buying first welder

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first i want to say nice fourm spents two hr reading post and what a headach.   so i have the same question that most of you guys are sick of seeing but i have to ask.buying my first welder want to try and restore my car, i have looked at so many i'm totaly confused now, my question is i found this welder at eastwood supply and from what i can tell it's the most for the money any thoughts on this welder thanks for takeing the time  guys i know u havemore pressing things to do,  http://www.eastwood.com/pro-welders
Reply:Welcome,  what type of welding do you want to do, so we can recommend the type machine will do you the most good.   JGSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:I saw no mention of consumables. Where do you go for tips, nozzles, etc?It looks like its set up for direct distribution, this means you have no local support.Do you know anyone who has one, or have you read any reviews that weren't directly posted by the manufacturer?My advice:Find a nice used Miller/Lincoln online, or spend the couple extra bucks and buy new.CWI, CWE, CST for Miller, Lincoln, Thermadyne, Hypertherm & ESABMillermatic 350PLincoln Invertec 205 AC/DCVictor combo torchESAB PCM 1125
Reply:don't know of anyone that has one,just the u tube,, seem like a good deal for the price,, lke i said i checked just about every welder out there in that price range and that seemed like the best bang for the buck .the only welding i will be doing is auto body repair, maybe  sub frame connectors and some chassie welding ,4 link ; exhaust hangers; maybe fab a car frame for a roadster, things along that line my owen personal use and the friend that needs a hand, i can;t see my self doing any real heavy duty stuff or going to work for myself, my budget is tight 400. maybe 600. but that has to include shipping, gas regulator, a few months later might be able to swing some extra but for now the budget is pretty much set, replacement pannels are not cheap,thanks and i hope i answeared your questions.  oh forgot was tolod this welder was made by miller just had the eastwood name on it.Last edited by surfsup; 04-07-2010 at 08:02 PM.Reason: forgot info
Reply:Originally Posted by surfsupdon't know of anyone that has one,just the u tube,, seem like a good deal for the price,, lke i said i checked just about every welder out there in that price range and that seemed like the best bang for the buck .the only welding i will be doing is auto body repair, maybe  sub frame connectors and some chassie welding ,4 link ; exhaust hangers; maybe fab a car frame for a roadster, things along that line my owen personal use and the friend that needs a hand, i can;t see my self doing any real heavy duty stuff or going to work for myself, my budget is tight 400. maybe 600. but that has to include shipping, gas regulator, a few months later might be able to swing some extra but for now the budget is pretty much set, replacement pannels are not cheap,thanks and i hope i answeared your questions.  oh forgot was tolod this welder was made by miller just had the eastwood name on it.
Reply:From your list of items you want to do, I would recommend you look a 220v units.  You might have to wait and save more money and make one purchase rather buy too small of a machine.
Reply:Originally Posted by EastwoodWhat our customers are saying..."The Eastwood products are the highest quality" - Bill from Lexington, KY
Reply:building a roadster is a dream of mine doubt it will happend but you never know, hoenstly not sure why everyone is against the eastwood ,not that my mind is made up already,  eastwood is a good co. they stand behind everything they sell,and i don't think they would buy from some cheap *** co when there putting there name on it.Honestly i can't see spending that kind of money on a lincoln or miller, and i won't buy used, besides miller and lincoln whats the next best 110 welder, or 220 if thats the only way to go. If anyone is interested summit has a clarke we6441 hot shot spool welder for 350. till april 30..
Reply:To summarize:1.  You can't see youself spending money for a Miller or Lincoln.2.  You won't buy used.3.  You are not sure why no one has affirmed what you want to hear (i.e. Easwood is awesome).Why not go ahead and purchase what you want to purchase.Will Rogers once said, "There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."  Sounds like you already have your pants unzipped and are ready to pull the trigger.
Reply:gee you got all that from my post , you only read what i wrote, not what i was saying, will rogers didn't say that, i said that, tell me you don't have a joedirt hair cut... ?????  just want to say to  all that have replied thankks for taking the time to help. I'll keep looking till i think i have what will fit my needs.God Bless you all
Reply:Consider a Thermal Arc Fabricator 140.The price tag is $499.99It's no Miller/Lincoln, but Thermadyne will stand by their products.It comes with a Tweco original gun. The consumables are readily available, and local support can be found easily.Thermadyne makes Victor torches and Thermal Dynamics plasmas, both of which are top notch.CWI, CWE, CST for Miller, Lincoln, Thermadyne, Hypertherm & ESABMillermatic 350PLincoln Invertec 205 AC/DCVictor combo torchESAB PCM 1125
Reply:I think the Eastwood units are re branded Lincoln's. Lincoln does sell a cheap line.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:just want to say still agreat site, given alot of thought to what everyone has been telling me, i just need to sort through it all, i don't know much if anything about welders but never heard this brand Thermal Arc Fabricator 140.but in your opinion you would go with that unit instead of my pic????  Bin giving alot of thought and maybe realacate my funds and buy brand, so these are the ones i looked at lincoln 140 t and c not sure which is really the better of the two, and the miller 140 auto set, i would like to go 220 after all the reading i have done but i'm pretty sure it would tie me down, can't take it racing or 4 wheeling or to a job site, 220 gens are way to much money for me to part with when i can buy a decent 110 generator.SO any input again would be great, and thanks guys for all the help.  Hey joedirt didn't mean anything demeaning in my post to you, hope you realize that, not looking to make ennimies just friends.
Reply:A 110v mig welder won't work on a decent 110v generator.  The manufactures all seem to recommend a dedicated 120v 20 amp circuit and some even recommend a 30 amp breaker.  I connected my little wire feed to my bros 2600 or 2800 w gen and it was a no go.  From reading your post it seems you to go the least expensive way possible which we all understand but if welding it something you want to start doing you got to pay to play.  I think welding can be a relatively inexpensive hobby compared to racing and 4 wheeling and I think when it comes to your other hobbys you are not persuing the least expensive path.  If welding is going to be a gateway to other things then have a decent budget and get a decent name brand machine.
Reply:Surfsup,I was trying to be funny with the last part of my post.  After re-reading it, I realize it came across quite rude, and for that I appologize.  That wasn't my main intent.Most folks on this forum will try to steer new weldors towards the name brand welders, even if it means buying used.  The reasoning being is that Miller, Lincoln, and Hobart are generally considered "tried and true".  The same cannot be said of all the imports.  We don't want new welders to learn a lesson the hard way, hence the electric fence comment.  Ouch.  Another positive point about buying name brand is that someday if you outgrow your welder, the resale value will most likely be greater than a lesser known brand.  Good luck with your search.
Reply:I have never heard of Eastwood till now, does not mean they do not make a good product, however local support is somthing that is needed, wether it be consumables or warranty. If you have to make a warranty claim, are you on the hook for shipping??I agree with joedirt on the resale,  I am about to sell my Lincoln 175sp and I will probably get more than I paid for it!Lincoln 175spLincoln 350MP
Reply:Originally Posted by jamlitI think the Eastwood units are re branded Lincoln's. Lincoln does sell a cheap line.