. If cost is a consideration, the Hobart would squeeze by the MM211 by a small margin due to cost. However you give up a small bit in construction to save money. If the machine was going to get moderately heavy use, I'd opt to spend the extra money and get the Miller..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:Lincoln 255XT or Millermatic 252.Easy.  'nuff said.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Get him a gift certificate at the local welding supply.  This way it will be his pick at what he needs.  A better choice I think!!  Bob
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcLincoln 255XT     or     Millermatic 252.      Easy.  'nuff said.
Reply:Lincoln  255  L-56 .035  75-25 gas for steel   If full time 350 with spool gun for aluminum , can also do stick .  Field Lincoln air cooled , need the gen for core drilling , stick or spool gun for welding  E-7014 rod .
Reply:Hey Zach.As a Dad, I really appreciate your willingness to do this for your Dad, but I also know the problem of a well-intentioned gift. My kids and wife have tried to buy me tools they think I want, but then I'm stuck with something that is NOT what I want, and NOT the best tool for my use. And of course I can't tell them "I don't want that, you wasted your money, take it back" and then go buy the tool that is right for me. So you put up with it. Maybe the consumables are more expensive or hard to find locally or maybe it's just the wrong color or over powered or under powered, but you labor on with a smile because it is a gift from your Son and all the time you are wishing they had NOT done it. So this well-intentioned gift becomes an object of resentment because you had been planning and dreaming of what you wanted to buy after all these years.So my advice is to either ask your Dad for a specific model that he intends to buy for himself, or as already suggested use your talent and skill in other ways. Even a gift card to a place he does not want to do business with is a big waste of money. Again, I really appreciate that you want to do something special for your Dad, but be sure it is something welcomed and not a burden.Burt _____________________Miller Syncrowave 250Millermatic 211Miller 375 Plasma Cutter Hobart Handler 12010FtDrillBit.com
Reply:What a breath of fresh air. My daughters / son n laws never buy me any tools, just socks and T-shirts. But they always borrow my tools and never bring them back!Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPWhat a breath of fresh air. My daughters / son n laws never buy me any tools, just socks and T-shirts. But they always borrow my tools and never bring them back!
Reply:Myself, I'd buy one of 2 machines if I was looking for a quality wire welder. Lincoln powermig 216 or 256. Esab mig master 215 pro.I May also consider a new 3 in one from Thermal Arc. The 252i.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Does your Dad have a friend or acquaintance who welds gates or does installations. Talk to them. Are you buying a welder or are you talking about setting up a welding shop in His shop there's a lot more than buying a welder to setting up a production area for building gates Is your Dad ready to bite the bullet for the whole tamale or are you willing to drop $20K+ for the additional stuff that's needed.