Welder Suggestions

I've been burning rods and making sparks for over 50 years and have all sorts of welders in my shop. I have an OA setup with welding and cutting torches, an ancient Lincoln "tombstone" 225 amp AC buzz box that I bought used in '66, a HTP 200 mig (nice unit), and a big old heavy (500#+) Lincoln Ideal Arc 250 AC/DC tig and stick machine. Recently I sold a Miller Regency 250 set up for aluminum with a spool gun.
If I was starting over on your budget of $800 I would get a stick unit of somewhere in the 200-250 amp AC range and an OA setup. You can weld, braze, solder, heat to bend, and cut with this combo. The OA will work for body panels, exhaust systems, and other thin stuff, and you can use the stick for heavier stuff.
Depending on just how good you are at finding bargains, $800 might also get you a small mig for body panels. Mig is faster on body panels with less problems with distortion and warping than OA on body panels.
Dave

 

after reading up in Classic trucks this month I am almost deciding to go with a millermatic 140. I was working with a budget of $800. but its more near $600 now. family spoke big numbers till the check books came out. Not sure if i should just front the extra two like i was planning or go with the 140. I wont be doing anything really thick, the heaviest welding ill be doing is a 4 link in the rear end, the frames are only 1/4" if that aren't they? and it welds up to 3/8" or was that the 180 shit its late and I have to get back to work.

I just thought it would be nice to be able to use 110V and be able to go to a friends house to work if need be.

Please foward your frustrations to me. lol

This thread has turned into a Miller v Hobart and they are on the same team.

 

I have a Miller 172 (older version of the 180) and it had been great, built a Locost frame with it and many other projects, not a single problem. Get some Welpers (MIG pliers) and some welding magnets to go with it, and make your first project a scratch built cart for the welder and bottle, good way to learn on something that doesn't need to be perfect.