Welder choices

[nicknorth11]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at getting a cheap welder from harbor freight. I've never welded before and want something to play around with and will allow me to work with car parts. I really want the option of welding stainless steel as well as thin metal. I'm looking to get one of the welders linked to below, and am leaning toward the 110 amp one, but I'm not sure if it will be ok for thinner stuff. What do you guys think? (Please don't recommend something different and more expensive. That will not be helpful to me, as I'm getting one of these two.)

Flux Wire Welder - 90 Amp

Flux Welder - 110 Amp

 

[silvreclips]

I have a cheap HF welder and its pretty decent. Deffinately doesn't compare to a quality unit but good for around the house stuff IMO. For stainless you will need a welder that can run gas

 

[NWHTanK]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at getting a cheap welder from harbor freight. I've never welded before and want something to play around with and will allow me to work with car parts. I really want the option of welding stainless steel as well as thin metal. I'm looking to get one of the welders linked to below, and am leaning toward the 110 amp one, but I'm not sure if it will be ok for thinner stuff. What do you guys think? (Please don't recommend something different and more expensive. That will not be helpful to me, as I'm getting one of these two.)

Flux Wire Welder - 90 Amp

Flux Welder - 110 Amp

Well on the cheap the 110 will work and noticed that it can be up graded as well. But I will say this the price of that 110 plus the up grade and compare it to one thats already ready to go.

 

[mike96]

If you are absolutely going to go with one of these two then I would defiantly look more at the 110amp over the 90... I have run a Century flux core welder that was purchased from Sears about 12 years ago, it has been converted to use gas so it is possible to convert a HF to run shielding gas if you want. My welding skills are getting better and believe it or not I have actually been able to get aluminum to stick together and I don’t even have a spool gun. The welds look like but at the moment it works well enough that if I need to I can tack I.C. tubing together to take it someone and have it finished I can. So anything is posible... Good luck.

 

[NWHTanK]

Oh and and unless ## gonna carry it around and if u do a gas upgrade. Get a cart!

 

[Colt4G63 also]

I used to have a cheapo brand welder, and it worked great for 10 years. Then one day all the smoke escaped from it, and I was unable to get it to go back in.

You definitely want shielding gas, it's sooo much better. Make sure you take into account the power requirements. If you have to pay an electrician to come put 220V outlets in your garage, you might be better off to spend more on something that works on 110V.

 

[nicknorth11]

I can do the electrical install if I go that route. And I have been looking at a cart regardless of which one I get. I am still concerned about the larger welder's ability to weld thin metal. Can anyone comment on this?

 

[91stocker]

Please do not buy a HF special. Those things are terrible.

This is honestly one of the best choices for a home welder.
Hobart Handler® 187 MIG Welder - 3807126 | Tractor Supply Company

Its made by miller so quality is top notch and every part on the machine is replaceable so it will last a life time.

 

[nicknorth11]

First of all, I asked specifically to avoid this type of response, as it's not helpful. Secondly, you can see that I'm looking at cheap welders and you suggest a $650 welder! Are you crazy? Lastly, if you would take a second and open your mind to the idea that everything HF isn't crap, you would see that both of these welders have great ratings. Btw, I have a decent amount of tools from HF and have yet to have a single problem from any of them.

Now, back on track please. Any more comments on the 110 amp welder's ability to weld thin metal?

 

[NWHTanK]

The 110 will be fine im using a hobart 170. Its a 220 welder and weld automotive sheet metal on seting number 2, with 4 being the highest.

 

[nicknorth11]

Thank you.

 

[bryanwheat]

Don't get anything that doesn't have the provisions to use gas. Flux core welding sucks if you are trying to weld any type of piping or anything like that. It is very messy and hot compared to a gas mig. The harbor freight mig's are ok. The torch is junk, the feed liner in torch lead is trashed out of the box because they fold it to get it to fit in the box. The welder will work 100 percent better if you replace the liner. Without doing so will cause the feed to be very inconsistent.

 

[91stocker]

First of all, I asked specifically to avoid this type of response, as it's not helpful. Secondly, you can see that I'm looking at cheap welders and you suggest a $650 welder! Are you crazy? Lastly, if you would take a second and open your mind to the idea that everything HF isn't crap, you would see that both of these welders have great ratings. Btw, I have a decent amount of tools from HF and have yet to have a single problem from any of them.

