Opinions on a good wire feed welder?

I'm looking to pick up a welder, and I want to get a quality one. I'm ***uming this limits me to Hobart, Lincoln, and Miller. I want a non-gas flux core wire feed unit, and the use will be primarily automotive sheetmetal, with the toughest work being tack welds on a frame (I'm probably going to set it up at home to be boxed and send it out to be fully welded). Looking for personal opinion on this, or is there really not much of a difference between quality units? I know I am going to have to pay for quality, and that's fine, but I don't want to waste money either. I want a simple, consistent, reliable rig.

 

Buy a Miller or Lincoln. And spring for the shielding gas, it's worth it.
my $.02

 

You might want to reconsider using flux wire on sheet metal. C25 gas will make for MUCH cleaner welds with less chance of blow thru.

Any of the three mfgr's you mentioned make good units. I have a Hobart 187 and it's the best welder I've ever owned. It's more than what you think you might want, but as you get into welding, you'll find a lot more uses for it than you might think.

 

I would talk you out of buying the flux core ****......any 220 v from anyone you mentioned will do......Hobart (Miller) customer service is stellar.

 

Well I guess I'm going gas then. What are my options?

 

I have a Miller 130 amp welder that does a great job for automotive uses. It runs on 110 V and uses flux core wire or gas either one. They have one out now called the 140 that has all automatic settings. Looks pretty cool.

"EZ"
Ringgold, GA.
1966 Coupe DeVille

 

miller gas. i have been using the same one since 1978.

 

use gas