Other MIG welder brands

admin

I see discussions of Hobart/Miller and Lincoln.  I have looked at other brands like Clarke.  Since I will be a casual welder -- auto restoration -- will one of these "off brands" work for twice-a-month type of usage?   What makes them inherently less desirable?By the way, does anyone know of any evening welding classes in the Atlanta area?Thanks in advance,John Martin
Reply:are you looking for a 120 volt welder or a 220 volt welder?
Reply:dont watse your time and or money on a OF BRAND ! RED, BLUE OR WHITE  ARE WELL WORTH THE MONEY !!!!once you get it you will be usung it more than you think !!brian
Reply:I completely agree with the 'Dawg!  Stay with Hobart, Miller or Lincoln - but be aware, some of the low end Lincolns are made in Italy, as are the Clarke units.  Many of these Italian units and the Chinese units sold by Harbor Freight (Fright?) lack heavy duty components.  Most have minimal sized transformers that heat up rapidly and thermal trip quickly, meaning a low duty cycle.  The cheaper units also lack capacitors and decent reactors (chokes) which really adversly affects arc stability.  Instead of being a consistent welding maching capable or running a decent bead, many these cheap units are unstable "daubers" or require inordinate skill to operate. One of the best low end 120V units is the Hobart HH-135.  It can be had for about $430 plus tax at the Tractor Supply Stores, does mig and flux core.  The Clarke is about $270, as I recall, but there's a world of difference in performance.   I'd also be concerned about supportabiility, i.e., spare parts or accessories,  when you need them.  Some Italian and Chinese units don't even come with a decent  manual listing P/N's, leading me to believe the manufacturers think (or hope) these units are throw-aways.
Reply:Okay, so I buy one of the big three.   I have 220V single phase, want to do steel -- auto restoration mostly -- copper and aluminum.   For heavy jobs, assuming I do some, like trailers, beams, etc., I will most likely pick up a stick welder.Given all of that, do I go with a 110V 75-100 amp or move up to a 220V 100-200 amp unit?  Where to buy?  In Atlanta is there a cheap, perfect equipment dealer?  Would you consider buying a used unit?Thanks
Reply:i would just order one off of ebay(brand new )  or h.f. stick welders are fine to buy used but i would want a warrenty on the mig, just to be safe. dont cheap up something like that! brian
Reply:I would take a good look at the HH175.  For the $ it is my pick in  this class of machine and twice as good as the 120V units.  I agree with dawg, you think it will be occasional but once you get it that all changes.  If I wanted top end in this class I might lean to the Lincoln SP175.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:I'll second the HH175..... That's what i'd go with given you've allready got the 220 outlet. Check out Northern Tool ... They've got great prices, No Tax, and Free Shipping... and last time I got a catalogue in the mail they were also including a cart for the welder.
Reply:HH175 is excellent choice.  Check at the local farm supply store (around here it is called Tractor Supply Co, or TSC).  They are by far the cheapest local dealer, and they stock all the consummables for the smaller units.For roughly twice the money you can get a MM210, which will never leave you wanting more welder.  It is an awesome SC machine, and can weld 3/8" plate in single pass.  Much better duty cycle to boot.  It is basically an entry level industrial unit.  You could realistically forego the stick machine at this level of MIG.
Reply:I'll have to agree with Aaron on the HH175 as I really like mine, very friendly to beginners. I considered a 210 but couldn't justify it given my skill level and usage. Sounds like you may be in the same boat. Check with B& R Welder.com where I got mine for $565. there has been a slight price increase but they pay shipping and no tax.  "All that is required for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing"
Reply:North Metro Tech has evening welding classes - I took two. I bought a Millermatic 175 and ran a circuit to my garage...
Reply:i went to sears today and i saw their WELDING  section, ha what a freaking joke, clarke welders and CRAFTSMAN mig ?  give me a break !! even their hand tools suck now !! the diffrence in quality between my grandfathers craftsman tools and mine is crazy they are JUNK NOW A DAYS !!!BOYCOT CRAFTSMAN !!!!!!!!!!DAWG
Reply:Brian,I believe you are referring to the new lineup of crapsman tools, which are much more efficiently made, if you get my drift. I still own a few pieces of crapsman, but most of my remaining stuff is relegated to "spare" status, or stuffed in a duffel bag in the back of the truck.
Reply:They should change the name to Chinaman.
Reply:Now, now, boys!!jmartin if you want to do auto restoration as the primary task, go for a decent weldr.  The chaepo's don't do well at ALL on light guages - lot's of burn through, mostly because they lack the good stuff that the OlPilot talked about.And, like the troops said, you think it will be occasional use, then pretty soon the wife is yellin' "Honey, it's ten PM, for God's sake", and you want to hang for another hour...Be well.hankj
Reply:I'm sorry pick a point of disagreement, but i have used Craftsman hand tools for 25 years and most of the line up is better than ever. I've used a cheater pipe more than a few times. I will admit that some (vise grip imitations for example) are junk, but they were always junk. The wrenches sockets and ratchets are very strong and use what Snap-On calls flank drive. The push button release that has always been on the ratchets is a great feature that the more expensive brands seem to ignor.As for their electric power tools, I quess I will agree that these are not the best out there. And, I would never buy a welder from them. BTW my welders are MM175 and Lincoln AC225.Last edited by Sirarcalot; 04-23-2004 at 04:50 PM.MM175Lincoln AC225 Tombstone
Reply:I know a guy that works at a place where they heat treat alot of the craftsman tools, he wont by them.
