Welding Tips and Tricks

I am a beginning welder and do not do this professionally. But, I am in need of purchasing a MIG welder for getting started on as the local university just doesn't quite fit my needs.

The local welding supplier has a Millermatic 140 for sale. They brought it in and refurbished it. I got a chance to look at it before the service dept. started working on it. The unit was in very good shape. Turns out the previous owner needed something more in terms of features/capabilities. So he traded it in for a different model.

I think the supplier is planning on selling it for approx. $350.

So my question to the group is:
1 - This seems like a good price, is it?
2 - Is this a good value to get started with?
3 - Any comments on purchasing used equipment or other comments?

Thanks for the collective insight from everyone.

-brad w.

If it's in good condition that seems like a fair price. It seems like a capable machine that will be good for "non-professional" needs. The smaller mig welders from Miller, at least from me, are easy to learn on and usually are great runners. You may want to see about a new mig gun of the other owner used it a lot or put in a new liner but it isn't required unless the liner is shot. If the supplier is working on it and fixing it up a little it probably will be alright and a great deal for you.

Farmwelding wrote:You may want to see about a new mig gun of the other owner used it a lot or put in a new liner but it isn't required unless the liner is shot. If the supplier is working on it and fixing it up a little it probably will be alright and a great deal for you.

The supplier is going to provide a new mig gun which is nice.

One thing I don't understand and I keep hearing about is the liner. How does one tell if the liner is shot?

-brad w.

ps: Also, kudos to General Air here in Colorado. They have been GREAT to work with.

If the wire is feeding poorly or you're having contamination problems and it's not a gas problem contact tip problem or anything else it might be a liner. It takes a while for a liner to go out though so.

A friend of mine has a millermatic 140. He uses it for body work, sheet metal ect. Anything thicker and you'll want more power. For the price you could learn on it and if you end up needing something bigger you should get all the money back toward a bigger machine.

They are great machines for 1/8" and below. 3/16"+ material generally leaves you wanting more power.

Near me you would easily sell it for what you paid if you decided to upgrade later.

I have the 130 it also has pulsed weld and spotweld on it a nice feature.