Need a new MIG welder and Argon bottle.

I finally wore out my Harbor Frieght $99 welder, after 3 or 4 years.

The next one will need gas.

What is a good source for inexpensive, name brand, welder/bottle/regulator, etc?

Lincoln is fine for me, priced Miller but a little steep for my tastes.

I just need an entry level welder, small bottle I can carry around, and bare minimum of regulator, etc.

 

for the record your going to want co2/argon 75/25 mix, for most of your everyday work.
can't go wrong with one of lincoln's weld paks. Been using one for a while now, its an older 3200. perfect to take out in the driveway, no need to drag the big 220 out.. i have a 60cf tank i use with my small mig, perfect size for on site jobs.

 

I think the stuff I was looking at was called C25, and cost $13 to fill a pretty good sized bottle, came up to just below my chin, but light enough I could still haul it around.

I would like something smaller. They have a bottle just above my knee, which is probably more in my size/price range, and easier to transport.

I am looking at a Lincoln 125 that accepts gas. Is that decent? I can get it from Home Depot or Lowe's, and get replacement tips, etc. any time from the same stores.

The bottle would need to be purchased at a welding store, and filled there also.

I was just wondering if ebay is a safe place to get a deal, or Amazon, or somewhere to save a couple bucks.

 

have you checked your local Cragslist? lots of good deals there too. I'd be weary of any on ebay but thats just me.

 

i figured ebay was safer than craigs, but i don't know.

Is it safe to buy used welders? do they hold up enough to use a couple years and re-sell?

 

if buying used make sure you test before you buy, if the wire feed drive roll operates fine, and the housing isn't kinked and can strike a decent arc it should be good. alot of the smaller inexspensive models have plastic internals, make sure everything looks intact.

 

well i just figure ebay is full of a bunch of scammers, but through CL, you can see and most of the time test before buying.

 

I bought my small Lincoln on ePay, $250, new in the box and included the gas kit, two spools of wire, etc. Cheapest I saw anywhere else was online for $350.

 

THAT is what I am looking for!!!

 

$250.00 new in box w\ accessories was gud deal - for sure

 

I bought mine from Northern Tool ... their house brand, and been very happy with it so far. It is 110 volt, 135 amp and came with the fittings for gas. I think the regular price on it is $269 ... on sale I paid around $230. A lot of good customer reviews for it on their website.

 

Is Northern better than Harbor Freight?

I would think a Lego Brand welder would be better than Harbor Freight...

 

This one?

Plus $179 for the bottle...

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200332691_200332691

 

The link you posted is a newer generation of the one I got ... the closest thing to it.... only bad thing about mine was that the instruction manual is in "Chingrish" ...definitely made in China, but it seems OK throughout. There are going to be differing qualities of goods no matter where you go in this world.

Northern Tool vs Harbor Freight ... It is like comparing Target vs a Big Lots store ... If you don't have Big Lots near you substitute Walmart, but Big Lots is a better comparison ... you aren't that sure of what you are getting there, like HF.

NT has been mail-order primarily for a long time and they are now expanding their retail locations. We got our store here a couple of years ago ... very nice place, very organized, and the brands that they carry there seem to be a couple of notches better than HF... some off-brand ... some name-brand, like 3M. They seem like the staff there has some formalized training, too.

 

We have a couple Northern locations in and around Houston. I will have to stop in and check them out sometime this week or this weekend.

Even if the welder only holds up for a few years, I will still have the bottle, regulators, etc and should be able to swap in a Lincoln later on when i can afford it.

But i need a welder soon, or my trunk will never get put back together, and my car is just sitting without a fuel supply...