Topic: Want a cheap welder that welds (Read 3713 times)

Eggylshatch · « **on:** February 13, 2012, 02:23:28 AM »

This has probably been covered 100 times- if so, please feel free to direct me to that thread

I just want something to make booger welds on some exhaust, maybe other random small projects here and there. I'm thinking about going harbor freight- is it worth it to go with the dual mig/flux guy thats on sale for $200 right now to have the potential to lay nicer welds with gas later on, or will it be shitty regardless and should I just say fuck it and go with the $100 flux core pile? Or is there a different brand entirely that is steal cheap but less likely to suck? I don't want to spend more than $300, and the less the better. What say you?

jdmhatchracer94 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2012, 02:31:14 AM »

hit up pawn shop;s around you can usually find a decent welder for cheap. Got me a weld pak 100 for $165 or some shit after tax damn thing will never break.

turbob16hatch · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2012, 03:44:36 AM »

Why even post? If you want to spent shit ($300 is just dumb) on a welder you will get a shit welder. Now if you want something that will actually work then read below.

If you want a decent mig welder for run of the mill diy fab then it's hard to beat a hobart handler 140. We have one at every work station and they are surprisingly reliable and we haven't had any issues. You can also trust we run these welders harder then anyone here would on a daily basis.

I like most that we can buy 2 of these hobarts for the price of one miller and for what we use them for they work great.

2slow · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2012, 06:33:25 AM »

Quote from: turbob16hatch on February 13, 2012, 03:44:36 AM

Why even post?

Why did you even post? he said he didn't want to spend more than $300 and you tell him about a welder that costs $450+.
This rhmt shit gets done with the least amount of spending. He specifically said he just wanted some bird shit welds for exhausts and small projects.
I think spending <$300 is fine for small but important shit, like being able to weld waste gate piping and return fittings into the oil pan. that's really cool that ever work station at your job has those. In the mean time I don't think the op gives a fuck about Hobart.

patsmx5 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2012, 08:02:10 AM »

You can find a used Miller MIG for your price range. Do that.

SloS13 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2012, 10:19:42 AM »

Wait till harbor freight has the fluxcore on sale for $100, buy it. Save up for something better.
I finally got a Lincoln 140 and love it.

crxvtec91 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2012, 10:43:15 AM »

Quote from: SloS13 on February 13, 2012, 10:19:42 AM

Wait till harbor freight has the fluxcore on sale for $100, buy it. Save up for something better.
I finally got a Lincoln 140 and love it.

I payed $350 for mine new in box ship to me

SloS13 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2012, 11:56:04 AM »

Quote from: crxvtec91 on February 13, 2012, 10:43:15 AM

Quote from: SloS13 on February 13, 2012, 10:19:42 AM
Wait till harbor freight has the fluxcore on sale for $100, buy it. Save up for something better.
I finally got a Lincoln 140 and love it.

I payed $350 for mine new in box ship to me

Shit, with the MIG kit? I thought I got a deal @ $500 picked up.

ratcityrex · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2012, 12:14:43 PM »

I agree about the hobart. Stepdad has a craftsman which is just a re badged hobart and that fucker rocks. I've ran it for over 4hours and not a single bit of problem. Now it wasn't 4 hours of the trigger pulled, but it was on for 4 hours straight with is say 50% of the time I was laying down some trails. Look on craigslist, pawn shops, some rental shops are willing to sell there shit for a good price since the economy is in the shifter. That's how I got my 1" impact gun.

krazy4 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2012, 04:09:39 PM »

I got a lincoln pro mig 135 off craigslist for $280. It was literally brand new. Box wasn't even open.

Welds really nice.

Eggylshatch · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2012, 04:57:12 PM »

If I could find a used nicer welder in that same price range I'd take it, but I haven't seen any killer deals that put a nicer one in my price range, which is why I'm looking at HF. It seems like luck of the draw with the HF shit- some people have no problems, others die on the first pass. If nothing turns up soon I'll probably just roll the dice with the HF fluxcore $100 special? I'll browse around more for deals, but that Hobart 140 def goes $450 for a reman from online retailers, and I can't really justify that price tag for the very little bit of use it will get in the forseeable future- I'm too busy with other shit to think I'll use it very much very soon.

Anyone have a welder they want to sell me?

SloS13 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2012, 05:28:56 PM »

I built several exhausts/IC piping setups and a manifold with my $100 HF special. If you just need to stick some metal together, it'll work + it'll make you really appreciate a nicer welder later on.

ratcityrex · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2012, 06:55:30 PM »

if you do get a hf special, spend another 100 and get the 220v mig/flux special.

crxvtec91 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2012, 11:19:49 PM »

While we on it, my 5 year old JD helmet is starting to die. What's a good cheap auto darking helmet?

