Home depot elders

Has anybody used this lincoln welder from home depot? http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100031840
I`m thinking of getting one for the garage. I need one pretty bad for my mini bike and motorcycles and such. HOME DEPOT WELDERS!!!! Not elders wtf lmao.

 

Shit! I thought this was going to be a job want ad for old geezers like me. You know like the Wal-Mart Greeters or the K-Mart Blue Lighters. Sorry don't know much about Home Despot Welders.

 

My understanding is the welders at the big box stores have their transformers wound in Aluminum wire,because it's cheaper.The "same" machine from a welding supplier will have Copper windings.

 

I have a Lincoln like the one pictured, but it didn't come from Home Depot. It works great on light stuff, but you run out of the duty cycle while welding heavy angle iron. I think you can get a gas hookup for about $85 extra, but I have just used flux core. It is great for exhaust pipes.

 

How dare you question the wisdom of the home depot elders!!!

 

Specs say flux core only (no gas) and 11 gage max, which is probably optimistic. Doesn't state duty cycle. Save your money and buy a 175 machine with running gear and bottle of gas. You'll be glad you did.

 

Get one set up for gas. Much better to weld with. Have a buddy that got the 135hd lincoln from the depot. Good machine. the HD stands for home depot.

 

Ive got this one from home depot.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100093231

Boght it about 2 years ago and its done well so far. The only thing that sucks is the 20% duty cycle. But i was ready to go once i got it home. Came with a cart (if you can call it that), mig wire, flux core, and the regulator and hose for the sheilding gas. So im pretty happy with it for the price. I just ended up going with this one because i couldnt afford a 175 unit.

John

 

I shopped at the home when I was buying my mig; on the home depoo unit,not only is the amperage selector not infinite (has like 6 clicks, can't tune it any finer), but the Home depoo unit weights about 25 lbs less than my sp135 plus...spend the extra and and get the better unit...like $539 on the net with free delivery; the one I got was shipped from the Lincoln factory. U won't regret it...

" YOU CAN'T MESS WITH THE LAW, MILNER...." Officer Holstein

gaspumpchas

 

Like everyone else is saying, it would be good for very light duty stuff.
Any welding that requires a ton of heat (Thick metal) or distance (body work) and you'll be behind buying a Lincoln from HD.

Check out craigslist.org and try to find just the rest used welder. Be picky. Have him lay a bead for you if he knows how.

 

You are very correct.
Keep your local welding store in business, by from them. Then, they'll be there when you need consumables.
Dont forget the fire extinguisher.

 

I have about a 5 year old century if you really want one.. Make me an offer.....
Dave

 

two words...

CRAP...and, CRAP again.

avoid! save your $300/$500 dollars...until it is $1500.00 and get something that will do more for you then provide another place to set an empty six pack...I know...I set my empty's on mine. Its all its good for.

 

save your money and get a miller 175 with gas, you will love it

 

The one in the original post appears to have a single control. Especially for a beginning welder, the ability to have dual knobs for power and wire speed is critical to good welds. So whatever you get, it needs 2 fully variable knobs, none of that 4 click knob crap. I have a lincolnSP135+ at home. It's all the 120V welder the average home fabricator is going to need for $600ish and should be built to last forever at a home use rate. Think about it.

 

Gas is a must.

110 volt machines are best suited for sheetmetal only.

 

have you checked ebay? I just got a lincoln 135 for 380$ and it was practically brand new. Both spools were unopened. If you look for a week or two you'll find a really good deal. Another 135 in really good shape sold for 340$ the day after i got mine.

 

Try taking a Home Depot 135 to a real Lincoln dealer for warranty work. Same goes for a John Deere riding mower from HD vs. one from a JD dealer. There's a reason why the big boxes sell stuff cheap.

 

BTW, if you don't know where to find the welder dealers in your town, open the yellow pages to "industrial gases". Those places that deliver bottles of oxygen, argon, etc. They all have a showroom full of welders, welding gear, and welding consumables.

Doesn't matter if you're talking Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, etc- Ask for the "trade show deal" and they'll usually throw in a cart and some kind of deal on a bottle. Walk out with it in-hand.

