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Looking for a quality brand name hobby mig welder around $500, 140-180 amp, and 220v/1. Any suggestions? The Eastwood 175 http://www.eastwood.com/mig-welders-175 ... l-gun.html looks nice and seems to have good reviews but I don't know about quality. Has a nice warranty. I hate spending $750-$1000 for a welder I will only use 2 or 3 times a year. My old H/F just ain't cutting it. I'm sure there are a lot of us on this forum that would be interested in everyone's opinion. Russ

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You meet the nicest people in a Locost Se7en.

How much do you suppose the round-trip shipping will cost, if you have to use that warranty?

Even though you'll probably never need their services, I'd try to stick with something that is covered by your LWS as a "Factory Authorized Serivce & Repair" center...Even if that means scouring Craigslist for a decent deal on a newer lightly used 'commercial grade' machine. It's amazing how many people on there think their beat-up old welder is worth almost as much a new one with warranty. Note that the real deals go fast.

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-Justin

"Orville Wright did not have a pilots license." - Gordon MacKenzie

Depending on what you think the problem with this welder is, you could try upgrading it by adding a capacitor to the output. We had a thread about this some time ago. Comparing pictures of the HF welder with my Lincoln 175, It seemed that was the big difference.

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Good point. I've been checking Craig's daily but nothing has come up yet. I'll keep trying

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You meet the nicest people in a Locost Se7en.

Well I broke down and bought a new Hobart 180 amp mig welder. It came with a spool gun too so look out aluminum!! Cost $850 (ouch) from Acme Tool free frt. and no tax and made in the US of A. The best deal I could find. I hope I get some use out of it. One of the reasons I did not use my HH mig very much because it was such a pain to get a good weld. Russ

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You meet the nicest people in a Locost Se7en.

Good choice I have a Hobart handler 187, 220v. I have had it about 6yrs with no problems at all, I have run about 300lbs of wire threw it in that time welding anywhere from 20ga sheet to 1/2 plate.