Need a mig welder

[bmyers]

I'm basically a garage hack, jack of all trades-master of none. It's time now I step out into welding. There are many small things that are in need of some "hot glue for metal". I may get a stick later on when I get the garage 220 installed but for now, I'm looking to go 110v mig. Because I have 110 in the shop and I like the idea of taking my generator and welder into the wood and weld some stuff.

Anyone have experience with Northern Industrial welders? The have an interesting one that is mig/stick. I'm sure 110v stick is not as powerful as a 220v tombstone box but might be useful if it doesn't suck. Here is the welder I'm referring to:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...5917_200355917

Any HTP mig owners out there ?

Any advice on a decent 110v mig that won't tap out my wallet would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Bill

[LinuxRandal]

A mig can be more useful then an arc welder. You said your planning on upgrading to 220 later?
I know Miller makes a welder that you can change easily, from 110 to 220, but it is over $1k (and very well liked). If your thinking long term, you might be wise to look at something like that (save your penny's now and buy once).
I don't know anything about that brand you posted, as a lot of the old store welders, were/are made by Century? (a company in bankruptcy proceedings)

For cost, and availability, I would look at the Hobart series (Tractor supply, if you have one), or the Lincolns (think a red Miller). The 140 range is going to be the biggest 110 unit I think you can find, and in the same price range as the one posted above. The 187, is a 220, and not much more (if you could wait until you get 220).

[avbclark]

Miller is a RED Lincoln

I have the 220 version of this 120 V welder and have used it with and without gas. I have done bumpers and sheetmetal with it, and any imperfections in the welds were due to the welder, not the welding machine.

Lincoln Electric SP-135T One-Pak Combination Wire Feeder/MIG And Flux-Cored Welder with Utility Cart

[sscherin]

Hobart/Miller or Lincoln.. Both good little 110v MIG's

Go for one with Gas.. It'll cost a bit more up front but you'll save in the long run on wire and it'll make much cleaner beads..

You can get a Hobart Handler 140 from Cyberweld or $529 with free shipping

The Northern unit is interesting since it'll do stick and has a higher duty cycle then the Hobart.. (20% vs 30%)

[Mr_G]

Bill,
I was looking at the same Northern Industrial welder for awhile. I liked the idea to have MIG and Stick at the same time. At the same time to have it with 110v makes it even more attractive as I can use anywhere. Characteristics of this werder are good. I am in the same position, trying to find more reviews from ppl who already bought it and used it. I will check this forum again later. I hope someone will post something about this welder.

Thanks.

[Stytooner]

I have the Lincoln 225 stick welder and like it alot. It is 220 though, but I do have a plug that fits my generator. I use it for anything other than just sheet metal. I use a little gasless mig for sheet metal up to about 1/8" thick. I welded all the exhaust on my truck with it. It works fine. I think it is a Shumacher or something like that. Italian made.

The gas migs have a lot more versatility. With the right wire and gases, you can weld aluminum and stainless.

[capncarl]

I have the Lincoln SP100, which is Lincolns 110 volt machine like the one you are looking at. Using the flux core wire which is the gas free mig welding is a joke. 110 volt does not provide enough ampeage to do much. It sets you on fire more than it welds. Simply awful welding. The argon/helium gas mixes make it a much more tolerable machine that can be used in a tight. The gas bottle and regulator adds another cost to the machine. I purchased this machine in hopes to be able to mig light metal that I had been TIG welding on my large Miller welder. Since purchasing this welder I have used the 220 version and find it to be a far better welder. I not recomend anyone purchase it the 110 version, especially if it is to be their first MIG welder.

[Bill Anderson]

I have a Hobart 145. It is a 110v/120v (wall outlet) mig welder. With the gas kit and cart. It is on Amazon.com for $576 w/free shipping (at least two days ago it was, may have changed now).

The gas kit comes with the flow gauge, hose. and internal solenoid.

Nice welder that will burn in 3/16" steel in a single pass. Might do 1/4", but not for an extended period of time. I really like it, and for the price is hard to beat. Check out online retailers. I have seen some local deals too, so check out your local welding supply advertisements. Just stop by and pick up the sale flier sometimes the counter sales doesn't read what is in the corporate sales advertisement, as the computer doesn't always get updated with the sale prices. Not sure why this happens, but it does.

