What do you think of this WELDER.....Deal thru 4/11

[Bullitt-]

Another purchase I'm considering is a 110V Mig Welder. Happened across on Tractor Supply has 15% off on-line purchases Hobart unit comes to $390+local tax & Free Shipping  Got to looking & found this Hobart unit for even a better price thru 4/11 $379 & Free shipping  edit:  & includes Gas regulator/hose kit
http://www.csnwelders.com/Hobart-Welders-500487-HBW1048.html#ProdDetails
I went to the local welding supply shop they want $539+tax for the same equipment.



Another issue will be a cylinder for the Argon/CO2 shielding gas.... Local shop wants well over $200 for tank filled
I see on line empty tanks for as low as about $60.00....To fill locally will be $30.00. Found this e-store that ships filled tanks (don't think the tanks are new) for $89+Shipping comes to about $104 total
https://weldingsupply.securesites.com/cgi-bin/einstein.pl?Next::1:UNDEF:OR:40CYL-l


Then I'll need a helmet...of course my 1st instinct is to buy low but upon thinking about it this might not be the place to skimp......I need your suggestions...... I like this but am having a hard time with the $100.00 price
http://daytonamig.stores.yahoo.net/vaauwehe.html    They also seem to have good supply prices & don't gouge on shipping charges......



All comments & suggestions are welcome 

Thanks Wade

[dutch]

  I am a used to working with  $10.000+ welders and I have no experience in using flux core wire, or using 115 volt welders, but I think this might just be the best deal around. Hobart always produced fine welders in the past, so I suppose this won`t be crap either.  It might be wise to take a look at the 140 model though. It is set up for mig gas, and has a bit more power...but it`s more expensive too  If you plan using it for welding car sheetmetal, you might want to consider using thinner wire, as it comes with 0,9 mm.
about the welding helmet: go get it,  it`s worth the money...it may seem a lotta money but you won`t have any sparks in your ears when you`re welding underneath a vehicle    once you worked with such a helmet you wonder why you didn`t get it sooner...

[Bullitt-]

Dutch....it comes with the regulator included so flux wire is not the issue
......lotta good thing said about .030 Harris "Twenty Gauge" wire.... or I can pick up .023 locally

Thanks Wade

[Topcat]

Harbor Freight sells welding helmets for 49.00. I have one and it works well. Not much different than the one pictured. Just the color and no stickers.

[Moparal]

You will not want to use flux core wire. It will splatter to much. Also I dont think you would be happy with the 125 and its limits. I agree on getting one with a bit more power. Come over and try mine out. I haven't hooked up the bottle yet and it is on flux core. You can get an idea on how well it works for you. If you need to use a machine right now, I will let you borrow mine for a couple of months if you want. And no don't scimp out on a helmet. You will be throwing your money away if you do.

[71 DEPUTY]

now there's a buddy!!!!!!   

[Chryco Psycho]

I stick with Miller Or Lincoln Hobart are decent but I would buy a better Machine depending what you are using it for

[ntstlgl1970]

"Another issue will be a cylinder for the Argon/CO2 shielding gas.... Local shop wants well over $200 for tank filled
I see on line empty tanks for as low as about $60.00....To fill locally will be $30.00. Found this e-store that ships filled tanks (don't think the tanks are new) for $89+Shipping comes to about $104 total"

I'll go against the trend here and recommend getting to know your local welding store. Most places I've dealt with, once they know you are serious, will deal on a welder. I've bought two machines from my local store and both times they met or beat the prices on the internet and they will save your butt when you have issues and many are open saturdays. Also, when you need to refill your tank, and you will run out when you need it most, the shop doesn't actually refill "your" tank, they exchange it for another tank of the same size. If your tank is not from their shop or gas suppliers chain, they charge you a testing fee (at least they do here in CA) for pressure testing the cylinder which will just about negate any savings from buying online.

Another avenue would be buying a used name brand welder, especially right now that people are hurting for money, you could save some big bucks that way.

If you are thinking of getting a machine with more capacity, make sure you have the current to run it. Depending on your house/garage, if you don't have dedicated 220V service, most electric clothes dryer plugs are limited to about 20-30 amps. You can run up to about a 200 amp mig on this much current.

Get the helmet - no one makes replacement eyeballs yet

[dutch]

[quote

I'll go against the trend here and recommend getting to know your local welding store. Most places I've dealt with, once they know you are serious, will deal on a welder. I've bought two machines from my local store and both times they met or beat the prices on the internet and they will save your butt when you have issues and many are open saturdays.

If you are thinking of getting a machine with more capacity, make sure you have the current to run it. Depending on your house/garage, if you don't have dedicated 220V service, most electric clothes dryer plugs are limited to about 20-30 amps. You can run up to about a 200 amp mig on this much current.

[/quote]

   100%

[Topcat]

Harbor Freight
Superior auto-darkening lens for arc, MIG or TIG welding. Darkens from shade #4 to #9-#13 in 1/20000 of a second. Solar powered.
Variable shading knob. Adjustable head band, $49.00 in stores,

Daytona
-Adjustable while welding - knob on outside of helmet-Auto On/Off  Viewing area: 3-3/4" by 1-3/4" = 6.56 sq.in.
-Changes from light to dark in 1/25,000th sec. $99.00

I'm telling you...the lenses are the same or damn close to it.

[Moparal]

Wade, mines a lincoln 135. I am home this weekend if you need it. A friend from the original mcg group is coming up to pick up a 340 I built for his step sons first mopar car.  Your welcome to use the mig if you need to. I gotta work in Mobile for the next 4 weeks. Hoping to go to the show at the battleship

[Bullitt-]

Alan, Thanks for the offer...I have no immediate need of a welder, just thought I have found a good deal......May take you up on the loan in a few months when I get to that point.

Enjoy your time in Mobile.....with some luck maybe I'll make it to the Battleship show.

Thanks
Wade 

[CHUCKS71]

  With If you are going to buy a new welder you might want to get bigger unit like a 175 amp lincoln. You never know what your next project might need welded and the price isn't that much more. Chuck

[ksierens]

I am used to using Lincoln welders, though I did look at a Hobart before I settled on the one I have. I did use the flux core wire for building my rotisserie, but in gerneral I use the Twenty Gauge brand wire, and I love it.

I would not even look at a cheap helmet, I tried one and it was awful, and I ended up taking it back.        Get a Speedglas, you wont be sorry.  I got mine on-line for something like $130, it is awesome, and since I am older now, I even got a magnifing lens for it so I can really see what I am doing.

[haroldbrown2]

I have one of the cheapie plastic Harbor Fright with auto-darkening lens and it worked fine and since no top of anything it's not too hot which is important around here where it's normally hot and humid.  As far as the weld shops, it's true I've heard they will deal with you.  I think I'd print a copy of what I was going to buy (including price) off internet and have it with me when I went into the weldshop to see if they'd try to match.  I gave up welding cause I didn't have a good one (flux core only) but intend to buy a nice welder when I build my shop (when my rich uncle gets out of the poor house to loan me the bread) and try to learn again.  It's hard to dial the heat down on thin metal and not blow through on the cheap units, but lincoln, hobart, miller all good I've heard....