Which Welder to Buy?

I am (hopefully) about to get my first project car. It will atleast need the floors replaced and a patch to fill a hole in the roof. I have an el cheapo Harbor Freight flux core welder but I just don't think it will cut it. So far I've missed out on a Lincoln SP135T selling for $275 on craigslist, I was second on the sellers list of buyers and the first guy bought it. Now I'm looking at this Lincoln Weldpak 175 or this Hobart 140 amp unit.

Do any of you have either of these welder? What is a good price for them? Which would you suggest? Or another one all together?

Thanks,
Ryland

 

I have the sp135t. It is awesome! You can get them for about 500 to 600 new. I suggest getting shielding gas. The flux core is good but leaves alot of boogers. Make your own cart

 

i would buy the lincoln, as long as i could try it out first, more amps on hand is always better.

 

There should be some comparisons out on the net. For a 110 unit the Hobart 140 or a similar model Lincoln or Miller would be the desirable way to go. Parts and repair service is easy to get for any of the three and the repair guy won't laugh at you.

If you can find an old Miller sidekick in real good shape don't p*** it up if the price is right though as my buddy abused one of those for years and it keeps coming back for more.

I was on my way to buying the Hobart 140 when I spotted my Lincoln Pro Mig 175 on Craigslist for a more than right price. I had to put 220 in the garage but I am really happy with this unit.


I agree with Special 53, make your own cart unless one comes free with the welder. That's a good way to get a real good feel of the welder too.
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On any used wire welder you will not know until you use it if the sleeve the wire runs in is kinked or broken. If the wire tends to wad up in the welder between the sleeve and the reel at sometime while you are welding you probably have moved the torch into a position that causeds excessive drag on the wire feed and it wads up in the machine. I bought a nice looking Clark 150 at Pate two years ago, it needed both a new torch and a liner sleeve. After about the third time I cleared the wad I sold it to a friend and he went on line for trouble shooting and found the cause.

 

I am a LONG LONG TIME Miller/Hobart guy, but any of the top three will be money well spent, even that RED welder you mentioned Make a suggestion, which ever of the top 3 you go with, join thier discussion forum too, you wont believe the info and talent.

 

If you need a welder quick, the Lincoln 175 for $500.00 would be a good deal, plus if you upgrade later you should be able to get back what you paid for it.

 

I bought the Lincoln sp-135 plus; this was the biggest 110 unit available at the time...this unit has infinite adjustments. Smaller units available at lowes/ homey depot but the have like 4 click on positions for amperage, not infinite, and weight about 20 lbs less than the sp135 plus. I figured spend the extry $$ and get the bigger one but was worth the $$$. got a powder coated cart on fleabay for $35, self darkening hood for $38...this unit will last u a lifetime...good luck...

gaspumpchas

"the man had me, Toad......"

 

Jesus that's a lot of money. I paid $225 or so for my 110 Lincoln, with bottle and a jackson auto darkening helmet, off of craigslist.

If you don't even have the car yet, you have time to chase down a deal.

Personally I've always had the best luck (cheapest)with stuff that was a bit of a drive, around an hour's drive or so each way, FWIW.

Really try to get a bottle and MIG setup as part of the package for whatever welder you buy. New, those bottles cost $200 full at AirGas(ask me how I know!) and then $85 or so for the regulator and hoses from Lincoln.

My welder isn't as new I guess as the one in your link, it has 2 switches instead of a rheostat for temperature, and it's possibly not got as high a duty cycle.

I've only ever used it enough to overheat once, no big deal.

If you have the means, I'd go miller 220 in a heartbeat.

For these small welders I don'[t see the use in spending a lot since they're limited due to 110

EDIT: if you have to, you can get a used bottle for $50 or less and re-cert if it's out of date is about $20 it's always nice to have 2 bottles so when you kill one you're not out of the welding game until you can get it refilled, which *always* happens after hours or on weekends.
My friend's lincoln does I think 1/4" and mine only does 3/16" , I've never noticed any real difference in power in actual use, they're both light duty. He bought his new, plus bottle, plus cart, plus MIG kit, plus helmet, plus gloves, he's into it for 6 or 700 and I'm still at $225. For that kind of money I'd get a nice used Miller.

 

I say flux core...Cheap,burns hot and splatters like hell.I used probably 25 spools and it's still going strong.........Did I mention cheap........

 

I like my lincoln, go for the 220 volt and gas. If you don't have much experience, take a night cl*** at your local Vo-tech or community college. Best $$ I spent on my entire project.

 

I teach Auto mechanics in a prison and when it came time for me to choose a mig welder to add to my home shop ( I already had a Miller tig and a gas unit), I asked the welding instructor there which one he would recommend. He chose the Lincoln sp135Plus. He has 3 of them in the cl*** and they are in constant use 5 days a week by 32 inmates. With several years of use the units show no signs of trouble. Believe me when I say that some of the inmates could break an anvil using a rubber mallet! He also recommended that I set mine up for flux core welding because it makes the unit easoer to use everywhere since the flux core wire doesn't need a shielding gas and can be used outside when the wind is blowing. I bought mine 3+ years ago and really enjoy it. It does everything I ask of it. One other plus for the Lincoln over the Miller 110 mig is tha the consumables are available at Home Depot, Lowe's, and other big box retailers which comes in handy when you need something on a weekend because you didn't plan ahead and the welding shop was closed. Don't ask how I came to that revelation!