Which one

[Pamlico]

I have not welded in 10 years. I learned on a old lincoln stick welder. My son and I want to rebuild an old metal boat frame(heavy weight). I want to buy a Lincoln arcwelder AC 225, 50 amp stick welder. My son wants a Chicago Electric 120 amp, 230 mig. Is the mig better than the arc stick? I don't know much about mig welders or the Chicago Brand. Help!

 

[1styear]

It depends on where the boat is and that condition it is in.
a mig you have to move gas cylinders
a stick welder you can weld in the wind and is more tollerant towards dirty metal.
Where i work i do a fair amount of ship repair and 99% of the time we use arc welders on boats.

 

[shenion]

Welcome to the forums

IIRC, Chicago Electric are Chinese, not bad bit not known for quality.

A 120A MIG will be useless on anything over 1/8". It will be better for thin stuff (bodywork.)

An AC225 will work well. The AC/DC version even better.

 

[Discoman]

I have not welded in 10 years. I learned on a old lincoln stick welder. My son and I want to rebuild an old metal boat frame(heavy weight). I want to buy a Lincoln arcwelder AC 225, 50 amp stick welder. My son wants a Chicago Electric 120 amp, 230 mig. Is the mig better than the arc stick? I don't know much about mig welders or the Chicago Brand. Help!

both are pretty good units. the MIG has the built in advantage of using wire rolls, not sticks. so one roll of wire should cover a bit of repairs (you don't need to change out sticks, just weld until the wire roll is gone, and it is far easier IMHO) depending on condition. if you do decide to go for the MIG, my recommendation would be to get the Chicago flux-core welder instead.

and Chicago is usually sold at harbor freight, so there is that stigma.

 

[shenion]

The Chicago flux welder will be useless for heavy frames. At the upper welding currents, they have an 18% duty cycle.

Not "just weld until the roll is gone".

The biggest one HF has is 140A. I'd go with a good stick any day. It is cleaner that the flux core mess.