SeniorXJ

Can anyone reccomend a mig welder for under $500?? It needs to be as user friendly as possible, be able to weld sheetmetal, & capable of 1/4, even if the 1/4 takes 2 passes?? I have access to a 220 but would like it to run on 110 so i can carry it around with me. Also a tube bender under $200.

If anyone has any used ones for sale in excellent condition, let me know!!

birdmann

miller and lincoln are names to look for. I prefer miller.

jcwclm

Little over budget but I got my lincoln 180 mig for a little over $600. It runs 220 but it's worth it I think.

customzj73

This. Just keep in mind that a welder is one of those things that you definitly get what you pay for.
As for a bender, start saving. I don't think you will find one that's half decent for 200$.

PingPong

I Just bout a hobart 210 doe 925 to my door. If you go to northern tool, and find a handler 187 on the shelf they are 499, but good luck... They also have the handler 190 with spool gun for 854.


BUy a decent welder. It wil pay for itself in the long run.


As for a bender.. they are kinda cheap at around 300 bucks.. it is the dies and accesories that hurt.

Caish

http://weldingweb.com/
Start reading......
There is mods for the cheap Harbor Freight ones that can make em as reliable as a brand name.
I've only got an Arc Welder in my shop, I would like to have a Mig and Tig but that will come later.

Don't rule out gas welding, oxy/acet rig too, if all your welding is steel you can do anything with a gas rig that a high dollar welder can do.

ct67_72

I got my lincoln 180hd from eBay. Used but like new. I paid 500$ shipped to my door.
There are deals out there you just have to find them.
My criteria was like yours, weld sheet metal, and up to 1/4-3/8.
I don't want to have to make multiple passes over 1/4. So a 230v was the only way to go in my eyes.
If your going to do any structural work with it, go 220.

Jamie57

Harbor freight has one on sale for $89.99 reg $149.99 Item #68887
I was in Port Huron last week and had to check out this Harbor freight you guys keep talking about.
Well it's the same as our Princess Auto. Yeah I know Gay name but it has almost the same shyt for almost the same price.
No real deal in me driving an hour, wait at border for an hour while the border *****`s question me about me being a real Canadian and aren`t I really a pale white freckled Pakistani terrorist.
You guys are great but you really have to do something about those dicks at the border.

Hmmm must need my meds checked.

customzj73

Oh my hell he might as well go purchase a butane torch and some soldering wire, its cheaper and it will probably penetrate just as good.... like i said you get what you pay for.

CPLSeraphim

I bought one on ebay for 235, but another 160 for shipping from texas to PA. It is a pretty mucdh brand new Hobart 135 handler. 110, and welded my 1/4" steel bumper just fine, and exhause, and roof rack. Does real well for itself, and easy to use. I starting welding when I bought this, and that was like 3 months ago. Well worth the cost. Look on ebay.

As for a pipe bender, yeah, to get it all it's expensive, so i just didn't use tube at all on my bumper. a little let down, but not worth the money unless you mass produce IMO.

Gee oh Dee

Hard to do if you want a cage.

CPLSeraphim

Tu Chet, kind sir. LOL

99 Purple XJ

I bought my lincoln pro core 125 with a 110 plug in for 450 at lowes it welded 3/16 on the highest setting no problem has a nice i think its like 7 foot around that gun and ground clamp and the cord for the back is like 5 feet long perfect for reaching places its only flux cored but it a very nice and sturdy welder def. worth the money comes with every needed to start welding out of the box

PingPong

THe smaller 110 welders are great for small fab projects.. heck I learned to weld with one. That was bac k in the 90's. Beleive me when I say this you want as much welder as you can get. THe lower priced welders have less duty cycles and options. My first flux core welder had a high low setting and wire speed. ABout the only thing I use it for now.. is when I am going to someone elses house to temp fix something till it gets to my house.

MY SP 150 is a beast, but it is 26 yrs old.. still welds good, and I can stil get parts, it is just too big and bulky for doing fab work outside the garage. Just not portable.

My lincoln tombstone welder is great for general stuff, or when I need to burn through rust and nasty stuff. But not what I want to be welding my cage with, or in tight spots.

Seriously look around at nothern/tractor supply website. There are deals. Just the under 500 dollar price tag really limits your choices. Northern has a nice SMAW/GMAW/DC TIG for 649 with free shipping.


As for the bender.. expect to spend some coin. I currently have a JD2 Model 3 bender with 3 dies and an air over Hydraulic setup. I got it for a deal, but if I was to sell it it would be over 1k cause the dies are so expensive and going up. Buy Quality and buy once.

beerdriver1

Miller is best and if you look around you CAN find one used but excellent shape for 500 or so. HOBART is also now made by MILLER so they are very good as my bro has one thats 110 and does fantastic! As for tube bender save for air over hydralic, trust me you will thank yourself