Harbor Freight MIG
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From: Saratoga, NY
Harbor Freight & Campbell Hausfeld MIG
I was checking out a couple 115V MIG (flux core really) welders on clearance. I need a light duty welder for repairing rust holes in my truck. If anybody has owned one (Chicago Electric) tell me what you think of it. Another question is one has a manual wire speed adjustment, and another one has an automatic, how does that work and if you know how well does it work. I have used all sorts of welders in the past (MIG, Oxy-Acet, Stick), just never seen an auto speed adjusting type. Has anybody used a Campbell Hausfeld MIG? Saw these at Walmart, with a 5 year warranty.
Phinxter
Phinxter
Last edited by Phinxter; Apr 30, 2004 at 11:30 PM.
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Even though I haven't purchased a welder from Harbor Freight, I have bought other things. I have to be honest with you, most of it is really crappy stuff, shabbily made, inferior materials, etc. I bought some wood bits there a while back, couldn't even drill hard woods. Pure junk. On the other hand, everything I have ever bought with the Campbell Hausfield name has been good stuff. My wire feed welder is a Lincoln. My 2 HP air compressor is a C. Hausfield that I have had for 10 years. Never a problem. 
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From: Atlanta GA
> I need a light duty welder for repairing rust holes in my truck
Get a MIG welder that uses .023/.024 wire and a gas bottle. Flux is great for some things, but, for sheet metal a gas MIG welder is much better and will not blow through sheet metal and exhaust tubing like flux can. Plus, gas MIG produces a MUCH nicer weld.
Get a MIG welder that uses .023/.024 wire and a gas bottle. Flux is great for some things, but, for sheet metal a gas MIG welder is much better and will not blow through sheet metal and exhaust tubing like flux can. Plus, gas MIG produces a MUCH nicer weld.
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ok but how about an answer to this question :
Another question is one has a manual wire speed adjustment, and another one has an automatic, how does that work and if you know, how well does it work.
Another question is one has a manual wire speed adjustment, and another one has an automatic, how does that work and if you know, how well does it work.
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From: Eastern Shore, Md.
I would go with the manual wire speed. so you can fine tune the wire speed to your heat setting. Somtimes I've had to really crank back the wire speed to fill some holes. I have a Snap-on 140A Mig/ Dc tig and love it. It was expensive but they had a special going on and I got $280 back in tools.
Last edited by 66fdtrucknut; May 1, 2004 at 10:30 PM. Reason: not finished
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: KS
Originally Posted by Sberry27
Do yourself a big favor, buy a HH135, or better yet a HH175. Some tools cheap is ok but a cheap welding machine leads to big disapointment in a hurry.
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Mountain Pass
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From: KS
Originally Posted by Phinxter
Who makes the HH175, and HH135?
http://www.hobartwelders.com/
Last edited by jhemr; May 2, 2004 at 12:01 PM.
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From: Saratoga, NY
Originally Posted by boond0cksaint
the campbell/hausfield welders are good if you get the $20.00 wire spool and not the $7.00 spool. paid $100.00 for mine a year ago. so far have run all my exhaust on 3 projects,so the welder has saved me money.
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My advice is to go with the Hobart Handlers. They're an affordable machine and parts are readily available nearly anywhere.
When it comes to welding machines, you get what you pay for. Take advice from a guy that uses a $5200 machine every day at work.
Here's pics if you wanna see some of the stuff I've welded:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/engloi.../workpics.html
When it comes to welding machines, you get what you pay for. Take advice from a guy that uses a $5200 machine every day at work.
Here's pics if you wanna see some of the stuff I've welded:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/engloi.../workpics.html