Anything welding

Nothing special, built a headache rack for mine and my dads Tacomas. Also, a BBQ trailer I built I am currently trying to sell. Then another BBQ pit with a smoker.

 

You might melt the sand if you heat it. just pay a local shop to bend your tube for you.

 

the costs of living in the middle of nowhere

 

I think Im going to just do this for now, until I can get my own bender. Will exhaust shops do it? or should I go to a fab shop?

 

Awesome projects you've done DoubleTake! I would like to make those too once I pick up a welder

 

would you guys recommend a mig welder (such as northern tools's 125 115V flux core) or a stick welder (whatever i can reasonably find on craigslist). ive never welded so it would be a learning experience. i have a few projects planned with nothing more than 3/16-1/4 inch steel.

 

Maybe. Call around and tell them what you want to bend and ask if they can do that for you.

 

Exhaust bends are mostly done with a mandrel bender and if they have one that will bend your size tubing go for it they produce a much nicer bend.

I myself started with stick "Dad's welder" but i think a little Flux welder would be a OK place to start but welding 1/4" with 115v sucks It can be done but it's not the greatest. Take my advice and buy the biggest you can afford if you buy a little cheap welder to start your going to out grow that thing quick. Even the Hobart 140 is a good starter I had one for years and it a great little welder. But if you can afford a 220v do it the bigger the better. The Millermatic 211 is a awesome welder I started my company with that welder and built 50+ sets of sliders with it it would still be in my shop today if i didn't have the twin 252's . For home use the Millermatic 211 is one of the best welders to buy.

 

For home use, a mig may be easier.
If you go mig, get a 230v like Jlee said. Can weld the thicker stuff like you want.
Millermatic 211 is a good choice. If you're looking for a little less costly, the Hobart 210 is pretty much the same, but I think some settings are different with it.
The Millermatic 180 may even be a good option since you only want to do the 3/16''-1/4''

 

Yeah anything over like $250-300 is out of my price range.

 

I found a Lincoln AC 225 on Craigslist, looks brand new for $200. Would this be a good one to get?

 

Well then your looking at a cracker jack box if you buy new. Welders are not cheap you get what you pay for.

I would look for a Mig to be honest.

 

X2 on both of Jerry's comments.

There are some welders that give better bang for the buck IMO than others, but IMO you need to drop at least several hundred to get a decent welder. $800+ is probably about the minimum and used welders often go for close to the price of a new one so unless the machine is a great price or still looks new, just get a new one so you have a warranty.

Hobart 500554R 190 Reconditioned A-Stock Handler

This is about your best bet, and smallest I would buy too. Out of stock ATM, but they price out to $499

 

Just save your money a little longer and get a decent welder. I know it's the only one I've really had experience with, but the Hobart 140 is great for learning how to weld. I got it off of craigslist with a cart, tank, and other crap for $400.
If you can't spend a little extra for a welder, can you really afford the materials to build anything with it?

 

This is what I plan on getting at some point. Sucks because Amazon sent me a 10% off deal, but this one isn't in stock.

 

I have a Hobart 190, that is an awesome deal. I bought mine brand new from cyberweld for like $720 shipped and I love it

 

i can i would just prefer not to spend a TON of money on one, doesnt need to be some industrial grade one, just something to weld up bumpers and such. also there arent any 230 volt outlets in my house that i could use.

 

Well then you have a problem your not going to get good penetration on 1/4" with a little welder the smallest size welder i would recommend would be a 140 Lincoln, Hobart, Miller pick your color they all work well. And an industrial grade welder would start at $2,500 so were not telling you to start there. For what you want to do a $500 budget is where you should start. New or used you should be looking to spend at least $500 on the welder alone you can make a cart for it later.

 

Im going to get me a lincoln 140 or the 180.. the 180 is 220 and only like 100 more.. but I really dont need the extra power for what im going to be using it for.. so I think im going with the 140..
they start at like $500

 

I borrowed a harbour freight welder from a buddy at work . Just to weld a tire carrier I'm building and its gets the job done but 1/4" is tough to weld with it . ill be buying something bigger when I buy. Listen to Jerry and the other guys they know what there talking about .