what welder to buy??

[yamchop]

i'm going to finally buy a welder. just wondering what will work for building bikes. i only have 110 volt to my garage. any help would be great.

 

[Ironsled77]

I was looking at the miller 211. But don't think you will be needing all that if you only have 110.

 

[Travis]

Hobart Handler 140 with cart:

http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-500505-Handler-115-Volt-Single-Phase/dp/B0002PS7TE

Get an auto-darkening helmet. A cheap one will work fine to get you started:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200311850_200311850

Get a tank from a local welding supply company with 75% Argon, 25% CO2.

Get some thick gloves:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200342966_200342966

Get a couple of wire brushes, MIG Pliers, angle grinder with cut-off wheels, grinding wheels, and flap disks, and you'll be pretty much set.

Might as well get some extra wire (.024" and .030") and tips while your at it.

 

[Travis]

On yeah.. Make sure that circuit in your garage is good for at least 20 amps or you're going to blow the breaker all the time. You're only going to be able to weld up to about 1/8" plate with one pass, maybe just a bit more. That's enough for pretty much everything you'll ever do on a motorcycle.

If you have money to burn and are committed to sticking to 110v, get this http://www.amazon.com/Miller-907335-Millermatic-Auto-Set-Welder/dp/B001VXWHKG

If you're broke, get this: http://www.amazon.com/Clarke-WE6523-120-Volt-Fluxcore-Welder/dp/B0008JHB5A

 

[manofsteele]

Hey, this is my first post but I just got a Lincoln 140 and it is awesome. Very easy to use and a lot cheaper than a Miller. I scored a brand new one on ebay for $400. It's 110v, you can use flux core wire or use shielding gas for solid core wire. Compare it to the Miller and you'll find it's very comparable.

 

[Travis]

^ sounds like a good price for that welder.

Also, welcome to the site!

 

[angus67]

when I bought my miller 180, it only could plug into 240/30amp, luckily the po of my house was a welder too, so there was a extra branch just for a welder. But a few months later, miller came out with that 110v 140. I dont like the hassel of taking stuff back unless its broken, so its no big deal. but my friend has one of those 140's, and it can do every thing my 180 can do, plus the auto set.

 

[malloym]

I got the eastwood MIG 135 for 299.00 shipped. it's a great little welder and it does gas or fluxcore. comes with a 3yr warrenty as well.

 

[Teebs]

I checked out the Eastwood 135 and for that price I wouldn't be afraid to drop the $299 on it. The 140 is about the perfect welder size for 90% of people. It may be a little more than you need, but always enough for the job, unless you plan on doing some big-scale heavy plate jobs. Great for all frame work.

Since I have a strong feeling that the big name welders (Lincoln, Miller and Hobart) are all outsourcing to the same Chinese outfits, I wouldn't worry too much about name... just make sure consumables are easy to get, and parts are available.

 

[Ghetto]

I have 3 phase power in my shop so I went with a Miller 212 Auto Set.

 

[utgrad]

Thanks for posting about the Eastwood 135 - I didn't know they sold welders. I've been reading up on this welder and seems like a good deal for the money, esp since it comes with a 3 year warranty! The reviews are good on it, so I'll give it a shot!

 

[manofsteele]

Since I have a strong feeling that the big name welders (Lincoln, Miller and Hobart) are all outsourcing to the same Chinese outfits, I wouldn't worry too much about name... just make sure consumables are easy to get, and parts are available.

The back of mine says, "Assembled in Mexico", not that it's any better.

 

[pumps]

Kent just bought one...you should get some feedback from him. I think this is the same one. Says it works on 110 or 220.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-3in1-50A-PL...=BI_Welders&hash=item5adcdf3d3f#ht_4493wt_932

 

[Teebs]

The back of mine says, "Assembled in Mexico", not that it's any better.

Yeah, it was assembled in Mexico from foreign (Chinese?) parts. You know the guts were made outside the USA. Just like many "American" cars are assembled in Mexico out of Japanese/Asian made parts. THE USA is still assembling some cars, but most of the parts are outsourced.

We don't actually make anything anymore. We are a service-oriented country. You want fries with that?...

 

[jamesgs4]

I use this one, welds up to 1/8th inch, but since it is fluxcore, I spend a little time after welding cleaning up splatter. Great for tabs, brackets, sheetmetal, and welding tubing.
http://www.homedepot.com/Lincoln-Electric/h_d1/N-5yc1vZwp/R-100031840/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[ReycleBill]

On yeah.. Make sure that circuit in your garage is good for at least 20 amps or you're going to blow the breaker all the time. You're only going to be able to weld up to about 1/8" plate with one pass, maybe just a bit more. That's enough for pretty much everything you'll ever do on a motorcycle.

If you have money to burn and are committed to sticking to 110v, get this http://www.amazon.com/Miller-907335-Millermatic-Auto-Set-Welder/dp/B001VXWHKG

If you're broke, get this: http://www.amazon.com/Clarke-WE6523-120-Volt-Fluxcore-Welder/dp/B0008JHB5A

I bought the Clarke several years ago. It's a better welder than I'll ever be. It did have a rectifier fail after about 3 years but when I called Clarke they asked for the model number and my address, said it was covered forever and overnighted the part to me. Said if it ever breaks again they'll send me another, no questions. Took about 5 minutes to fix. I'm not going to make the claim that the Clarke is a better welder but they're so simple and easy to fix that they tell you everything from diagnosis to repair over the phone.

We have Miller 220 and gasoline powered welders at the shop and while they are great welders they are never cheap to repair.

And if by chance you should find a deal in an Onan powered Miller then be prepared to buy a conversion kit and a Kohler engine as Onan is gone.

 

[Mellowyellow]

I bought a hobart 187 with the bottle, works great

 

[ratfinkd1]

I like the 211 miller it run on 115 and 230 wells thickest in class. So if your like me and move alot you can use it anywhere. It'll weld anything auto or motorcycle fab.