Before I get blasted for posting this in the wrong forum, I, for some reason, "do not have permission to post in the fabrication forum".

Anyway, looking to get started welding. Looking for a good first welder that can handle the duties mostly to do with my XJ. Compact would be amazing as my garage is pretty small.

Any suggestions?

 

I am happy with the Lincoln 140, I believe that's the best option for staying 110v. That said I wish I have a 220v machine when I weld the axle spring patch.

 

What can you run power wise?

BTW try the fab section again, I reset your permissions

 

[QUOTE=roninofako;3665188]What can you run power wise?

QUOTE]
I was going to ask that same question. Makes a real difference

 

I've had a little Lincoln flux core welder since 2004 and I use it all the time still for remote jobs where I'm limited to 120v plugs. It's great because it doesn't require any gas, and with a little practice and some YouTube videos, you can lay down some decent beads. Post your results and request feedback after making an attempt.

Of course, I've graduated on to bigger, more powerful (expensive) welders, but you really can't beat a little flux core to start out. I like Lincoln welders. Haven't had much luck with Miller for some reason. Maybe I got the ones built on Friday (every time). I've ran with some Hobarts as well.

You can try the Harbor Freight ones, but they aren't going to last near as long. And I usually support buying HF cheap tools for starters, but you'd be on your own if that thing craps out on you after a few months.

 

Titanium 170 from harbor freight. Pay for the protection plan.
it will kick the dog snot out of old 140 135 welders.
Runs on 120v or 240.

otherewise a used 240 welder 180 187 easab 215 miller 215.
​​​​old 120 transformers are not worth messing with unless all you want do is thin sheat metal.


I did not care for the miller 211 so it doesnt make my used list.

 

What about the 211 did you not like?

 

Finicky to tune. It was the old transformer machine auto set was useless for me. I did run good beads and ran it alot. It made me a bettet welder because I had to work to do well with it. The miller 215 and 235 nearly weld themselves. Esab 215 and 235 also weld very well but arent as forgiving with settings as the miller 215 and235
the best pilots get to be the best by flying ****ty Planes kinds thing. But you most certainly wont get good on a old transformer 110 machine theyre just not capable.
do your own research before buying figure your needs and wants dont let me or some jeep forumn spend your money thats the best way to end up unhappy with your investment.
go to local welding supply stores talk welders talk to people who buy welders real people face to face.

Ive found the guys at bakers gas also to be informative over the phone.

And get a good hood none of this realy matters if you cant see what your doing. I use a Digital infinity and viking 3350 4c both are badass hoods.
there are very good fixed schade hoods but I highly recomend a auto hood. Save face and others in the 100 Dollar range have great optical ratings for 150 or so less than a Digital infinity and about 100 less than a viking 3350

Ive ran the 215 miller own the 235 multi own a 180 hobart. Have ran the esab 215 rebel esab 235 mig. Ran the titanium 170.

I hate the titanium 170 for a fraction of what I spent on my 235 miller th damn thing freaking is incredible.

Ive only ran the 110 older transformer flux machines miller hobart and lincoln just about useless on 1/4" plate flux welds like crap on sheet metal. Id Highly recomend any machine set up wth gas, over flux

Those that recomend 110 only machines usually have little welding exsperince ,what they can do is stick plate together but thats not good enough.

With inverter machines 110 has gotten alot more capable. Everlast, titanium, Vulkan, klutch. Many dual voltage machines highly capable for less than a grand.

Dont limit yourself, frame stiffners, bumper kits, steering track bar kits. A dual voltage machine will make you feel like a hero. I can do that. Were a old 110 machine is a hindrence, can I do that, should i?

When you buy the replacement plan at harbor freight you can also upgrade at anytime say you do get a 110 machine. Realize its not enough just take it back and swap it for a 170 or Vulkan 215 only paying the price difference.
if the machine does fail or go up in Smoke they swap it no questions asked

Good luck have fun burn lots practice makes better never perfect

 

Damn, LMAO

I'm a fabricator by trade, and have a 211 at home. The auto set is useless, but I've always just set mine manually. The autoset has always been too hot, so I set it one step below recommended to start and dial it in manually. Other than that, great little machine, IMO.

The rest of what you said is on point.

I have the ESAB Sentinal hood, love it, several years in and still going strong.

 

My first MIG welder back in the early 80s was a Clarke 110. I had been using an O/A torch up to then and still do for certain things. It was 110V but had gas so I could weld with solid wire. It was a great little welder for general body work and anything up to 1/8". I replaced it with a Lincoln 180 (220V & gas) about 25 yrs ago and haven't felt the need for anything bigger for the work I do (Jeeps, trailers, general fabrication, etc.). I also have a Lincoln 220 "tombstone" arc welder but I rarely use it. I have a Lincoln Handy Core welder too (110V & no gas). It has its uses but it definitely has its limitations. When welding regularly with solid wire and gas, using flux core wire even occasionally is a bit frustrating.

I'm pretty committed to Lincoln welders but all of the name brands (Miller, Hobart, ESAB, etc.) and some of the off-brands are good. It mainly comes down to your power source (110V or 220V) and if you want to spend more for gas (Argon / CO2).

 

I ran my hobart 180 on flux wire for over 10 years did lots with it that I probly shouldn't have. Flux also created bad hab its.

The 211 is not a bad welder. If one popped up for a couple hundred bux id probly buy it. Its a step up from the hobart 180 size machines but I still hit the wall a few times then learned when to stop.

Hobart iron man and the blue ironman are badass transformer machines worth watching out for to ****** up.


my 235 is 240volt only for me is fine but a dual voltage machine would be handy.

Stick has its place. Ive burned lots of rod in feild fixing buckets and also find myself burning bungs in tube for steering and track bars. Its a big machine can push a rod through 1" plate

Vid wont probly work . This is my 235 this at 17v 230 ipm with .030 and gas