Cheap welding machine

Matt,

While I'm usually one of the first to say stick with the major brand names, this is not going to be one of those times.

Reading through your posts, and listening to what kind of machine you are looking for, I think there's a pretty reasonable option for you.

Check out a company called Everlast Welders. They make some great little inverter type stick machines that are very portable (plug into 120V or 240V. And they are much less $$ than the red or blue brands. Old stick Welders are heavy boxes that require lots of input power to do useful work. Even working in an industrial manufacturing type environment, I have a daily need for a machine that I can pick up, carry, plug in to 120V and stick the things together with.

 

MM has a good point! Just remember one thing with a small, "light duty" welder. You have limited weld time, called a duty cycle. Inverters are a bit expensive. He is right when buying the name brands but also look at the warranty. I have a philosophy on this: It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it! "I" would go bigger, "to an extent" than what you may be thinking you need. Also another welder comes to mind, "Forney" welding equipment. As MM said, shop... you have options

 

I would agree that a wire-feed machine would be good but as mentioned, they cost more and need to be fed relatively expensive consumables. I actually do prefer to MIG whenever I can get away with it. It's just so fast and easy. The newer 140a MIG units actually work quite well in the home shop, and can be quite capable in 1/4" steel if proper attention is given to prep and technique.

 

OR….. Buy one of these, it has 240V, is a welder and you can get a MIG also. I have one of these and "love it"! Spend the $$$ if you can, "well worth it!
Hobart Welders - Products - Welder/Generator - Champion 145

 

Then you have no choice than to go with an inverter based stick machine. (No gas, 120v input, cheap $$).

Check it out, $220, 25lbs, 5 yr warranty. Buy a pack of 7018 and get to it!

POWERARC 140 - Stick Welders | Everlast Generators

 

Ask him or here for a test weld if possible! Thats a Good deal But make sure it all pans out and make sure theres no "KINKS" to breaks in the feeder cable going to the nozzle. I've seen people try to disguise a kink by electrical tape. If you see that on the feeder to the nozzle, be cautious

 

I would poke at that deal. They are great Welders for the home shop.

But that 187 is 230V machine. You have 230V power to your house. If you are comfortable with doing whatever is necessary to make it available for welding use (i.e., installing a receptacle) then I'd go for that machine for sure.

 

A LOT. That machine will easily weld 3/8ths steel. MIG prefers cleaner metal to weld than Stick so prep will be important. Technique is still very important if strength of the welds will be critical so read up on all the different positions. MIG can do aluminum with a spool gun but there are limitations.

The biggest advantage is that MIG is an easy process to learn the basics and then you can work on the more advanced stuff. You will producing decent looking and strong welds in no time. The downside is learning to tune the machine and recognize machine issues vs technique issues. MIG is pretty fast-paced, especially on the thinner materials so I recommend practicing on heavier stuff to get a feel for the machine and understanding what you see/hear.

 

That set up comes with a bottle. I have no experience with flux core....

 

I saw both the gas bottle and what may be a small roll of flux-core (gas less) wire in the photos.

You can run it gas-less for sure as long as you have the appropriate wire.

 

Yes and yes! With some flux core wire, you do not need gas but "I" suggest you do. It will make a better weld if your going to be outside in any kind of wind, If indoors, no, but you'll choke to death from the smoke! That looks like a real nice set up, just check it out real good. Don't understand why he's selling so cheap and quick.

And for the record, CO2 is fairly cheap comparison to say Argon or dual gas mix