I've saved up enough to pick up a welding rig and am looking for some advice. My budget will be somewhere around $4-500 and I'm thinking of getting a complete used setup. I'm figuring that one of the 120v units should meet my needs, as I'm not planning on welding anything much thicker than 3/16ths and really don't want to have to wire for 240v since we're trying to move. Any suggestions on what to look for, or possible trouble areas on a used welder? I'm leaning towards a Lincon 140HD, any other models I should look at? Any good resources out there I can use to start learning how to burn holes in metal?

I am happy with my little Hobart 140. I have added gas and it's done great by me. Stay name brand and you will be happy. You'll need a 20a service. Buy the highest duty cycle you can get. My little Hobart is 20% or something like that. I haven't had it shut down on me from welding too much, but there could come a time!

You might be able to find one new for that, but adding gas could cost you another $120-150. Don't get the little 1 gallon gas bottles, they won't last long. Splurge for the larger bottles and make sure you shut it off if you are not using it. The welder will leak all your gas out...it'd be easier to count the folks who have NOT had this happen.

J.D.

Interesting. I wonder if anyone knew how to weld with the Hobarts you have seen. I bet if you took a properly adjusted Hobart, Lincoln and Miller you could lay identical beads with them all. The new Hobarts are actually more similar to the Millers than they used to be. Not trying too hard to defend the Hobarts, I just want to make sure someone doesn't spend more money unnecessarily. I demo'eda lot of welders before I bought mine. The Lincolns and Millers were a little easier to set than the Hobart but all were almost identical in weld quality with the Lincolns having a little less penetration than the Hobarts and Millers for the same amperage settings. In the end I bought a Hobart as once you get the settings right it was every bit as good as the other 2 for less money. As for refurbished every where, that is part of Millers marketing. They don't allow their refurbished welders to be sold as easily as the hobarts so they give you that idea they are indestructible. I don't cheap out unnecessarily on tools when I buy as I know I use them more than most home users would, and for my money you can't go wrong with Hobart, Miller or Lincoln.

Justin - I have an old Hobart 140 that was private labeled for a welding store I used to do business with back in my welding days.

I am going to be using it this week but your welcome to borrow it if you want to try it out.

I haven't had any problems with it (other than the gauge that got broken) and I have built a couple stock cars with it.

Yep, plenty of info for sure. My only concern is the fact you said to stay away from Hobart and put them in the same class as Chicago electric. They are still very good machines that will last a very long time and work very well for most, if not everyone on this board except those that HAVE to have the miller more for bragging rights than anything else. The newer models don't have all the same controls as the miller units as expected. If you made your base models with the same features as your loaded models no one would buy the loaded models for more $$. Ever open up a miller and a Hobart? You would be VERY hard pressed to find the differences in the hardware besides the options.

Zilla, out of curiosity, when was the last time you used a Hobart?

I had heard that early Hobarts, after Miller bought them, were built cheaply at first so I am wondering if you had most of your experience with them at that time? I just have a very hard time hearing they are junk, not because I have one, but because I believe they are a good product at a reasonable price.

I had a Lincoln 140 Package from Mart.com. I had NEVER welded before and went from no knowledge to being able to add panels, fab, etc. in just a few months time. My welder came with a DVD that saved my ass - showed me how to load wire, settings, controls, temps, parts, etc. After my personal experience with Lincoln, I could never suggest buying another brand. However, I have never used another brand, so I may be just as brand loyal if I had purchased another brand.

I think most guys go with the Harbor Freight Cart. I did and loved it, especially for $50. I almost went Hobart welder because I really like the lowrider carts that come in the package kits - seems like they would roll under an open door and low center of gravity would keep them on all all 4 wheels.

I would check out Mart and see that a NEW welder from them may be more in reach than you think. Lincoln really keep their value and I personally think they give you the best resale when/if ya decide to sell. I knew I would have mine for just a short time so that was a HUGE factor. Lincoln supplies are available at Home Depot and Lowe's so thats nice when you need tips or wire.

