Recently got a Sears Craftman 110v mig welder for Christmas, had stuff missing,went back,one left in the store,same thing,stuff missing,( sheild, nozzles,tip,welding wire,hammer brush),etc. They order one,it comes in, same thing.So, I get a refund. I'd like to find a comparible one by another make. The Craftsman is a nice small unit with rolling cart. Will weld from thin sheet metal up to 3/16 thick steel. I've used a stick welder for years,but, want to move up. It's just going to be for hot rodding and repair stuff,so I don't need a professional model.The Sears one was about $459.00. I've heard the Craftman are made by Clarke? Anyone know of other brands that would the same features and capability similar to the Craftsman I mentioned? Thanks for any help.
get a hobart, they're made by miller and are serviced with miller parts. the handler 140 is more than most home shops are ever going to need. yes, 220vac is nice to have if you can afford it, but like i say, not going to die without a 220 machine
I picked up a lightly used Hobart on craigslist a few years back for $300 with cart, tips, etc... Look for some deals on a used one, you'll get more welder.
I recently got a slightly used Miller Migpak 10 for $200 (seller claimed less than 2 hours - so clean I believe it) off of Kijiji. I'm just learning to use it, but my buddy is a welder by trade and couldn't believe how well it worked. He first laughed at me for buying it, but after doing some welding on my frame for me, he was quite impressed what a little 110 volt unit can do.
What's the going price in the US for the Handler 140? A local farm supply place just listed them in their sale flyer for $629 Canadian. Just wondering if that's a decent buy or not.
I say save up and get a 230 unit, Lincoln, money well spent. The bottom of the line gas 230 Lincoln will do most anything. Im not spokesperson for the company, I just know whats up.
After quite a bit of research I picked this up. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200306073_200306073
if im not mistaken i think the craftsman welders are made by century. i had a century machine that was 110 that i did light metal with, worked good. for heavier stuff i have a miller 210 230v mig machine, i love it
I have the small Hobart mig and love it. I sold my Lincoln stick because the dust was collecting on it. For a hobbyist, you can't beat them. I have done a lot of small projects that have amazed myself how easy it was with the mig. I bought it to install a firewall in my 40 coupe. Wasn’t long after I got it I realized the gas bottle was needed for sheet metal work. When I'm working on something like suspension welds or anything that needs to be welded with good penetration, I just use it to spot in place then take it over to a buddy’s place that has the right equipment to do the job right. It has paid for itself over and over.
I just picked up some off brand 110 mig for $50 from a friend...I figured it was a good buy to get my feet wet. Its wire fed and got some good wire for Christmas, so all I need is a tank...what is a good price for tank/gauges/filled? I stopped in to the local Miller place and the guy asked my how much I needed and what mixture (argon/CO2?)...when I said "UUUMMM...DuH...IDUNNO..." he kinda closed shop on me... ...gonna be starting with building a cart and repairing my trailers...3/8 to 1/4 mild steel... ...can you put me in the right direction so I don't look like an ***hole next time???
I picked up a Lincoln SP 175. At the time, the biggest small welder they had. I have made 4 vehicles with it to date, and countless other things. I picked up a second gun and whip and set it up for welding aluminum, so I now can swap bottles and whips and weld aluminum or steel. I agree with Cooper Cruisers and look for a deal on a used one. A friend of mine came across a Miller 140, Hobart plasma, 3 aluminum pipe wrenches, a complete craftsman 225 piece set all for $600.
I bought a Lincoln welder at Home Depot . Great welder on a 110v for the price of the Sears welder ! You won't be disappointed !
I've purchased HTP welders and plasma cutters in the past and find them a great value. Sold thru their web site only and all American made.
my Hobart is 22 years old, LOVE it been in shop 1 time...my fault ran it with a 50 foot ext. cord, also have a Miller Synrowave 180 Tig also a good unit.... John
I've had a Miller 90 for about 12 years now. Works like a charm. I think they upgraded with the Miller 110. I can weld up to 1/4" but anything over that and I fire up the Antique Lincoln Crackerbox.
I have a Lincoln 135t welder, I love it never had a major problem with it. Found it cheap at swap meet in the original box and everything... Hopedepot sells em for like 475 or something... And you can get all the replacement stuff for them at any welding supply house. just make sure its got provisions for shielding gas.
expect to pay about $45 for a good regulator, another $150-175 for a 80cf tank and go with 85/15 Ar/Co2, which is gonna cost about $30ish to fill... usually they'll toss in the first fill for free when you buy a new bottle... safety certification is also another thing you'll pay for with a bottle... $25 for 6 years was the last i remember paying on an oxy bottle. then, slap the ****er in the head
same here, I've got an older lincoln110, and never had any problems at all, and does an amazing job for a 110. It's probably my favorite tool.
I have a Hobart Handler 140, had it for nearly 10 years. Love it, and have used it to build all kinds of stuff in heavy and light steel.
I've had the millermatic 135 for quite a few years, excellent little machine, I just recently found a good deal on a used miller 251, I like it alot. I would suggest going with a miller, lincoln , or hobart, because A: they are a quality built machine that you will get many years of trouble free use out of B: if you ever decide to upgrade to a bigger machine, your little old miller/lincoln/hobart will sell quick and still draw some decent coin
I hate to tell you this now, after all you've been through because I went through it also. Only instead of returning mine I just vwent and bought the missing stuff. When I went to load the wire I bought separatly I had to remove the cover to do so and LO AND BEHOLD what do you suppose was in there.? You guessed it. So at least I had some xtra tips and wire. Have used it a lot and takes some getting used to and not burning thru. I don't like bthe choices of amp settings. Only 2. Would be better to have that adjustabl.e I don't know where it was made. I just ***ume because it is a craftsmen that it is made usa. I am probably wrong. I need to pay closer attention.
A WORD OF CAUTION: If you decide to go Lincoln, than be sure you buy the right grade. The Lincolns sold at HD and Lowes are really cheap grades, compared to the better quality ones sold at your local welding supply. Stay away from those "MigPacks" and "ProMigs", they are junk! I have a Millermatic 140 and absolutely love it! Hobart is made by Miller and is somewhere between the Lowe's Lincoln and the Welding Supply Lincoln. One thing thats nice about Miller/Hobart is they are the same quality regardless where you buy. I have personally welded with both Lincoln and Miller, and I think Miller is a better machine when it comes to 110V units. If you can't afford a Miller, i strongly recommend a Hobart Handler 135 or 140. Good Luck!
the 175 Lincoln (220 volt,175 Amp) is $625 at Home Depot..was thinking about picking one up. why would it be a ****pier machine than the same model 175 Lincoln (220 volt,175 Amp) sold somewhere else? never heard that one before..
I hope you mean 3/16 not 3/8, even 1/4 is really pushing it even with the better 110v models. Don't expect "some off brand 110 mig for $50" to weld 1/4".
Of course if you go model # to model # and they are the same, than by all means go where the low price leads you. I am just saying that with the 110V welders anyway, Lincoln tends to make two different lines of welders: The Big Box store line, and the Welding Supply Store line. If you go to ANY reputable WSS and ask for a Lincoln WeldPak series welder, or a ProMig series, they won't have it. Sure both lines may advertise the same amperage output and voltage, when you look at both, the WSS line (sp-135+ for example) will be much better constructed. I don't know much, but i know welders
I thought craftsman welders were built by Century. Not sure where they are built. ****, everything that is made in America these days are built with Chinese parts, so "Made in the USA" is subject to interpretation.
I have a Lincoln 110 Weld pak 100 11 years old and still kicking with alot of hours on it and many spools of wire.
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