Welder Suggestions?

I'm looking to pick up a welder. Between the Jeep and my old Ford diesel truck and my work, I've got enough projects in mind now that I can justify it. I can stick weld decently so that is what I'm looking at. I like the simplicity of stick welding too. I do not have any thin/sheet metal or bodywork projects in mind. Otherwise typical Jeep-type stuff: Projects using square tubing, plate steel and angle iron; I will be doing some suspension work on the Jeep at some point (likely Hollbrook Springs) and so spring hanger/frame work; I have a couple simple projects on my dump trailer...etc, etc.

I'd think the thickest I'd need to weld is 1/4" plate. Mostly 1/8" or 3/16". I have a 240v 50amp outlet in the garage.
I am open to any suggestions, including wire feed if there is a strong argument for it.
Here is one I'm looking at:

Hobart Stickmate 160i

Thanks in advance

 

If you're set on stick welding, I'd seriously look into buying an old used machine. You could end up spending way less, and if you find one that has AC/DC capabilities, your material options will be broader. Old Lincoln tombstones are hard to kill, there are no crazy electronics to fail, and they're cheap used. I've seen them still work after being completely submerged in a flood.
Just my $.02.
Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

Stick welding really is a thing of the past. My 75 year old mom can weld better with a wire feed then most good welders can with a stick. Much easier to make clean pretty welds on a Jeep too. You can pick up a pretty nice stick welder for pennies at estate sales. I wouldn't even think of spending more then $50 on a stick welder unless you make your living off it in construction.

 

I just read the specs on that machine. It weighs 15lbs?!! That's crazy. Do you need it to be portable?

That's an inverter-type machine. Just be aware it's like one big computer inside. It can be just as sensitive to power surges, moisture, etc..., as a computer. They make great welds, but the risk to damage is there.

My favorite stick welder ever was a little Esab 110v portable unit we'd use in handrail work. Until it rolled down 3 steps and was junk.

 

Thanks for the quick replies. I'll read through that thread. I'm not determined to have a stick welder. I just know how to do it well enough. Buying used would be great but there's not exactly a huge used market here. It's rural, a few small mt. towns and no craigslist close by. The 3 hour one way drive to get to a city makes it easy to want to find stuff online. The portability is not necessary but it's attractive due the to somewhat limited space in a garage that I have to share. All that said, I'm open. If there's a better unit out there I'd check it out. My last welder was an on board unit in my truck that I made out of a 1g Ford alternator.

 

If you're not dead set on stick, and you can afford a unit worth having, go MIG (with gas, not flux core). The benefits are numerous, and if you can already stick weld, you'll pick up the techniques in minutes.

 

Right. If you aim high with MIG to begin with, FCAW comes with the territory.

 

If you can find a small used Miller MIG machine, it will make you wonder how you ever got along without it!
The only thing I ever need a stick welder for is nickel rods for cast iron, or hard surfacing edges. Virtually everything else is wire feed for me. A 75/25 gas mix works best.
-Donny

 

OK I'll be the lone dissenter.............Question: If you only had one welder at your disposal what would it be? Easy answer: An old stick welder...........And we can have hours of discussion and personal opinions on what works best for certain types of work & metal........and the answer would be Stick, Tig & Mig..........if your Lucky enough to have all three at your disposal............

I think if Sierra Bum has some experience with stick.......why go for a Mig? ......when you first have to introduce a decent machine $$$ & extras like: A couple of rolls of different Wire sizes and types, consumable contact tips and gas nozzles, A new Gas bottle and regulator.........and still have to keep the weld zone pretty clean to get a decent weld.

Not to say I'm in love with the stick but it's instant , take a grinder or wire wheel clean it up a little and buzz it ..........I still have my 250 Bobcat on the back of my service truck and it gets used often for anything that I can't get on the bench.........welding rod is cheap and easy to practice on scrap metal..........

Note: The old transformer machines were simple and cheap........I'll bet there are thousands of old Airco, Miller & Lincoln Buzz boxes setting under work benches nearby that haven't been used in years..
Arc welder
lincoln AC 225 stick arc welder

Both of these are old Lincolns and probably one of the best non-commercial no frills garage type arc welders ever made.

 

You are not alone!

I agree that the stick welder is handy as a cat around the homestead. Different rods have different benefits, too.
I've been using my Lincoln 'tombstone' for 30 years on everything from a single tack, to re-habbing an 80ft. bridge. Just picked up a second machine (300amp) free at the dump.

But I am jealous of guys that can do flawless welds on sheetmetal.

 

I agree with everything above. Notice I was talking about a MIG unit "worth having". I've seen more damage than good done with an underpowered MIG. If I had to choose between a small MIG or a AC/DC stick machine, is go stick in a heartbeat.

As long as what you need to weld is 1/8" minimum (or even 1/16" if you're good), you should get along just fine with stick.

 

The only necessity for stick is outdoors in the open or nickel rod on cast. I still have both of our Grampa's buzz boxes if the need every arises. Since I bought a battery powered Readywelder spool gun, it is even easy to weld in the middle of nowhere using wire and shielding gas.

 

Ever tried welding thin sheet metal with a stick welder?
Or welding in limited space? Or in weird blind positions with little ambient light?
'Nuff said.

 

16 & 18 gauge all the time outdoors.......turn the machine down to the lowest setting.........I'm usually around 15-20 amps , using 1/16" 6013 moving fast and dragging the puddle from behind....not pretty but fixes the cracks...........sometimes I use copper backing...if the gap is large.

 

If I could only own one...that would be tough. Here on the farm/ranch the stick gets used most often. In town at the shop with mostly (automotive) use the Miller 250 gets the nod. I know I was of no use what so ever.

 

16 gauge is not really thin sheet metal .

 

From OP: