Man, I just don't understand where you guys are coming from with that viewpoint. Either your flux cored wire is poor quality, the machine running it is poor quality, (or the polarity is wrong), or someone just doesn't know how to weld. No offense intended. REALLY. But I weld all day with flux cored and there is no more residual spatter than with gas shielded mig and certainly not as much as stick. Aside from lightly tapping the flux off the finished weld, there isn't any cleanup.

chaikwa.

 

yep, that is what mine came with. picked it up on ebay for 402 dollars.

 

agreed. i see no difference in spatter with flux cored than with gas.

 

no, there is no difference in splatter, but you gotta knock flux off all the time just like with stick. using gas, you can weld over your weld without having to clean it up, most of our stuff is multipass pressure vessels so you gotta get all the flux out before the next pass. One rod will get you 15 to 20 inches of weld which is almost all the way around a 6 inch pipe. then you gotta clean up to make your next pass.

 

Hybrids are popping up all over...

No seriously, go with the shielded metal tig..

Even better, Go with the 220 MIG or a diesel driven MIG. Much easier to work with in almost all positions without the need to worry about rod / shielding types..

 

Another happy Miller 140 owner. Everything I do is outdoors, so I went with flux core. I think the Hobart 140 is an economy version of this one, probably works good enuff for average use. The best price package I found was on Ebay through Indianaplois Oxygen's Ebay Store.

 

After completing a bead, I usually just run the contact tip, (where the wire comes out of the gun), over the weld bead and it knocks all the flux off. Clean it with a wire brush if it needs to be welded over again.

Yes, that's true.

This is true too, but I don't think that's something Stan will be doing in his backyard! Who knows tho, maybe he's making a submarine or a space craft!

chaikwa.

 

i sent a mig to monterrey with a guy for a fab shop and their was little work that had to be done to get it across not sure what he crossed at laredo

 

I've found great deals here .

http://stores.ebay.com/Reliable-Tool-Store

 

Thanks guys, but some of you are getting a little carried away. I do NOT need nor want a engine driver welder. Nor do I want anything that requires an external gas supply. Let me use another term that may help to define my need. I only need a reliable hobby welder. That could be an old fashioned stick machine or a modern flux cored wire machine. Of course a 120v machine is probably the most versatile, but a 220v welder is no problem for me and in some ways prefered. 120/220 is the best.

Ebay is of zero use to me as I need a place that I can walk into early next week in the Austin or preferably San Antonio area and buy something off the floor and drive away with it.

Was checking the internet and see that Northern Tool have some Hobart machines that could do my work. Anybody dealt with them? What is the difference between Hobart and Miller for quality and durability?

 

Mexstan,

I know squat about welding. If you make it to Austin and need anything from directions to a place to stay shoot me a PM and I'll take care of you. If you have a welder picked out shoot me the make and model, I'll find the best deal in Austin.

 

havent heard much about hobart. i run millers havent had a lot of problems with them. try tripple s steel in s a

 

You can get completely set up at Home Depot with a Lincoln wire-feed welder that will do everything you need to do. I just got a Lincoln Weld Pak 100 at a garage sale to have around the house so I don't have to go to my brothers shop to weld. The lincoln works like a champ and is super easy to move around. I would suggest getting the 12.5 lb reels of flux-cored wire. The smaller ones don't seem to last as long.

If and when you decide to go to MIG, you can get a gas kit from Lincoln and convert over fairly easily.

If you go with a 220 stick, like an AC buzz box, you will be limited to where it plugs in and how far away from it you can weld unless you get or make some longer leads.

 

Well, the Millermatic 140 or the Lincoln or Hobart equivalent is probably what you want.

Northern Tool has stores?

Miller makes the Hobart machines now, so there shouldn't be a lot of difference between them.

I didn't know that. I don't go to HD or any of the other big box stores, but it sounds just like what the doctor ordered!

chaikwa.

 

Thank you very much for the offers. I already have a place to stay. Now I just have to find the best place to buy a welder between Austin and Laredo.