cheap welder?
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 392
Likes: 2
cheap welder?
ok i am by no means a weldor by trade, but i can be pretty handy with a good old fashond lincoln stick welder (when required) around the farm. my truck has the dreaded cancer on the rockers and a hole on my lower front bed corner on the outside (i am most concerned with the rockers... i see a flat bed in the far off future). anyway, i have been looking at mig welders from harbor frieght and i was curious about your opinion on them. i am looking to spend less than 200 bucks for the welder. yes i know it wont be a great welder but i think it ought to fit my purposes. what do you think of these? thanks for your thoughts.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...292&pricetype=
this link is just to the welders page im lookin more at the 179.99 and 149.99 welders.
i wouldnt be entertaining this idea, but i can buy the welder and pannels cheaper than i can have the work done. and i like doing my own work... i like the feeling of accomplishment that i get.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...292&pricetype=
this link is just to the welders page im lookin more at the 179.99 and 149.99 welders.
i wouldnt be entertaining this idea, but i can buy the welder and pannels cheaper than i can have the work done. and i like doing my own work... i like the feeling of accomplishment that i get.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,907
Likes: 143
Biggest problem I see with cheap mig welders is a poor wire feed.
Nothing like the wire feeding intemittantly or not at all and your ready to throw the thing out the door.
Do yourself a favor and get a Lincoln Mig in the 5 to 600$ range that you will have for a long time and works good.
You will find out fast that having good control on very light metals without blowing holes is a nice thing to have.
With a Mig, strike and get off fast for tacking or you will burn holes unless the unit can run at very low power levels and you are good enough to run a bead and risk warping the panel.
Welder that either use flux in the wire or Gas. Use the gas for better cleaner work but more expense.
More to it than meets the eye. Cheap tools = low grade outcomes.
Harbor Freight is nearly all China junk.
Good luck.
Nothing like the wire feeding intemittantly or not at all and your ready to throw the thing out the door.
Do yourself a favor and get a Lincoln Mig in the 5 to 600$ range that you will have for a long time and works good.
You will find out fast that having good control on very light metals without blowing holes is a nice thing to have.
With a Mig, strike and get off fast for tacking or you will burn holes unless the unit can run at very low power levels and you are good enough to run a bead and risk warping the panel.
Welder that either use flux in the wire or Gas. Use the gas for better cleaner work but more expense.
More to it than meets the eye. Cheap tools = low grade outcomes.
Harbor Freight is nearly all China junk.
Good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: dayton texas
STAY away from chicogo electric. they are nothing but junk. i know they are cheap but the are built cheap. look up tractor supply and check out their migs. i got a farmhand 125 and love it. its not as great as my big miller, but its good.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,517
Likes: 3
From: SE Wyoming
I bought one of their (chicago electric harbor freight) bigger wire feeds and it worked great except for the stinger, it just fell apart one day. We also have a Lincoln 125 120V and I have run 30-40 lbs of wire through it with no problems it is a great little welder especially for body work, it isn't big enough for anything thicker than 1/8"-3/16" steel.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Brandon MS
You might also look around for a century mig. My dad bought one many years ago and it still works great. I think he paid around four hundred for it.
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 35
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whose taken one metals class and one agricultural welding class in high school (so im no pro welder) but ive had a chicago electric flux cored 120v mig welder for 3 years, gone thru about 25 spools of stainless wire, and never had a prob. yeah they arent the prettiest welds but they are strong enough to weld exhaust (no leaks) adn minor patchwork(such as on the bed). I got mine used of ebay for 130 and its the best investment ive ever madeits also a releif to not have to deal with argon or co2 tanks when ur just doin a 10 min job like fixin an exhaust hanger
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
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well I happen to have the 220v model 151 anyways I fought with the wire feed for quite a wile. I have done quite a bit of work on my welder and now it works great. the biggest improvement is getting a steel wire liner the one that comes with it is plastic and causes most of the wire feed problems. you can pick a steel one up for around $20. also you can go over to WeldingWeb™ - Welding forum for pros and enthusiasts - Powered by vBulletin they have a harbor freight section and can tell you all you ever want to know about the welder you are looking at.
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