Which welder to buy?

more like $1500 for a AC/DC hobby welder.

esab 161

My favorite MIG in the amp range you mentioned is the Lincoln SP-175T. I have an older version, the SP-170T and it's been great but I've never tried to use it for aluminum and I understand that it's not such a simple task. Here's a writeup from Lincoln on using a "compact MIG" for aluminum:

Best Regards, Keith Marshall snipped-for-privacy@progressivelogic.com

"I'm not grown up enough to be so old!"

wow; just got the latest HarbFrt catalog, and they're offering what seems to be a great deal on a smallish MIG machine, item # 03664 0ADA; am checking on the warranty right now...

this is a warranty that seems unbeatable: LIMITED 5 YEAR WARRANTY; 5 YEAR ON THE TRANSFORMER AND RECTIFIER; 3 YEAR ON THE ENTIRE WELDER (EXCLUDING CLAMPS, WELDING GUN, ELECTRODE HOLDER, CABLES, AND ACCESSORIES PACKED WITH THE WELDER; 1 YEAR ON THE WELDING CLAMPS, MIG GUN, ELECTRODE HOLDER, NON-CONSUMABLE ACCESSORIES AND WELDING CABLES AS APPLICABLE.

A point of clarification: A MIG (wire feed) welder will be a DC only machine. AC or AC/DC is used only in stick (SMAW) and TIG (GTAW) welding. (Perhaps I should qualify that--I've never *heard* of a MIG process that used AC, but then again I am not even close to being an expert; maybe someone else will correct me on this!)

$500 or less will buy you a Hobart Handler 135 or one of the Lincoln models that you can find at Lowe's or Home Depot (I don't recall the model names, nor the exact output). IIRC, you will have to pay more than $500 to get a Miller 135, and you will definitely have to pay more to get up in the 175 amp range with any brand. Note however that these prices do not include the bottle of shielding gas, which is going to add another $100 or more.

If you do a google on wire feed and aluminum in this group, you should see some past discussions about running aluminum wire through these sorts of machines. Some have done it successfully, but it sounds rather temperamental, depending in part on the particular type of aluminum wire that you run.

Hope this helps!

I guess I could save a little more money up and get into the $1000-$1200 range. I see that will get me a much better machine, like a Tig mate. Do I need the AC/DC capability? My plan is to only weld the materials that I mentioned but I should plan for the future. I do have an old Ford tractor that is in rough shape.

Did you consider doing it piece-meal (? mill) ?

The Century 155 GL (# 83156, I believe) is available lots of places at about $480. You could later add the Century Welders Gas Conversion Kit (item 164725) for about $83 and later add a cart for $80 or much less. You mentioned 135 - 175 amps. This would put you half way between the two. You'd wind up with about $650 in it -- plus your bottle of gas.

Now, if you could catch some place running a sale . . . !!

Al

Harry wrote:

Here is a link to the owners manual for this welder from Harbor Frt.

My worry on a machine like this are if parts such as drive rolls and contact tips are readily available. I bought a Century 90GS it was a new floor model that was discontinued I got for $20.00 over dealer cost or about 1/3 the price of a Lincoln SP135, 1/2 the price of a Hobart 135. The problem I see with my unit is there are no part number for replacement or alternate drive rolls, tips are interchangeable with Lincoln,etc. My cheap box is very good for doing body work on the car I'm restoring but it but it is no where near as nice or as easy to use as the the Ackmatic 251(Millermatic 251 with an orange paint job sold by Acklands) I use at work. There should be deals out there to be had on Century and Marquette welders if you just need a cheap welder, Clore Automotive group sold them to Lincoln Electric in October 2003.

Doug

dogal> wow; just got the latest HarbFrt catalog, and they're offering what seems to

could be; but $400 for a unit that will tack w/ 200 amps and handles full size spools sounds like a deal to me. plus the 5 year warranty is something to consider...

be a great deal on a smallish MIG machine, item # 03664 0ADA; am checking on the warranty right now... wow; just got the latest HarbFrt catalog, and they're offering what seems to

probably a mis-print; i've never heard of AC mig weld, other discrepancies arose concerning duty cycle. do all of those types of machines have "free wheeling" spools (no integrated drive on the spool itself)??

thnx,

arose concerning duty cycle. probably a mis-print; i've never heard of AC mig weld, other discrepancies

wouldn't mind giving one a try, like as you say; i can pick it up at the local HF (they've always been very good about the 30 day return rule)

My local store's been great too but I don't think they stock that welder. If you do try it let us know how it works out.

Best Regards, Keith Marshall snipped-for-privacy@progressivelogic.com

"I'm not grown up enough to be so old!"

brand new item; they might if you ordered it... for right now, i'm pretty much set with my stick machine. most/all of what i'm arcing is outdoors and i just scored about 450# of rod for a very decent price. was viewing this item as a means by which to weld up some aluminum trailer frames without being locked into the small 1# spools

thnx for the info,