Welder
Moderators: MostMint, wxo, Fred32v, Basement Paul, ttamrettus
Welder
Thinking about getting a welder. Not planning to use it a lot but I want it to work. I saw a couple on sale at harbor freight for under $200 each. MIG I think. And I want it to run 110 volt. Any suggestions or input?
[quote="Basement Paul"]Is that a mint rocketship on the hood?? :shock:
-BP[/quote]
-BP[/quote]
Re: Welder
No first hand experience with the HF welders but the guys on the Maverick board really dump on them. Have you looked at the Eastwood MIG welders? Lincoln and Hobart get rave reviews.
If you're going to do sheet metal, I think you'll want MIG not just flux core.
If you're going to do sheet metal, I think you'll want MIG not just flux core.
Maverick
Re: Welder
Planning to weld brackets and thicker things - probably not less than 1/8" thick.
[quote="Basement Paul"]Is that a mint rocketship on the hood?? :shock:
-BP[/quote]
-BP[/quote]
Re: Welder
Mig is going to be the easiest to learn. If you go with a 110v flux core unit, at least get one that can be converted to gas. Ken's Miller Mig (110v- flux core) we used on the Saturn can weld up to 3/16" on one pass, thicker with more passes, and can be converted to gas. For car stuff that is more than adequate IMO. 110 Flux core does have advantages-can be easily used outside using reg extension cords- without a breeze blowing the shielding gas away. Also has disadvantages. Some types of steel can be difficult with flux-i.e cold rolled steel.
I heard (I haven't researched this) That Summit welders are made by Lincoln. Should be easy to find out. You might be disappointed with the harbor freight. I would rather buy a lightly used name brand myself. I sent you an email.
I heard (I haven't researched this) That Summit welders are made by Lincoln. Should be easy to find out. You might be disappointed with the harbor freight. I would rather buy a lightly used name brand myself. I sent you an email.
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Racin'Jacin
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:01 pm
Re: Welder
Years ago my buddy's dad bought one of those Horrible Fright welders... unadulterated rubbish.
Now don't get me wrong it did weld 1/8" steel sorta OK, but the issue in building a good welder is NOT how well it welds THICK metal but rather how well it welds the thinner stuff. Any decent "120" MIG will weld 1/8" no problem - 3/16" if you get good and prep the joints properly - but the trick is welding 18 ga. steel - butt joints especially. THAT's what you are paying for. Don't misunderstand me - just dropping down your hard earned cash isn't gonna result in the metal just falling together - you're STILL gonna have to learn some techniques, but those techniques are gonna be 100X easier to master on a good MIG.
I have a little 120V Miller Sidekick MIG - I've had it 15 or so years now. It's had many 11lb rolls of wire thru it and has performed outstanding. I've done sheet metal and frame work with it (admittedly) the frame work was slow a 220v unit would be preferred if you're planning a lot of that sort of thing.
We actually went so far as to take the Sum Flung Dung welder to work to have one of the electrical geniuses look at it - he laughed when he saw the control circuit - he said it was so crude it'd never work on sheet metal properly (as designed).
Miller, Lincoln, Linde - any of the Big manufacturers make good stuff - stick with them. If your budget doesn't allow to purchase new - then go used. Lots pop up at the swap meets. My buddy Stan bought a used Miller (like mine but newer) for 100 bucks - I paid many more times than that when I bought mine !!! but then again 15 years ago they weren't available used at the swap meets like they are today.
I would AVOID the Snap-On, MAC, etc "brands". The problem there is that they get the "good" manufacturers to build them their machines but then have the parts changed just enough that you have to buy everything from them. Then you have two big problems - parts availability isn't as good and they also have you over a barrel and jack up the price! Paying "tool man" prices for consumables can be insane!
My 2 cents - YMMV
Jacin
Now don't get me wrong it did weld 1/8" steel sorta OK, but the issue in building a good welder is NOT how well it welds THICK metal but rather how well it welds the thinner stuff. Any decent "120" MIG will weld 1/8" no problem - 3/16" if you get good and prep the joints properly - but the trick is welding 18 ga. steel - butt joints especially. THAT's what you are paying for. Don't misunderstand me - just dropping down your hard earned cash isn't gonna result in the metal just falling together - you're STILL gonna have to learn some techniques, but those techniques are gonna be 100X easier to master on a good MIG.
I have a little 120V Miller Sidekick MIG - I've had it 15 or so years now. It's had many 11lb rolls of wire thru it and has performed outstanding. I've done sheet metal and frame work with it (admittedly) the frame work was slow a 220v unit would be preferred if you're planning a lot of that sort of thing.
We actually went so far as to take the Sum Flung Dung welder to work to have one of the electrical geniuses look at it - he laughed when he saw the control circuit - he said it was so crude it'd never work on sheet metal properly (as designed).
Miller, Lincoln, Linde - any of the Big manufacturers make good stuff - stick with them. If your budget doesn't allow to purchase new - then go used. Lots pop up at the swap meets. My buddy Stan bought a used Miller (like mine but newer) for 100 bucks - I paid many more times than that when I bought mine !!! but then again 15 years ago they weren't available used at the swap meets like they are today.
I would AVOID the Snap-On, MAC, etc "brands". The problem there is that they get the "good" manufacturers to build them their machines but then have the parts changed just enough that you have to buy everything from them. Then you have two big problems - parts availability isn't as good and they also have you over a barrel and jack up the price! Paying "tool man" prices for consumables can be insane!
My 2 cents - YMMV
Jacin
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Basement Paul
- Posts: 3538
- Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2005 9:27 pm
- Location: In the dirt.
Re: Welder
My Lincoln HD180 seems really good from an amateur's prospective. Only problem is 220v only. I wanted it that way so if I needed to weld bigger I could. And I've used it a bunch with no issues.
Maybe just a smaller version would be good. It's like any tool, buy the good one once, so you never have to buy it again.
-BP
Maybe just a smaller version would be good. It's like any tool, buy the good one once, so you never have to buy it again.
-BP
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ttamrettus
- Posts: 894
- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 6:59 pm
- Location: on the edge
Re: Welder
My brother has a small Lincoln. The GAS makes all the difference in the welds (and practice). Make SURE you get a small tank for it.
Matt Sutter
Re: Welder
Don't know if you pulled the trigger (yuk, yuk) yet but here is a comment from one of the Maverick pros recommending Eastwood welders.
2nd day of reading all I can now on Mig Welders, for the price it's hard to beat Eastwood, sure it's made in China (even the big guys make parts in China), but they stand behind what they sell, and I've read reviews all over the place, lots of happy owners.
http://www.eastwood.com/mig-welder-1...5a-output.html
Maverick
Re: Welder
Still have not pulled the trigger yet. Signed up for HGR account and now they send me emails. Last one had welders. It's just a matter of time...
[quote="Basement Paul"]Is that a mint rocketship on the hood?? :shock:
-BP[/quote]
-BP[/quote]