My suggestion: Don't waste your limited funds on Harbor Freight or other cheap junk. My opinion, others will vary.   I have almost $800 in a 110V Lincoln and don't regret it a bit. What I do regret is the $300 I have in a "cheapie" that I can't use and wouldn't feel right selling it to some poor sucker. My friend has a cheapie too, and he uses my Lincoln.    BW

Edited by Bruce W - 29 Aug. 2015 at 6:27am

I have a Lincoln Weld Pak 140 bought at Home Depot for $525.00 that will do anything up to 5/16" plate (we did an excellent job on some 1/2" plate using multiple layer welds) it will do both flux core and MIG as well as run a Spool gun for aluminum. The quality is excellent.

I bought a house brand Northern Tool Mig 110V 140amp welder about 6 years ago now. I build this including the frame, cage, winch mount, suspension, etc. It was the only welder I had when I was doing this project.



Here is the newest version of their in house welder.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200631880_200631880

$380 shipped and comes with the gas kit. It has a 3 year warranty

I have put hundreds of pounds of wire and many tanks of gas through mine with little issue. The only real problem I have had is that the torch trigger contacts need cleaned when doing lots of tack-tack-tack work while doing sheetmetal welding. I have probably cleaned them 4 times in 6 years.

If you can afford more welder then go for it, but if your on a budget don't let people talk you out of getting something now. Northern also has larger 220V machines.

Thanks guys,I am familiar with industrial mig and tig welders,but have never messed with smal ler units and light sheet metal work.Im looking for something to tackle work along the line Metcalf is talking about,my days of heavy metal work are over.

Well at  the bottom of the planet I use a BOC 420amp machine for everything from 2mm through to 50mm plate, its a Kempi from Finland but they were BOC (British Oxy Co) branded for the Southern Hemisphere.  A great machine thats done over 10 years hard work.

I am not sure how much welding you plan on doing but going flux core [no gas] is more dirty more spatter  but cheaper. If you choose that option try spatter spray before you weld , your clean up will be a lot less. The price of a tank with content is not cheap and if you get a gas cylinder get at least an 80 cf or higher size cylinder, get the best welder you can afford . the Miller, Hobart. and Lincoln  are all good welders and you can get replacement parts easy. I have seem some cheap welders do a pretty good job but parts may be hard to find .good luck  Greg

I bought a Hobart Handler 140 (USA Made) from Norther Tool for $450 shipped/no tax.

I like my Lincoln 140.  I run it off my honda 3000i generator and it's a good combo for the stuff i do

The Lincoln Weld Pak 140 takes a Spool gun as I mentioned above should you need to do aluminum.