 

i'll second that save your cash and buy one with better controlls and gas doesent matter what brand miller, lincoln, hobart just don't stand for the cheapiest welder ya can find spend the extra cash and get a machine that you can actual use do ya got a sears card. charge it they got bigger& better lincolns .

 

I have one, and it works pretty good. It will weld 1/8" steel easily. I used it today to weld a battery mount on an Art Morrison frame rail. Remember, the welder won't make you a better welder, if you suck, you suck.

 

Yes, and the opposite is also true.

 

absolutely...for sheet metal...o.k., I guess...but, no one is such a good welder that they can simply overcome bad equipment. And if you are not so good, then with a decent machine, you can at least compensate a fair amount, and have it be somewhat safe.
I would not use a 110 machine for anything more than sheetmetal...and, truthfully...mine was not very good at that, either...

 

I saved up and bought the 175HD...I actually got it from a tool seller on ebay for about $200 cheaper than in the store; it was still in the original box, never opened, and the guy had a ton of feed back and satisfied customers so I'm confident it wasn't stolen.
So far I'm very happy with it. As stated, the amperage isn't infinitly adjustable, but the wire feed is. Too much "control" can get a novice into trouble quickly. I like being able to set one solidly and then fine tune the wire speed until I'm happy with the weld.
I called Lincoln directly, and their rep tried real, real hard to sell me their regular SP175...but the only difference he could give me was the infinite adjustable amps. I asked about everything else, including the rumor that I'd heard forever about the feed wheels being plastic while Millers use metal rollers. (The 175HD, by the way, has metal rollers). When it was all said and done, I couldn't justify spending that much extra money for a control I feel will get me in trouble. (okay...more wire feed, or more amps? Oops...too much amps...guess I need more wire feed. Now I don't have enough....) I'm sure I'll grow into this 220v machine, and if I grow out of it, then I'll step up and get a tig. But I've got a long way between then and now.
And I researched this purchase very, very in-depth for almost a year, so I didn't take it lightly.
220v, MiG, one setting is fine for a beginner, and once you're really good, the machine will do a lot of what you want, if not everything.
Finally, my local welding supply stores were a couple hundred dollars more than buying directly from Lincoln. I'll keep them in business buying gas, buying the bottle, gloves and leathers. I know the small business man has to eat, but so do I.

-Brad

 

That's ridiculous to say a 120v machine isn't sufficient for welding even sheet metal.

Not everyone is living the best case scenerio (aka 'save up 1500.00') and you'll probably be happy with a nicer 120v unit. Just don't get it at HD.

 

untrue...the small lincoln machines all have alluminum wether they come from home depot or a supplier copper windings start at i belive our power migs, precision tigs, and generator (power arc) lines...

get a unit that is compatible w/ gas and not just flux cored...ever here the saying do it right the first time...wether it be red, blue or yellow get one with some gas...but i prefer red

 

I am NOT rich...but, you get what you pay for...and as far as welding sheet metal I did not say a 110 welder was not sufficient...I said I would not use it for MORE than sheet metal...I, quite honestly, thought mine sucked...and just so ya' know I am not just b.s.ing, and parroting everyone else, with the "finest equipment available"
I have been using, at a friends residence, an old ( it looks old, anyway!) Astro-power power MIG 110, and, I have even done some plating, and other light stuff, up to 1/4 inch with it...it works WAY better than my waste of $$$ Home Beato Lincoln did.

 

i have a linc 135t that i got from my welder supply store for 399 as a factory recon as aposed to 575 msrp on a "new" one. and for light stuff its great. ive done patch panles on my A with it and tacks on the frame and made brackets all just fine. i do wish i would have spent the extra 60 for the 135plus as it has infinite heat setting were the 135t has just 6

 

my 110 flux only goes up to 3/16", but i honestly dont trust it for that, i dont weld more than 1/8" with it, and i've had a couple of my friends weld with it and we all agreed, i would save up for a good 220 and in the mean time borrow a friends or be patient. and gas is always a +++.
-Anthony

 

I mostly plan to weld stuff like exhaust, brackets and sheet metal. thats about it until i learn to weld better. I`m totally new to welding.