welding equipment???

[blaznitlow]

sup everyone..i am looking into buying my own welding stuff, but dont know what to get??i am not sure which brands are good and also what size to get...i will be using this as my personal home kind..i dont want to spend too much on something..but looking to spend about up to $1000...is that possible everything??machine,tanks,torch set, etc.?? any info would be great..thx..aloha...

[Drisco Z71]

from my experience miller makes nice stuff and i have never had a problem with our millermatic 210. However i think that a 210 would blow your whole budget. what kind of stuff are you planning on welding? when we got ours they gave us a bug duffel bag with a helmet, REALLY nice gloves, some special pliers, and a few extra tips. but im not sure if they do that any more.

[blaznitlow]

well, i want to do the normal stuff like c-notchs and cusotm brackets..custom fab stuff...it would be like a home garage size..ok..ill cehck out miller..thx

[ma96782]

Think about your garage wireing.....I mean most are 120V/20 AMP.....you may need to up grade.

Aloha,Mark

[DEP389]

I bought a miller 175 this past summer.. and absolutely love it. I had my heart set on a 210 millermatic, but after talking to the sales guy, I walked away with the 175. They both can basically weld the same thickness/thinness, the 210 has the module built in for welding aluminum, 175 doesn't. The 210 was around $1200/$1800 with the optional spoolgun, 175 was $712 with a cart.

[DEP389]

P.S. I had to run a 230 recepticle and a 30 amp breaker, straight forward stuff, about $45 no big deal.

[blaznitlow]

thx guys...oh, ok..i think the 175 might fit what i can afford..ill look into that one...eaze..MJ

[Iceberg]

miller is one of the best when it comes to mig or tig .

[thecodeman]

I'm thinking about getting the Miller 140 with autoset, and I have the same basic welding needs as the OP. I have had good experiences with Miller in the past. Does the machine meet the needs?
http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/millermatic_140_autoset/

[chevy6998]

www.cyberweld.com

[Synergy]

At my old shop we ran a Miller 251. Its a great welder, way out of your price range. For my home garage I am running a Miller 135, I would have gone 175, but right now im in a rental an no wiring for 230. If you can run it get the 175 for thicker single pass welds. I like the portability of the 135. I can take to a friends house or work and do welding on household current. Thick metal just needs two passes.

It comes with .024 wire. Most popular setup is .030 wire with a 75/25 mix of 75% Argon 25% Co2. You will need a few other consumables and get a good welding hood.

You first welding project can be building a cart for your new welder.

[powderkeg]

The miller 175 will work for you, it will be a good machine to hone your skills on. Hobart is similar to miller, miller makes the machines, but I don't like the controls of the hobart welders. With miller machines, you have infinite adjustability of heat and wire speed, the hobart you do not.

[89cowboyup350]

I prefer my Miller 175, over my buddys Syncrowave and my uncles Lincoln. Plus, if I recall, Miller is less expensive than the latter two.

[amchev]

I got a Lincoln 175, I like it fine. It doesn't have the continuously variable volatage settings of the Millermatic, but it didn't cost as much either. Hobart is supposedly made by miller, I really like that their voltage settings are listed by the gauge of the steel you're welding.

[Odell]

I don't think Miller makes the 175 any more. I'm pretty sure they call it the 180 now. I bought the 180 and it works really good. A few years ago I bought a good used set of Victor torches with tanks for $150. You just gotta look around for a good deal.

[daleearnhardt01]

I prefer my Miller 175, over my buddys Syncrowave and my uncles Lincoln. Plus, if I recall, Miller is less expensive than the latter two.

Miller makes the Syncrowave.... Its just a tig machine