Need some welder advice.

[Cicero]

I have to buy a welder to get my bike done, however I have several limitations that effect my purchase

Limitations

A) Cost. I am poor as dirt    I have a wedding to pay for and school  (which im paying cash as I go, screw student loans) Basically I get a small stipend out of each check that will have to go towards saving for the welder. Realistically I'm about 3 months away from saving up enough. Budget is around $750

B) Power supply. My house has no 230. Due to the above limitation, I cant afford to have an electrician come and hook one up so Im stuck with a 115 welder.

C) Availability. Not many non harbor freight 115 welders show up for sale, or if the do, its for new MSRP (even though they have been through hell) Plenty of 230s show up, but see problem B.

So it narrows down my options to these three

http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Catalog/equipmentdatasheet.aspx?p=42420


http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_140_autoset/


http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/wirefeed/handler140/

I am aware of the limitations of the welders, but for what I need right now they should suffice.

Personally Im leaning towards the miller, but at the price point the hobart has got me eyeing it as well

Any input wold be appreciated

[NAKID]

Could you not run a long cable from the clothes dryer or the stove?

[Cicero]

Could you not run a long cable from the clothes dryer or the stove?

No 230 period

My house has all gas appliances 

[NAKID]

Well that sucks.

Anyone know if something like this would work?

http://www.action-electronics.com/trnsupdn.htm

[Rameses]

I wouldn't waste money on a 110 volt welder.

[Cicero]

Well that sucks.

Anyone know if something like this would work?

http://www.action-electronics.com/trnsupdn.htm

I would prefer to not have my house burn down  


As I said the 115 will be fine for now, in the future I will have 230 (but that is down the road)

[Popeye the Sailor]

I've had a lincoln for about 12 years-it's been good to me, and I can make some decent welds with it. I imagine for whatever you're doing to the bike, one would be more than sufficient.

[GAAN]

Could you not run a long cable from the clothes dryer or the stove?

aren't those sub 50 amp breakers though?

a 220 welder needs a 60+ amp breaker

[Langanobob]

Any input would be appreciated

What exactly are you going to weld?  Knowing that might help with suggestions.

Does your house have two hot leads coming in from the powerline?  If so, you can put in a 230V breaker and a 230 V circuit and get a real welder.  I suggest watching Craigslist or local papers for a used welder as you can buy a lot of used welder for $700 or so. Also check the bulletin boards at local welding supply shops.

A lot of airplanes and other projects were built for decades using oxy-acetylene.  You can buy used torches and tanks for a lot less than your budget and learning to gas weld is a very solid base for MIG and TIG.   It's slow but effective for many projects.  It's very easy for an inexperienced welder using MIG to get fast good looking joints with little or no penetration, ie, weak.

And, there are lots of  welding forums on teh interweb where you will get better advice than you'll find here 

[ducpainter]

I've had a lincoln for about 12 years-it's been good to me, and I can make some decent welds with it. I imagine for whatever you're doing to the bike, one would be more than sufficient.

I have a Lincoln also. You can make great welds with it if you can get the work in position.

[cbartlett419]

I have this one and it will penetrate 5/16" well enough to make me feel safe. It's a good little welder and if you smash the piggy bank and buy/rent a bottle of argon gas you'll be able to weld 1/4" aluminum as well as your mild steel.

[Monsterlover]

I have used both the Lincoln and Hobart welders you listed.

If you didn't know it, Hobart welders are made by Miller, but cost less.

For the money, Id get the Hobart for the above reason.  You give up some adjustment though.  As I recall either the power or wirespeed (perhaps both?) can click to setting 1-2-3 etc.

The lincoln has the same power and speed settings, but the knob is infinitely variable between each one allowing you to fine tune things a bit.

That being said, the Hobart worked great.  My friend owns it and he's built about 6 cars and countless other things with it.  His is the 220v version, but I wouldn't hesitate to get the 110v setup.

Don't buy a kit that comes with a cart.  You'd be shocked to see how much you are paying for something that should be your first weld project and a fraction of the price.

Here is something that would probably work for you and you'd have money leftover to go get a co2/Ar tank and steel to build your cart.

And beer

[cyrus buelton]

Can you rent one? might save some $$

[Cicero]

What exactly are you going to weld?  Knowing that might help with suggestions.

Some frame welding (mount points for my sub frame and vertical supports)

Mild steel exhaust (16 gauge)  but will have to do some limited stainless work.

possibly some Al work as well

A lot of airplanes and other projects were built for decades using oxy-acetylene.  You can buy used torches and tanks for a lot less than your budget and learning to gas weld is a very solid base for MIG and TIG.   It's slow but effective for many projects.  It's very easy for an inexperienced welder using MIG to get fast good looking joints with little or no penetration, ie, weak.

I am (was) fairly proficient in mig, arc, and oxyacetylene, in fact oxyacetylene is my favorite form of welding (until I get more tig experience )  Im a bit out of practice but for doing a mix of stainless, mild steel and aluminum  at various angles I figured Mig would be my easiest/cheapest route.

Can you rent one? might save some $$

renting is out... its a long story. 

It's a good little welder and if you smash the piggy bank and buy/rent a bottle of argon gas you'll be able to weld 1/4" aluminum as well as your mild steel.

I'm buying at least a 40 cf, would prefer an 80 or 125 though 

Eventually I will be building a shop with 230, at which point Ill make the jump to tig. This is just to get my bike and a few other projects done sooner.

Trust me I would prefer a 230 Tig. Its just not in  the cards for the moment

[Langanobob]

Im a bit out of practice but for doing a mix of stainless, mild steel and aluminum  at various angles I figured Mig would be my easiest/cheapest route.

My apologies for assuming that you're a beginner.  And, again sorry if I'm beating a dead horse and I know you said no 230V period, but are you sure you don't have 230V service to the house at all? At least up to the panel?  I thought that it was code but don't know for sure.  If you have the service up to the house panel it might be a very simple matter to run a 230V circuit to the garage or wherever you'll be using the welder.  I'm not an electrician myself but I've run lots of new and  legal and safe circuits here.  Not rocket science.

I guess this is typical, you ask a question on one topic and get opinions on 50 other topics.