What welder?

Hey guys I'm sitting here thinking its time I finally get a welding setup, I have a shop again (WOOHOO!) and I'm eager to get a project going.

I'm looking for an old Mopar to play around with but I'm also thinking its time to start a Locost.

So what would be a good budget welding setup to start with? What should I look for as far as specs go? I doubt I would ever really weld anything heavier than the tubing for the Locost but you never know.

Not exactly a low budget set up, but about 10 years ago I purchased a Miller 185 for around $1500. It has payed for itself many times over and has been very reliable. If you plan on doing lots of welding for many years, you'll be better off in the long wrong by just getting a good unit.

MIller or Lincoln 220v Mig.

I prefer Miller, but have a large Lincoln 255 Mig welder with spoolgun I bought cheap at an auction.

I'd say a Miller 180 is great choice for a serious hobbiest if you're buying new.

If you're willing to wait good deals come up on CL fairly often around here.

-James

I recently purchased a Lincoln 180 and it is wonderful, makes me look way better than I am.

had a sp 135 lincoln at work as a little 110v maint machine. Worked great.

I learned to weld on lincolns and like them as well.

Any major label machine in your price point will be good. 110v or 220v based on how much you want to use it (duty cycle) and amps output and availability..

my suggestion is find a good welding shop that will set some machines up and let you try them.. try to buy from a local shop, theyll help you find out about setups and give you instruction and general advice.

for reference http://www.mahanyweld.com/home.asp <-- gold standard in welding shops. Good advice, a great teaching/setup area, and super good support...

Perhaps do a search here. No offense, but this is brought up about once a week, and there are as many opinions as there are welders.

For working for short periods of time working with the tubing for a locost will a 110v do or should I really just look at the 220v setups?

I was looking at Sears for a small budget setup and found the Lincoln Electric Handy MIG Welder for $300 any opinions on this one?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00920580000P?vName=Tools&cName=Welding&sName=Welders

I have a lincoln weldpak 175HD. It works great. Its 220, so I ran an outlet to the garage, and made a 30' extension cord. I would never buy a 110 welder, as they can really limit what you can do. I guess I have about $700 into my setup, but it will probably last my lifetime.