Foowee · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2012, 12:28:00 AM »

Stack up some sunglasses. Get the biggest cca battery at the parts store you can find, some jumper cables, n some 6013 sticks. There... a cheap welder.

This was my first welder: http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/arc-welders/120-amp-arc-welder-98870.html

I love the hand held face shield that came with it. I often find, I have to get into places where a helmet just doesn't fit.

DSharp · « **Reply #15 on:** February 15, 2012, 01:43:14 AM »

Stick welding is how I learned. Works great!

turbob16hatch · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2012, 01:47:58 AM »

Quote from: 2slow on February 13, 2012, 06:33:25 AM

Quote from: turbob16hatch on February 13, 2012, 03:44:36 AM
Why even post?
Why did you even post? he said he didn't want to spend more than $300 and you tell him about a welder that costs $450+.
This rhmt shit gets done with the least amount of spending. He specifically said he just wanted some bird shit welds for exhausts and small projects.
I think spending <$300 is fine for small but important shit, like being able to weld waste gate piping and return fittings into the oil pan. that's really cool that ever work station at your job has those. In the mean time I don't think the op gives a fuck about Hobart.

Well dumbass the topic has been covered 100 million times, that why i said what i said. If you literally can't afford another $150 for a welder then maybe find a different hobby.

2slow · « **Reply #17 on:** February 15, 2012, 04:10:27 AM »

Quote from: turbob16hatch on February 15, 2012, 01:47:58 AM

Quote from: 2slow on February 13, 2012, 06:33:25 AM
Quote from: turbob16hatch on February 13, 2012, 03:44:36 AM
Why even post?
Why did you even post? he said he didn't want to spend more than $300 and you tell him about a welder that costs $450+.
This rhmt shit gets done with the least amount of spending. He specifically said he just wanted some bird shit welds for exhausts and small projects.
I think spending <$300 is fine for small but important shit, like being able to weld waste gate piping and return fittings into the oil pan. that's really cool that ever work station at your job has those. In the mean time I don't think the op gives a fuck about Hobart.

Well dumbass the topic has been covered 100 million times, that why i said what i said. If you literally can't afford another $150 for a welder then maybe find a different hobby.

you're right he should get off this site since he can't afford/justify a $480 welder. your logic is retarded. while we are talking about prices on stuff. I was looking at buying a 5000 dollar car what cars would you recomend for around 7500?

Eggylshatch · « **Reply #18 on:** February 15, 2012, 10:45:15 PM »

Quote from: turbob16hatch on February 15, 2012, 01:47:58 AM

Quote from: 2slow on February 13, 2012, 06:33:25 AM
Quote from: turbob16hatch on February 13, 2012, 03:44:36 AM
Why even post?
Why did you even post? he said he didn't want to spend more than $300 and you tell him about a welder that costs $450+.
This rhmt shit gets done with the least amount of spending. He specifically said he just wanted some bird shit welds for exhausts and small projects.
I think spending <$300 is fine for small but important shit, like being able to weld waste gate piping and return fittings into the oil pan. that's really cool that ever work station at your job has those. In the mean time I don't think the op gives a fuck about Hobart.

Well dumbass the topic has been covered 100 million times, that why i said what i said. If you literally can't afford another $150 for a welder then maybe find a different hobby.

I appreciate the input, really. Like 2slow said, I just want to be able to stick two pieces of metal together, and right now its really out of need rather than want/hobby. I need to make new exhaust for my car, and theres a couple other little things I could use it for. If/when welding becomes a hobby for me and I'm spending a lot of time doing it, then maybe I could justify spending more money on something nice. I live off of $20k/yr as a grad student right now, and most of my hobbies these days involve crushing myself in the mountains, so most of the "extra" money I have goes towards outdoor gear. The car is a sidenote for now. When I finish school in May I might think about finally doing my engine swap, but for now, I just need a bucket that runs and doesn't frighten females away.

mandrel-bends · « **Reply #19 on:** February 16, 2012, 07:29:19 PM »

Just shop craigslist for a real welder. They pop up occasionally and most of the time for half their retail. Buying crap tools just sucks in the long run. It will be worth nothing when you go to sell it. Buy it used and resell it for the same price you paid for it 3 years later. Let some other douche take the depreciation.

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/tls/2824773648.html

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Author Topic: Want a cheap welder that welds (Read 3713 times)