[BoomerADF]

Originally posted by Huskinhano
Simple solution, don't buy it then! What if a part broke on your welder or for anything for that matter, that you bought at your local mom & pop shop and THEY didn't have it? What are you going to then?

The point I was making that in todays world, you can get just about anything the next day if you need it bad enough. And yes, I would pay $25 for shipping on a $4 part if it was going to prevent me from finishing something t meet a dead line! For 2 day shipment, costs aren't that bad.

UPS isn't the only company either! A $4 part can cause as much trouble not meeting a dead line, ect as a $4,000 part!

Oh I fully agree, just making a statement. Also if I am spending 1000, or 2000 on a welder I am making sure the place I am buying it from has a good chance of still being there when I need them. And what UPS isn't he only company that ships things?????

Also wouldn't you rather drive 30mins get the part than wait for 2days

[Huskinhano]

I would rather buy something that I didn't have to fix! In over 10 years of ownership, the only part replaced was a 25 cent fuse from my local Radio Shack due to a broken fuse in transportation.

I did a lot of research before I bought the HTP. I checked out migs from every manufacturer. I spent more then I had planned but I don't honestly believe that I could have bought a Miller or Lincoln with the same features or performance or any other brand for that matter for what I paid at the time. If I had to do it again, I would buy the HTP, no question!

If you have never looked at a HTP or used one, I'd suggest you do. A very high quality welder for the money. I'm a licensed electrician by trade along with having an electronics back ground, so I do understand what's in the HTP and not in the ones sold in Lowes or home depot that claim to be the same amp rating.

[bhj]

Just wanted to add my 2 cents worth...

I have the HTP Microcut 300 plasma cutter, and it is incredible, perfect for around the garage and working on the hot rod. The people at USAweld were informative and a true pleasure to deal with.....Highly recommend them....


Welders, I too had a small Lincoln 110v 100 amp, it served it purpose for thin material, well next project on the hot rod is boxing the frame and installing 4 bar triangulated suspsension, so the Lincoln wasn't hot enough. I have always owned Lincolns but looked at Millers, almost bought the Lincoln 175 but for a few hundred more bucks and I bought the Miller 210, wow what a machine, I have been practicing alot and I'm truly amazed at the True Blue machine.....I looked into HTP welders of this size but the shipping costs to Alaska were brutal, so I bought the Miller locally and love it!!!

[70chevy]

Ok well i have been shaving/ welding on my drip rails of my truck with solid steel and no shielding gas!!! So obviously i am a newbie welder. I need to buy a CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP mig welder. What i have that i thought could be turned into a mig is a MIG brand not a mig welder (HF crap) Forget quality and replacemnt and being there in 10 years, all I am doing is body work on my truck right now. I want the cheapest i can do and have it still work for me. I dont even mind like the Wal-mart that was mentioned earlier shutting down, I just need somthing quick and cheap!! Hope you "welders" can help an idiot out!!

[Huskinhano]

Is their anyplace locally you can rent one if push comes to shove? I know the local rental places by me rent them. Just a thought.

[70chevy]

yeah after my dad checked with friends and come up with nothing he told me to try that!! I had not even considered that. We have a pretty big United Rentals in town. Anyone know how much it would cost roughly for a weekend. SHould they come with the Argon already filled?

[BigMac]

Rented a small Lincoln last Dec. for $35 a day from Home Depot. The man said if I liked the welder, they could sell it to me for list less 10%. Not that bad of a deal since it looked like it had only been used a couple of times. I think I want a larger one.

[70chevy]

big mac,
Do all home Depot's rent welders, or did you have a manger hookup? I need one bad and dont want to buy one. I am striking out everywhere i try to borrow or rent one! Just out of curiousity, are you looking to buy soon? If worse comes to worse, i have to buy one if your intersted in selling i am about 70 miles from dallas (assuming your actually in dallas) If the welder was in decent (working is all i need) then i would be intested in buying from you!!

[BigMac]

I didn't buy the welder. And yes any Home Depot that has the rental dept should have a welder that you can rent. I rented the one I used at 121 and Preston Rd.
I have seen them in several rental sections of Home Depot.

[70chevy]

ok thanks i will check our local one out and then try rockwall and if worse comes to worse go all the way to dfw

[BigMac]

I don't think Rockwall has a rental dept. in thier store. You might call McKinney.

[SPIIRIT]

Hello Big Mack;

I know exactly whre you're coming from and will have mercy on whom I will have mercy...LOL!

You want the "Campbell Hausfield" Model WF2010 @ $199.00 and direct from the mfgr. (mine may have been ob sale, I don't remember).

I am an experienced three positin "Stick Welder" and I have agonized over all aspects of choosin my first Mig weldes before I finally made a choice. The "Duty Cycle" is just fine for home work.

With a stick welder you can do in one pass what would take three passes with the Mig but that just means the the finer work with the Mig becomes nore if a breeze.

A good starter unit that will get the job done and you can always sell it and move up to something else when you're ready, that's thae attitude I bought with, D.C. stick welders are just too expensive for one time major use, they are big tme while the Tig is small potatos, so the Mig is the best for the home (But I didn't say The Farm)...LOL!

Get the Campbell FW2010.

But now you say you rented one and want bigger? Bigger in what way? Duty Cycle? More fill per pass? More penetration? Maby you do want a stick welder! Mig is not heavy duty and Tig is even milder (like for body work as someone mentioned).

[dmc12mk3]

I've got a Lincoln 135 Plus. I got it because of the portability issue. That and the fact that it will cut 5/16" in a single pass with the flux core wire. The continuously variable heat setting is absolutely necessary for fine bodywork. I didn't think my setup was too bad, the 135 plus was about $440 from weldingmart.com and the bottle/extra wire and such was another $150. I learned pretty quick about welding carts though. Hard to make one too big. This is the second one I made (which is a little more complete today than it was in this picture) after realizing that I would like to be able to roll over drop cords and a welding table should be portable too.

http://www.wheresmyjeffdickey.com/im...ldingcart1.jpg

[bfr57]

I also have a Hobart 135, 110V, that I bought from HF on sale. I was told by local welding company that Miller makes Hobart now. My hand wand has Miller written on it. It does a great job, but occasionally will not feed wire properly, the rollers just spin and don't feed wire. Maybe the spool is messed up?

[unstable]

I didn't bother reading all of the replies, so if someone else already mentioned this...I apologize.

I don't have a ton of money to throw around, but I needed something to weld patch panels and whatnot. I seen sears sells the Hobard 125 at a reasonable price, so I went for it...didn't come with the gas hose, solenoid or regulator. I figured I could buy those things later when I wanted them/needed them and had more money to do it.

I've had the hobard for probably about a year now, and I really like it. I haven't had any problems with it. I used to visit the Hobard Weld forums all the time, and it's unbelieveable how great the service at Hobart/Miller is.

If I had to buy another machine, I'd definitely go Blue or Hobart. I can't speak for Lincoln, but I think they'd have a difficult time surpassing the customer service offered by Miller/Hobart.

Lastly, I ended up buying the gas kit for the 125 recently, cost me about $100 and I still haven't used it. Keep in mind that you're probably going to end up spending another $100-200 for the gas bottle and gas on top of whatever you pay for a welder.