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Mig welders?!

overpaid

overpaid

Well-Known Member
Background: I used to have a Lincoln 180 weld pak (ran on 220v) and I liked it. When I moved I ordered a Miller 141 which is household plug 120v but it has been on back order from where I ordered it and now they bumped it to june. I got a great price so I am trying to hold out but it is making me think, do I really need the miller? Can I go back to a Lincoln or a Hobart even?

Thoughts from people that own one or the others?

Thanks!
 
overpaid said:
Background: I used to have a Lincoln 180 weld pak (ran on 220v) and I liked it. When I moved I ordered a Miller 141 which is household plug 120v but it has been on back order from where I ordered it and now they bumped it to june. I got a great price so I am trying to hold out but it is making me think, do I really need the miller? Can I go back to a Lincoln or a Hobart even?

Thoughts from people that own one or the others?

Thanks!
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I have a lincoln weldpak 100 (yep, it's about 30 years old now), and I still use it. It's 110v so it's not great for heavy stuff, but for working on cars, it's perfect.
 
kmakar said:
I have a lincoln weldpak 100 (yep, it's about 30 years old now), and I still use it. It's 110v so it's not great for heavy stuff, but for working on cars, it's perfect.
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nice! yea my lincoln served me very well in my garage. I just got on this mindset of I need to have a miller just because I am older now and can afford it and blah blah..maybe I need to come back down to reality and just go back to the Lincoln...

I feel like it is similar to what people say about snap on tools. If you are using they everyday, yes there is a differnece but for most people like us craftsman or harbor freight is just fine...
 
overpaid said:
nice! yea my lincoln served me very well in my garage. I just got on this mindset of I need to have a miller just because I am older now and can afford it and blah blah..maybe I need to come back down to reality and just go back to the Lincoln...

I feel like it is similar to what people say about snap on tools. If you are using they everyday, yes there is a differnece but for most people like us craftsman or harbor freight is just fine...
Click to expand...

I went to Lowes and bought a number of Kobalt socket sets, ratchet and regular wrenches, and a number of other extensions all on sale a few years back, and just keep buying sets as they go on sale there. Just got a 309 piece socket set (1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 with wrenches) for $89, and then I get a military discount of another 10%, so it's a great deal.
 
Nice! yea I have a decent husky set. My only complaint is the ratchets suck, I have broken 2 of the 3/8 ones, not by using a pipe on them either! Of course they warranty them but I ended up buying a snap on ratchet and just use the husky sockets. I think even crapsman is made in china now so they are all the same...
 
overpaid said:
Nice! yea I have a decent husky set. My only complaint is the ratchets suck, I have broken 2 of the 3/8 ones, not by using a pipe on them either! Of course they warranty them but I ended up buying a snap on ratchet and just use the husky sockets. I think even crapsman is made in china now so they are all the same...
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Yeah, I won't buy craftsman at all. Funny thing about Lowes is when the bought the craftsman name and loaded the stores with them, they dropped Stanley stuff completely. Pissed me off. I've been buying stanley classic tapes for like 40 years, so now I have to go to HD to buy them there.
 
Amazon has the hobart 140 for $600. I have a miller 130, it's at least 25 years old and no issues. Paid $500 back then. Can't see Lincoln, Miller or Hobart being that much different. If you can upgrade to a Tweco gun I'd go that route. The bigger 240v welders are not needed for automotive. I have access to one, so I've never bought one. I even welded my CJ5 frame up with my little 130.
 
I’ve got a Millermatic but would definitely buy Lincoln, Hobart or Esab if they were a good deal. My Dad just got a Hobart.
I was watching TruckTV online and they were pushing Forney welders. I know the name but nothing about this line of welders.
I know a lot we’re very happy with their Harbor Freight welders even before they upgraded a few years ago. I suspect they’re really good machine. My only problem is that since they got better they are no longer a great deal. Still cheaper than the “gold standard” brand but not THAT MUCH cheaper.
 
My smallest is a 18yr old Lincoln 140 weld-pak, runs on 120 and great for body work. My Son who is going through his Welding Tech School learned on that machine. We've used it up to 10ga steel with gas and flux. After that we step up to the 220 welder solid core and gas.

I personally would not worry about a HOBART in that 140 field. They are super simple machines and wouldn't spend a lot on a machine that small.
 
Anyone weld aluminum? My Hiller is a 220 machine but it’s old enough that they weren’t setting them up for spool guns yet. I could get a spool gun but you’d need some special controller box and it all cost a mint.

I went online and found a guy who sold a kit with a wiring harness to allow you to use a generic Chinese spool gun. The kit works pretty good but my welds look like ass. I guess I need to get a bigger gas bottle and practice more.

Anyone TIG? Always thought about getting a Tig machine or trying scratch start Tig with a cheap HF stick welder but never pulled the trigger
 
We are looking for an industrial water cooled TIG for a welding truck, but it will not be a low cost one.
 
Yes. Our oldest daughter is helping him set up the business. We will be building a Welding Trailer for the big truck. I didn't want to permanently mount the gear on the back of the stake bed and worry about it.

Certified structure welders are making big money. Around here, contractors are making even more. Amazon is still building a facility here off I-10 and welders are making some good money.
 
cage2592 said:
Yes. Our oldest daughter is helping him set up the business. We will be building a Welding Trailer for the big truck. I didn't want to permanently mount the gear on the back of the stake bed and worry about it.

Certified structure welders are making big money. Around here, contractors are making even more. Amazon is still building a facility here off I-10 and welders are making some good money.
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Good for him. Not many young ones today have that kind of drive. I'm sure you and Jenn are very proud.
 
Great idea! I recently called a guy to come weld something for me and he said min 200 to come to the house!
 
Extremely ! Not bad for an 18yr old wanting to start his own business and work hard. Now if we can keep him from moving west to Texas !
 
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