chicago electric welder ?
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: fremont ohio
i will use it to do exhaust pipe welding, some light angle iron, possibly body panels. its on harbor frieght for 289: Output power: 60 to 80 amps; Duty cycle: 35% @ 60 amps, 20% @ 80 amps; Maximum open circuit voltage: 30; Fan; Wire speed control: 1-10, Includes one spool of flux core wire, spare tip, ground clamp, welding mask and brush hammer. and i cannot seem to find out if parts are available,. so possibly not
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Spokane WA
Chicago Electric is Harbor Freights in house brand and to put it bluntly, its probably cheap like everything else weve bought there, still cool though, and it may work just fine for light use, but the reason it was asked if you could get parts for it is this, many of those cheap ones break and they are done because of the way they are built, good luck
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I've a few Chicago Electric tools, another HF brand name like "Pittsburg": a combo 48"Belt/9" Disc sander, a compound miter saw, 9" disc grinder. They've worked longer than a Craftsman drill I had.
But it's sort of an 'off-brand' that i would not buy a MIG from. I like my Century brand MIG welder for 12 years now, and it costs less than $289 for about the same specs. BTW, it's not rated for it but i've welded 3/8" & 1/2" mild steel with it that's stayed strong for 6 years under heavy use. (the homemade flatbed in my gallery).
But it's sort of an 'off-brand' that i would not buy a MIG from. I like my Century brand MIG welder for 12 years now, and it costs less than $289 for about the same specs. BTW, it's not rated for it but i've welded 3/8" & 1/2" mild steel with it that's stayed strong for 6 years under heavy use. (the homemade flatbed in my gallery).
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Elverson, PA
Do yourself a favor and skip the chicago electric welder - go for something good. If the max you are gonna weld is 1/4" and not very often - you can get away with one of the units that runs on 110V and are not too expensive. Most like this are flux-core, but you can convert them. Nothing wrong with flux-core to start with. Hobart sells the Handler 125amp for around $320-$350. It welds up to 3/16", current range 30-125amps, and is upgradeable to MIG gas.
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From: chicopee us
I bought a Chicago Electric 140 amp mig for $399. I've had it for about 11 or 12 years and have had to replace nothing more than the nozzle and tips. I've done ALOT of welding with it and so far so good. Would I like a REAL welder....sure, but I didn't have the $600 plus to buy one. I scraped up the $400 and have been welding ever since. Someday I will upgrade to a 175-200 amp REAL unit but for now my cheapy will do. I just never seem to have the extra cash laying around to replace it.
I know everyone will tell you don't buy cheap, spend alittle more and buy quality, if I went by that philosophy my truck wouldn't even be started. I bought ALL Harbor Freight house brand air tools (about 15 years ago) and they are ALL still running fine.
So my philosophy is buy what you can afford, and get the most out of it.
Keep in mind, I don't do this for a living (I do it alot but not every day), if so I would have a different philosophy.
I know everyone will tell you don't buy cheap, spend alittle more and buy quality, if I went by that philosophy my truck wouldn't even be started. I bought ALL Harbor Freight house brand air tools (about 15 years ago) and they are ALL still running fine.
So my philosophy is buy what you can afford, and get the most out of it.
Keep in mind, I don't do this for a living (I do it alot but not every day), if so I would have a different philosophy.
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