|
Author
|
Topic: Not bad for $250
|
V8 Thumper
Gearhead Posts: 4777
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Registered: Dec 2001
|
posted 11-20-2005 11:00 AM
 
I'm a firm beliver in 'you get what you pay for', but I'd bought a welder from Harbor Freight that actually packs a lot of bang for the buck. It's a 220v/single phase MIG/flux core welder that's on sale for $249 vs. the regular price of $400. I've priced out lots of welders, and this one was by far the 'most affordable'. I've used high-end Lincolns and Hobarts, and they are very slick  but they're BIG bucks. Here at home, I only have sheet metal projects so I don't 'need' a $1000 instrument for sticking two pieces of metal together  I've used 110v. welders, and had been very disapointed thus my search for something with a bit more punch. While practicing with this welder, I'd welded together two pieces of 3/8" steel strap and turned them glowing cherry red using flux core .035 wire so it definetely throws some heat. It does have provisions for shielding gas, but no regulator or bottle. I prefer the MIG process so I'm also going to invest in a bottle for C-25 and a regluator. Overall, a good tool for a great price  ------------------
1965 GT coupe, 333ci aluminum headed/solid cammed stroker, four speed, 3.70:1 9" 12.58/110 on street tires, more to come;) All Blue Oval, no blue bottle
http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/V8Thumper.html
|
SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 48752
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
|
posted 11-21-2005 07:07 PM
I paid $250 {on sale from $300} at Summit for my Lincoln Handy-Mig, and it came with everything but the bottle. Works like a champ.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
'05 Mercury Sable LS 3.0L DOHC 24V Duratech V6
|
V8 Thumper
Gearhead Posts: 4777
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Registered: Dec 2001
|
posted 11-22-2005 11:37 AM
I think I remember that promo, and I was very tempted. Hey Steve, is that a 110v or 220v unit? The reason I went with a 220v is I've been so disapointed and frustrated using 110v welders in the past. The shops I've worked in all had high-end multi-phase welding equipment so I've been spoiled  ------------------
1965 GT coupe, 333ci aluminum headed/solid cammed stroker, four speed, 3.70:1 9" 12.58/110 on street tires, more to come;) All Blue Oval, no blue bottle
http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/V8Thumper.html
|
SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 48752
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
|
posted 11-22-2005 11:52 AM
110v------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
'05 Mercury Sable LS 3.0L DOHC 24V Duratech V6
|
my4ateyour8
Journeyman Posts: 53
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Dec 2004
|
posted 12-03-2005 12:44 AM
I've had a Lincoln SP125 (110 volt)for about 15 years and have been very satisfied with it. For three years I used it as my production welder in my shop running it at 100% power at about 75% duty cycle (it's rated at 20%)while welding outlets on pipe up to 0.150 wall thickness. Never had a lick of trouble with it. Granted it's twice the money as the Harbor Freight stuff but I'm glad I spent the money. Have had to replace the consumables and the liner and clean the rollers but all else has been great. Whatever the model use a good liner lube with pad and keep the nozzle clean.
|
trashline
Gearhead Posts: 2230
From: Levittown, Pa
Registered: Dec 2003
|
posted 12-05-2005 03:56 PM
I am going to break down and purchase a NEW MIG. No my question is, what does the gas do? I understand the flux core part of the welder but dontunderstand the gas part. ------------------
88 thunderbird TC 2.3L
Gillis at 15 psi, walbro 255 lph fuel pump, Kirban at 39 psi, 3.73 8.8" rear, rebuilt head, brand new IHI 66 mustang 200ci 3 speed
Holley weber two barrel, msd 6A, 3.5 gears, 3.03 v8 three speed trans. 68 Fairlane 289 w/ auto
rusting away motor is going in the mustang 79 f150 300 3 onda tree
awaiting a new transmission
|
mikes82GT
Journeyman Posts: 61
From: Vancouver, Wa
Registered: Dec 2004
|
posted 12-07-2005 02:00 AM
The gas is to keep atmospheric air from mixing in with the molten metal and messing up the welding process.
|
my4ateyour8
Journeyman Posts: 53
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Dec 2004
|
posted 12-07-2005 11:16 PM
"MIG" stands for Metal Inert Gas. A flux core welder is not really a MIG welder but a wire feed welder. "Metal" refers to the wire at the point of the arc and the Inert Gas is a shield, as the previous post said. The most common gases used are Carbon Dioxide, Argon, or a combination of the two. I use a 75-25 mix, which is relatively inexpenxive but performs better than straight CO2. The flux core burns while welding and the resultant gases from the combustion process provide a shield for the arc. However the quality of the weld is slightly less and the spatter that needs to be cleaned up is about ten times worse. I only use flux core when I really have to, like when I can't take the bottle with me or when I must weld in the wind. The bottle will pay off in the long run because the flux core wire is alot more expensive and you will eventually get tired of cleaning up the splatter.
Good luck, and if you are new to welding practice on some scrap first instead of your first project. It takes a little while to learn how to set the wire speed and the amperage to work well together.
|
my4ateyour8
Journeyman Posts: 53
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Dec 2004
|
posted 12-07-2005 11:24 PM
Uh, sorry. I just reread my last post and realized that I jumped back and forth from Flux Core and MIG. I'll try to clarify. Same machine can do both. With Flux Core you don't need to use the gas. With MIG you use a solid wire which must use the gas as a shield. With my machine I must also change the liner, the contact tip and the rollers when I switch from flux core to MIG or vice-versa.
I hope I'm making sense now.
My wife says I give lousy directions too.
|
Gerry
Journeyman Posts: 67
From: Niagara Falls, ON
Registered: Jan 2003
|
posted 12-08-2005 02:54 PM
I've found that if you don't do a lot of welding that the flux core wire seems to go bad. I don't know why but 6 month old wire dosen't work like the new stuff.
|
n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 3058
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 12-08-2005 03:33 PM
DEFINITELY go gas! Flux core sucks compared to gas. Unless you HAVE to use it, don't.Good Luck! ------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220
|
Ci8UUP
Gearhead Posts: 631
From: Renton, Washington
Registered: May 2005
|
posted 12-11-2005 11:59 AM
I'm thinking of doing some hobby welding. I've taken classes on oxy/acet, and arc welding. I want to take a class on something that will enable me to hobby weld. Since I'm not very well versed in welding, but I understand that a wire feed is the simplest to use, is a wire feed the same as MIG or TIG? what's best for thin wall aluminum or stainless?
|
71RESTO
Gearhead Posts: 1655
From: Oregon, USA
Registered: Oct 2000
|
posted 12-11-2005 12:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Ci8UUP:
I'm thinking of doing some hobby welding. I've taken classes on oxy/acet, and arc welding. I want to take a class on something that will enable me to hobby weld. Since I'm not very well versed in welding, but I understand that a wire feed is the simplest to use, is a wire feed the same as MIG or TIG? what's best for thin wall aluminum or stainless?
Check into your local community college and see if they have nightime "hobbyist" welding classses. That's what I did and it was the best $200 I ever spent.
Wire feed refers to MIG welding and is real easy to learn. TIG is a two hand operation and really takes skill to master. You feed a rod into the arc the TIG creates and move the puddle along, which is really difficult to master. For thin wall aluminum and stainless TIG is the only way to go.
------------------
Duane
71 Fastback (under resto-351C-4V C6 auto)
M & M Member #730
|
