Ok its tax season and I'm foaming at the mouth waiting for a big chunk of money. most of you regulars around here know that I'm moving into a new garage soon. I need to equip my new space some serious toys. Specificly a air compressor and a welder. I got hand tools and small power tools out the wazoo.

For the compressor I'm looking into this. The price is what gives me the butterfies. $850 The question is. More than I need, probably. I want something that will last 20yrs. I have seen the Campbell Hausfields (they make most compressors no matter what the name on the side says) in person and I'm not really impressed. The tanks get real hot. But I can get one for half of the IR. The biggest thing I have is a sandblaster, so IDK.

The Ingersoll Rand 5 HP 60 gal. Single Stage Air Compressor features durable cast iron construction with precision engineered quality components.

• 5 HP (as rated by engine manufacturer) 230V single-stage air compressor
• 135 max. PSI and 60 gal. ASME tank
• 18.1 CFM @ 90 PSI
• 100% continuous duty all cast iron pump
• 230V single phase motor with no starter required
• Mounted discharge valve
• Extended design life - 8,000+ hrs
• Belt guard that shields flywheel and motor sheave
• 2 year industrial grade pump warranty with use of use of Ingersoll Rand start up kit

Now for the welder. I'm looking into a Lincoln Power Mig 180. $670 locally after a 75 dollar rebate. Or I can skip the rebate and get a helmet free. Good deal really.

On the other hand it seems like every shop in America has a big blue Miller. are they that much better? The price isn't I can get this one that is basically the same thing as the Lincoln. Except it has an auto set feature the adjust the voltage and feed speed automatically. I can get this guy for $810 w/ free shipping. No other deals.

So there it is. Is the compressor over kill? Spend the money and don't worry about it? Am I just buying the name?

Is the Miller that much better? The Lincoln is nice, I went and looked at one and there isn't any cheap plastic crap in the drive wheels. Again would I just be buying a name? I know there are others out there for way cheaper but these are what I've settled on after some late nights shopping on line.

Opinions are welcome, as well as stories of one of these crapping out on someone. Sorry for the long read I just want my poop in a group before I spend close to 2 grand on something.

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I wanna get both actually. Hah...

 

I'm getting both. The question was more "go full on tool snob or buy lower priced stuff that may work just as good"

 

Well on the compressor I'd consider a good used one, and pocket the savings. I went with a new IR too, but right afterwards I got the bright idea to check Craigslist and found several name brand compressors for less than half of what I paid.
Both the Miller and the Lincoln are equally great welders. I think the 180 in either is top of the line, but a 140 will probably do everything you'll ever need to do, and might save some money. I've got the Miller 140 Autoset and it's done everything I ever want on my recent car build.
One other thing to keep in mind on the MIG (regardless of which you choose) you'll need the 75-25 tank, and that added $180 filled to the cost of my welder. You could run just flux core wire, but at 3-4 times more per pound, and dirty welds, I'd never even consider flux core myself.

 

The tank is 250 bucks for a ten years. I hate flux core myself. I can "borrow" a tank from work as long as I fill it, my plant manager don't mind. I used to date his daughter. . Well have the gas supplier bring us Argon/CO2 and ox/acet as well as 100lb tanks of propane. So many no one can keep track of them. The 180 isn't what I would consider top of the line. Its entry level for 240 welders. I use a Miller 135 at work just about everyday and have a hard time welding 1/4" wall tubing without a heavy bevel. So I'm firm on the 180. I like the Miller 211 better, it runs duel voltage. 120 then has a different plug for 240 and a 1500 price tag. Speaking of money, I wouldn't mind saving alittle but if I paid full price for everything it wouldn't hurt my feelings. I looked at craigslist and haven't seen much.

 

I forgot to ask, how is the auto set feature? I know your not a pro welder so your opinion is better than a pro I think.

 

lincoln are better welders then millers, unless you start talking about the gas driven welders. those are better as millers. anyways, the compressor being overkill depends on what you use it for. if you plan on running air sanders, blast cabinet, paint guns, sand blasters ect, stuff that uses high continuous cfm's then its not overkill at all. infact, you will still have to wait for it to catch up. but if your just looking for air chisel, impact gun, air ratchets and shorter burst stuff like that then you will be fine. since its a 100% duty cycle and 18cfm you might wanna think about picking up a storage tank with it (a propane tank would work great) that way you can have much larger capacity so it doesnt have to kick on nearly as much. i used to run a 250 gallon propane tank ontop of my 80 gallon air compressor. was nice not having to have the compressor turn on every 30 seconds

 

Definitely used on the air compressor. The welder I'm not so sure about. You can save a ton of money on a compressor though going the used route. Even if you get an old farm one and rebuild it or something along those lines.

 

Surprised you can't get good penetration with a 135 on 1/4" plate. My 140 says the max is 1/4" plate, but I've had no problems welding 3/8" so far. The company I used to work for services and repairs welders, so I talked to the two repair guys before buying my Miller and asked them which welders to buy, and which to stay away from. Pretty unanimous they said get the Miller 140. The agreed the Lincoln was almost the equal, but I didn't want "almost". They also said they rarely get and 140's or 135's in for repair unless they're really old.
I love the autoset feature, and I can't imagine not having it on a welder now that I've used mine for 6 months. It's a very cool welder. The 180 is the bottom end of 240v. welders, but sure not a bottom end model! It will serve you well, and I doubt you'll ever regret buying the 180 from what I've read and heard from owners.

 

Our 135 has been around for ever. At least since I worked there 5yrs ago. I have a hate for flux core wire because of that welder. I think I gonna get the Lincoln. The Miller is nice, but I need a helmet too and Lincoln is giving very nice ones away. There is a guy over on Nasty that has the Lincoln and his welds look like there TIGed, He's a pro though. As long as they're American made I'm satisfied I guess. I got another weel before I see any money so I may change my mind all together by then. I tend to blow money pretty fast when I get a large chunk.

On another note the kitchen guys got done with my cabinets yesterday and I'll be moving in my new house soon. The down side is the blizzard that rolled through Tuesday night dumped 14" of snow on us and I can't get to the stuff in my back yard.