first welder

Custom manufactured BBQ Pits, Do-it-Yourself projects, parts and ideas.

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banditbbq USER_AVATAR
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Re: first welder

Postby banditbbq » Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:15 pm

I recently bought a Hobart Handler 140 to build my 500 gal smoker with. I am very happy with the ease of set up and the beads the welder puts down. I've been welding 1/4 steel with it for a few weeks now and am very pleased with the unit.
lubbockguy1979
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Re: first welder

Postby lubbockguy1979 » Tue Apr 02, 2019 4:36 pm

300 bucks is a hard price point. I wouldnt mind a portable welder option as a 115v but feel that it would be a compromise. The 115v market seem to focus on the higher end of the spectrum and dont do as well on thinner items. They also dont have as good of heat control. The newer inverter welders might be better at that but those are outside of your price range. I looked for 6 or 8 months on various classifieds till i found a old miller matic 200. Its a hoss 50amp machine that will do just about anything you want. It does well on thin metal and has done 3/8 to 1/2 material. I picked it up for $600 bucks with the regulator a new mig gun a full spool of stainless wire as well as an aluminum spool gun. In 5 or 10 years i will probably make money if i ever sell it. A comparible model new is 3x what i paid. Its a older machine but honestly unlike the newer machines with all the gizmos this one is simple and near bulletproof. The parts are inexpensive and it is a common welder so parts are available.

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chasdev USER_AVATAR
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Re: first welder

Postby Chasdev » Wed Apr 03, 2019 5:33 am

Good on Ya!
There's quite a few low hour items on Craigslist that got used a few times and then became a storage headache.
That's the best way to go.
k.a.m. USER_AVATAR
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Re: first welder

Postby k.a.m. » Thu Apr 04, 2019 10:30 am

As most know I am 100% stick. A Miller or Hobart 225 AC/DC will build anything you want in the steel world. When purchasing a welder for a cooker there are many options out there but when you are going to be building a trailer besides fabrication knowledge weld penetration in my opinion is everything and a lot of the lower end wire feeds will not deliver. A pretty weld sitting high on a joint scares me lol.
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



My Hybrid cooker.
Competition trailer #2.
spacetrucker USER_AVATAR
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Re: first welder

Postby spacetrucker » Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:10 pm

Kam that is sound advise on the weld, I too have burnt mostly rod all my life. There is a lot to be said for the sound of "bacon frying"
Don't count every day, Make every day Count
Good Cue to ya..
Vernon

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ComentasteitBBQ
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Re: first welder

Postby ComentasteitBBQ » Wed Apr 10, 2019 2:06 am

Buy once, Cry once


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txdragon USER_AVATAR
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Re: first welder

Postby Txdragon » Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:56 pm

ComentasteitBBQ wrote:Buy once, Cry once


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I know this statement all too well. Lol!
(Insert witty signature here)

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