Is this an ok beginner welder? - Page 2

knightmare1015 · #16 11-24-2011, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheStig

Hey pat....i have that welder

if you want it gimme a call....i'll sell it cheap its out of wire at the moment

Which welder do you have?

TheStig · #17 11-24-2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knightmare1015

Which welder do you have?

The cheap HF one he posted

ranger45cal · #18 11-24-2011, 06:15 PM

look for a used lincoln on craigs list from some old craggy guy that wants it out of his garrage.

knightmare1015 · #19 11-25-2011, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheStig

The cheap HF one he posted

Oh ok. I really didn't know which one. How does it perform?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranger45cal

look for a used lincoln on craigs list from some old craggy guy that wants it out of his garrage.

I have been doing that. So far nothing yet. I'm debating wether to get one new or used because the last time I got a used one, the seller didn't really tell me how much he abused it and didn't take care of it. It took a dump a few days later while I was welding in a roll cage in someone's dirt track car. I ended up renting one to finish the job and have pretty much stayed away from used welders since (nothing against used stuff mind you, but some people really don't take care of their equipment these days).

crowdpleazer · #20 11-25-2011, 09:53 AM

i have a hobart handler 140. its 110 volt. i wont weld with anything else in 110v. oh and use argon gas. dont use that flux core crap wire.

knightmare1015 · #21 11-28-2011, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crowdpleazer

i have a hobart handler 140. its 110 volt. i wont weld with anything else in 110v. oh and use argon gas. dont use that flux core crap wire.

I'm leaning towards a stick welder instead of a mig. The reason is because I really don't have alot of space to keep spare gas tanks and I like using a stick welder. Thanks for the input because I'm not really a fan of the Flux core welding. I guess it's that "old school" mentallity thing.

crowdpleazer · #22 11-29-2011, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knightmare1015

I'm leaning towards a stick welder instead of a mig. The reason is because I really don't have alot of space to keep spare gas tanks and I like using a stick welder. Thanks for the input because I'm not really a fan of the Flux core welding. I guess it's that "old school" mentallity thing.

hey welders are a lot personal prefrence. i cant stick weld worth a crap but can mig decent. my dad stick welds good but cant touch me mig welding.

knightmare1015 · #23 11-29-2011, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crowdpleazer

hey welders are a lot personal prefrence. i cant stick weld worth a crap but can mig decent. my dad stick welds good but cant touch me mig welding.

Yeah I know man. Plus a mig really aint that good for what I have planned. I plan on building me a custom frame from scratch and I feel that stick would be a better choice in that matter rather than mig.

crowdpleazer · #24 12-01-2011, 11:01 AM

the mig i have is rated up to 1/4 inch steel. but its hard to make it penetrate at max consistently. so yea stick is better that way

MUDFLAP · #25 12-01-2011, 08:18 PM

This is the one that I have. Lincoln Handy Mig 140 plugs right into the wall. Does what I need it to do.

The Flux Core is sloppy. Getting a tank for it soon.

silentbob4x4 · #26 12-01-2011, 11:11 PM

I would look at eastwood's welders too. Their entry level mig is a 110v 135a welder. It can do both flux core or shielded gas mig. It runs $299 new with a 3 year warrantee. I have their 175 amp welder and it does a very good job.

knightmare1015 · #27 12-02-2011, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crowdpleazer

the mig i have is rated up to 1/4 inch steel. but its hard to make it penetrate at max consistently. so yea stick is better that way

We used stick in highschool on alot of the heavy duty items such as frame rails (horse trailers is what we built) and some construction equipment that seen extreme conditions. We used the Mig and Tig for small stuff such as cosmetic pieces, bumpers and some accent pieces. The mig was mainly used for medium to light duty work. The Tig was mainly for light guage aluminum and small accent pieces.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MUDFLAP

This is the one that I have. Lincoln Handy Mig 140 plugs right into the wall. Does what I need it to do.

The Flux Core is sloppy. Getting a tank for it soon.

I don't really have the space needed for a mig welder and plus the local welding supply company here requires a minium purchase on their gas and they aint cheap either. They're about 45 miles south of me and wanted to charge me an additional fee other than what they were going to charge me. Plus I can always go to either Lowes or Home Depot to get welding rods and gloves as well as other consumables.

Quote:

Originally Posted by silentbob4x4

I would look at eastwood's welders too. Their entry level mig is a 110v 135a welder. It can do both flux core or shielded gas mig. It runs $299 new with a 3 year warrantee. I have their 175 amp welder and it does a very good job.

I will check them out again. They were a little bit too pricey for me and didn't really have one that suited my needs. Plus I've got to get some cutting equipment as well.

crowdpleazer · #28 12-02-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MUDFLAP

The Flux Core is sloppy. Getting a tank for it soon.

agreed. i hate welding with flux core.

RedRanger2001 · #29 12-02-2011, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pooleo

NO! RUN, FAST!!!!

Seriously, harbor freight welders are absolute junk. It will work, but you will have problems. I had one and the wire speed never worked right. If you want to weld exhaust pipe, go for it. But forget about fabbing anything up with it. My dad just bought a welder from there (not sure why

) I tried it out the last time he was up, GARBAGE!

Not necessarily... My buddy has one (with the adj heat) and it has never failed him. It has to be ten years old or more already. Only thing that needed replacement on it was the wire and the gas.

MUDFLAP · #30 12-02-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knightmare1015

I don't really have the space needed for a mig welder and plus the local welding supply company here requires a minium purchase on their gas and they aint cheap either. They're about 45 miles south of me and wanted to charge me an additional fee other than what they were going to charge me. Plus I can always go to either Lowes or Home Depot to get welding rods and gloves as well as other consumables.

The MIG welder I have is small. I can carry it any where. It's gas or gas-less.

Having the gas is better, yes but its not needed when using the FLUX CORE.

Lowes has the wire for the Lincoln I posted. But we have a welding shop here in town that has a better selection of wire by the lbs. They sell gas too. Buying a tank from them, having it filled and such the first time will run me close to $175. Then air refills will be in the $35-$45 range I think it was.

Don't most stick welders run off a 220 line anyway?