New welder trying to decide on a machine

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Hi guys, I realize the "new welder" threads are abundant on this forum. Any help you can give me is very much appreciated. I recently bought a small farm and I have been planning on getting back into small scale stick welding for various projects (tables, fixing gates, making small things like grills or smokers, general repairs, maybe even making small trailers one day). I did some welding in high school and my dad is/was a professional welder and made gobs of things when I was little. I don't have an infinite budget but as I have been looking into things, I cant decide where to start. Although I trust what my dad says, I do not have the best relationship with him so I have not pestered him further. He suggested I buy a thermal arc 95s. I m not interested in the tig option so the best price I can find is about $300.00. I was planning to do this but upon searching I found that there might be some better options for me. I also found this Northern Industrial unit which has stellar ratings and a much lower price  http://amzn.com/B007AE32I6 or maybe this one http://www.harborfreight.com/80-amp-...ck-to-top-link. Finally, I considered paying to have 220 installed in my shop and picking up this http://amzn.com/B004I5OG0II'm pretty torn. What do you guys think? I cant imagine welding projects with metal more than 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. I believe maybe those smaller welders will have some issues with that but I don't know how much of that ill be doing.Thanks!Phil
Reply:AC transformer 225-250 blue, off white or red.Used is fine.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:i have the Northern Industrial Welders Arc 200 which is the last link you have posted. runs great for what i use it for at home repairs and projects burns 1/8 6011 ,6013 , and 7014 rods good. the leads are on the shorter side but you can always clamp other ones on to extend them . best 230v ac stick welder ive seen for the price.   (pad of  1/8 6013 beads)   (short 3/32 7014  weld)
Reply:I love my hobart stickmate LX AC/DC. You can't go wrong with this unit or its Miller cousin if you get it for the right price. The TA 95 is going to be too small in my opinion. I am frequently up around 130-140 amps running 1/8 7014 and 7018 rods. Sometimes even 100 amps on 6011/6013. You will most likely be limited to 3/32 6011 rod or 1/16th everything else. Its just not enough power in my opinion. For the same budget you can get a nice used transformer welder that will serve you better I think.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Hello and welcome. Take a minute to add your location to your profile so we know where you are at. Many of the guys browse CL on a regular basis and may have a good suggestion for you if they know where you are located.As mentioned a use transformer AC or AC/DC stick machine would be a good choice. I regularly see the AC only ones on CL for $50-150 and the AC/DC units running about $100-200 more. The store branded units like Craftsmans, Montgomery Wards as well as the lesser known ones like Century, Fortney, Dayton etc tend to sell for less than the name brand units like Lincoln, Miller or Hobart and are just as good. Most were made by one of the big name makers and just had a new paint scheme and label applied.Basic transformer units like these are tanks. There is almost nothing in them to fail beyond say maybe diodes in the AC/DC units and maybe switches or the fan. If it welds, chances are it will continue to work for years and years. I've seen some pretty abused ones, ones from floods and heavy use that still welded as good as the day they were new.Given a choice, go with a 220v powered machine. The 110v ones are limited in power. The TA 95s is one of the better 110v units, but it pales in comparison with a cheap 220v tranny unit. There is no substitute for horsepower. I wouldn't trust the small 110v powered units on anything over maybe 1/4" max. A 220v machine will do 1/2" + no problem..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:I would check on a Thermal Arc 3 in 1 either the 181I or the 211I . The 211 is 115 or 230 volt input, the 181 is just 230 volt input. This would give you a good MIG welder and a decent stick welder for repairs on heavier stuff or cast iron. You also can add a spoolgun for aluminum work and a TIG setup for steel or stainless steel.Miller xmt304,  Miller S22 p12, Miier Maxstar SD, Miller 252 w 30A, Miller super32p12, Lincoln Ranger 9, Thermal Arc 181I with spoolgun, Hypertherm 10000 ,Smith torches. Esab 161lts miniarc.
