I need a welder, opinions.

[Vincent Waldon]

Every form of welding can produce excellent results if done right. I know guys who can produce magic with an oxyacetylene torch I would never attempt.

Yup... my bro can pick up any torch or wand and weld in any position with any rod or filler in seconds... sigh.  Takes me 5 minutes practice every time I weld just to get good straight welds on plate.

2X on the auto-darken helmet too... for us Canucks Princess Auto has 'em on sale quite often.   

[honda_is_the_best]

Every form of welding can produce excellent results if done right. I know guys who can produce magic with an oxyacetylene torch I would never attempt.

im one of those people.. i can make a oxy weld look like it was done by a TIG box. i had a champion welding teacher in high school tho.

[theman53]

I like my mig for versatility, but nothing beats the 40 year old lincoln buzz box on heavy welding. It is indestructable.

My miller 250 is very at home with the sheet metal I welded with. I got down to 22 gauge in some corner spots in my car build thread when replacing the foor. I also bought the .023" wire instead of .045" or .035" spools I had and the tips to go with it. I am no pro, but I think if I needed to feed the family I could definately get a job welding.

I think your selection will be fine Jeremy. Go get a beer and some cheese and start looking for a cheaper one.

BTW I sell ALL 3M products and can get you that speedglass helmet pretty cheap

[maxfax]

Also, I highly suggest an auto-darkening welding mask.  You'll be futzing around with it less so it's less of a distraction.  I have a Hornell Speedglass helmet like this one and it makes welding much more enjoyable.

X2000  By all means these things are worth 20x what they cost..  After an incident involving fumbling around with a flip up helmet and the following HELL of welding flash to the eyes I will use nothing else..

And FYI although a mig is excellent to have around, they don;t work so well for fixing cracked engine blocks..

[honda_is_the_best]

I like my mig for versatility, but nothing beats the 40 year old lincoln buzz box on heavy welding. It is indestructable.

My miller 250 is very at home with the sheet metal I welded with. I got down to 22 gauge in some corner spots in my car build thread when replacing the foor. I also bought the .023" wire instead of .045" or .035" spools I had and the tips to go with it. I am no pro, but I think if I needed to feed the family I could definately get a job welding.

I think your selection will be fine Jeremy. Go get a beer and some cheese and start looking for a cheaper one.

BTW I sell ALL 3M products and can get you that speedglass helmet pretty cheap

how cheap we talkin here? my brother stole my speedglass and broke it, now we are both too broke for a new one, and im stuck with a crappy shade..

[Smokey Eddy]

I personally don't like flux. It's dirty compared to properly shielded MIG welds. but beggers can't be choosers can we?

[rallydiesel]

Anybody have any info on using a mig welder in their garage? Do you need to get some kind of heavy cloth up? How easy is it to start a fire with the sparks? What about ventilation? Do welders create metal dust that will cover everything in the room?

[theman53]

I like my mig for versatility, but nothing beats the 40 year old lincoln buzz box on heavy welding. It is indestructable.

My miller 250 is very at home with the sheet metal I welded with. I got down to 22 gauge in some corner spots in my car build thread when replacing the foor. I also bought the .023" wire instead of .045" or .035" spools I had and the tips to go with it. I am no pro, but I think if I needed to feed the family I could definately get a job welding.

I think your selection will be fine Jeremy. Go get a beer and some cheese and start looking for a cheaper one.

BTW I sell ALL 3M products and can get you that speedglass helmet pretty cheap

how cheap we talkin here? my brother stole my speedglass and broke it, now we are both too broke for a new one, and im stuck with a crappy shade..

I can get this one to you for 155.00 plus shipping 37232
3M(TM) Speedglas(TM) Black Welding Helmet 100 with Auto-Darkening Filter 100V 07-0012-31BL/37232(AAD), Shades 8-12
 
I can get this one to you for 190.00 plus shipping 37237
3M(TM) Speedglas(TM) Aces High Welding Helmet 100 with Auto-Darkening Filter 100V 07-0012-31AH/37237(AAD), Shades 8-12

I can get this one to you for 130.00 plus shipping 37231
3M(TM) Speedglas(TM) Black Welding Helmet 100 with Auto-Darkening Filter 100S-11, 07-0012-11BL/37231(AAD), Shade 11

The only difference is one is an auto fixed shade, one is the graphics instead of black 8-12 variable and the other is an auto with a variable 8-12 shade in black. I could also get the fixed shade one in a 10 shade for the same price as the 11 shade.
If you needed just the helmet without the shades and headband I can get that too. Or if you just need the shade I can get that as well.

