Which welder to buy, for a beginner ?

RobertC

RobertC

#1
#1
Hey y'all, my 15 year old son is wanting to take the welding technician program thru his high school, starting next year.

We have a Broncco that needs a broken frame repaired, and we want to mod the ct200 to ad a monoshock like @chipper did to his db30.

Without breaking the bank, what is a good multi-purpose welder for two beginners ?

We've got both 110 and 220 outlets in the garage.

I see some on Amazon priced decent, but don't know which ?

Here's a couple I see that do mig, and tig ?

https://www.amazon.com/YESWELDER-Gasless-multiprocess-Welder，Flux-Machine，Synergic/dp/B0BX3VRGW3/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?adgrpid=98999075214&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SXhf7MfNQFMhTPez3r_irYYhaXCEDxPlozoqUpAovKKuveBPhvTDfbcCw13Pqwhhw8C3bDTaPxpEvX-G1oSB0FEXJmIXGOMVJEDRqQ-SfcYOQnVk0M0vspgrkwvkOXpvF8MUPqGXGSJd5E_SnUBIgo8YSqQVEB6XMjX6qLZLH9PYNYTJ-Ao-k-Gaxi603jqsRO6mHmT5W_tqoUF1Biu-HA.JnKzEePho1MxV03PAeCD85fYiA2ZwvT3u-RUUs9LuHQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=580781097982&hvdev=m&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9010584&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=4483610894057366635--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4483610894057366635&hvtargid=kwd-1146510642948&hydadcr=28336_14518935&keywords=amazon+yeswelder&mcid=268d4fefa69d3d769d75f13494240f3c&qid=1764599506&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/ARCCAPTAIN-G...2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&psc=1

Thanks in advance for your advice !
 
cl350rr

cl350rr

Well-Known Member
#3
#3
I bought a Lincoln Weld-Pac 100hd twenty some years ago, I have beat this machine mercilessly and it has never let me down. I believe the current equivalent is the Weld-Pac 125. I would not hesitate to buy another if this one died. I have only used it for flux core, steel and stainless steel but it is mig capable. I use it daily
Welder.jpg
 
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M

Mark Brooks

#4
#4
Good info there, I've always been able to use the ones at work, now that I've changed jobs not an option. Only cuz they don't have one... yet that is.

So I'll be lookin here soon myself!
 
sparkwizard

sparkwizard

#5
#5
If you don't plan to use the TIG, just get a MIG with gas capability. For mini bike projects, I have never need to use a 240 volt welder.
I have a Hobart 140 that is over 15 years old. Never had a problem with it, and I do not baby it. I think any 110 volt MIG from Lincoln, Miller, or Hobart would be a good investment. I have not looked at new welders in a long time, so I am not up to date on what is out there. Don't limit yourself to flux core wire. You definitely want a gas regulator and hose. Much cleaner, easier and less likely to blow holes in your work.
 
chipper

chipper

#7
#7
cl350rr said:
I bought a Lincoln Weld-Pac 100hd twenty some years ago, I have beat this machine mercilessly and it has never let me down. I believe the current equivalent is the Weld-Pac 125. I would not hesitate to buy another if this one died. I have only used it for flux core, steel and stainless steel but it is mig capable. I use it daily
View attachment 325751
Click to expand...
@RobertC , this is the same unit I've used on everything I've built , I'd honestly believe a Harbor Freight would do equally as well .
 
Mark G

Mark G

#10
#10
RobertC said:
Without breaking the bank, what is a good multi-purpose welder for two beginners ?


Thanks in advance for your advice !
Click to expand...
Since you asked,
I would NEVER suggest buying a welder from Amazon, or anywhere else online. Or Harbor Freight. Yes, I get the attractive price and I understand that HF quality has gone up over the years but... When that "deal" needs consumables, or worse, parts there's virtually no support and you are SOL. The kids that work at HF don't even know what consumables are.

I highly suggest going to an actual welding supply house (Airgas, Praxair, or an independent) and explain to them exactly what you are looking for. They won't try to upsell or give you something that you don't need, they are very knowledgeable and most of all you can get support/parts down the road. Also, the the ones sold in an actual welding shop are of higher quality than those sold in the big box stores, even those of the same name. A Lincoln weldpac at Home Depo is definitely different than the same model sold at Praxair. And the price isn't that much different.

Hobart, Lincoln and Miller are all good brands. Since these boys are just starting out, If you get them a decent name brand welder to start with it, and they take care of it, it will last them years. I've had my one Lincoln Mig for over 22 years, and it's been used a LOT.

I can hear it now: "I've had this el cheapo HF welder and it works great! had it forever with no problems, it was only $xxx." Remember, you get what you pay for. Nothing like being in the middle of a project and having that "bargain" fail and leave you high and dry.
 
