Hey all,
I've got a semester of welding class under my belt and I love it so much I think it's time to buy a welder of my own. I've been looking for multi-process machines because I expect to use MIG for the most part but I also really enjoy TIG. I'm looking for a machine that I won't outgrow, but it doesn't have to be pro grade since I'll just be using it in the garage mostly. Do you have any multi-process machines you recommend? Wants:
Mig/Tig capable - aluminum TIG isn't a huge priority as long the machine is spool gun compatible.
110/220v
Semi-portable: I'll probably take it over to my parents farm occasionally, so if I can pick it up and put it in my truck by myself that would be good
Soft budget cap of $1000, but closer to $500 would be nicer :)
I've seen some stuff from YesWelder, Hobart, and some other places that look like they might fit the bill, but I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions.
The Swiss Army knife is not a good knife, but it is sometimes a good bottle opener. Generally, for best results, one job = one tool.
The Primeweld MTS200 would probably be a good option for what you are looking for, it does MIG, DC Tig (with a good torch included) and Stick and runs on 120/240 Vac.
If it were me though I'd get their MIG180 which comes with a spool gun and also runs on 120/240 for $200 less and set that money aside to pick up a TIG225x down the road (I have the TIG and am really happy with it).
I am really happy with the Primeweld unit that Evan bought aside from its soft start, which makes it tricky to stitch up oh-too-thin material the way you can with a dumb welder. Other than that it is really nice at twice the price.
Rodan
SuperDork
12/8/22 8:42 p.m.
I've been really happy with the AHP AlphaTig, but it looks like they're a few months out at the moment...
I bought mine in 2015, and don't use it often (MIG is my go-to most of the time), but it's worked great every time I have on both aluminum and steel.
Thanks for the suggestions! As for buying two separate welders I don't expect I'll be doing TIG often enough to justify buying a nice stand-alone machine, but I like the idea of having the capability if I decide I want it for the occasional project, which is why multi-process machines are appealing to me.
Just remember all the affordable multi process welders are DC only TIG without HF start. So no welding aluminum and scratch start for steel/stainless.
My personal opinion: To me that is a no-go for both of those reasons. For your price range I'd pick up a nice dual voltage inverter MIG machine and pick up a dedicated TIG down the line. Spool gun is not a good replacement for TIG with aluminum, especially on more intricate automotive projects.
I'll be watching this thread as I want to replace my 40 year old 120V Mig (which still works just fine, BTW) with something a little more powerful and I was thinking one of these inverter Mig/Tig welders would be the ticket too.
I don't know that I'll be welding any aluminum stuff, but it would be nice to be able to do some finer Tig work.
I don't expect to find anything for less than $1000 that's worthwhile.
Miller Multimatic 220. Buy once, cry once.
Barring that, the Esab Rebel 205ic is a bit cheaper, a bit more armored up, but lacks some of the nice features of the Multimatic 220.
As much as I like a good tool, I don't think I can justify spending the equivalent of four Steves on a hobby welder.
I sold a really nice used Lincoln Square Wave TIG 175 and a Lincoln 180C for $1500 with a cart here this summer. If a nice multiprocess machine isnt in the cards, may I suggest shopping used. I just wanted a smaller inverter machine.
Does anyone have any experience with Hf's Vulcan brand? For just under $1200, they have this, which has a pedal remote for TIG and some other features I usually see listed for higher end machines. Obviously the warranty is pretty meaningless, but beyond that is there anything about these machines I should look out for?
I also found this Everlast that seems to have similar features at a similar price point: https://www.everlastgenerators.com/product/mig/powermts-211si-tig-package
AMiataCalledSteve said:
Does anyone have any experience with Hf's Vulcan brand? For just under $1200, they have this, which has a pedal remote for TIG and some other features I usually see listed for higher end machines. Obviously the warranty is pretty meaningless, but beyond that is there anything about these machines I should look out for?
