Llittle_Llama Posted February 21, 2011 Report Share Posted February 21, 2011 Ok, I sold a bunch f car parts and crap from the honda and am ready to buy my first welder! I am wanting to start with one that I can d sheet metal with as that's what I need done the most and am most comfortable with since I can do body work. I was looking at this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/mig-flux-welders/120-amp-230-volt-mig-and-flux-welder-97503.html but am not really sure what to get. I'm going to HF tomorrow while I'm in Dallas but if you advise against it then more than likely I'll go with what you suggest. Quote Link to comment
flyerdan Posted February 21, 2011 Report Share Posted February 21, 2011 Rather than getting one of the chicom ones, you might consider looking through craigslist for a Lincoln or Hobart small 110v machines. There are tons of good machines out there due to the depression. Look at these! Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted February 21, 2011 Report Share Posted February 21, 2011 You WILL NOT be happy with a HF welder. Save your money, buy a halfway decent welder. One other thing, make sure your electrical can handle the amperage if you're using a 110v welder. I have a decent NAPA welder (Think it's ThermalArc or Firepower something, made in Italy) and it's not horrible, but I can't utilize it to it's full potential as my garage wiring is fairly shitty. Need to redo the circuit to take full advantage. My wiring is from the 60s, so if you're in a newer house, your 110 is probably a lot better. Also, if you have to use an extension cord with it, use as short a cord as possible, and make sure it's very heavy gauge wire. Current drop sucks on 110 welders. 1 Quote Link to comment
izzo Posted February 21, 2011 Report Share Posted February 21, 2011 I agree, dont get a HF one. if thats all you can afford i guess get it, but try and find a lincoln or miller (hobart even) I just bought a lincoln 125 new in box for 420. It will do up to 1/4". plenty enough for what i need to do with any car, and i have a stick welder for the thicker stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment
damon Posted February 21, 2011 Report Share Posted February 21, 2011 I have to agree with everyone else. I was looking into getting a welder last year and looked at those HF ones and then decided to go with a miller 140 w/ autoset. I love it! Quote Link to comment
nismo dr Posted February 21, 2011 Report Share Posted February 21, 2011 I have the 90 amp flux core HF welder, its fine for what i use it for, mainly welding up j tin , well work $90. from what I've read and seen online, everyone that complains about it can't weld in the first place. find the model you are looking for and look on you tube. I do agree with everyone else though, if you can afford a lincoln get a lincoln, but if your like me, and I know I am, it was the hf welder or no welder. this is what sold me on mine Quote Link to comment
nismo dr Posted February 21, 2011 Report Share Posted February 21, 2011 a guy in my shop thats a part time body guy built a model t with the same welder, and welded up my floors and doors no problem Quote Link to comment
flyerdan Posted February 21, 2011 Report Share Posted February 21, 2011 Tractor Supplyis a good place for Hobart welders, they often have discounts available. Unless you need the portability of a 110v welder, I'd stick with a 220v machine with shielding gas. They tend to run much smoother and have a higher duty cycle than the smaller 110 machines. I've got a Miller 250, and a Tigwave 250 so I've got everything covered. Quote Link to comment
VintageRice Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 I have a little Hobart with Gas and the Cheapo harbor freight one. The HF welder with flux is a POS. The Hobart works great. It cost me around $500 about 5 years ago. Totally worth it. Quote Link to comment
izzo Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 I have the 90 amp flux core HF welder, its fine for what i use it for, mainly welding up j tin , well work $90. from what I've read and seen online, everyone that complains about it can't weld in the first place. find the model you are looking for and look on you tube. I do agree with everyone else though, if you can afford a lincoln get a lincoln, but if your like me, and I know I am, it was the hf welder or no welder. this is what sold me on mine That might be the case lol. Or thats all they could afford and noticed how shitty they are? I haven't welded with a HF machine yet, but i did just pick up a Lincoln mig machine, ill be trying it out first chance i get.. Quote Link to comment
Llittle_Llama Posted February 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 I have the 90 amp flux core HF welder, its fine for what i use it for, mainly welding up j tin , well work $90. from what I've read and seen online, everyone that complains about it can't weld in the first place. find the model you are looking for and look on you tube. I do agree with everyone else though, if you can afford a lincoln get a lincoln, but if your like me, and I know I am, it was the hf welder or no welder. this is what sold me on mine This is the same video I saw a few weeks ago when I decided on that welder. Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Get a gas machine. 220v if you can swing it. You'll want it when you get good enough to repair your notch. With welders you get what you pay for. HF is what it is. Quote Link to comment
