Finished the frame - What color to paint?

[John6012]

Are you the fellow that received a Harbor Freight welder for his birthday?
The reason I'm asking is that a welder acquaintance told me that Hobart wasn't any good and I was thinking about buying a HD welder but with no experience, can't figure out which one to buy. Was it a HD welder? What model?

[sunny16]

Not sure who you are asking, John 6012.
I started with a Harbor Frieght mig gasless welder, a 110V model for another trailer I was working on. It only worked for thin sheet metal and didn't weld tube steel very good. I didn't want to have the trailer fall apart on the road. So I did some research and shopped around and ended up buying a Millermatic 175, 220V mig with gas. I knew from the first weld that it was the better machine. Lincoln make a good machine, too. I learned that you get what you pay for. It's a lot of money just to build a trailer frame but I couldn't find anyone who would weld what I wanted. (And the cost was pretty high to have someone build it for me.) So I did it myself and got the trailer frame I wanted. I worked around welders in the past but never welded before. I may have even found a "backup" job if I ever need one. Can you say, "Welding is fun!"?

[Guest]

It wasn't me either... I have a Millermatic 175.
About HF customer service... The tech department got in contact with me this morning and they had that 1.7mm nozzle kit in stock. I had to order it over the phone since it isn't listed on the website.
Only thing that I didn't like was, all the special offers they try to hit you up with... Special Saver's Club, free magazine subscriptions and HF credit cards. (Cards as in plural)

[hammer & tongs]

I found out the hard way...don't try the "cheap way out" for a welder. As a blacksmith, I often use a welder. I have an old Lincoln stick welder that I've had for many years.
I bought a "second-rate" brand MIG welder at Sam's Club...not worth the couple bills I paid for it..even using argon gas.
I do about all my (non-forge) welding with the old Lincoln and the El Cheapo MIG sits in the corner gathering dust..

If youy can get a first line welder at a discount ( or first line used) OK ...but forget a junk brand...you won't be happy..

[purplepickup]

.....a welder acquaintance told me that Hobart wasn't any good.....

John, I would guess that if you asked for more opinions on Hobart welders you would get a lot of positive feedback. I have a Hobart Handler 180, 230V and have run many pounds of wire and tanks of gas thru it without even a hiccup. Many times I have welded longer than the duty cycle rating. It is basically a Miller (they're made at the same place) with a few less features to save money but they are still a very good welder for a hobbyist. The Harbor Freight level of welders don't even compare. My advise is to not waste your money on one. It's not the type of tool to go cheap on.

I caught a really good Christmas sale at Tractor Supply and got the Hobart as a kit with an auto-darkening hood, a cart, and a few other goodies for less than $500...but that's been a couple of years ago.

[SteveH]

I too have a Hobart MIG welder...a 110 model and it's been great. Welded my trailer frame together and have done lots of streetrod frame and suspension work with it with no problems.

[Nitetimes]

I've got a Lincoln Pro-Mig 175 - 220v. I like it more than I thought I would as I have used their 110v welders and was very disappointed in their performance. But this one works quite well and it has been pushed beyond it's ratings on a 'rare' occasion.
I had considered the Hobarts but they are no longer made by Hobart just use the name so I was a little leary. I never had much luck with Miller so I kinda avoided them, but I know people that use them and love 'em. They all work, some just better then others, just try and stay away from the 110v ones because the capacity is pretty low and you wind up making a lot of passes to get the same bead you would with a 220v one. They are great for sheet metal on the other hand tho.
On average you should expect to pay $450+ for a good one.

[doug hodder]

I did a ton of welding with a Hobart...can't remember the model # now...220 V..bought new in 83....even beat up and trashed it still did the job...don't know if they are like that now....I put my frame together with a Lincoln 110....so far no problems and I didn't do any multiple passes....about 5K miles on the trailer this last summer...but it isn't as nice as having a welder with some "poop" in it....I only used that as my nephew owed me some $ and I took the welder instead...better than nothin'...but Nitetimes is right...they do have a low heat capacity and you will burn a lot of wire to get the weld done....just my experience....Doug

[bledsoe3]

I bought a HF welder. That thing wouldn't melt butter. I took it back as fast as I could. I bought a Craftsman 110v gassless wire feed. It worked good for 1/8" tube I used on my frame. Only about $180.