Welders

VikingZ · July 15, 2002

Just wondering what type of welder most folks keep around the house. Home Depot has a Linclon wire feed for 340$ that is convertable to mig. Seems like a nice unit but I dont want to buy junk. I havent used a welder in about 6 years so I am a little clueles about the retail options out there.

any insight is welcome.

VikingZ

SilveradoWV · July 15, 2002

Lincoln is all I have ever used!

Jpshostr · July 15, 2002

What are you planning on welding is going to play into what you are going to be happy with.

Myself, I have a little Firepower 110V wirefeed. It works good for plenty of stuff around here on the farm, but I don't tackle anything to large with it. Mainly I bought it for its small size so I can easily throw it in the truck along with my generator for field repairs, fixing gates and balefeeders at other farms, etc. My hope is to get a good 220V Lincoln in the future so I am able to do some fabrication in our shed that I am not willing to do with my current welder.

For small, general repair jobs for the average Joe I'd think a 110V would do the job, but anything more get a 220V. I know I've already outgrown mine, although it certainly has its place.

General Lee 01 · July 15, 2002

This will get a better response in the General Forum.

Cyclic · July 15, 2002

I had a 100 amp 110V mig for about 2 years worked great BUT I always needed more power So I traded up to a 170 amp 220V and it fits all my needs. I weld everything up to and including 3/8 plate in a single pass. I'm very happy with it. If you can, spend the extra and get a 220V one you will be happier in the long run. :inlove:

DuckhunterInTN · July 15, 2002

I probably own the very welder that you are talking about. Is it a Lincoln Weldpac 100? I really like mine and it has never given me any problems. It won't weld just really thick stuff and has a hard time with rusty metal (as does any wire feed welder) but for medium to light all around use it is a great welder.

MarkD · July 15, 2002

All of the electric welders we have are Lincoln. No problems.

VikingZ · July 16, 2002

Thats right Duckhunkter it was the weldpack 100. Sounds like a decent deal at 340$ I just might ckeck out some 220s though. I doubt my wife will go for much more than 4bills though

VikingZ

DuckhunterInTN · July 17, 2002

The 220 would be nice, but more expensive. I got the 110 because the welder gets moved around some between shops, houses, etc and I wanted to be able to use it anywhere. Also, running a 220 outlet to our shop would have been costly. I really like this Lincoln.

VikingZ · July 18, 2002

I think I am gonna pick this one up 2morrownight, the weld pack that is. Duckhunter do you have the MIG conversion kit for said welder?

VikingZ

DuckhunterInTN · July 18, 2002

Viking,

No, I do not have the mig conversion kit. Other than having cleaner welds, it would not do me much good because I normally do not weld thinner material than what the welder will currently handle.

VikingZ · July 19, 2002

Duck hunter , and all the rest. Thanks for your time and tips. I got me a weld pack, as minor home use is all it will see. Currently I am running welds on an old shovel. and putting together any loose metal I can find. My wife is gonna think I am nuts, but thats ok I'm having fun.

Thanks again

VikingZ

DuckhunterInTN · July 19, 2002

Glad to hear that you got one. Yeah, I did the same thing, just welding whatever I could find to "practice." Luckily, though, I had a pretty big project that I wanted to do as soon as I got it, so that kinda satisfied my urges. One thing that you can do is make her some sort of flower rack or fern hanger or something so that you can get practice and she can begin to see the usefullness of your new toy. ;)

CMNTMXR81 · July 19, 2002

Lincoln was all we had. Although the wirefeed on the MIG welder always was breaking and taking it out of service often. But that wasn't because it was a bad product, rather a Technician backed over it with a conversion van or something and it was never right afterwards.

When I welded my subframe connectors on the Camaro, it wasn't working well and the welds look like a$$! They work...but look like a$$.