Good all around shop welder suggestions

[HobbyStock62]

I love my millermatic 211.

 

[4.0l sahara]

I like my Lincoln power mig 216. I would have bought something with digital control but this was a deal i couldn't turn down.

 

[ja_cain]

Find a good used Miller xmt 304 cc/cv model with a spool gun/controller for aluminum and you can weld everything. It will do dc gtaw, gmaw and smaw. Just need a a tig torch with the gas valve on it to do scratch start tig. Plus, it's an inverter so it comes in a decent size package. I see them all the time on CL for way less than what they go for new. Here is an example of one in VA that comes with spoolgun, wc-24 controller and tig torch for 1500.

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/tls/4468874458.html

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Arconalloy]

Check out the new miller multimatic I bought one a while back and for occasional fab work in the garage you can't go wrong it's a multiprocess machine. I weld for a living in the aerospace industry and have used many machines. For the garage the multimatic was my choice

 

[ja_cain]

The Miller Multimatics are cool but just not enough balls for thicker aluminum (running a spool gun). That's why I like the xmt due to its higher output rating and better duty cycle. I see these all the time for dirt cheap on CL. Just have to make sure it is a cc/cv model as cv is required for mig operation.

 

[legalhair]

Hello. I am getting a welding machine. which one do you guys suggest? I want to be able to do bodywork as well as welding on bag brackets and stuff. I just need to know what size and brand to get. thanks a lot

 

[Tiha]

Hello. I am getting a welding machine. which one do you guys suggest? I want to be able to do bodywork as well as welding on bag brackets and stuff. I just need to know what size and brand to get. thanks a lot

Are you wanting to do Steel only? Aluminum as well? Stainless?

For Steel only and geared towards body work and metals 5/16" thick or less a 95 amp welder is enough. You want gas for cleaner welds.

I have a small miller but it is so old they probably don't make it anymore. I also have a stick welder for anything over 1/4" that I do.

 

[NotaVegetarian]

There are lots of options for small welders, lots of multi voltage machines. Stick with known brand Hobart 200, or 211, Miller 211. These are good machines for the garage

 

[joebuck]

I am by no means a good welder, But i have a few friends that do it for a living in all different kinds of work and there damn good at it, they make it look easy lol. But most have said for smaller garage/shop machines there fans of Miller, For big rig welding machines there fans of Lincoln.

I personally have Miller in my shop for MIG/TIG and Stick ad can say there machines are damn nice. But price wise a Vulcan or Hobart or even Everlast are still really well made even YES welders I've heard good things about.

 

[NotaVegetarian]

For the price and all the features the Hobart 200 is nice. I have a Hobart 210.

 

[NotaVegetarian]

Two of my favorite welders

 

[joebuck]

View attachment 186239

Two of my favorite welders

I used to have this same Lincoln buzz box i lovedthat it was AC/DC I always welded on DC with it seemed to run hotter for thicker material. Only sold it because I got a Miller that does Tig/Stick and didn’t need a ”extra”

 

[turbonitrous]

My dad is looking into getting a welder for our garage. We don't do a lot of fabrication, but enough where having a welder comes in handy. He's planning on using it to fix the western hauler body on his 450 first.

He grew up using mainly a stick welder and that's what he's most comfortable with. He's been looking at some AC/DC ones so he can have a little more flexibility.

What would you guys recommend?

Comes down to how much you want to spend at the end of the day. I don’t do it for a living, nor do I do it everyday but I usually end up needing something different every time and so I split my money rolled the dice on titanium unlimited 200 multiprocess mig, Tig, stick and it works just fine and used the rest of the money for a plasma cutter