Thinking about buying something low-end just to handle small repairs around the land on trailers, metal shop parts, etc. What would you guys recommend? I have saved up some Lowes gift cards so bonus points for any unit that's available at Lowes.

You might try a Bosch.

Really depends on what kind of welding you need to do and what needs to be fixed. Personally, I wouldn't go anything below this, if your doing just mild steel stuff.

Lincoln Mig and Flux

Along with a bottle of 75-25 and I would think you could fix and/or build many a thing. With a similar sized welder I have and I can build stuff I need with MIG and take the welder to work and work with flux core to fix gates and fencing. Bought a generator as well so I can load up the welder and what not on the tractor and put up some drill stem pipe fence, although that would be pushing it. That's if you want to learn.

If you want plug and play, Miller has some really good machines that take all the guess work out of it.

Don’t know what Lowes carries, but I bought a Hobart 210 and it’s been great for the price. Works on 220v or 110v, comes with both plugs. Welds with shielding gas or flux core, only downfall is the weight, it’s heavier. But if you want light, the Miller 211 is the way to go, but $$$. I doubt Lowes carries either brand, but you could buy your wire, helmet, grinder and accessories there.

Small Hobart wire welder. Flux core is pretty simple.

Forney makes a good welder

lowes carries lincoln, bought my little 120 flux core back in 2002 and it is still going strong. use it a lot here at the ranch, flux core is fine for most of what I do.

have rebuilt 3 trailer toungues, done a lot of fix it stuff with no problems. only thing about flux core is the splatter.

this is the one I would get now if buying another one.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Lincoln-Electric-120-Volt-140-Amp-Mig-Flux-cored-Wire-Feed-Welder/1072945

I have an old cracker box 180 Amp that will fix most of what I break. As Hop mentioned fluxcore is not expensive but you need to practice with it if you go that route. To me stick welding is easier than flux core. Mig with shielding gas will be more expensive but makes nice welds. Gasoline rigs are obviously great for fence work but can have other issues- i am currently overhauling the engine on a Miller Roughneck that wore out!

Glad to see this , just ordered their planograms for the NAPA store and one of their AC welders for me.

Yep, get the AC/DC Lincoln Welder from Lowe's and a box of 3/32" 7018 and get to practicing. If you ain't very good, pick up a grinder and a whole bunch of grinding wheels.

Put a 220 - 50 amp breaker in your main box and consider using 25' of 8/3 as an power cord so you can move the welder around your work area.

I weld on metal as thin as .075" up to 1/2" with not too many issues.

I carry this one in the RV because it only weighs 14 pounds. I've run 3 spools of wire through it wit no problems. I think it's limited to 5/16" or 3/8" steel which works for me.


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Century...ed-Welder-and-Gun-120V-K3493-1/302139495

You can get all your supplies at Lowes with the credits you have.

Lots of good cheap wire welders out there. We run a cheapo from Harbor Freight in the back of the shop that gets run hard (8 hours a day) and it works just like the Miller does up front.

Don't go too cheap.

I have a Miller 180. It's a little more, but worth it. I've definitely gotten my monies worth out of it. Also get a good auto darkening helmet.

You're welcome.

Have a fire extinguisher nearby.

I second Hobart, good welder.