I'm looking to buy a welder

[Professor_Skullsworth]

As the title suggests, I am looking to purchase a welder. A 220v mig welder to be more specific. I am hoping to spend about $400 on the machine. Now I have used a mig plenty of times, but i am not too up on what makes a good one. What are some things that I should look for? Is there anything to avoid?

Somebody please lay some mig welder knowledge on me,...Thanks

[Irukanji]

Ideally look for the correct amps you will use, or adjustable. No point having a 1000Amp welder if your going to weld 5mm plate steel.

I think a 200-250amp welder should be ok, since you can get these for relatively cheap(~$200-300 where i live for a decent one). Wire is sold by the kg, and is ~$20+ got 5kg.

[Vargus]

Infinite adjustment is great. I don't think there is really a whole lot you need to look for. It's only a big transformer, wire feeder, and a bottle of gas.

I've been using a Lincoln Power-MIG 255. When you get the settings right and have gas, it will lay down a perfect bead even with what little experience I have. Of course, a good welder is no band-aid for experience. From what I've done, I think that MIG is pretty forgiving if you have everything close enough.

I've never got to use a shitty welder, so I don't know what that's like. :D

[Cir]

I've never got to use a shitty welder, so I don't know what that's like. :D

It's like having metal shavings rubbed into your eyeballs and a strong electric current running through your nipples. I worked as a welder, and typically the noobie gets to use the shittiest machine. It's a real headache when you have to make do with a low power machine who's wirefeed spindles are worn down s that they hardly grip the wire, and the feed motor is weaker than a geriatric grandmother, and you're told to weld thick plate, and if it's not perfect you have to grind it back and do it again.

I think the sons of bitches were just fucking with me for fun. Well I showed them, hah. Also they made me use one of those old fucking helmets, from before those self-darkening, flip up visors were invented. They had to get me a new one eventually, because they stopped making spare parts for my old helmet a decade ago.

[MunkeyQ]

It's like having metal shavings rubbed into your eyeballs and a strong electric current running through your nipples.
Yep...a shitty welder is no fun to learn on at all.

Some good posts here so I won't repeat them. I'd like to add that if you're going to be using it to draw long beads, look for a continuously rated one with a fan. Most smaller welders have a cyclic rating, e.g. 10 minutes continuous, 5 minutes cool down.

[Professor_Skullsworth]

So the budget went out the window (hey im not paying for it) and my father ordered a miller 211. It looks like a pretty sweet setup.

It can run off of 120V or 240V; it has a separate "spool gun" for aluminum welding; comes with cart, regulator, and everything but a mask and a tank of gas.

It should arrive in 2 or 3 weeks. The projects planned include: a gate for a driveway, a foundation for a spiral staircase, a large grill/smoker (from an old compressor tank), and lots of welding on a couple of jeep cj's

[Professor_Skullsworth]

Managed to convince my old man to pick up a millermatic 211. sweet machine. Got the gas hooked up and started to lay some sweet beads.

[MunkeyQ]

Awesome, Millers are great machines, far outside my budget. What gas are you running? I use Coogar 5...interesting to see how results vary with different ones. Seem to remember Argomix was a similar price.

[Professor_Skullsworth]

75% argon 25% co2. Down the road we're going to pick up a second cylinder of 100% argon for aluminum work

[Death_Merchant]

75% argon 25% co2. Down the road we're going to pick up a second cylinder of 100% argon for aluminum work

It should be a good machine for welding thinner mild steel and aluminum. If you run it on 230v, you'll find the machine will do a lot more for you than on 120v. On 120v, you're not going to be able to weld what it claims. You're maximum for welding on 120 with .030 ER70S-2 wire, will be 3/16" max. I'd say 1/4" on 230v is pushing the welders potential, and the quality of the weld won't be great on anything thicker. It won't be a great machine for welding thicker aluminum. It'll weld it if you brush the oxide off fully, and keep a perfectly distanced arc. Not the best for it though. Should weld good on steel if you keep around a 3/8" electrode stick out.

To me, it's a good hobby machine for guys that want to do some basic welding, but aren't properly trained welders. It wouldn't be much good for any kind of production welding, but it'll weld panels on cars, and build the things you're hoping to build.

Just remember that you're not actually a welder just cause you have a machine. Don't weld anything that someone could die as a result of a improper weld. Even a weld that looks good, is sometimes absolute shit. Take it to a professional if you need something crucial welded.

[Sentinel owl]

Meh. I'd rather overengineer to anticipate shitty welds than go to a "professional." How do I know that the professional isn't some lackey? I'd rather...Do It Myself!

As long as you practice enough, your welds will be okay.

I mean, if I was welding a frame for a hang-glider or something, yeah, I'd either have a pro do it or take some classes on it myself. But few things are really mission critical like that.

[Death_Merchant]

Meh. I'd rather overengineer to anticipate shitty welds than go to a "professional." How do I know that the professional isn't some lackey? I'd rather...Do It Myself!

As long as you practice enough, your welds will be okay.

I mean, if I was welding a frame for a hang-glider or something, yeah, I'd either have a pro do it or take some classes on it myself. But few things are really mission critical like that.

Well, as a general rule of thumb, if it's something that could fail and kill people, leave it to someone with the proper training and knowledge to produce the part properly. I'm a welder by trade. I'm a third year apprentice, but I'll have my ticket this fall. I've been welding for 13 years. There is a bit more to welding than most realize. Sometimes a weld will look good, but not really hold shit. There are also things to consider like proper weld profile,notch effects, hydrogen embrittlement cracking, etc. Some defects aren't really that obvious to most people. Even a stray arc can have some serious consequences. I've seen some serious fuck ups at work, and some of the shit looked really good, but wasn't.

If you want to know if someone is a good welder, find out if they hold specialized tickets for pressure welding or GTAW. If they hold those tickets, they know their shit well, cause most welders can't pass those tests.

[.net]

Use your spunk. Shits sticky. ;)