welding question, noob looking for a MIG Welder Options

[chuckc]

Any thoughts on a good beginner setup on a budget? I was thinking about this Hobart 500550 Auto Arc 130 Wire Feed MIG Welding Kit.

http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500550-Auto-Wire-Welding/dp/B002VECKTM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

any suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks in advance.
peace,
Chuck

[jmill]

I love my Hobart 187. Hobart is Millers off brand. You'll have infinite wire speed adjustment which is a big plus. Get the gas bottle. Flux core splatters a bit too much for me.

[scotty b]

Miller, Lincoln, Hobart, Esab would all be good. Make sure it has gas hookups. Don't even contemplete flux core for body repair. Yes it can be done, but is not adviseable. A 110 unit is all you need and 130 amp will do anything you need on most cars

[rohar]

Scotty, you forgot Forney. For bodywork a little forney minimig is awesome. You can't go wrong with the Hobart he's looking at though.

[aircooledtechguy]

I agree with everything that has been said!! Solid advice!!

[cary]

I'll add my .02c.
I agree with Scotty 100%.
I have a 110v 130 amp low budget Sears ($300).

I've had it for about 10 years. Its had its share of 914 work.
I'd like to buy a new Miller unit. But the Craftsmen won't die.

My input. Look for the unit that has 6-8 amp settings. Most have infinite wire speed but some have only have 4 amp settings. With only 4 settings. Some times its tough to get the exact setting you want.

We've only tripped ours off once. Running a long bead on a 914 long. But now I've learned not to do that. Generates too much heat and distorts the metal.

Last time I was shopping I was leaning towards Miller.

[saigon71]

I was looking at mig welders two years ago. Ended up getting a never used Hobart Handler 140 with cart, gas attachments, three sets of gloves, cart, crag hammer and helmet for $400 from craigslist. I had never mig welded before but I am very pleased with the equipment.

I would recommend checking your local craigslist...if not, that welder shoudl do everything you need on your 914. Make sure you buy one with gas hookups.

Good luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

PS: Buy an auto-darkening helmet (got mine at Harbor Freight). It will save you a lot of unnecessary grief.

[sean_v8_914]

that Hobart is a solid work horse, good price. Hobart makes the power supplies for several major brands. Miller typically has a few more bells and whistles and a more robust roller assembly.

[Black914_4]

I guess I should of researched more.
I just bought a fluc core unit from Harbor Frieght yesterday for $104 delievered.
I'm on a budget and this one was cheaper then most used units I seen around.
What problems can I expect by using this unit without gas? I don't think it has gas hookups.

[westtexass2k]

I wouldnt recommend a HF welder its junk. Stay with a Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, Esab you will be wasting that 109.00 when you have to buy another unit. The flux core sucks it splatters everywhere. You want to use gas if you plan on doing body work. I have a Miller 140 for about 8 years. I use it all the time with no troubles at all. I have built numerous trailers with it. I would rather buy a used name brand than a cheap off brand unit any day.

[ape914]

I guess I should of researched more.
I just bought a fluc core unit from Harbor Frieght yesterday for $104 delievered.
I'm on a budget and this one was cheaper then most used units I seen around.
What problems can I expect by using this unit without gas? I don't think it has gas hookups.

poor quality welds can be expected with flux core, flux core is not a real MIG. It uses the same electronics, and wire feed, but the flux is no where near as clean as a gas shielded MIG. This means dirty weaker welds. I'd sell that flux core unit and trade up for a real gas mig if you want to do any serious welding.

[Black914_4]

I wouldnt recommend a HF welder its junk. Stay with a Lincoln, Miller, Hobart, Esab you will be wasting that 109.00 when you have to buy another unit. The flux core sucks it splatters everywhere. You want to use gas if you plan on doing body work. I have a Miller 140 for about 8 years. I use it all the time with no troubles at all. I have built numerous trailers with it. I would rather buy a used name brand than a cheap off brand unit any day.

ok. I'll see if I can return it then.
Thanks

[rallysport70]

I've got a small Century (Lincoln) flux core that works just fine. It does splatter a bit. I've been told gas it the way to go, but I've never tried it (yet). I guess you can't miss what you don't know! It may depend on how much welding you will actually be doing to help decide if you want to make the jump.

[BKLA]

Bought my son a miller 180 with a cart, bottle, gloves, jacket and a AD helmet just under a grand. Best investment I've made in the kid! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ThePaintedMan]

I still haven't switched to gas, but I'm working on mine outside. I like the convenience of flux-core, but at some point I'm going to have to face facts and use gas. I recommend that at minimum you get one with the ability to do both. I have a Firepower FP130, and I love it.

One thing that SHOULD be mentioned here that hasn't yet. Whatever you do, buy a decent auto-darkening helmet. The ones from Harbor Freight aren't bad, but make sure you change the batteries before you even use it. Sitting in that box for so long, its almost guaranteed that the batteries have run down some. I found out the hard way with a bad case of welder's flash. If you do buy a HF helmet, you can do this in a couple of minutes: http://www.pskl.us/wp/?p=648

[al weidman]

I guess I should of researched more.
I just bought a fluc core unit from Harbor Frieght yesterday for $104 delievered.
I'm on a budget and this one was cheaper then most used units I seen around.
What problems can I expect by using this unit without gas? I don't think it has gas hookups.

Take it back and get your money. Even the next step up with gas hook up doesn't provide the flexibility you will need for thin guage work. I spent more than I had hoped for but got a millermatic 140 and I am sooo glad I did. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

[Bleyseng]

I guess I should of researched more.
I just bought a fluc core unit from Harbor Frieght yesterday for $104 delievered.
I'm on a budget and this one was cheaper then most used units I seen around.
What problems can I expect by using this unit without gas? I don't think it has gas hookups.

I brought one of those HF units with me to Suriname and its junk. Yeah, it works but the wire feed trigger is just that- on/off to feed the wire. The power is always on.
It works ok for what I am welding here but back in Seattle I have a nice Lincoln gas wire feed setup thats perfect for body work as I have done a lot of it on the 914's, Westy and Ghia. Perfect beads and easy really easy to control.
Buy a good quality auto darkening helmet!! I brought mine here to use thank god.

so yeah, take it back and spend a few more $$$ and you'll be happy.

[FourBlades]

I have done all my work with a Hobart 140. It is hard enough to learn to weld thin metal even with a decent machine like that. I have never felt like I needed to upgrade my welder.

I second the good auto darkening helmet. I started with a $50 one from northern tool. A year later I got a $400 one after reading a thread McMark posted about good welding helmets. It is like night and day difference (see what I did there?). With the $50 one you can barely see what you are welding. With the $400 one you can see everything clearly. Both helmets have darkness controls but the good helmet is just so much more clear. Seeing what you are doing is the key to welding thin stuff, seeing if you are blowing holes, and just generally getting the weld where you want it.

If you are broke, start with the $50 helmet but think about getting a good one later, you will be amazed how much easier it makes it.

John

[Black914_4]

I have a good auto helmet. I've had it for years and wouldn't use anything else.

I've been welding since high school, but I don't do it often. I got certified a few years back in arc so I could do a small job at work. And I've used a wire wielder before for work, but never used one with gas, so like Rallysport70 I don't know what I'm missing.

Even though I only have 2 spots to weld on my car, I know if I finally owned my own welder I'd use it more often. ( and I can stop borrowing my friends) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Mark Henry]

I have an off brand (Canox) Miller 130, I've replaced the whip once and liners a few times but that's it. I've had it for 20 years now.
I won't even use Princess Auto (think HF) MIG wire as it's junk.