Starter welding unit

[Trip McNeely]

What’s a good welder to start with as a n00b? Easy to learn and use but not too novice to grow with.

[Rick Modena]

There are a lot of variables and questions.
I learned cold turkey on a MIG welder, the guy that knew how gave me some basics on the metal were using and then he showed me a few steps and I was off and running. We did practice and got the settings right, but there were no school or classes for me. About 10 years later when I was in the automotive repair business I learned a lot about Acetylene torches and MIG & TIG.
There a few flux cored welders for right at $200.xx that you can buy for small stuff and spot welding. I know most bodymen will frown upon those, but my Snap-On MIG took a shit and it couldn't be repaired for a few weeks so I went and bought one of those flux cored welders and that little sumbitch worked so well we used it all the damn time for spot welding radiator core supports or any type of spot welding and even some quarter panels.
So if you are just starting out and want to learn those are the best as they are usually 110v and you don't need a tank of Argon blend.

PS Like everything else, you can these days watch a YT video and learn the basics and even how to use one of those cheapies pretty good. Then you can buy you a nice MIG w/Argon once you get good at welding.

[Trip McNeely]

There are a lot of variables and questions.
I learned cold turkey on a MIG welder, the guy that knew how gave me some basics on the metal were using and then he showed me a few steps and I was off and running. We did practice and got the settings right, but there no school or classes for me. About 10 years later when I was in the automotive repair business I learned a lot about Acetylene torches and MIG & TIG.
There a few flux cored welders for right at $200.xx that you can buy for small stuff and spot welding. I know most bodymen will frown upon those, but my Snap-On MIG took a shit and it couldn't be repaired for a few weeks so I went and bought one of those flux cored welders and that little sumbitch worked so well we used it all the damn time for spot welding radiator core supports or any type of spot welding and even some quarter panels.
So if you are just starting out and want to learn those are the best as they are usually 110v and you don't need a tank of Argon.

Thanks. I have experience with Acetylene + Oxygen on the cutting side, but never welded with it. I am just looking to do small repairs or things around the house, nothing professional. However I would like to learn to weld on body parts that is my ultimate goal.

[lowthreeohz]

my old roommate built everything you can imagine with a hobart 140. obviously not welding super thick metal plates together but it did most everything he asked it to.

[Rick Modena]

Thanks. I have experience with Acetylene + Oxygen on the cutting side, but never welded with it. I am just looking to do small repairs or things around the house, nothing professional. However I would like to learn to weld on body parts that is my ultimate goal.

Oh OK, well one of those affordable flux cored MIG's are good for learning and the other thing is most of them run on 110v and are easy to carry around and store, especially in tight places for in home use. The one I bought I think was a Hobart at Northern right at $200.xx, but this was awhile back, it worked so good my brother borrowed it and made a smoker with it, did a pretty kick ass job for a beginner at home. I showed him a few times and he was off and running, lol.

[Trip McNeely]

Oh OK, well one of those affordable flux cored MIG's are good for learning and the other thing is most of them run on 110v and are easy to carry around and store, especially in tight places for in home use. The one I bought I think was a Hobart at Northern right at $200.xx, but this was awhile back, it worked so good my brother borrowed it and made a smoker with it, did a pretty kick ass job for a beginner at home. I show him a few times and he was off and running, lol.

Awesome. Thanks!

[mustang_revival]

I was gonna look at these: https://www.eastwood.com/welders.html
from recommendation of junkyards digs utube channel when it's time for me..

[bubbaearl]

hobart 120 handler is a great little welder . hobart and miller are the same . screw eastwood they sell 3rd line relabel junk . you can buy a hobart on amazon and get free shipping .

it's now called a 125 handler . 344.00

[homealone]

Welders are like boob jobs. Decide what you want and then buy a size bigger.

Just from my experience:

Flux core welder is fine for lighter gauge material, sheet metal, exhaust, etc, but is very messy. You will spend a lot of time cleaning up splatter and you will burn though more wire.

I would suggest buying a welder capable of inert gas. You can still run flux core in it But you cant add gas to a flux only machine.

As for name brand vs off brand, the off brands are getting better but the price has gone up too. For a few bucks more, you can get a name brand. When you are shopping, compare the Duty Cycles, you will see a big difference.

Now in my case, if knew what I knew now and could afford it, I would have gone big. I started with a $100 flux core, bought a Hobart 140 and then a Miller 252. I still use the Hobart 80% of the time but that Miller runs circles around it.

[dcs13]

Flux core is a pain in the ass. Buy a quality mig unit WITH gas, I prefer Miller.. You can occasionally find a good used one on the sale boards..or check out Cyberweld.com for probably the best deals out there. I ve bought a lot from them.
We have Lincoln at work, Im NOT a fan. I use my buddies Miller when Im welding at work.

[BMCSean]

I have a few different machines, a Lincoln 125 and 140, a Hobart 140 handler, a Hobart 145 arc champion, a Hobart arc elite, and a Hobart Ironman 240 mig.

The Ironman is my favorite, I don’t like arc very much so those are more for our fab guy. Not apples to apples because the Lincoln’s are older but I feel the 140 handler is superior to the Lincoln 140.

[Trip McNeely]

Wow that's good a lot of people like the Hobart 140 it sounds like. Thanks for everyone's insight.

What's the big difference in 140 and 125? Is it a voltage thing?

[one slow 5.0]

My first one was a Hobart never had any issues with it. Just make sure you get a model that allows gas hook up.

[silverhatch]

Firepower

[TX_92_Notch]

Way back when, Garland ISD offered 'continuing education' classes like welding - these were for the general public and offered in evening or weekend hours.

I seriously considered taking the welding class but never did and now I can't find any signs that these continuing education classes are still available.

Does anyone know of a welding class that's not some exhaustive program for certification - somewhere to learn more than I might get from watching youtube videos?