110 mig welder?

Rodeo man

Member
I can actually weld with a stick welder. Not beautiful, but seems strong. Use a 30+ year old stick welder.

I'd like a 110 mig welder. I realize, that I won't get as much penetration, but I desire the portability. What machine do yaw recommend?
 
If you're looking for "portability", maybe a mig isn't your best choice. I have a Hobart, entry-level mig machine. It's larger and MUCH heavier than my old HF buzzbox welder!! It sure does a beautiful job on thinner material. However, I have a new stick welder, and THIS is something that might interest you!

Apparently here in the states, we've been using the old transformer-type welders for so long because.....well, that's what built America up all these years! However, most other parts of the world are using inverter technology rather than transformers. So what's the difference? Mostly the weight, the cost, and that the inverter welders normally weld DC rather than the more common AC. Here's the machine I got:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HCFOSR6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There are other machines out there that run on only 110V, and some that run on both 110V and 220V. With some that run on both, some have a cord adapter so that you use whichever end you need, and the machine makes the necessary settings adjustments internally. On other machines, you have to select 110V or 220V. Many folks will say to get one that is also TiG, but I doubt I'll ever get that far in the welding world.

There are lots of Youtube videos out there on these newer welders. One guy who I like to watch is here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ChuckE2009/videos?disable_polymer=1
He has tons and tons of videos; some of which he's welding on tractors.

Here's another video that specifically looks at the differences between inverter welders and transformer welders:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlAyJ-HzuiQ
Think I might have to spend some time on this channel as well!

:wink:
 
When you say you want a mig with portability, do you want to weld outside at a jobsite or simply in a different building. Wind will blow the shielding gas away from a mig weld so if you want to weld outdoors you would use flux-core wire. It does the job but it looks like crap.

I bought a welder much like kcm.MN because I wanted portability too. Even though I have my old transformer based welder on wheels it isn't really easy to move about. The new one weighs less than 12 pounds. The leads with stinger and ground clamp seem to weigh that much. The range is from 20 to 200 amps. I've used it up to 170 amps on a 15 amp fused circuit. I was skeptical about it until I used it a bit. I didn't care for the idea of using it without a case ground so I rewired mine. The leads and stinger/ground clamp were better quality than I could imagine for the price I paid. More time will tell how it hold up.
IGBT welder on Ebay
 
I've used most of them including Lincoln,
Miller, Hobart, and some of the cheap
brands. Definitely stick with Lincoln,
Miller, or Hobart, but Lincoln is best as
far as I'm concerned.
 
kcm.MN, I got one of those Hitbox Chinese welders in July, and have used it for most of my welding projects ever since. The plug it came with was useless, as well as being hastily and inadequately wired, and the stinger was low quality (but the ground clamp was fine). Once I'd replaced those parts, it worked surprisingly well. It burns 6010 without a hiccup, which is the potential shortcoming of cheap inverter welders, and it handles everything else flawlessly. I'm completely happy with it so far.

Stan
 
Rodeo man, if you can bear the extra expense, you'll never be sorry to own a dual voltage MIG welder. I've known a number of people who have bought the Millermatic 211 and are totally happy with it. If all you ever plan to weld is sheet metal, a 110 volt MIG welder might meet your needs. If you try to use it for the things you now use your stick welder for, it's highly unlikely that you'll be satisfied.

Stan
 
The Lincoln MP210 (or 210MP, can't remember) is as portable as any 110V MIG welder and is a 220V machine.

It can also stick weld and flux core wire weld.

The MIG process is *NOT* portable due to the gas bottle. It's not like you can just plunk down the welder, plug it in, and start melting steel together. You can with flux core, and stick, but not MIG... IMHO the Lincoln is a darn good flux core welder.
 
I have toted mine around before. My co2 bottle is about the size of a large fire extinguisher.
 
I have used a Lincoln 110 v Idealarc and used flux core wire with very good results. Also got good penetration in up to 1/4" metal. No gas bottle, loved that.
 
If you're looking at the super cheap Harbor Freight mig, be aware it is AC, not DC.

It will "work" but the weld has all the charm and beauty of a mud fence!
 
I've had a Hobart 140 for 10+ years and it's been pretty good. I've used it a time or two with flux cored wire with decent results. As a MIG I've welded everything from R panel to 1 1/8 solid round (I know, too heavy but it was for a picnic table frame). I feel it's been a good value for what I spent. It's also survived two accidents where it fell hard or tumbled but it's kept on going. I've had occasional problems with wire not feeding but it's usually due to buildup of fines in the nozzle. Also easy to get parts for since some of the parts are same as Miller.

You'll just need to work out the bottle size you need vs. portability. I have the full size bottle but have always found a way to transport it if needed.
 
I bout a TSC one years ago for corn head when they were still metal and needed straightening and patching at times. Mine used flux
core so I have never used gas and it did the job I needed doing. Easy to carry just needed electricity or generator near job.

Joe
 
I have a Hobart Handler 110V running flux-core that has built several things around here from bucket for FEL to wheel kits for 3pt rake. It's used exclusively outside. User on from 1/8" to 3/8".
Also have a 'old' 110V welder a buddy bought off the MAC tool truck over 15 yrs ago running 75/25 argon he bought for building street rods. Used inside. His family gave it to me last yr as he been gone 12 yrs.
 
I have a Millermatic 130. I built a 2 wheel wheelbarrow type cart for it and the tank. Great outfit, but it does have limitations.
 
Miller and Lincoln both make good welders that work on 115V,they also work better on 220V, and you just plug in the adapter. (and they are just a little bit higher than a straight 115V model)
 
I have a small cheaper one. I use flux core wire. It takes a little getting use to. If you have trouble get some one that has used
one before and they can show you real quick. I didn't want one I had to use gas with because any breeze blowing by will blow the gas
away and it won't weld. Something to keep in mind.
 
I work for an industrial sheet metal and steel fab and install company . We run miller
135 s for all our light gauge work , have 3 of em at least ten years old ,
bulletproof. Lincoln's and hobart are good machines also . My boss bought a realgear or
some junk for 265 bucks . Lasted 15 minutes . He asked how it worked , I said like a
265 dollar welder.
 

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