Ok I am graduating from college next week and my family said they are going to get me a gift. I didn't expect it since I have a career and a family already, but the fiance slipped and told my mom that I have been wanting a Welder for some time now but I couldn't afford it at the present time. So my mom & dad (divorced) and my grandma are going in on a welder for me. Im not supposed to know but my fiance asked which one I wanted. Here is what I was thinking. Millermatic 180. I don't know much about welders as I haven't had one, but I have welded before, still a newbie novice at it though. I just wanted to know what anyone suggests for welders and what else I should get besides the obvious welding helmet and gloves. Any suggestions will work and I have 220 in the garage along with 110. Most of the stuff Ill be welding will be body panels and frame projects. Steel for the most part. And my soon to be father in law works for AIRGAS and said he will get me a cylinder- filled, so thats not a problem either. thanks.
I would have gotten one of those exact machines . But, i got lucky and found an abused century 170 for free . go with that one . The lincolns are good too but i like the Miller better . Plus.....free gas ! that's 200 smackers right there. congrats to you sir.
What do I need to go with the welder? Anything you guys can think that would really help with tasks. Im guessing magnets and the clamps, but what else?
Miller 175 owner here. The wire speed tracking drives me nuts sometimes but I love it. You won't be dissapointed with the 180!
This is going to sound a little smart assed, but it's not intended to. (I'm not that smart.) Get a good fire extinguisher and keep it close. MIG welding can throw a lot of sparks. Also, think about a welding blanket. Having said that, the Miller is a great choice. I have two Miller TIG machines, and love them. I also have a Lincoln MIG machine, and it's a good machine, but when it comes time to replace it, I'll be looking at Millers.
go for the hobart handler 187. save them a few bucks and get an excelent machine. internals are same as miller, the machine has 7 voltage taps instead of infinite control. some guys liek infinite, i am a certified welder and actually like the taps. you nail the same setting every time and with 7 settings over 187 amps its much better than some other brands with less settings on the same 180 range. if you want the option of adding a spool gun, get the hobart handler 210. i have one and think it is awsome. the hobart migs are like a forgoten treasure. great american made machine for a good price with excelent customer service. try cyberweld or wait till tsc or northern have a sale on them, they do quite often. if any one has any doubts, go check out the hobart forum, read the reviews.
git your self a good pair of welding sleves,if you can talk them into it git a automatic darkening lens for your helmet ,light gloves if your carefull heavy gloves if your like me and forget now and then and pick up parts that have not cooled off. the miller is cady of all !!!
as compared to the Cyberweld I found a few on Ebay and they were a lil cheaper and no tax and no shipping. speaking about Millermatic's 180s note taken about the sleeves and fire extinguisher. I took mine in the house for the winter as the wood burning fireplace always worries the fiance. Now its just the waiting game till I get it. I hope it comes with a great manual cause I get bored in my "work vehicle" and like to read, this semester it was school books, but now I can get back to my car magazines and stuff. I used to be able to get HAMB in the squad but some people screwed it up for the whole and were looking at dirty stuff. So now no more HAMB, have to go home for lunch break at 3AM. well thanks so far and Ill let ya know what the final verdict is. One big thing I have been taking into account is the availability of replacement parts.
1 variable shade auto darkening helmet 1 pair good MIG gloves 1 canvas welders jacket 1 pair MIG pliers 1 can of nozzle dip 1 can of anti-splatter 1 fire blanket (Harbor Freight has leather ones cheap) 1 spool of .030 ER70S-6 1 bottle of 75/25 gas 10 MIG tips All you need to throw sparks.
you might see if the FIL gets any employee discount on the welder as well. stack up the savings of the hobart machine and a possible good employee discount, you might come out even better. think about a good helmet too, auto dark or not.
The local Airgas price-matched Cyberweld when I got my Miller TIG. Might not hurt to ask. Flathead6 pretty much nailed the accessories list, except I like to keep some 0.023 wire around too. The MIG pliers are super-handy, 'specially when you're learning! I've been pleasantly surprised how well my Northern Tool Auto-Darkening helmet does. They are usually only about $50, and well worth it. Adjustable shade, too. Where the Auto helmets really shine is when you have to stick your head in a place where there's no room for you to flip a conventional helmet down. When I'm working out on the workbench, I'd just as soon use my conventional helmet. For a welding jacket, a heavy old denim shirt or jacket does a pretty good job, but then canvas welding jackets usually aren't too expensive.
CRAFTSMAN mig! My dad had one before, one that came with the cart and shit and it was a dream to use. I think it set him back like $350 or something like that. 1shot
Do not get a ESAB.Have a 251 Complained about it for 7 yrs.Had to threaten to sue,they gave me a rebuilt machine,told me i needed to get use to it.the first welder,only been welding for 35 yrs. got the welder from National Weldering Charlotte,NC.They are now owned by AIRGAS
thank you Flathead6. exactly what I was looking for. and guys I can't wait to start. it'll be fun getting stuff done in my garage instead of having to beg for a friend to tack a piece together and then run home and try it and then go back to finish weld it.
Miller 210... Hands down...!!! the Miller 251's are fucking AMAZING, but a bit(!) out of your price range and very advanced..... 210's are the most user-frienly welders ever.... Anyone who's ever had/used a Miller 210 knows what I'm talking about.... It can't be beaten for the price.... When I was welding for a living I would actually chose the 210 over the 251 because it was so straight-forward and fool-proof... Digital shit is nice, but I like to set the machine to 6/66 and just buzz away... And down the road, get a Bernard gun for the Miller unit.... Those things kick ass...
Ok been waiting now for the money to come in and/or the gift itself. Im officially done with school, now I have my bachelors. I was torn apart about which welder to get. I almost got the millermatic 140 with Autoset, I was reading into it and I could use it, if I had something pretty thick I would just make two passes. I decided to just front the extra $250 and get the 180 with Auto you can always weld smaller, but welding up with smaller sucks. One reason I was going to get the 140 was I was looking into a Hobart 250ci Plasma cutter to go along with it. I think I will wait till August when I get a bonus from my degree from work. Ill be inquiring whats the best plasma then, I am also getting married in August but I know I wont be able to use that money on the garage. Oh well. Ill get pics of the new setup ASAP. I cant wait.
If you were looking for a second "tool", my choice would be an oxy-acetylene system. For small or detail work, the torch is hard to beat.
I have to agree... and there are many times that I use it just to heat something (for bending, shrinking, etc.)... not just cutting or welding. And much more effective than a small propane torch. Plasmas are nice, but you have to do a lot of fancy cutting to justify the cost.
I might be a bit "spoiled", but nothing beats the CNC plasma cutter that was at the shop that I used to work for... You could put 2 4'x8' sheets on there comfortably.... Talking torches, buy a Henrob....
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