So from a newbie, here are my suggestions:

- Welder with Gas (Gas is the only way to do splatter free body work welds)
- Cart (so everything is together in one place - ext. cord, magnets, gloves, wrenches, wire, tips, tank, etc. and it rolls)
- Mart.com and Amazon.com (great prices, no tax, no shipping, great packages, best brands)
- Nice AutoDarkening Helmet (Can't see what you are doing without a quality one)
- Dive In (only one way to learn)

No matter what you decide, not many things more gratifying than making something from nothing.

This is very useful! Thank you! Rox, generous offer, thank you! I may take you up on it depending on how long I wind up waiting to pick one up. Santa and my birthday were pretty good to me this year, so I'm hoping to pull the trigger in the next week or so. How do you all feel about a reconditioned welder? mart.com has a Lincoln SP-140T for $475, seems like a good deal.

Awesome. Ill take it.

Thanks for the input and debate! It was helpful. I ordered a reconditioned Lincoln SP-140T and some welding gloves from Mart.com (Chad-thanks for the info, they had good prices!) I'm planning to pick up a cart and helmet from Harbor Freight since they're about $35 each on sale right now. Is a better way to go on the helmet? Dan, sent ya PM re: the tank.

I don't have much experience with helmets, but was very lucky to get a Miller Elite for my birthday. It's an awesome helmet! Auto Darkening, and large viewing area. Not cheap, but has been a great helmet.

Harbor freight has good deals on AD helmets. I bought mine there about 5 years ago, works great!

+10 on the Auto Dark helmet w/battery. I love mine, its a Blue Point (Snap-On's cheaper brand) it was $100, w/battery & adjustable darkness & sensitivity- actually was a good deal from Snap-on.

I'm definitely planning on getting an auto-darkening unit after seeing the difference at the tech day. Thanks for the tip on the battery powered one. I like my eyes...

Sounds like a great plan, Justin. Watch the DVD so you know how to load the wire, parts of the welder, set the temperature and speed, hook up tank, and jump in.

I used to always use a regular helmet that had a 4x4 lens. That thing was heavy, much heavier than the 2x4 ones. After years of welding day in and day out and nodding the helmet down when I was in position I like the auto darkening ones. Keeps the neck happy. I remember when those auto darkening helmets came out man they were expensive and heavy. Now I have one of those cheap Harbor Freight ones that you can adjust the shade on and not terribly heavy for a good price.

And keep a set of spare batteries around. The first time mine went dead, I didn't realize that night until my eyes felt like they were full of sand (welders eye). Mine is solar with battery backup, but they don't work well with dead batteries.

J.D.

OK, so torn between the Harbor Freight helmet and this one:

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/wel ... pro-hobby/

The HF helmet is on sale for $45 and the Miller is $136. I'm short on Bronco funds (and funds in general) so the extra $90 is tough to do, but I also don't want to cheap out on a piece of safety equipment. I like the idea that the Miller is battery powered, but the HF stuff seems to be pretty good bang for the buck. Any advice is appreciated. BTW, just got a HF flyer today with a coupon that has their welding cart for $36. Will definitely be picking that up, thought some of you out there might be interested as well.

A coworker had a non-battery unit & after a few years, it would crap out & stop dimming after working for a while 15+ minutes. Probably a good buy, but plan on swapping it out & upgrading after a while. Keep the helmet with the solar side up & in the sun light will help, don't throw it in a drawer.

Believe it or not I'm thinking about buying a MIG from Eastwood. A guy I work with bought one and he does body work and paints cars as a side job and has nothing but praise for the Eastwood 115v model. Only thing I don't like about it is that while powered up the wire is hot. My current little MIG is the same way you just have to get used to it. I like the 220v MIG and I've actually looked at the Hobart and now Lincoln dual power setup. or

If I welded every day I would buy a good brand name auto darkening helmet. My eyesight is worth more than the cheap helmet cost but for occasional use the HF one get's it done.

The Eastwood welding kits are worth a look - great cart, no shipping, no tax, etc. They seem to be a great bang for the buck. I skipped them based on not finding anyone with experience with them and went with the known brand. When reading reviews on the net, there were rumors they are made in China but I have not confirmed.

Yep never buy a junk Hobart welder...it was all I could do to lay 8 of these today. I mean I didn't even get a break as it never came close to the duty cycle!

I need a welding lesson. Those look sweet.