[maxfax]

I personally don't like flux. It's dirty compared to properly shielded MIG welds. but beggers can't be choosers can we?

I have found that the flux core seems to work better for welding junk.. My father has used it with the gas when welding up old farm machinery..  Of course that stuff don;t have to look good anyhow

[8v-of-fury]

i definitely do not care what the welds look like. AT ALL. I'm a Function > Fashion kinda guy, and its the way to be Which is why my car will have proportionate tires, and stock ride height

[745 turbogreasel]

Anybody have any info on using a mig welder in their garage? Do you need to get some kind of heavy cloth up? How easy is it to start a fire with the sparks? What about ventilation? Do welders create metal dust that will cover everything in the room?

If you get too close to the upholstry, it will burn.  wet newspaper makes good cheap protection.
I like to weld out front where the fumes can dissipate, and sunlight makes it easy to see the work.  every once in a while, I have to put the grass out.  You do have to be aware of fire.
Prep creates a lot of dust, and flux core can throw a lot of spatter which may stick or burn

[clbanman]

If there is any way you can manage it, get a 220 used commercial machine instead of the consumer type.   Way better duty cycle, better return on your investment if you ever sell it.   If at all possible, get it from a dealer who will warranty it.  Extra up front but fewer issues than having something fail shortly after you buy it.  The warranty is one benefit of a brand new one if you can manage the cash outlay.

Flux core or stick is better if you are welding outside (wind).  MIG (GMAW) is prettier but can make a good looking weld that isn't quality.   TIG (GTAW) is even better cosmetically but takes more practice.   Gas as mentioned can be used to cover all your welding needs but takes practice.   Stick is probably the cheapest but tough if you are doing sheetmetal or light gauge exhaust, etc.   

For 220, if you don't have an outlet in your garage you can make an extension cord and plug into your house stove outlet.  (If your wife is understanding.)

I definitely second the suggestion to get an auto-darkening helmet.   It will make a huge difference in welding ease if you don't do it regularly.

[morgoon]

Everything clbanman said is right on the money in my book 

I have a 220 air liquide 170-or is it 175 anyway I bought it probly 10 years ago,I used to have a shop and loved it with gas...then I stuggled outside w gas..waiting for lulls in the wind, making blinds etc..

Now I use flux core and it is messier, but it does work well

I have seen some amazing work on other sites with a 110 welder, but it seems everyone has to adjust to the limited duty cycle

I have welded super thin metal and 1/4 or better w multiple passes on winch mounts etc...

Go as big and best as you can afford

A welder changes your life...I know that seems a bit dramatic, but you start to see things you can weld everywhere

I also stuggled with cheap flip helmets for most of those years, until I snapped one day at the weld shop  and bought a miller pro hobby helmet @ a bit over 200 canuk bucks. I thought I might have over done it, but EVERY single time I use it...I get that money well spent feeling

Same feeling with a good welder...10 years later I still wish I had bumped up to a miller

but my welder works well...

Keep watchin Kijiji..I see them on there from time to time

[Smokey Eddy]

I'm registering to get welding certs C,B and A this semester. You could fly me out after christmas to do all your welding

[theman53]

Anybody have any info on using a mig welder in their garage? Do you need to get some kind of heavy cloth up? How easy is it to start a fire with the sparks? What about ventilation? Do welders create metal dust that will cover everything in the room?

X2 on what all else have said about dust and fire. I would like to add that the reason I have a fire extinguisher in my pic is because I caught my car on fire. The one in my build thread. The fuel line was cable tied tight to my floor that I was welding. The floor got hot enough from weld penatration to melt the cable tie which in turn melted the fuel line. That let the diesel out and leaked onto the concrete into a big flaming puddle