Mig Welders

Went to a demo on Lincoln mig welders. Tried a 110 v home unit that worked really well. However the price is abit steep. Ive seen some imports at Harbor Freight for alot less. Anyone have any experience with them or any other Mig welder?

Well Badger,
I can say from experience when I was first starting out, I went "Cheap" and did go to Harbor Freight and learn my lesson very quick! I now have a 110-Lincon and couldn't happier! Good welders produce good welds and worth paying a little extra for. I gave away the Harbor Freight piece of crap that created more problems than it solved.

Dan

Dan
Thanks for the info. It's kinda what I thought but wanted to be sure. It really is true " ya get what you pay for"

Also make shure what ever type of welder you buy can run gas.
flux core wire does not weld as nice on really light sheet metal.

........Wookee

I've got a 110 Lincoln too, capable of running with gas or flux-cored. I would stick with an entry level Lincoln, Hobart or Miller... you can count on support from local shops in the form of service and parts. $450 CAD on my machine, Initial outlay for a large ArCO2 cylinder and the 1 yr cylinder contract was like $200... sure glad I did it! Now I can consider buying projects with rust on them, rather than just accepting that "I can't buy that truck, because it will cost too much to have someone repair the rust!"

another vote for american name brands!
Also buy the good auto-darkening helmet. I've heard that the HF ones work, but my eyes are worth the best!

RodStRace wrote:another vote for american name brands!
Also buy the good auto-darkening helmet. I've heard taht the HF ones work, but my eyes are worth the best!

Another good point! Thx Rod.

another thing to consider is how low the amperage will go to actully weld sheet welding without to much distortion. i have a miller 175 with argon tank. it welds up to 1/4 steel down to the light gauge on these old vans. I bought the tank outright. hate leasing anything.

I know that some where different wire welders were brought up on here before.Cant locate topic.There was even a pic of a new MillerFalls on there.Ring a bell?

Auto-darkening helmet? Bad in industrial production where you have several guys throwing sparks at the same time and triggering your mask, but AWESOME when it's just you working on your project!!!

I have used
l have ued Linclon migs for many years. The 110 is the bst all aground machine for light duty and the hobiest, however they held up well in the 15 years that I have had mine. It is one of the old stile with all copper windings and is about 15 pounds heaver. It will work much better with Linclon brand wire.
ALWAYS GO FOR US MACHINES !!
Later

I have a 220 gas/flux Chicago electric from HF and I run it off of a generator so I can weld anywhere I want. It has work good for me. I will say it would be nice to have a better rang of power adjustment it would have saved me a lot of time doing welding body panels.I had to almost do connect the dot with spot welds to keep from warping the panels. I only use my welder once every few months so I can't justify forking out the extra money for a lincoln and I hate millers.Also I move around a lot so I would definantly by my own tank.