I have a 220V Miller for bigger jobs, so I have something to compare the Hobart to, and I can say it is a very versatile, and durable machine.

Good Luck. Bill

[bmyers]

Well I picked up a HF 90amp/ 110V version of the cheap welder about a month ago.. On sale for $89. Its the hot glue gun of metal but kinda useful around the shop.

Once you have a welder, refuse pickup day around the town looks alot different to you. You see and bed frame with a "free" sign on it and pull right over, free angle iron. Any kind of metal. I picked up a frame plant holder shelve thingie on the side of the road, dunno what it was but I got it all. I made a screen window for my attic. Welded it up in about an hour. Works great. Your options to solve a household problem increase when a welder is at your disposal. Even if it can only weld light material.

Made a welding cart of course. Thats like project #1 when you get a welder. Trailer welding, boat parts, truck roof rack are on my to-do list now.

One thing if you do go with a CAW (cheap welder) from HF. Use only some of the flux core wire that comes with it and then when you're ready to weld something you really need, get some Lincoln wire from HD. Night and day difference in the weld.

Maybe I'll post a pic or 2 of my cart. It has wood shelves so it still qualifies as a wood project..

If you're a jack-of-all trades DIY'er, I highly recommend having a welder in the shop.


Bill

[Mr_G]

Bill,

Did you have a chance to find more reviews on Mig/Stick combo welder from Northern Industrial? Reviews that are posted on Northern Industrial website are not bad as well. can u pls share what you think about...

Thanks

[bmyers]

I could not find much more than what was on the NT website as far as reviews. But my research elsewhere said that a 110v stick welder is just a little too low powered if you really want to weld some structure together.

I ended up with the 110v/90 amp mig from HF for the small stuff. Been happy with that so far and the 110v convenience is nice. I also picked up a used "buzz box" 220v Lincoln AC/225 for $115. Basic arc welder but has been around for years with lots of happy folks. If I need to welder hitches/trailers or things that, I'll use the stick welder. If not then I'll use the MIG as it's 110.

(electricians and building inspectors need not read this next part)

I dont have 220 in the garage. So, I made a 50ft 220v extension cord to run from the old basement dryer outlet to just outside the back door of the house. This will enable me to weld big stuff in the driveway if need be.

(electricians and building inspectors can read this next part)

I think I'm set for now. All told I spent less than the NT stick/mig welder would have been for me. I have a stick welder I know will weld whatever I dream up. The 110v mig will weld loads of stuff that I need and is quite portable so I can weld things for other folks for beer money.



Bill

[Tom Slick]

That little welder will weld thin stiff just fine but you will probably hit the duty cycle if welding a bead longer than 1" at a time. Is it flux core only or does it have a gas kit?
More stuff has been built with a Lincoln AC buzz box that any other machine in history! use some 6011 or 6013 rods and it will weld anything together.

The problem with using a mig welder for stick is the setting are different between the two. You don't set amperage with a mig and you don't set voltage with a stick welder.

[bmyers]

Its only flux core. No options for gas. But it was $90 and will weld plenty of stuff around the shop. I would recommend it for that price to anyone wanting to dabble in workshop welding. It's not the last welder you'll ever buy though. It has a 20% duty cycle at high power so in 10 minutes, I can weld for 2 minutes. If you cant weld more than 1" in 2 minutes it's time to switch to the buzz box. Quite handy too being only 110v machine.



Bill

[eezlock]

need a mig welder

Bill, I have two welders (1) Lincoln weldpack 100 wire welder and (2) Lincoln
225 stickwelder, of the two I use the wire welder 10 to 1 over the stick welder. It is easier to learn welding with than a stick welder, and is more easily transported if you need to take it out to an on site repair than most
stick welders would be. I always wanted the stick from years back...then after buying the wire welder I wished it was the only one I had bought, but hindsight is always different it seems.

I don't have any experience with that Northern Tools welder, but it should do a good job for you. Most of the good welders you will find are made by
companies like Lincoln, Hobart, Century and they make the other ones under
other names for someone else anyway.