I have both a Vulcan MigMax and a Vulcan TIG. Now, I am not a welder snob...I have rarely used Miller welders and I learned to weld on some pretty cheap welders with few settings, I say this to sprinkle some grains of salt on my experience with the Vulcan welders. That being said, I love both my Vulcan welders. They are easy to use with plenty of settings for everything I do...the final weld quality is better than I can easily achieve with cheaper HF welders. They may not as drop-dead simple as some of the newer Miller models I have played with, but they certainly do the job.
adam525i said:
The Primeweld MTS200 would probably be a good option for what you are looking for, it does MIG, DC Tig (with a good torch included) and Stick and runs on 120/240 Vac.
If it were me though I'd get their MIG180 which comes with a spool gun and also runs on 120/240 for $200 less and set that money aside to pick up a TIG225x down the road (I have the TIG and am really happy with it).
I've been eyeballing this 225X for a while. Pros/Cons over the big brands other than cost?
In reply to vozproto :
I don't have any experience with higher end brands (ESAB, Lincoln, Miller etc.) when it comes to TIG, I did however buy and learn TIG with the cheapest AC/DC welder on amazon at the time. It worked right until it didn't and then I was lucky to be able to return it for a full refund and that is when I got the 225X.
What I like about the Primeweld is there is an actual support number and a quality manual with the welder. All of the accessories (other than the mask/helmet thing) are useful and decent quality (good pedal and ground, really nice CK torch). There are lots of videos online too using and reviewing this particular machine so that can help with the learning process. I don't love all of the knobs to set up the machine, they would be better if as you turned them their setting was displayed where the welding current is shown, that way you could dial in right to where you want without having to interpret the various scales etc on the knobs. The fancier machines also come with preprogrammed settings and ways to save settings, that would also be convenient.
One spot where it looks like the Harbour Freight offerings beat it is that they actually are UL/CSA listed (at least the Titanium ones are, couldn't see the Vulcan). There is a cost to that approval and it is good they have it, the Primeweld does not (and I doubt a Yeswelder etc. would either).
Having said all of that for the hobbiest it is a great machine.
So, did you buy anything yet?
I'm getting closer to pulling the trigger on one for my shop too, tho I still haven't figured out which. There are You Tube vids for almost any of these machines but I get confused trying to figure out which way to go as almost none of them ever say anything bad about what they're reviewing....
I haven't yet, It's been a busy couple months and all my fun money has been going into fixing all my broken cars lol. But based on my searching, when I finally get the time and money to buy a welder again, it'll probably be the Everlast I linked above.
I have a Hobart handler 140 mig machine I bought for $500 years ago. Last week I was pulled the trigger on a weldpro tig machine via Amazon for 927$. Now it's time to spend the $400 for a tank of argon after all the bs fees.
vozproto said:
adam525i said:
The Primeweld MTS200 would probably be a good option for what you are looking for, it does MIG, DC Tig (with a good torch included) and Stick and runs on 120/240 Vac.
If it were me though I'd get their MIG180 which comes with a spool gun and also runs on 120/240 for $200 less and set that money aside to pick up a TIG225x down the road (I have the TIG and am really happy with it).
I've been eyeballing this 225X for a while. Pros/Cons over the big brands other than cost?
I replaced a shop full of Miller/Hobart equipment with Primeweld including a 225x as a primary MIG machine and I could not be any happier, the instructions are better, the digital interface is on par, the touch points both on the panel and the torch/guns are equal, the weld quality is equal, Primeweld customer service is FAR FAR superior to any I've received from any American tool manufacturer/distributor. The Miller machines have a clear advantage and that is the ease of use of their auto-set feature, the Primeweld has something similar but it is a massive struggle to turn it off.
I think the best bang for your buck in the $1200ish range is going to be to to buy a $725 Alphatig 203xi and something like the Eastwood 140A mig or as much used mig as you can afford with the leftover ~$400 budget (ignoring gas and consumables, but there are deals around for 120v MIGs with bottles on marketplace and Facebook to help the budget here).
Rationale: this gets you true versatility of steel, stainless, and aluminum with good features on the TIG. You can basically weld whatever you want. For the tricky and fancy stuff, you have a good TIG, and for everything else you can get away with a basic MIG because you have a TIG.
In my case I have a perfectly serviceable MiG welder, so all I need is the TiG capability, but I think I want to be able to weld aluminum with whatever I get.
