welder for my son

[spooner]

im looking for a wire feed welder for my 18 yr old son i know nothing about welders home depot has one (hd 100) any one have one or have any sugestions for a first welder for a kid doing things in the garage and fun.any difent brands or models.less than $600 thanks

[jimh]

Hobart 140 for 110V. If you are putting 220 in/have it already, I'd buy the Hobart 180. If you go a little more money, Miller 210. Hobart and Miller are owned by the same company. In the smaller welders, Hobart has equivalent features as the Miller with about the same duty cycle. At 210 size, that all changes. The Miller has about double the duty cycle with more bells and whistles. There is a very good welding site hosted by Hobart. It's worth finding and checking them out. A great bunch of people giving info for any brand welders.

BTW, there is a big welding supply out of Portland area on Ebay that has great prices and selection.

[Chinookjinxd]

Diffently Miller, go with a 220. You will regret not buying 220 down the line. 110V doesnt have enough power to really weld some things and that is where you go "Should have went for the 220". I weld on big stock metal at school and welding any thing more then a 1/4" wide is tough with a 110. My uncle has a TIG so I use that to weld some metal and alumminum. But he also has a Miller 210 Wire Feed that suits my needs.

[Tilla]

A 220 single phase unit will give you a wide range of capabilities. It's art....really!

[James in Idaho]

Miller or Linclon (Linclon wire is the bomb), 220 power supply. Get one for CO2, flux core is a pain in the tail. If you go with a 110 unit, use .023 wire, or .030 max.

Real weldors use stick!

[Moldy45]

at the bottom of his post he makes a coment $600 or less,I think what everyone has said is just a tad over that budget and remember to add in for the gas tank,wire, ect..
for under 600 you will get a 115v wire feed welder in a lincoln or miller, i had a lincoln that i got at home depot, you can get one for around 400 to 500. Then if you get the 115v get a 50 heavy extension cord ,I got that at home depot also it was 50 bucks, let him practice with the flux core wire where no gas is needed untill you can afford another 125 for a tank of gas. a great first project would be a nice wheel cart for the welder itself.

my

btw I have been a welder of mild steel and stainless for 20 plus years

[joemomma]

Go with a 240v!

[spooner]

thanks for all the input i think im going for the 115v for my son just for hobie welding and portable and see how he likes it or if he uses it enuf to warent buying him a better one and ill take the littel one.but wich one MILLER LINCOLN HOBART is the home depot brand just a hobart? thanks agin.