[Themaxman727]

Alright so im building a go kart and I wanna invest in a nice compact MIG welder. Anyone have any ideas? The welder is gonna be used on cars and little around the house jobs and for building mini bikes and go karts. Not too expensive also. I want one that will deliver nice strong welds.

 

[Vanishing Nomad]

One word, "Miller"

Get thier 110V that runs o house current. When i was a welder, I ran mine 9 hours non stop for months at a time building fire place burners. It was old, used and should have been dead, yet I hardly ever had a problem with it. I did this for 5 years every fall to spring 5 -1/2 days a week.

 

[fistfull of hurt]

i agree go with a 110 volt miller with .030 flux core wire will work well to 1/16 thick with proper weld prep

 

[Themaxman727]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200403263_200403263

Is this one good?

 

[fistfull of hurt]

no it is junk parts will be hard to get
spent the $ http://store.cyberweld.com/millermatic135.html you get what you pay for
this is one i use all the time

 

[Themaxman727]

no it is junk parts will be hard to get
spent the $ http://store.cyberweld.com/millermatic135.html you get what you pay for
this is one i use all the time

Yeah but that one is $600. The one I found is $150 and has had lots of good reviews. I'll invest in a really nice welder when I leave college and find my own house.

 

[Vanishing Nomad]

i agree go with a 110 volt miller with .030 flux core wire will work well to 1/16 thick with proper weld prep

I was running .23 (0.23? .023? I forget) and Argonn

 

[fistfull of hurt]

the choice is yours i can understand budget being tight but you will kick your self for getting junk
The welder is gonna be used on cars and little around the house jobs and for building mini bikes and go karts. Not too expensive also. I want one that will deliver nice strong welds.
600$ is not much for a quietly welder

 

[Vanishing Nomad]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200403263_200403263

Is this one good?

A welder that cheap will be total garbage. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to learn on a crappy welder. How do you know if the bird s#it welds are you, or the machine?

Google Miller welders, and get the latest 110V Mig they are selling. You can set it up for flux core if you like, but it's a cheat in my book. I'd prefer to run real Argon myself.

A crappy welder will make crappy welds that will fail when you need them most. This is ESPECIALLY if you are making a high stress fabrication like a gokart or mini bike. No sense putting safety at risk on bad welds.


Do it right the first time.

 

[1eaglescout]

Personally I prefer the 220V welders. All of the 110 models I have been around were less than satisfactory. That's not to say there are not some that will work, just that the ones I have experience with sucked.
Miller makes a top notch welder with Hobart and Lincoln not far behind. Every time I have purchased a tool or gun with the intention of upgrading to a better unit down the line I threw money away. Cry once and buy the good stuff.

 

[Themaxman727]

Is this a better choice http://www.ruralking.com/welder-handler-125-ez.html

 

[Vanishing Nomad]

Is this a better choice http://www.ruralking.com/welder-handler-125-ez.html

I would prefer that over the first one, but it seems a bit inflexible to me. The lack of control would be an annoyance to an experienced welder, but it may be an asset to a beginner who does not know quite how to tune a welder right.

Also, I'd prefer a unit that can run either a flux core, or Argonn at your leisure. But Hobart does make quality units that perform every bit as good as Millers.

Lincoln, Miller and Hobart are the top 3 manufacturers. It's hard to go wrong with any of them so long as you get a unit that can handle the material you will be welding.

 

[fesno]

Used this small 110v lincolin weld pak 100

to build this

Built to Edge Piranha plans with a Honda Vt 600 motor and re geared to 13/60, lots of low end torque and very scary quick.
I built it for my son but it's just a little to fast for him set up this way, So now I have a new toy and am in the beginning process of building another for him. It been a very fun build process and have taught my 12 year old to mig weld with the set up I have. A great father /son project.

 

[joes]

I have a Lincoln and like mine....I went to the local welding shop supplier and a saleman took the time and showed me differences in models and i walked out with one......I agree with others get a good one....Maybe check the paper for a used one..Also welding shops take tradeins maybe they will have a nice one in your price range....

 

[67lemans]

Got a small Lincoln Weld Pack that I use for auto body work. Works pretty well. Mig/Flux core. 110 volt. Got it for around 400.00

 

[kev]

One word - fluxcore

Do not buy a mig - which requires gas. I used a 110 volt fluxcore welding machine to build my bar-b-q pit.

 

[Vanishing Nomad]

One word - fluxcore

Do not buy a mig - which requires gas. I used a 110 volt fluxcore welding machine to build my bar-b-q pit.

YouTube- Welding on my bar-b-q pit

I have never liked flux cores myself. Argonn shield gas gives a much better smoother easier weld in my opinion. This is especially so if you are in an environment where there is contamination in the material you are welding (Like using weld through primers for corrosion protection on autobody repairs). Argonn welds smooth, flux cores you have to struggle a bit with to get it good in conditions like that.

 

[stevegee58]

Hmmm. I'm getting interested in welding now, as if I didn't need another expensive hobby.

My last experience was shop class in high school with a stick welder and it weren't perdy.
These wire welders look much easier to use.

 

[LiftRanger]

Over the years, I've used several brands. Four that are dependable, powerful, and easy to use are Miller, Lincoln, Hobart and ESAB.
All in all, you have to appreciate the MllerMatics for attention to detail and quality. Some models are convertible from 110 to 220 1PH, simply by an interchangeable plug. Some, like the 250, give you the ability to weld aluminum, should you ever want to, with additional attachments.

 

[mike in pa]

But Hobart does make quality units that perform every bit as good as Millers.

Hobart and Miller are the same units (unless they split recently), Hobart is US made and Miller is Canadian and the Hobart usually comes with a Miller nozzle/gun.