HF welding machine ???

[GPW]

Hi guys , we need to do some thin body metal welding on our new(old) tow vehicle (see pic) … I need to get a small welding machine …Was looking at the less expensive Harbor Freight 110 v units …( Mig ) ..We were wondering if anybody had any experience with these units … ???

[GPW]

Figuring a teardrop shaped Tow vehicle , with a very light Teardrop Foamie trailer would be practical and Cool !!!

[Atomic77]

I have used a friends HF mig. It was a gassless unit so my welds weren't quite as nice as with argon. But I got it hot enough and laid down a couple thick welds. For basic needs, it was decent.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[pchast]

I'm no trained welder but I've manages some nice
sheet metal patches after a bunch of messy practice.

I will recommend you buy some brand flux core wire
instead of the HF stuff. What I'd gotten from them
was not uniform in use in the past.

[robfisher]

Something to pay close attention to using any MIG welder is what's called the Duty Cycle. Higher dollar welders are usually between 60 and 80 percent. Most lower priced welders have a duty cycle around 20-30 percent. How that translates in actual use is you should not exceed that percentage in any given 10 minute time period. If it's a 20% duty cycle you can weld for 2 minutes in 10.

Exceeding the duty cycle risks a machine meltdown.

[GPW]

Guys , Thanks !!! I basically need to weld in some thin metal , mostly for tacking in replacement body panels , then welding solid with my friends Tig … I didn’t want to invest in a more pricy unit , just a little 110V “DC” model for this project . < $200.00 ( on sale )

[Squigie]

You might be able to bumble your way through and mess with the machine long enough to get the job done.
But it is not worth it, in my opinion. (Nor are the 'BlueHawk' machines at Lowes. They're even worse!)
Even if the machine works electrically, they usually have constant wire feed issues - and wire feed is, you know, quite important in MIG processes.

The cheapest 110V machine I can (hesitantly) recommend is the Lincoln Handy-Mig. It's built to better tolerances, and mostly with higher quality materials, than the HF machines.

I have not owned or used one of the Longevity 110V machines from Home Depot. They may be something worth looking into.

[tony.latham]

GP:

I haven't watched them, but you might do a Youtube search for "Cheapest Mig Welder on Amazon". There are a few reviews. Probably others on the HF boxes.

Tony

[RJ Howell]

I'm following to see the opinions of 110v welders and far they can be pushed. My welding knowledge and talents there of are equal.. NADA.. Now soldering I can do.

Mig weld, tig weld, stick weld, it's all an education to me and what can I, with what, for the dollar. I'd love the have a welder machine here.

Again, no opinion that helps you, yet following to learn.

[twisted lines]

The way I have read it explaned!
If you can learn to weld with one of those you will be Very good when you step up to a good machine.
Someone asked me to help them pick a welder recently,
He had nice beeds within a few minutes after I set it up and showed him a few tricks.
My opinion Start with a Hobart and you won't need another. 220 is a big +
And buying a machine that will not upgrade to Gas is not advised, especially for what your plans are.

Certified Welder.

[GPW]

At 71 , I’m hesitant to buy a machine that will “Last “ ( probably longer than me )
I just wanted it as I originally said , for Tacking thin metal in place … I have a Large Lincoln dog house stick welder ( 220 V ) we could probably weld I beams with … Just working in my Studio with no 220v , I wanted a small ( CHEAP <$200.00) machine just to initially attach the metal pieces … And i just need it for this job … it would be expendable … This was the one I was considering … and we saw them on sale … https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/w ... 56355.html

I will do like Tony says and Google that stuff …

[twisted lines]

You may find one on craigslist I see them advertised slightly used a lot. Tell them you want to try it and take sample pieces

[tony.latham]

I'm following to see the opinions of 110v welders ...

RJ:

I swear by my Hobart 140 (120v).



You just can't weld anything thicker than about 1/4". And for whatever reason, I seem to be able to do a better job with flux core than with gas. It may be my cheap regulator.

Tony

[OP827]

GPW, I am not sure if you can actually weld a thin car metal with this flux core welder. I think you need a real MIG welder with gas regulator and gas bottle, not this flux core wire welder in order to do that. I tried a cheap flux core welder before and I returned it. Too much of splashing around and burning holes and I tried it with thicker than car body metal gauge. Hope this helps.

[MtnDon]

It is possible to weld sheet metal with flux core wire. I don't like to do so unless the location is outdoors and windy (wind blows the gas away and that results in a crappy weld). Flux core is also a little more forgiving if the metal to be welded is a little dirty. IMO, a flux core weld is never as pretty as a gas protected weld. It can be as strong just not as pretty. I also like the freedom from chipping slag.

My general experience has been that Hobart is the cheapest welder I would buy. I have used a cheaper type from time to time and IMO, their quality and the quality of the weld can be all over the map. I also believe that the variable quality can make learning to weld more difficult than it need be. However, I understand the idea of not knowing how much use ine is actually going to make of the welder. That can make one want to go cheap. But also, if one has a better welder, chances are one may make better welds, make good welds with less trouble and go on to making more use for other tasks with the better tool.

I have a Hobart 140 with gas that I have had for years as well as a Miller 252. The Hobart is more or less only used when at our cabin where there is no 240 VAC.