Tools & Fabrication - air compressor or welder?

i have some money to spend (~200) and ive been saying my next big investment will be a welder or an air compressor

now which one should i get???

i can get a new 90amp flux/ gas welder for around 200 (should be good for up to 1/4" on 2-3 passes)

OR an air compressor capable of 5cfm for around 180 and tell my parents and gf to get me air tools for the holidays

which one would better suite me for the time being???

Ouch... $200 isnt a great budget for either of those items honestly. What are the name brands you're looking at? The only 90amp welder I know of for less than $200 is a Chicago, and its only a flux wire welder, not mig.

When it comes to air compressors, forget all about PSI. If you're talking about 110v or 220v compressors they'll all make the PSI you'll use. Its CFM that you have to shop. 5cfm at 90psi isnt that great, as in it will be close to the threshold of making average air tools barely work with the compressor running constantly. 12cfm at 90psi, on the other hand could run a sandblaster.

It all boils down to what you want to use it for. If you plan on not running any air tools other than stuff to air up your tires and maybe an air wrench for split seconds, then you'll be okay. If you've got plans for an air compressor for your shop then you need to keep shopping... something 220v that turns at a low RPM and puts out a high Cubic Feet per Minute.

Both the welder and compressor could be lifetime investments...

FWIW, I've got about $400 in a Rol-Air 80 gallon compressor off govdeals. Thats including the cost of another 5hp motor and the electrician hooking it up. And about ~300 in a 110v lincoln 135amp mig welder from home depot (closeout).

Only buy the truly smokin deals!

Almost everything that you use a compressor for can by done manually, the only way to weld without a welder is gas welding (oxy-acetylene). Anybody who learns to gas weld first is much ahead of the curve as far as skills go. You also have the ability to cut steel with oxy-acetylene. For $200 you can get a nice, used torch outfit. For the same money, a compressor or welder will be a piece of poop, even used.

Good point on the torch outfit. A cutting torch is a great excuse to go that route :D The ol' heat wrench has come in handy a time or too for me, lol. I've never tried to weld with one, but its definitely a tried and true method.

To the OP, you can get a haynes manual (same dudes that makes car books) on welding that spells out all the different types of welding and it gives good techniques on them too.

On the other hand though, a nice little mig setup sure does make you feel like pro in about 30 minutes...

Dont ever buy a cheap weldler, You WILL regret it.
Buy an air compressor. You will use it every day you work on your car. a welder you may not use it ever.
A compressor is a must

i say go with compressor. if 200 dollar budget look on craigslist as i have seen some nice home setups for that price. i socred a 7.5hp one of ebay years ago for very reasonable. infact still using it. but that is probaably overkill for home shop.

you will need an air compressor if you get a welder. chances are you will run grinders cut off wheels etc with air.

ouch $200 is not much of a budget... maybe a nice tap and die set? (worth every penny IMO)

Save your money until you have enough for a good quality item. Nothing worse then buying a cheap product that is unable to do the job. Very frustrating when you need a good quality, strong weld and when your life depends on the welding. Or a compressor that wont run a air tool more then 3 seconds and the you wait 1 minute for the unit to catch up before it will run another 3 seconds. Been there and it's a real pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ouch... $200 isnt a great budget for either of those items honestly. What are the name brands you're looking at? The only 90amp welder I know of for less than $200 is a Chicago, and its only a flux wire welder, not mig.


yep chicago makes a 90 amp and I have one its a piece of crap save some more money and buy a real welder or air compressor
I like my compressor set up 2 150psi portercable pancake's conected together and atached to a 30 gal tank(my dad downsized his carpentry biz) its ghetto but it works and its red so its gotta be high performance

I play around in the garage after work every day. I could not live without compressed air. It's so versatile.

A welder would be nice, but that's more of a luxury item.

Almost everything that you use a compressor for can by done manually, the only way to weld without a welder is gas welding (oxy-acetylene). Anybody who learns to gas weld first is much ahead of the curve as far as skills go. You also have the ability to cut steel with oxy-acetylene. For $200 you can get a nice, used torch outfit. For the same money, a compressor or welder will be a piece of poop, even used.

+1 i learned this way and it really did put me ahead of the curve when it came time to jump up to a buzz box. plus the cutting feature is great for us guys without $1500 or so to blow on a plasma cutter. awesome suggestion

i got the welder- 140amp 110V clarke mig/fluxcore... i can weld decent with a mig as is and figured anything i could do with air i can do manually/ use electric... as stated, you can wrench without air, you cant fuse metal without a welder

every time i open the garage door my compresser is used for one thing or another. i havent used my welder in.. well a really really long time.

You will use the air compressor more. If you get a welder gas a gas mig.