Now, back on track please. Any more comments on the 110 amp welder's ability to weld thin metal?

I know from personal experience about the HF 110 welder. Im sure its like ebay products and some people get lucky with one that last a couple months. But i bought one to "get by" with and it was a total pile. I was a welder by trade before i went back to school. The HF welder struggles to lay a bead on any material. The power draw was very inconsistent. So much so that it would surge the lights in the house and kick breakers off sometimes.

Are you crazy for thinking you can get a damn welder for $100??? You must be because shop equipment runs $4,000+. So 650 for a quality home welder that will last a life time is a ridiculous deal.

I do agree not everything there is total garbage. I bought a cut off saw for $30 and it ran for 2 years before crapping out. Id say i got my money's worth but still, you get what you pay for.

After trashing the HF welder i picked up the Hobart and never been happier.

 

[nicknorth11]

You're not helpful.

 

[NWHTanK]

Just to set everything straight. 1. He wants to try out welding some thin metal. 2. The welder cost 240 something and its on sale. 3 if u read about the welder it can be upgraded to use gas.4 hes not out of a lot money for what it he wants to use it for.5 he is already set on a cheap welder he just wants to know how big a welder for what he wants to do.

 

[91stocker]

You're not helpful.

You asked for an opinion on the welder did you not? I've given mine. It took us hours and hours of tweaking (which was all above and beyond the normal set up requirements) with the machine to even get it to lay down a half ass bead. I never felt like the machine bit into the material.


You said it yourself you've never welded before. Someone who's never welded before may think it welds ok. But i assure it does not.

But please go ahead, buy the machine and give us an honest review, maybe with some pics.

 

[bryanwheat]

I don't understand how somebody sharing negative experience is not being helpful. If you aren't going to listen to any of the negative experiences that people have had than why even post a thread asking for opinions.

 

[Bo0sTdTsI]

Those litte welders ain't bad for the price, but then again better quality equals more money.

 

[Ravenous]

I did the same thing as 91stocker. I started with a cheap HF welder and now am using the 187... I attributed my poor welds on the HF unit to being new to welding but after I switched to the 187 I have found the old unit(running 75/25 shielding gas) was just a bad unit. The wire feed would surge on occasion and nailing down some concrete settings was near impossible. That being said the HF 151 that I had did weld two pieces of metal together and did so well enough if a little ugly. The Hobart 187 makes some nice welds with very very little effort. It almost feels like welding for dummies.

 

[nicknorth11]

I will literally use this thing at max 5 times a year. I don't need it, I want it. If I ever get to a place in my life where I actually need one, I'm sure I'll consider a more expensive unit. For now, though, it just doesn't make sense. Hence why the, "buy a $650 welder comment" is not helpful. As I already stated, I have no intention of buying an expensive welder. And compared to what I am obviously in the market for, $650 is very expensive.

Thank you everyone who has posted comments. I feel better about making a decision now.

 

[greengoblin]

I can stick two pieces of metal together with JB weld. Just sayin.....

 

[94_TSi]

Buy a used Hobart Handler. The quality of a used well built machine is better than new poorly built one in most cases.

 

[nicknorth11]

And I can drive an escort.

Buy a used Hobart Handler. The quality of a used well built machine is better than new poorly built one in most cases.

It's going to be an x-mas present, so this isn't an option.

 

[Ravenous]

If I were in your situation, and if it weren't for a lucky pull on a slot machine I would be, I would get this:
MIG / Flux Wire Welder with Wheels - 120 Amp

and in time I would mod it via this thread at welding web:

Mod-Your-151 How-To Guide - WeldingWeb™ - Welding forum for pros and enthusiasts

 

[Killa_dsm]

I have the cheapo HF 90 amp welder. I got it on sale when it was less then $100. Yeah, its not the best welder out there but it has payed for itself with my first project. If you do get a HF welder don't use the wire it comes with, its junk. I ended up going to Homedepot and got Flux core Lincon wire for it.

This was my first real time welding something together. Before welding up my downpipe I practiced on some scrap metal. I don't have any better pics but here is how it came out. Building my downpipe myself definitely payed for the welder itself.

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