deadmonkey Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 I have one of the HF flux core welders and it works just fine for what I need it for. It does have an issue with feeding if you turn the cable in too tight of a radius... but if you make sure and not STEP on the thing and not kink it, it will do fine. I welded up my Datsun 620 trailer with the HF welder and it did wonderfully. The only drawback is not being able to have a variable amp setting. The speed control is adjustable but the amps are on a switch. I kind of wish I spent a bit more and got the GAS MIG so I can do aluminum someday, but this one is working great for me so far. Just beware, I don't think it will do sheet metal under 18Ga. with out blow through. If you need a cheap welder now, I'd go for it but get the GAS MIG if you ever want to do aluminum. AND get the extra warranty!! Quote Link to comment
BJW's FiveTen's Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 Check CL and I'm sure you can find a good 110v gas shielded welder for $300-500 all day long with tank and related goodies. You will be happy you spent the money on a nicer welder. Hope that you use common sense and not waste your money on a sub par machine. A gas shielded welder will give you much nicer results. If your going to get a frosting gun buy one that you will be happy with and that will give you good results. MIG=Frosting gun. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted February 22, 2011 Report Share Posted February 22, 2011 I welded my 69 datsun kingcab project together with harbor freight "dual mig 151T/I" item # 36692 It worked fine for sheet metal, I never used it for heavy metal like a frame though, it worked fine with flux core wire, and is capable of using gas if you buy the required parts, this is the issue I have with harbor freight(HF), you cannot buy parts for you HF welder at the welding supply outfits, other than the wire, you have to buy all your parts from HF, the tips are differant, guns, everything is differant. My machine lasted for 10 years, but now I have problems getting parts because I lost my owners manual with the part numbers, after getting tired of talking with them on the phone, I broke down and bought a millermatic passport plus for several reasons, I had the money, it worked on 110v and 220v, it's like a suitcase that I can carry around and use at any house with 110v, and the neighbor across the street uses nothing else for med. and light welding and that is what he does for a living, but mine does aluminum and his doesn't, :lol: so mine becomes a loaner every once in a while. :unsure: If that is all you can afford, it will work fine on sheet metal. :thumbup: wayno Quote Link to comment
ppeters914 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Find a good welding friend and buy him beer. Way cheaper than buying a welding machine. :cool: Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Pretty sure he tried that already and was less than pleased with the results. Quote Link to comment
izzo Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 2eDeYe' date='24 February 2011 - 12:02 PM' timestamp='1298577739' post='433465']Pretty sure he tried that already and was less than pleased with the results. Maybe the welds came out ok, just shitty engineering :rofl: Quote Link to comment
Brian D Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 I just bought a Lincoln weldpak 140 from lowes. It was 524 there, and 799 everywhere else. Next you go to the post office and grab a moving packet. It has a coupon for 10% off at lowes. It cost me 475 total Quote Link to comment
izzo Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 Ngrbhsplz... fap you face off fapperson. Then when your done, fap again.. Get a good lincoln or miller. A shitty HF will do, but dont do eeet.. Quote Link to comment
bilzbobaggins Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 You know what the best part of the video is???? That dude rates the quality of the welds in fat people, as if its a unit of measure taught in schools to kids :lol: jeff Quote Link to comment
Bullet_theory Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 You know what the best part of the video is???? That dude rates the quality of the welds in fat people, as if its a unit of measure taught in schools to kids :lol: jeff "im pretty sure this piece could hold.... umm hold..... yeah mabey like ummm...... probably like mabey 3 fat people?" :rofl: Quote Link to comment
bilzbobaggins Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 And he lets us know he cant find enough fat people to jump on them :D Quote Link to comment
skunk Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 "im pretty sure this piece could hold.... umm hold..... yeah mabey like ummm...... probably like mabey 3 fat people?" :rofl: shenanigans Quote Link to comment
Bullet_theory Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 shenanigans :rofl: Quote Link to comment
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