All, Not sure if a 110V or 220V is better for me? Just looking into getting a welder to start doing some rust repair. I would like to stick to a 110, for its portability......but can add 220 if it can weld thin metal better. It will be used for thinner gauge metal, I don't see myself doing anything structural..... or using it that often. Thanks, James
I had a Miller 135 (110 volt) used it for a few years, nice machine. I purchased a Miller 180 (220) last year, great machine. Go with a 220volt, you can do so much more with it.
I have a miller 250x, 220 volt that I love, but have used a lincoln 110 unit that worked great on thin stuff. I just don't like flux core wire, get the argon. Scott
Hobart Handler 140 amp, 110v. Made in the USA on the Miller line, will weld anything you want on an automobile and is an excellent value. Devon
I use a Lincoln ProCore wire feed unit. Got it at home depot or lowes, along with all the supplies I needed. Somewhere around $300-$400ish. It runs on 110 and handles up to .250" steel with no trouble. I use the fluxcore wire in it and get good results. I have used several Gas shielded units and the results are MUCH prettier with the gas shield. Good news is, the Procore is upgradeable to gas should I choose to do so. Prior to purchasing the Lincoln, I had tried using a stick welder with thin rods, but I never got the hang of it. The Wire feed welder with the point-and-shoot design has served me so much better. Variable wire feed speed and 4 heat settings. It has a chart on its inside to give you a start point setting for whatever material you are working with. Good luck!
That's the one I bought! Don't forget to search craigslist - I found mine cheap and in good condition.
X2...I have one and it is GREAT for sheetmetal work. Make sure to use the gas hookup. I leased my tank from the local gas company (AirGas) pretty reasonably.
Does a 220V weld thinner metal better? Or with sheet metal, does the 110V do just as well? Thanks, James
For thin metal, 110 is just as good, maybe better. If you plan on welding frames or thicker steel, a 220 might be a good choice.
220 will give you room to expand to more projects but a 110 will be good for autobody i got a lincoln weld pak..3200? 135 max amp, does everything I needed so far! it'll do up to 14 plate but since at that ampagw the duty cylce will just suck where you cant lay a nice long bead ...but it'll do it with some stop and go action ..preheating thick metal(frames) works also to guarentee deep penetration
I love my Hobart 140, it's my favorite tool I have, my kid makes fun of me all the time, he says I allways try to weld everything, it's sweet though, Miller puts out that new one that you just enter the type of metal and guage and it automatically adjusts, it looks sweet but you could buy like three hobarts for the price of one of those though
Thanks for everyone's input... I bought a Hobart 120 with cart/tank/auto mask/cutting torch/cutting gas/two spools of wire/extra liner/books and a video for $300.00. Miller or something 220V would have been nice, but this suits my poor little budget better. Question, how come welding upside down or contorted under the car is soooo much harder than with it right in front of you? I ended up tacking my exhaust in place, and then pulling to get at it easier. James
Gravity can be your friend or your enemy. Gravity pulls the puddle down. Overhead welding is tricky I have set my self on fire a time or two welding overhead.
I do nothing more than some hobby welding and some limited sheet metal work in sporadic auto restorations - so I am not a professional welder. But ..........., I recently picked up a 110V 90 Amp flux core wire feed welder for $80 at Harbor Freight. I know, I know, it is what it is, but it retailed for $199 and after the sale and an additional coupon tacked on to that which I received in the mail, the final damage was $80 plus the governor's fee. I figure that if I use it just a few times, it'll more than pay for itself.
I had to laugh when I thought back to gauging the expertise of a good welder by jokingly saying " He was so good he could weld overhead bare chested":laugh:
