Absolutely. A must I would think

 

They sure do!! I've had a Lincoln 100 Mig for years - great for small stuff. I finally treated myself to a Miller 211 a few months ago and it is fantastic! I also picked up a Harbor Fright ProTIG 200 - makes pretty ugly welds, but I have no idea what I am doing so I have a lot to learn! Seems pretty good so far, though.

 

I have Miller Matic 185 (older Transformer style, 220) and 200DX TIG/Stick inverter type, they both work great (bought both used non-working and fixed them) so I understand the sticker shock.

If you are limited to 110V type I'd get an inverter MIG machine, if you can do 220V an older Lincoln/Miller/Hobart transfomer MIG will serve you well (but not portable) and you will be hard pressed to kill it (an inverter welder can be damaged from overheating more easily). The nice thing about Lincoln/Miller/Hobart is repair/consumables are easily found local/online.

I've used Century and ESAB units also and they are fine too. For typical home use an inverter in the 130-180 range will handle most everything and be portable. If you think you want to do some Aluminum, spool guns work well for most repair/fab that you'll do at home (used Miller stuff at work at one time when I was a maintenance guy).

The TIG isn't that hard to learn, it's just time consuming (I'm still learning, steel/stainless is quick to pick up, Alum is a longer/steeper curve), it isn't quick in use either (set up/prep time is more) but you can weld really thin materials with little to no warping if you keep the heat affected area under control.

The older Mller/Lincoln/Hobart transformer machines usually have a better duty cycle and were typically a little under rated, my first Miller (120A transformer, 220V) easily welded 3/16 steel in a single pass (0.023 wire and co2/argon) with a 20-30% duty cycle and with flux core wire it could do 1/4 in a single pass.

 

How difficult is MIG welding for someone to learn? I see various classes offered, including what looks like a good weekend starter class by Lincoln Welding for $199, but it's located in Cleveland, unfortunately.

 

MIG welding steel is very easy to learn, a class would be great if you've never done any welding. I'd say if you are able to read instructions (setting controls on the welder) and are a visual learner (you tube has some great tutorials like "welding tips and tricks" guy) it'll be fun and easy. I haven't had formal schooling and did structural stick welding with OJT only (I did have certified Welders showing me the techniques, but it's mostly visual/some sound with proper setup and practice). I've learned TIG on my own for the most part (some watching here and there), steel and stainless are easy, Alum. is taking longer.

 

Mig welding is very easy to learn. I would suggest looking on youtube, there is one from a college professor at a california college that teaches a young gal in an engineering class. Setup, and some very good useful beginner tips really helped me get on my way. I also took note that he liked to preheat the steel in some circumstances. Never thought of that before. I've used a miller that my buddy owns, very nice welder by the way, but my wife bought me a nice lincoln for Christmas, God bless her, it's the 140 model. I just completed making 2 steel picket gates that turned out really nice. Of course the guy at the welding shop where I get my gas from says the miller is a much better welder, and I wont disagree. But, the way the 140 performed on my recent project proved it very capable. I will buy a tig at some point and that will tax my ability. I learned to gas weld 35 yrs ago, mig is an evolution and takes the place of gas welding, from what I'm told. I had an old arc welder, but gave it to my kid over 20 yrs ago. My next project is building my new SS exhaust, I need the 308 wire and the proper gas, but Im confident I can pull it off.

 

I take it you live in Belgium? - If so the Lincoln package that you pictured would be the best for a beginner + Lincoln is known world wide and if you have any issues or replacement parts they will back up their product. . Been a welder/instructor for the past 30 yrs and as folks have said, Mig welding is by far the easiest to learn with a quality weld when used with shielding gas.
Good luck to your new beginnings.
Mike

 

maybe I can add a few tips to help some of you become better welders. On TIG welding aluminum, try to get the puddle to look like a chrome pool before adding rod. Using a propane torch to preheat steel has 2 purposes. 1st, run moisture out of cold steel, and if you have a smaller welding machine like a 140 amp max. By heating the metal up prior it helps get better penetration as the welder doesn't have to heat the metal from room temp, you give it a 300-400 deg headstart. You can buy welding guides that give amp range suggestions, or 1 amp per 0.001 thickness on steel, add 25% for aluminum as it's heat conductivity is so great. Get rid of all grease, oils, ect, I use acetone to wipe down part & tig rods, my mig machine has a felt wiper ( wetted with a liquid cleaner) that cleans the wire as it exits the machine.

 

I bought the Lincoln 220, great machine! Now I just need to learn how to weld

 

Eastwood actually has quite a few videos about this on YouTube, including dialing in the welder and diagnosing your welds. Obviously it applies to all MIGs and not just theirs. I had never welded before and although I know this is far from perfect it is not bad for a first shot at welding.

I attached the body mount nut cage, the other welds were done by the company that made the replacement frame rail.

Attachment 48348234

 

You should look online for pictures of example welds, not enough penetration, too much, too slow moving the puddle, too fast. Then just grab some steel and pratice. You'll need a grinder and a wire wheel to clean the metal prior and the slag after. For welding there is no substitute for practice and some guidance will help

 

I you are welding with anything that produces slag make sure you wear a welding jacket and it is fully buttoned up, I have a scar on my neck from some that would have been blocked if I had buttoned the top button of the jacket, or some type of neck guard.

 

Another safety tip is, do not weld galvanized metal unless you grind the coating off. Welding galvanized metal produces poisonous gasses.

 

....and if you do happen to get sick from welding galvanized metal, drink some milk.

 

do not use brake clean to clean anything before you weld it, the ingredients in the brake clean mix with the argon gas and will basically kill you...here read this.
https://www.motorstate.com/careful.htm

 

Thank you for sharing this. Had no idea it was that harmful. He did mention in the artificial that he normally uses carb cleaner. One should look into this also - I have personally use carb cleaner for my things other than cleaning a carb!

 

I find your idea very good

 

this is an old thread but i will weigh in. i needed to make a driveway gate. i used chain link fence posts and put privacy fence wood on them. bought a used 100 buck harbor freight wire feed welder for 50 bucks. i got the fence posts welded-barely. i am moving. i saw the welder in the garage last week. it is getting thrown out. not worth the fuel and space in the truck to drag it to florida.

 

I have the Lincoln Weld-Pak 155 w/ gas conversion and a Lincoln 225 AC/DC. My welding still sucks.

 

Answering a post from 2 years ago.