Help... What welder should I buy?

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I know some of you will think this is stupid, but I have a question about 2 very similar machines. I am a high school woodshop teacher in Ohio, and am looking to purchase a small buzz box for repairs and other small jobs. I would like to buy a 115 volt mig setup, so that it can be moved anywhere, without worry of where to plug it in. Also, I have a $300 card that can be redeemed at only lowes or home depot. Both stores offer lincoln electric equipment. Lowes offers the Lincoln Pro Mig 140 that puts out 140 amps for $529. But Home Depot offers an almost identical model (Lincoln Weld Pak 3200HD) but only puts out 135 amps for $50 less and comes with a cart. Is it worth spending $50 more for 5 amps? I also know that some professionals claim that these models sold at these stores are not as heavy duty as ones sold at a lws store. I am aware of this, but kind of have to go there, because of the $300 cards. Any Help, would be a great help.Thanks, Curse
Reply:it all depends on the size of metal you will be welding on and the duty cycle of the machine. the 110's are good for mower decks and sheet metal but when you get to thicker steel they can't hack it. i would consider going with the largest welder you can get. maybe even a 220 machine. for example i borrowed a 110 mig for a small job. i was replacing the bottom sections of handrail. metal was 1/8 thick 2 1/2 x 2 1/2. 8 total to do. about every 8 minutes the machine would kick off due to the duty cycle. it was either suffer or buy about 250 feet of lead. so i chose to suffer. just something to think about.
Reply:Originally Posted by cursedfor repairs and other small jobs.Thanks, Curse
Reply:"A common Curse is outgrowing a smaller welder"Yup, really like my Miller 140, but now wished I had a little bigger machine.Miller 140 w A/SHF Flux Core WelderDewalt Chop SawSmith O/A TorchHarley Electra Glide Classic
Reply:I have to agree with the other posts.. If you buy a machine get a 180 Amp or larger machine that is 220V.. Of course that may limit you on mobility.. The 140 amp machines are great if you are welding 3/16 plate or thinner routinely. You won't be able to tell much difference between 135-140 amps.. Are you planning on using shielding gas or are you going to use Flux Cored wire?  I wouldn't recommend welding over 1/4 plate with a 110V mig machine regardless of the maker. You can make multiple passes and do it, but I still don't recommend it.. I am not sure if lowes or Home depot sell hobart but they just released a 210V machine that is compact like the 135 or 140 Lincoln.. Its a nice option in the smaller machines.. Lincoln does do a good job with there warranty stuff.. I had a customer bring me a lincoln 140 the other day, that was out or warranty (most likely) The lead was broken, and he didn't have his original receipt.. Usually in that case they so by the manufactures date. It was out of warranty by 4 months, but they still covered the lead at no charge.. Thats a bright light in the welding supply market.. There repair guys are very helpful as well. Let me know if I can be of further assistance..
Reply:A mig welder either 120 or 240 volt is not what most people will refer to as a buzz box. Typically what people are refer to is a welder like the ac-225. If a person is only going to have one welder this is what I'd suggest. I know you don't want to deal with having to have 240 volt power but you will soon find out that unless you're buying it for body work you'll often run  short on power.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:I bought a Lincoln SP135+ trying to keep the price down within the wife's acceptance range.  My son got into welding and I convinced him to spend the extra money for a Lincoln 180C, which comes setup for a spool gun to do Al.  I have to change out the drive and gun liner to do Al on mine.  He has a much better welder and I have a really bad case of welder envy.  Think big, buy big, be happy!TeddCoHTP Microcut 400 & Invertig 160DC  Smith Dual Guard MD-510 OA Rig  Lincoln SP135+  Hobart Stickmate LX 235/160
Reply:It may be worth calling Lincoln or Miller or whoever and see if they have a demo truck available in your area so you can try out the most recent 120 volt machines available. If you are dead set on a 120 volt machine for portability you should know that most of the 120 volt welders will need a 20 amp circuit to perform within their upper scale of power.If I had to purchase a one time 120 volt machine for misc. repair jobs, I’d probably buy something along the lines of the Lincoln V155-S.It is a 15 lb. STICK / TIG machine that uses 120 or 230 volt input and 5-155 amp output. With the wealth of stick rods available, you can weld steel, stainless steel and aluminum all without shielding gas. You can check it out at: http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Cat...t.aspx?p=55678If all I was going to weld was 3/16” and under mild steel the Lincoln SP-140T MIG should work ok. You can check the specs. at:http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Cat...t.aspx?p=59618I have the Lincoln SP-125, weighs about 60 lbs. runs steel, stainless steel, and light aluminum ok but is not really that portable in the fact that you have to drag the shielding gas around. Also, it pops 15 amp breakers pretty regularly.Well that is my two cents worth. Hope you find what you are looking for.
Reply:I don't keep up on all the different machines  like I used to but if one machine cost less and had nearly as much power I'd be wondering if it wasn't a flux core machine that require additional parts in order to do mig.Tough as nails and damn near as smart