Reply:You will out grow the Thermal Arc stick welder simply because it doesn't have enough amperage to do a lot. If your going to weld on a farm i'm guessing you wont always be next to a plug in so i'd recommend an engine drive like the Eagle 10,000 or Miller Wildcat 200 and this way if power does go out you will have a generator to power the house or farm. If you can't get an engine drive I would get an AC buzzbox with variable amperage like Northern Tools Arc-200 or a Miller Thunderbolt.Lincoln pro core 125 14''chop saw7 inch grinder,2-4.5 inch grinders,electric die grinder.Half inch drillAnd alot of hand tools
Reply:wow..thanks for the all help. Since posting, I contacted an electrician friend who is going to install a 220v in my shop for free. So, I am def gonna get a more powerful machine. I don't think I can afford a gas/engine powered unit. What about this one? http://www.harborfreight.com/welding...9029-8588.html
Reply:Don't bother withe the HF junk. You can do much better used. You get a better machine and will save money.I pulled up Searchtempest and what I think is your zipcode and checked CL in your area.http://www.searchtempest.com/search?...min&maxAsk=max2 quick ones that popped out. The Century isn't a bad little machine. I bet you might be able to get him to drop the price some since the listing is a bit old. I'd offer $75 and see if he takes it. Make sure the handle to adjust the amps slides. Those machines some times get rusted stuck if they only get run at one setting. Don't force it if it doesn't move. Use that to get the price dropped even lower. It's not too tough to free up the sliding shunt if you open the case and gently work it some.The NAPA one is a bit over priced at what he's asking It's  a tapped machine vs the Century with the continuous adjustment. Again it's not exactly recent, so I'd push on the price. Unit looks really clean. The guy asking $400 for the Lincoln AC 225 is on crack. You can get those for less brand new in the store. That's a $150 machine used in most places. $200 tops and that would be paying premium prices.http://westslope.craigslist.org/tld/4395166923.htmlhttp://westslope.craigslist.org/tls/4368941046.htmlDon't be in a huge rush. If you keep looking and are willing to drive a bit, you can find something good at a reasonable price. Most of the lower priced units new are cheap import junk..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:Great thank you!
Reply:What others already said....Miller Thunderbolt XL AC/DC, Hobart LX AC/DC or Lincoln -225/125 AC/DC.  Avoid Horrible Fright welders at all cost.  Also, Forney makes a neat 220v AC/DC stick welder in a cool green color.  I saw one demo'd today! The Forney 235FI AC/DC model.  Heck I'd probably get this green one now if I wasn't so happy with my Lincoln.  I just don't have the heart to part with it. Maybe I'll save it and pass it down to my son when he finally gets fired from "parental payroll" and moves out! Attached ImagesLast edited by SuperArc; 04-12-2014 at 11:28 PM.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:Miller, lincoln, hobart, and century AC 220 buzz boxes on Craigslist almost daily for 150 or less. They would be my first choice if I were you.
Reply:If you can get an AC/DC machine or DC only machine because you will like DC a lot better than AC.Lincoln pro core 125 14''chop saw7 inch grinder,2-4.5 inch grinders,electric die grinder.Half inch drillAnd alot of hand tools
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcWhat others already said....Miller Thunderbolt XL AC/DC, Hobart LX AC/DC or Lincoln -225/125 AC/DC.  Avoid Horrible Fright welders at all cost.  Also, Forney makes a neat 220v AC/DC stick welder in a cool green color.  I saw one demo'd today! The Forney 235FI AC/DC model.
Reply:Originally Posted by flux core joeIf you can get an AC/DC machine or DC only machine because you will like DC a lot better than AC.
Reply:Originally Posted by kctgbThat Forney sure looks like an older Miller thunder bolt, I wonder if they copied the TB.
Reply:I looked up that Forney in several places on the web and I can buy a Hobart equivalent for less money in my area. I would go for the Hobart before the Forney but the higher DC amperage would be an added benefit.
Reply:Here ya go..http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/4386809348.html...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterHere ya go..http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/4386809348.html...zap!
Reply:Thanks again for all the help. I've decided to get one of the Lincoln 225. I'm hoping to get the AC/Dc but it will depend on what I can afford and or find on CL. I've reached out to a couple locals who are selling. My next question: my electrician said I need to buy the correct outlet for the welder I want. According to Lincoln's website the 225 AC uses a NEMA 6-50P plug. However it does not say if the AC/DC uses the same. Does it?
Reply:Originally Posted by prosty41Thanks again for all the help. I've decided to get one of the Lincoln 225. I'm hoping to get the AC/Dc but it will depend on what I can afford and or find on CL. I've reached out to a couple locals who are selling. My next question: my electrician said I need to buy the correct outlet for the welder I want. According to Lincoln's website the 225 AC uses a NEMA 6-50P plug. However it does not say if the AC/DC uses the same. Does it?
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterHere ya go..[url]http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/4386809348.html[/...zap!
Reply:As an update, I'm meeting a guy this weekend who wants to sell me a four year old brand new condition lincoln 225 AC/DC. He only wants $200.00. Sounds to me like he Doesent know what he has or it's only the AC. If it's the AC/DC in new condition, I'm thinking $200.00 is a steal.
Reply:But don't they have jumps / steps in the amp settings?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 prosty41Thanks again for all the help. I've decided to get one of the Lincoln 225. I'm hoping to get the AC/Dc but it will depend on what I can afford and or find on CL. I've reached out to a couple locals who are selling. My next question: my electrician said I need to buy the correct outlet for the welder I want. According to Lincoln's website the 225 AC uses a NEMA 6-50P plug. However it does not say if the AC/DC uses the same. Does it?