Skipp

Skipp

#11
#11
Mark G said:
Since you asked,
I would NEVER suggest buying a welder from Amazon, or anywhere else online. Or Harbor Freight. Yes, I get the attractive price and I understand that HF quality has gone up over the years but... When that "deal" needs consumables, or worse, parts there's virtually no support and you are SOL. The kids that work at HF don't even know what consumables are.

I highly suggest going to an actual welding supply house (Airgas, Praxair, or an independent) and explain to them exactly what you are looking for. They won't try to upsell or give you something that you don't need, they are very knowledgeable and most of all you can get support/parts down the road. Also, the the ones sold in an actual welding shop are of higher quality than those sold in the big box stores, even those of the same name. A Lincoln weldpac at Home Depo is definitely different than the same model sold at Praxair. And the price isn't that much different.

Hobart, Lincoln and Miller are all good brands. Since these boys are just starting out, If you get them a decent name brand welder to start with it, and they take care of it, it will last them years. I've had my one Lincoln Mig for over 22 years, and it's been used a LOT.

I can hear it now: "I've had this el cheapo HF welder and it works great! had it forever with no problems, it was only $xxx." Remember, you get what you pay for. Nothing like being in the middle of a project and having that "bargain" fail and leave you high and dry.
Click to expand...
My apologies…..once again put in my place…thank you
 
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Havasu Dave

Havasu Dave

Moderator
#12
#12
Skipp said:
So are you saying on record Lincoln and miller welders NEVER fail?!? Wow that’s some boast! I’ll tell the masses….
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I didn't see that Mark said that at all. What he said was that you get what you pay for. I agree with him about getting a quality welder from a quality distributor. You actually suck because you bought a HF welder. What's next, Predator engines on your bikes? See, this is how it starts. You buy a pack of flap discs because the tenth flyer from HF that hit your SPAM folder has a price you just can't refuse, then you sign up for the preferred customer sales events, and boom, suddenly you're just another wanker wearing his ball cap backward swearing by the quality of a sub-$200 welder. It can happen to anybody. I got roped in over a pair of really good welding gloves, so I know.

@RobertC I'd ask the educator or whomever at the school is running the curriculum. The welder for your son may not be the same welder you need to patch up a minibike. I have owned a Lincoln 140 (with shielding gas) for 15 years and used it a lot. It is handy for quick welds, but I have found myself wanting a machine that will do more. I've had the Esab multi process welders recommended to me from a fabricator who knows. But he also told me the Chinese welders coming out these days are pretty good. Thing is, people might see me in a HF parking lot, and you don't quickly live that down.
 
Havasu Dave

Havasu Dave

Moderator
#14
#14
Robert, looking at that Amazon machine you linked- I would not hesitate to give that a try. There are some quality issues as far as the machine goes, so I'd want a warranty on it. But some of the reviews show photos of decent welds. The ONLY hesitation I'd have with that, is that you and your son are going to outgrow it quickly. But at the sub-$200 price point, you can throw it away after a couple of years, and it doesn't break the bank. (Or sell it cheap, etc)
 
J

JimN

Well-Known Member
#16
#16
While I agree in principal with most of the comments above, I'm not going to tell you to not buy a cheap chinese inverter welder.
There are some things you need to consider.
Input amperage tends to be higher. Look at the name plate on that 140 yeswelder. It's specing 40 amps at 120 volts for max usage.
Use 240 volt.
Output tends to be lower than rated. Sometimes by a lot. Get a higher rated machine.
The gas regulators are cheap, they tend to work but don't expect to set them once and forget about em.
I wouldn't be surprised to learn they all use the exact same wire feed motor set up. It can be a little weak. Don't let the cable sag off of a welding cart.
The ground cable is probably plated steel and a little undersized and the clamp is cheap.

I like the idea of a multi process machine but I'll never tig so I would rather have 2 dedicated, 1 for mig/flux and 1 for stick.

My current machine is this one. A not so cheap chinese welder with a better warranty. I hope. :D

https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-mig-welder-180-amp.html

I also have a cheap chinese stick that has served me well.

https://www.amazon.com/ARC-180-Prof...F/ref=sr_1_31?s=hi&sr=1-31&xpid=WfaVqQqYSV9Yf

Granted, neither one has seen extended serious usage. I only weld a few times a year.
 
Havasu Dave

Havasu Dave

Moderator
#19
#19
@JimN that Eastwood labelled machine is on par with the Lincoln. Good reviews on welding sites. Good points about amperage.

As an aside, using my Lincoln 140, there is a notable difference between using it off of the 15a outlet and using it with a 50 foot extension cord.

Aside #2. those low amperage machines work very well on THIN stuff, where the larger machines will blow right through it. I could argue the point of having one of those 100-160 MIG machines on hand in any shop, just for that small gauge metal.
 
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