Help me decide on which welder type!!

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I am going to be doing some light fabrication of the following materials initially:5/16 and 3/8 hot rolled round stock to 1" (ID) iron pipe (type used for glycol lines or non potable water sources)but will eventually want to enter the arena of Stainless and will be welding mostly 1 1/4 inch SS pipe to 1/4 to 5/16 SS bar stock, and the other pieces will be no thicker than 1/2" square or round stockdown the road depending upon success I may be willing to spend some money, i.e. over 2K, but right now I would like to stay under 1K, but this opinion could be changed. Let me say that my research for the past few months has led me to the opinion that it will be a Lincoln product. My questions/comments are as follows:1.Which method and why will be best for me: Mig/Flux, Stick, or TIG?2.Do Inverter models basically step up 110 to 220?3.The stainless work may require the welds to be not only strong but pretty.4. I see where most welders come with 6-8 foot power cords. The receptacle may not be in range of this. What requirements (i.e. wire gauge) will I need to build an extension cord and what length limits would be on the length of that cord?I do not currently have 220, but the electrician is coming next week to put in my 220 receptacle in the garage.I do have some experience with stick welding.Thanks in advance, jwr2200.
Reply:Hey jwr,I'll offer some suggestions and I'm sure others will chime in on their preferences. IMO, for your application and parameters, I would go with MIG. It is fast for production requirements, very versatile, and will do quality and very aesthetic welds. My first suggestion would be a Riland MM250L spoolgun MIG. I have one and it is superb in function, power, and changeability of wire types and sizes, especially if you want to add aluminum to your arsenal of welding ammo. It is an inverter welder and only uses 24A input on full load and has a 60% duty cycle at 250A and 100% at 192A....more than adequate for your criteria. It has a 26' cable and the spoolgun is identical to the Miller 3035 and parts are interchangeable. Also, the size is remarkable at 38lbs and is very portable. The most swaying decision for me was the price...I got it on E-Bay for less than $800 incl. shipping. I have run over 40 spools(2lb/4") without any kind of problem and the welds are superb. My second choice would be the Miller 210 MIG....a super performer also. It is in the $1400 range and well worth the price. You would not be disappointed in either unit. As far as power cabling, I would suggest 8/3 up to 50' and 6/3 up to 100' that would not create a power loss. Hope that helps a bit & good luck...DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:Originally Posted by jwr22001.Which method and why will be best for me: Mig/Flux, Stick, or TIG?2.Do Inverter models basically step up 110 to 220?3.The stainless work may require the welds to be not only strong but pretty.4. ...What requirements (i.e. wire gauge) will I need to build an extension cord and what length limits would be on the length of that cord?I do not currently have 220, but the electrician is coming next week to put in my 220 receptacle in the garage...
Reply:I tend to lean toward Lincoln so my recommendation would be a Lincoln PowerMig 215.  I recently picked up a floor unit, not demo'd, for $1,275.  A little over your $1k budget but a very capable machine for what you want.  I have been very happy with mine so far.  The extension depends on machine and cord distance but most likely will be #6 or possibly #8....Derek
Reply:I dunno, a stick machine might be the answer here.  Get yourself some 7018 and weld away and some nickel electrodes for the iron pipe.  Can you get nickel wire for welding iron for a mig?  Stick, it wouldnt be an issue.  stainless you could mig with the right gas and making sure the stainless tubing is purged (I now know what sugaring actually looks like).  I believe the best way to weld stainless is with tig.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Get yourself a stick!  In my opinion, good old stick welders or buzz boxes take a bum rap here on this forum, but the truth is if it can be done with a mig, it can be done with a stick if the man knows what he is doing. Its a cheaper machine to buy, will give you more capacity than an equally priced mig, and you will be a better welder in the long run for learning with a stick.  Not to mention the money you save, you can put back and buy a mig on down the road if you feel ya need it.  I weld stainless weekly with a stick patching fertilizer tanks and what not, and a good stainless electrode or a 6013 or 7014 will lay down just as smooth as any mig weld ever has if you know how to do it.  Heck, the flux will even pull up behind the puddle as you go if its done right using those rods.   Another plus is you will not have to be bothered with a gas bottle, and when switching from carbon to stainless you just switch rods, not keep several different bottles of gas on hand, roll up and change wire, etc....   You say you aren't sure that a 8ft cord will get you to where you will be working, well that's another benefit of a stick.  The machine can stay put, and all you have to do is pull your leads with you.   Also if you will be working outdoors or where air is moving it can also play havoc on a mig  due to shielding gas being blown from under the nozzle.  One other thing to keep in mind is that the welder is only part of your cost. You will need safety gear(Glasses, helmet, gloves)  Always need tools like clamps, and squares, and especially something to cut your steel.  All this adds up in the equation so be sure to keep that in mind.  Have fun, let us know what you go with.  ~JacksonI'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I`ve been reading lots of threads like this and Hammack, I like what you have to say.I am a hobbyist. I need to do some welding for sporting equipment, etc. where strength is most important but I want it to look good as well.  Mostly steel.  Someday I would like to do some aluminum projects, but no airtight tanks or stuff like that- just make 2 parts stick together.I was looking at the Harbor Freight TIG 130 Amp machine to use as a stick welder that I could use occasionally as a TIG if I am working on a bigger project.  Less than $200 is nice.  I also need the portability- very little room in my house for storage.Can I ever do aluminum with stick- like putting a biminy rail together for a boat?  Thanks for any advice.  I am mostly wondering if this machine is the best for me.
Reply:Aluminum can be done with expensive sticks and LOTS of practice.  Even then, it's not what I would normally use for something that would be visible afterwards.Other than that, my only advice is that you get what you pay for.
Reply:HI there jwr2200 and everyone else,I hope you don't mind me postin here but it is kinda relevant.  I too am in the market for a MIG welder.  I am looking to build some utility trailers and have helped build a few in the past but more as a "go for" then anything.  I am assuming that a 250A MIG will also be sufficient?  I figure 3/8" boxed steel rails will do the trick as well?Any Ideas would be great.Thanks,Kurt
Reply:What's your definition of "utility?"  3/8 steel tubing is fairly heavy duty.  But a 250A MIG is a sweet machine for the job for sure.
Reply:well I am looking to start building anything from small ATV trailers to HD car haulers.  I understand that 3/8" might be a little to heavy for the small ones but I know that 3/8" is probably just the right size for the biggest trailer that I plan to build.Any sort of Ideas on brand names and rough pricing for a 250A MIG?"Riland MM250L spoolgun MIG" or "Miller 210 MIG" as suggested above do the trick?Last edited by Kurtis; 05-18-2007 at 03:02 PM.
Reply:Lincoln PM255, Millermatic 251 or 252, ESAB Migmaster 250 are all excellent models.  eBay, of all places, has the best prices, and from real welding equipment dealers, too.
Reply:Thanks very much been a great help!