Help me get setup

[isuhunter]

Hello everyone!

I've been lurking around here for a while and joined recently. Many cool projects and ideas and lots of great advice. When I initially joined I was convinced I was going to get a Lincoln 140 refurbished off of ebay (like my buddy did). After reading and researching WW, Hobart, Millerweld, and garagejournal I rethough my approach and $500 welder budget. I have 2 garages (1 w/ 110v 20 amp service, 1 110v 20amp & 220v w/ 50 amp service).

I plan to purchase a MILLER 211 or HOBART 210 MVP in the next few months (I'm in no rush). I will be using it for home decor/garden art for my wife, JD lawn tractor accessories, coffee tables, and work benches. I think the Miller is what I really want but if I find a good deal on a Hobart I'm not opposed to it.

So, I have a few questions:

• Where should I purchase from? Locally I can find Miller products at Airgas & Superior Welding. (I'm in North Central/Northeast Iowa) I get to Des Moines often. I can find Hobart products at Theisens, Blaines, Fleet Farm, or Tractor Supply.
• Are there any typical sales I should watch for?
• What other supplies should I purchase? In the mean time I'll slowly acquire the other accessories that I will need.
• Helmets appear to have advanced a lot in the last 10 years, what is a good entry level auto adjusting helmet? <$150

[ryanjones2150]

You should get whatever machine that has parts readily available to you locally. Parts such as contact tips, gun liners, and defuser nozzles. I would also not recommend a 115v MIG welder as your only machine. A dual voltage sounds like it may be a good fit for your setup there. You'll also need welding gas and the parts for that rig. If you end up running a spool gun for aluminum you'll need a different welding gas too, so keep that in mind. Forging a relationship with your LWS can be quite valuable as well. <br />
<br />
"Good" and "cheap" should never be used seriously in the same sentence when discussing welding hoods. Get the best you can afford, you won't regret it. <br />
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You will make a good decision in not buying the Lincoln 140 refurbished. It also depends on which one. The Lincoln machines sold at Home Depot are not the same as the Lincoln machines sold at any serious welding supply.

[Aeronca41]

I'm with Ryan on all points. Check prices at the places you mentioned plus online at Cyberweld and Indiana Oxygen (IOC). They are not always the best price; you can check others, but one of those two is usually pretty near lowest. I use those as comparison points. Then go to a local welding store and ask very politely for their best price. My local Airgas has come within 20-30 bucks of the online prices, and I'd gladly pay that to establish a relationship with the guys you are going to have to buy gas from forever. Some Airgas stores seem to have an attitude but mine seems OK in the several years I've dealt with them.

Very wise choice not buying the refurb 140, and you will most likely find a 110-only machine very limiting. Not recommended. Miller and hobart are both good machines; some might give a slight edge to the MM211 due to continuously variable voltage vs steps on the hobart, but I don't think that is a huge deal. The bigger deal is if you buy new vice used, you are comparing two vastly different technologies. The 211 is latest inverter technology-smaller and way lighter, while the 210mvp is older (and very bullet-proof) transformer technology. Some worry about inverter reliability, but lots of us have inverter machines with no issues-but they are more costly to repair. If you buy used, the "old" MM211 is also a transformer machine.

You're going to need a bottle of argon/co2 mix (75/25) and another bottle of 100% argon if you do aluminum with a spoolgun.

Good luck; keep asking questions. Lots of smart and experienced people here.

[Johnnyappleseed]

Hello everyone!

I've been lurking around here for a while and joined recently. Many cool projects and ideas and lots of great advice.

Yea, I am happy with the input I got here too.

I just saw a Hobart 140 MIG Handler go in Craig's list for $300 brand new in the box, so I suppose it depends on where you are but CR is erratic.

I found that the local supplier was way to high,

Ordered mine from Baker Gas. Cyber Weld and Weld IOC, all have way better prices than what I could get local then theres the tax too. Miller has good recognition, I decided I wanted the name behind the one I ordered Multimatic 215.

Good luck, let us know what you run into.

[Oldgrandad]

Another place to find Blue is weldfabulous.com

[Ray C.]

Make sure you have a fire extinguisher. Handy. A good on line place to look is cyberweld.

[davidmelley]

I got my 211 from cyberweld. But then i went to local Matheson dealer and he would have given me the same price plus throw in a bottle of gas, I got my Powermax 45 plasma cutter from them now i had to pay tax but they thru in a tank of gas, Now on refills he puts me on national accounts pricing on gas refills and consumables. He is also looking out for a trade in on a tig machine for me. Bottom line if possible try to get a local dealer its worth it.

[ryanjones2150]

Matheson is a big company too, they have the buying power to get and give good pricing on gear. <br />
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I got a screaming deal on the full size arc space welding table there. Way cheaper than even making one.

[nfinch86]

I got my 211 from cyberweld. But then i went to local Matheson dealer and he would have given me the same price plus throw in a bottle of gas, I got my Powermax 45 plasma cutter from them now i had to pay tax but they thru in a tank of gas, Now on refills he puts me on national accounts pricing on gas refills and consumables. He is also looking out for a trade in on a tig machine for me. Bottom line if possible try to get a local dealer its worth it.

When I bought my new MM 215, I got $95.00 off the list price plus the $200.00 Rebate and he gave me a free tank of C25 gas.
( ( C25 = 75% Argon + 25% Co2 )

Norm

[isuhunter]

I got my 211 from cyberweld. But then i went to local Matheson dealer and he would have given me the same price plus throw in a bottle of gas, I got my Powermax 45 plasma cutter from them now i had to pay tax but they thru in a tank of gas, Now on refills he puts me on national accounts pricing on gas refills and consumables. He is also looking out for a trade in on a tig machine for me. Bottom line if possible try to get a local dealer its worth it.

I stopped into Airgas the other day and they were nice and got me a quote on a 211.

I'm going to try Superior welding soon also. I see there is a Matheson dealer in a couple of the large communities near me. I'll check them out. I'm not opposed to a used machine or even an older transformer 211.