Decent MIG welder for home...

[TAftonomos]

Tired of trying to tack stuff together with my tig from afar, keep it from moving, then bring it over to the bench..... going to buy a little mig to do that.

Anyone have experience with something like this?
http://www.eastwood.com/mig-135-welder-cart-helmet-kit.html

Seems like a decent deal.  I don't need the helmet, but the cart is a must

[Ratfink749]

Tired of trying to tack stuff together with my tig from afar, keep it from moving, then bring it over to the bench..... going to buy a little mig to do that.

Anyone have experience with something like this?
http://www.eastwood.com/mig-135-welder-cart-helmet-kit.html

Seems like a decent deal.  I don't need the helmet, but the cart is a must

I own a Lincoln 120v MIG and its okay.. I REALLY wish I had gone with a 220V Miller.  Those are the only 2 I've really had any expierence with and I'm inclined to reccomend the 220 if you can.  IIRC The one I'm thinking of is the Millermatic 180.  Most of the 120V's that say they can weld 1/4 - 3/16 steel are listing themselves as doing so with flux core wire.  If you are ok with this then cool.. I myself prefer gas shielded over flux core.  Cart's can be found fairly cheap at Lowes or Home Depot if you find a welder that doesnt come with one.

[ducpainter]

I bought a Lincoln years ago when the wire feeds on the off brands were sub par.

If you're really looking for a welder for tacking things together any of them should work with gas shielding.

[77south]

What's wrong with flux core?  it seemed pretty cool when I used it in college.  But all I know about welding came from that one course 15 years ago so please use small words.

[He Man]

I thought they didnt make flux core for Stainless and Aluminum... Ive never heard of it atleast.

Taft, i have the Northern tools MIG 135. Which i think may have the same internal parts. Dont let the cart and the helmet factor into your purchase. THe cart is cheap and can be made easily, and so is the autodarkening helmet.

It runs nicely, i paid $289 for it because northerntools runs specials every now and then. comes with the gas attatchment, and it performs like a millermatic function wise.

If you are just going to tack stuff, 110v should be fine, ive had no problems with welding 1/4" steel with flux core on my Northern tools MIG 135, but if you are seriously going to use it for everything else that the TIG isnt doing, then go 220v.
If your going to drop $399 on a 110 MIG, then i'd say pony up for a quality branded one

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200306073_200306073


Most of Eastwood's cheaper stuff is nothing more than repackaged harbor freight stuff.

[Ratfink749]

What's wrong with flux core?  it seemed pretty cool when I used it in college.  But all I know about welding came from that one course 15 years ago so please use small words.

Its just messy looking.  Nothing is actually WRONG with it.  Just more asthetically pleasing to use gas.

[ducpainter]

I thought they didnt make flux core for Stainless and Aluminum... Ive never heard of it atleast.

<snip>

They certainly make stainless.