Hi folks,
I am looking for advice about a new welder, where to get it, and what to pay.
For decades, I have made do with a Lincoln AC225 arc welder. My welds are rough, but usually hold.
For important welding, i have hired guys who put out a sign. They have all retired.

The purpose will be general farm type welding - it seems a trailer or something always needs welded. It would be nice if it could handle 1/2” plate for making brackets and simple parts for farm implements.

Of course it will also be used for trapping related welding - 1/2” rebar stakes with 5/8” nuts welded on the end for stakes. Also want to weld shut J hooks.

From reading about the subject, it appears that the next step should be a mig welder.
What are opinions about a Miller dual 110 / 220 welder?
Any good advice on this or other systems.
What else do i need to run a mig welder?

Thanks for the advice!

Hobart 220 is all I use at home. It’s a dual voltage auto sensing unit. Does really nice for me. At work we have a miller 252, obviously not the same but comparable. I also have the spool gun too, it works nice. One thing I will say is that the fan runs continuously on the Hobart. This would probably get very annoying if I was using it everyday and trying to have a normal conversation with someone.

PM sent.

I would suggest something from ESAB, Miller or Hobart

And not scared of buying second hand if you want to save some money

I have a miller 211 and I like it for around the farm. I think it’s officially rated for up to 3/8” but you can do a few passes if you’re actually into something thick. I bought it when miller had a $500 rebate on it from bakers gas and I think it was around $1200 or so after rebate. I checked with the local welding shops and they were about the same price but they didn’t have some of the other consumables I wanted to buy, so I bought everything from bakers. I’ve done trailer frames so far with it and welding on hay forks and hay racks and it’s been great

Ive been using same Lincold mig welder for about 40 years...been a good one. Im getting ready to update and talking to a lot of trade welders. Im getting the impression that its still very much a ford, chevy, dodge argument....with Lincoln, miller and esab at the forefront of their conversations. Havent talked to any of them that use hobart for a living. I have heard mostly good things about hobart for the hobbyist, which is likely what youll be.
Im following this thread myself to see what others might add. And, just like a tractor purchase, local dealers should play a part in your decision....service is important.

Professionally the contractors i worked for had Miller's and Lincolns. So thats what I have done most of my welding on. I had a Miller bobcat 225 but traded it years ago since I was not using it much. Wish I had not now.

I have a miller 211 with gas and I love it for fixing stuff around the farm. I can even fix the thin wind spinners my wife brings home that are always breaking. It works very nicely on traps, clean and no slag.

Yup Miller 211

Razor blades to 3/8 stuff

Can carry it home....and plug it in ,next to the toaster

Try some of these before you go and buy a new welding machine.they are AC rods specifically made for AC machines.they also have them in 3/32 for welding smaller stuff.they strike verry easily and will weld like a DC rod.225 amps is plenty to weld 1/2" plate like you say

This is the machine I use in my shop.it was my grandfather's and I enjoy running the old thing.i have others but this is the one I use for all my trap mods and shop work.that 225 Lincoln you have is more machine than this one

I have welded things as thin as tack welding mink pans on #11's with it,to 1/2" plate

Welds 1/4" and 5/16 rod well too.built this holding pen with it

Welds channel iron great too

Anyone but wolfie

I have a Hobart handler 140. It is the biggest one they make that runs on a standard 120 plug (at least it was when I purchased it). It is very capable and easy to use, also very portable due to using the standard 120v plug. I AM NOT A WELDER WITH ANY SKILL. But this machine allows me to fix broken gates, trailer parts and more around the farm even though I have no real skill and very little experience. I use the flux core wire on it so that I don't have to deal with the shielding gas for the small amount of welding I do.

I forgot Lincoln

Also dad bought some cheap brand from a garage sale for less than $50, welds surprisingly well but probably a throw away if a major component goes bad

I welded since junior year of HS. 79 now, and it is impossible to have one machine to do every type of weld you run into. There are some nice inverter machines nowdays that come closer than ever before. Not gonna try to recommend any machine, other than stay away from import crap.

Thank you to everyone who responded with suggestions. The information is all very helpful.

For now, i will try the suggestions from Bdaniel since that may get me where I want to be with the smallest expenses. I don’t delude myself that my skills are acceptably good, but practicing with new rod and some scrap steel will improve my skills along the way.

In the future if my skills improve, and projects require, I will revisit the idea of buying a new Miller 211 mig welder.

Thanks again!