Mig welder and air compressor

[Mike70]

I am looking at a northern tools unit. 120 volt, 125 amp mig. Anyone know anything good or bad about these? I know I should get a Lincoln or similar, but budget dollars have to stretch.

Also, my old compressor crapped out, so I am looking at a Kobalt from Lowes, I think 11.5 CFM at 9 psi. I had my heart set on an IR ( over 18 cfm at 90 psi) but budget won out there too.

Please chime in if you have comments about either of these, or any alternatives.

Thanks, Mike

[brads70]

Hummm I hear ya on the budget thing. My Grandfather had a great saying reguarding tools that stuck...
"I'f you can't afford the best....then wait till you can"
I have a lincoln , had it for over 15 years, it's done a ton of welding, paid for itself 10x over, never had a single problem with it, ever. If I do, I can get parts for it, unlike offshore stuff.
With an air compressor I'd look for cast iron not aluminum  in the compressor. At least 5hp , Buy one that if/when you add tools it will be able to supply them.
Just my 

[Jimmy]

I got a Hobart Mig welder and an IR compressor from Tractor Supply. Wait for their sales. They usually have better prices than Lowes / Home Depot. I didn't want to skimp on these for Harbor Freight / Northern Tools chinese cheapies. Some things I did skimp on, but these I wanted to last, so I waited until a sale came along and I could afford them.

[Topcat]

I bought mine from this place. Killer unit. highly recommended. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/MILLER-MILLERMATIC-180-MIG-WELDER-PKG-907312_W0QQitemZ360245466515QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_Welders?hash=item53e04d9593

[brads70]

I agree, I'd stick with Lincoln, Miller, or Hobart. Something not oversea's that you can get parts for if needed.

[Mike70]

Thanks. I guess I'll be waiting a little more then. Just don't have the money for $1600 worth of compressor and welder.

Brad, I agree with your grandfather. But sometimes, life gets in the way.

Mike

[Blue Stone]

 I heard Miller and Hobart are one in the same,,,,,,,,,  I am saving my nickles and dimes for a Miller 140 Auto set 720 dollars,,,, those Chinese units have a short run on any given model however the Miller units will serviceable for a long time...

[shadango]

Keep your eyes open at Lowes and Home Depot for the inventory clearance sales and things like that...I picked up an open box Lincoln weleder a couple years ago for probably half of what it orig. sold for....it was missing the gauges for the gas side, but the welder was brand new otherwise. 

I have a buddy who bought a Harb. Freight welder and he had initial issues with it...the wire feed was messed up.

Now that he has had it for a while he likes it but I am convinced that I did right by waiting...as soon as I saw the lincoln on sale I jumped on it.

I am still learning how to weld good, so having a decent unit at least rules out the equipment as a factor.

[Changin Gears]

My experience is a mixed bad on these.  Had an off brand mig for a while.  It's not that it broke often, it was very difficult to get a good weld.  Got a Lincoln, it's as easy as squirting out tooth paste.

But my off brand compressor has been trouble free for 20+ years.

[the_engineers]

Where are you?  Something like this would leave a lot more room for a good welder in the budget
http://www.farmandfleet.com/products/605034-60_gallon_belt_drive_compressor.html?lref=%2fcatalog%2ffind.aspx%3ft%3dcompressor%26m%3dP%26c%3dAll%2bProducts%252f%252f%252f%252fUserSearch1%253dcompressor%26p%3d2

[TROUBLE987]

Where are you?  Something like this would leave a lot more room for a good welder in the budget
http://www.farmandfleet.com/products/605034-60_gallon_belt_drive_compressor.html?lref=%2fcatalog%2ffind.aspx%3ft%3dcompressor%26m%3dP%26c%3dAll%2bProducts%252f%252f%252f%252fUserSearch1%253dcompressor%26p%3d2

man thats a good deal im looking at 700 for a 60 gallon and thats the cheapest i found

[Topcat]

man thats a good deal im looking at 700 for a 60 gallon and thats the cheapest i found

An option if you have some time and find a 60-80 gal used compressor tank. Upgrade the pump and motor. Just weld a bigger plate and mount the new systems in. the motor needs to match the pumps requirements. 

It's something I have been thinking of doing. The seals are leaking on mine. 
Stay away from reed valve systems.  They work but not nearly as well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/EATON-COMPRESSOR-13-CFM-CAST-IRON-AIR-COMPRESSOR-PUMP_W0QQitemZ130377351765QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1e5b188255   

ACE hardware sells pulleys. You would have to research the right ones in dia. w/motor HP for the right RPM for your particular set up desired and recommended.

Eaton makes great pumps and tech support to assist you in all this.
 
If you went this route, it would mean you would have little or no air CFM/psi loss no matter what air tools are being used. i.e: DA sander. one of the biggest air user tools.
beats waiting around for your compressor to keep catching up all the time.

[DetMatt1]

Don't forget the used option, or Craigslist. Some great deals to be had out there. I use tools for a living and my hobby and if I need something I will always search craigslist first. I bought my Miller 140 with easy set NIB on Craigslist with an aluminum spool gun for $700.00, great machine.

[Mike70]

Brooks - Thanks. Not one of those near me in western NC. That's about the same price as the one I was looking at from Lowes. Same CFM too.

Topcat - I thought about that too, but a compressor head and motor with a decent CFM is almost as much as a new compressor. I was gonna use my old tank as extra air storage.

Wife is all PO'ed now because I need to spend some money, so it all may wait.

[TROUBLE987]

yea im in sc,and i bought my weilder at lowes and love it..about the compressor I have a 80 gallon tank setting behind my body shop so im going to grab it and see what i can come up with..