Reply:Atlanta area tech has welding classes. If you check some of the other tech schools around Atlanta they have welding classes too. DavidDavid
Reply:i would go with a lincoln 175 nd they are made in the good usa not over the water
Reply:Let me just throw in a plug for the new HH140 and 180 machines, both of which are reputed to be really sweet on the low end/sheet metal side of things.  I just got a 180, but haven't buttered up any sheet yet, too busy having fun with 3/16 angle for my MIG/Plasma stand.  I bought off ebay, and couuld not ask for better price, better tech talk (7 days a week), and faster (Damn fast!) shipping than Indiana Oxygen.  Their eBay handle is different, but they are the one's offering "Anything Points" in their description, and free shipping.  I bought my HH180 anfd my Thermal Dynamics Plasma Cutter from them, plus another oder for some consumables.  Have to be the best merchant I have dealt with, and I've bought plenty on ebay!At the Lake
Reply:I'm well pleased with the little Miller 175 I bought. Tossed the stock cord and added a 20 foot heavy gauge cable with a twistlock power plug so it'll reach anywhere in the shop. It's a nice unit, all metal wire feed mechanism too, no plastic. the cart they tossed into the deal is a certified POS, but then any competent fabricator ALWAYS builds their own custom cart (I just haven't gotten around to it yet :-)
Reply:Just bought a HH180, and I love it. I live in Indianapolis, so I bought it from Indiana Oxygen through E-Bay and then picked it up in the store. Great people and great service. Plus, can't beat the price. $558 out the door. Stick with miller or hobart. Have two cousins who are ironheads (read: Union Ironworkers), who do this stuff for a livin' on BIG stuff, and they won't use Lincoln. Miller or nothin for them, so I figure, they prolly know what they are talkin' about. I love mine, it's easy to use and will do just about anything I am ever gonna try. I agree with everyone here. I thought about the 110v machine, but it's just not worth it. If you have the source already, just pay the extra few bucks for the 220... you'll be much happier. A friend of mine has one of the Clarke ones, bought it onlline, and it sucks. It welds... yeah, but it doesn't do it well, and because everything on it is metric it was impossible to get fittings to connect to a reg for the shielding gas, which the unit didn't come with. He had to buy the reg separate, and then connect it with some rubber fuel line to the cheap plastic line from the welder. It looked like the stuff you use to feed water to an ice maker in your refridgerator. Pretty ghetto. Had to use a hose clamp, and slide the plastic line inside the rubber line and then clamp it down. Stay away from these units. Plus he paid like 400 bones for it, so he didn't save any money anyways. Just my $.02. As far as craftsman... well, I used to buy them, but it just isn't worth it anymore. I have a set of Husky tools from Home Cheepo that I have had for about 5 years now, and haven't borken a socket or driver yet (these were the ones that were still made in USA). They new stuff is all taiwanese... so buyer beware. Any more if you can't afford Mac or Snappy, you pretty much are stuck with overseas stuff. Oh well, maybe someday I'll have the money for the good stuff. Later-"If at first you don't succeed... get a bigger HAMMER"HH180
Reply:Just bought a HH180, and I love it. I live in Indianapolis, so I bought it from Indiana Oxygen through E-Bay and then picked it up in the store. Great people and great service. Plus, can't beat the price. $558 out the door. Stick with miller or hobart. Have two cousins who are ironheads (read: Union Ironworkers), who do this stuff for a livin' on BIG stuff, and they won't use Lincoln. Miller or nothin for them, so I figure, they prolly know what they are talkin' about. I love mine, it's easy to use and will do just about anything I am ever gonna try. I agree with everyone here. I thought about the 110v machine, but it's just not worth it. If you have the source already, just pay the extra few bucks for the 220... you'll be much happier. A friend of mine has one of the Clarke ones, bought it onlline, and it sucks. It welds... yeah, but it doesn't do it well, and because everything on it is metric it was impossible to get fittings to connect to a reg for the shielding gas, which the unit didn't come with. He had to buy the reg separate, and then connect it with some rubber fuel line to the cheap plastic line from the welder. It looked like the stuff you use to feed water to an ice maker in your refridgerator. Pretty ghetto. Had to use a hose clamp, and slide the plastic line inside the rubber line and then clamp it down. Stay away from these units. Plus he paid like 400 bones for it, so he didn't save any money anyways. Just my $.02. As far as craftsman... well, I used to buy them, but it just isn't worth it anymore. I have a set of Husky tools from Home Cheepo that I have had for about 5 years now, and haven't borken a socket or driver yet (these were the ones that were still made in USA). They new stuff is all taiwanese... so buyer beware. Any more if you can't afford Mac or Snappy, you pretty much are stuck with overseas stuff. Oh well, maybe someday I'll have the money for the good stuff. Later-"If at first you don't succeed... get a bigger HAMMER"HH180