Cheap welding machine

I'm considering buying a cheap 120v welding machine for around the house just to play with and do a little welding nothing big or super serious. Is anyone familiar with the refurbished models that are for sale at northern? I found one at harbor freight but I'm not to sure about buying one from them.

 

If you are talking a wire feed, I would recommend one with adjustable dials for the voltage and wire feed rate. The rocker switch ones can be limiting on your options. There are lots of welders here that will offer better advice than me. Have fun.

 

Look on craigslist, I got a like new Lincon 140 for 300.00

 

Lincoln has a 140 kit complete. They are currently selling for 499 up here unknown down in your area. Everything you need for either flux wire or gas feed. Good dependable little adjustable machine that will probably do anything lightweight you will be tackling around the garage. Runs on 120v 20 amp.. I have one and love it. Just got done doing a major repair on my buddy's snow blower for his Husky Tractor......

 

I'm not familiar at all with the Northern Tool or Horror Fright brands. I'm partial to Miller and Lincoln in stick or mig. The thing to be concerned with will be the availability of consummables like the replaceable tips and the shield that slips on over the tip. Northern may change supplier of their machines after a couple/three years and the supply of those parts may also dry up. Those components are not all interchangeable from brand to brand.

With a major brand, there is always going to be a supplier nearby. Not to say they will continue to stock all the parts to an older or outdated machine, but they should be able to provide options around the issue if necessary.

You probably would be ahead of the game if the one you purchase has the capability to used either shielding gas OR flux cored wire instead of only one. Of course with the shielding gas, you'll have the additional expense of purchasing the tank. With flux cored wire a tank and flow meter is not necessary.

Of course I'm not a welder nor do I play one on TV.....

 

I have a Hobart either 160 or 190 can't remember exactly. It does everything I want it to do. I am not a welder but that thing sure makes me look good.

 

I should also state that I know nothing about welding. I've played around with a stick welder a couple times it that's about it. I don't know about flux or mig or anything.

 

Ok, stay away from the Harbor Freight stuff. I don't know anything about what N.T. is offering, so check the warranties they offer.
Look for a Lincoln SP-100 or better. Dial controls, flux or solid wire compatible. Make sure the liner is set up for .035 flux-core and you're good to go with solid wire-.023-.030 (don't go bigger). Regulators are pretty cheap, about $120, tanks cost more, about $240 + fill for a "Q" tank of 75/25.
The SP-100 is a solid little MIG, I've had one for over 25 years. Miller, Hobart, they make great machines also. If I can help, feel free to PM me, I'll be happy to lend some input. I'm the office manager/ estimator for a welding-fabrication company in Co., so I've seen what works and what doesn't. JB
edit- I'll throw this out 'cause I'm swamped at work and don't check in here as much as I'd like to. Shoot questions to [email protected]- I'll see them for sure.

 

Definitely go with an adjustable welder, preferably one with a digital display for settings if possible so you can write down settings for uphill, horizontal, and flat welding, or for different joints and material thicknesses also different gasses can give you more desirable welds, I just switched from 75/25 to a98/2 and my welds at home look a lot closer to the welds I lay at work, although it's a lot hotter than even I care for, a bottle of 90/10 would be perfect for me. Welders are pretty low maintenance but if you don't take a little time to ask you can end up very frustrated very fast over problems with feed issues porosity burning up consumables so on and so forth. The welder I bought from a buddy was $1400 new if I remember right, an esab, it does a good job but I can not stand, I repeat can not stand! That it doesn't have a digital read out for voltage or even wire feed speed, just 3 adjustable knobs one for voltage 1-10 wfs1-10 and range 1-3 capable of welding pretty much any thickness.

 

X'2.... Some VERY good points sir.

 

Ok so Im looking at welding some pipes together to make a mailbox stand they are about 1/8-1/4" thick, and then just little odds and ends really I dont have anything over 1/4" thick. I want to experiment with a rocket stove this summer so there will be some welding on that and it is all 1/8" or thinner. I really appreciate the response here there is a lot of good advice. One big thing for me is I dont know what Im doing so this will be something Im playing with and pretty much just teaching myself. My Dad is a welder but he doesnt get out here much and we cant talk a lot (schedules are nuts) so I will be on my own with this for the most part. I dont want to put a lot of money into this but Im willing to wait if I need more money to get something better. I dont think I want anything that requires gas bottles just straight electric.

 

Oh and what do yall mean by wire feed flux core and mig? What is the difference? I was thinking sticks are all I need but I could be wrong?

 

I have a training book (PDF) I could send you if you'd like. It's called welding for dummies, no insult intended, and I got it to help train new Techs that needed help. Pretty informative.

 

Thanks Dave that helps a lotI think I will look for a stick welder that is affordable that sounds like it would work best for my needs. There is a welding supply shop not to far from me I think it's an arcet I'll stop in there one day and talk to them. I'm in no hurry for this just starting to do some research on the stuff but I would like to get going with it this summer after I'm done with school.

 

Looking at this from another angle, if you really aren't in a monstrous hurry to begin your new hobby AND are in a semi-rural area I would suggest perusing local auctions through a site called 'Auction Zip' with the tag word : Welder. Many times I see Lincoln 225 "cracker boxes" go as low as #30 or $40. Seldom do they exceed $100...at least here in the center of the midwest. Better a/c-d/c welders go a little higher and some newer mig, tig or stick machines go really high.

Now I'm not recommending 'on-line' auctions, these are auctions you have to go to and see what you are bidding on. If you're not really into auctions, maybe just schedule an entire Saturday to waste on one and just go be a spectator. Some amazing bargains are available as well as a lot of hoodwinking if you are not careful....Just don't wave to a buddy across the crowd or pick that irritating bugger in your nose at the wrong time.....

Once you figure out the process and develop your bidding limits, stick to it and you will be surprized at the outcome....and just remember you don't HAVE to buy this particular one, because next week there'll always be another. The crowd is what determines the auction prices, and you can usually tell within the first half hour the direction the prices are going. I do my part to keep prices lowwwwwww. I won't bid a penny over what price I want to pay and many times th bidding will start out way over my top dollar. There's always next week though.......