if any of you who's in the same boat of wanting to learn welding but without a deep pocket. well found this flyer at harbor freight yesterday, i'm wondering if it's a (relatively) good welder just to get things started. i like it because it's 110v, i can run it in the garage whenever i have time to put my hands on, small on power so i don't worry about blowing things up. i don't need to spend another 200 bucks for argon tank and regs either.

again, don't know anything about welding, any comment?



http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94056

 

little little circles :-D There is a lot of technique to welding in a manor that produces good quality welds, as well as setting up the equipment relative to that task. I dont have any experience with harbor frieght welder but if they are anything like all the other electronic things harbor freight sells, watch out...

Before you try welding something you will be using i would get a bunch of scrap metal of different thicknesses and practice welding at angles, overhead, different types of joints, et. You might want to find a video demonstration somewhere or talk to somebody with experience

 

i got that part covered already.

 

I have seen a lot of good work with a 110, but it takes a lot of technique and time (filling a space takes more time than a 220). I can't use one well (atleast not the one that I got for free). 220 is much more useful in the long run. I hate to be the "save your money" type, but it is well worth a quality 220v and gas setup. I threw my 110 away and am back to Arc, but I trust the welds. Let us know how the welder works out if you get it.

 

I had that welder for years. make sure you get the warranty, other than that its great. welded up all sorts of things that held on rigs. welded up many a spider gears.. haha

 

I learned with it but now I pretty much use my old stick miller 220v

 

He is right. If you plan on doing any serious welding. Then you will want a weld with more power and a shielding gas setup. Gas is so worth it.

 

i wouldn't buy a $20K Harley just to learn how to ride a bike before i don't even know i like to ride or not. it's difinetly just for a starter welder. i know nice stuff doesn't come cheap, if i'm good at it and like to do more welding, i'll buy a better one accordingly.

 

Cool cool. Let us know how it works. If it's good, it may be the ticket for trussing my axle.

 

I have used the 220 volt one from them and it worked pretty well for me took some practice but I got the hand also if you do buy one from them throw away the flux core that comes with it and buy some Lincon wire from lowes works much better then the wire from HF.

 

it seems like its no longer on sale?

 

I also forgot to ad with these duty cycle welders you can only run it for a min or two then you have to let it cool for 10 minutes at least that is how my buddy's 220 volt Chicago electric mig welder is.