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If I were to buy a welder, ( don't even know if I want arc tig mig wire feed etc???) at Harbor freight tools, which one would I want?
Are they any good at all? I know you get what you pay for and all that. I would like to fart around and learn to weld, then do small things like mount a front hitch on my Ford, fix the sway bar bracket on my 4X4, etc, just small stuff.
What amperage/size welder would be best? Are the Harbor Freight welders just junk in general?

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

Yeah, they are junk. I have their cheapie 100 amp stick welder. Still I manage to get a lot done with it. I have had to open it up and redo some of the connections after the wire burned off.

Put your money into good rod, Lincoln 7310. Don't expect a cheap welder to handle much more than 3/32'' rod. Still, that is good enough to weld the common 1/8'' mild steel stock.

I have had a Lincoln Stick welder for years and years. The 225 Amp "red box" welder. I've never had a problem with it. I plan to buy the biggest 110 Millermatic wire feed they make when I can...hopefully soon. I have used them and like them alot and by sticking to a big 110 unit I can take it to a friends place and work without having to have a generator or relying on 220 volt. I have alot of harbor freight hand tools but outside of a drill press and metal band saw I don't think I've bought any of their other electronics. Never had a problem with either of them though.

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In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

My read on the welders at the Freightster is that I might gamble $99 when they are on sale for the flux core wire fed, but you have to remember you can't really weld much more than 1/8" or 3/16" with one so I don't know it would end up much use for anything but building an exhaust on a truck.

I bought a Hobart wire welder (not from Harbor Freight) 3 years ago and it works great.

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Life is a DRAG RACE!!!
I like my Luv WILD!!!

Sometimes too much to drink isn't enough!!
Kinky is using a feather. Perverted is using the whole chicken.
http://www.wildluvracing.com

I do quite a bit of welding and have friends that make a living at it. If you are a learner? IMO..Get a good 110V gas shielded welder. i might get bashed for opinion but o well. Stick is old skool when it comes to automotive. NON-AUTOMOTIVE that really needs some strength get a buddy to help you. IMO these days dont let an old skool stick welder scare you away from a mig....They are very forgiving...and the good/powerful ones can stick 1/2 inch..

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...

I prefer a tig, never tried the HF ones though...

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

I do quite a bit as well but I agree with you, I want to upgrade to the 21st century and get a good wire feed. I have used the Millermatic and liked alot. don't laugh but for alot of my automotive body repair work I am still doing alot of BRAZING. I have been doing that for over 28 years. I know, that is beyond OLD SCHOOL.

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

no working with lead on body work would be old school

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77-luv-stock (Selling or Parting out motor blew up)

75-luv mikado-V8 350 soon

definatly...

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...

I had the same ? but went ahead and got one from harbor freight (90amp flux core) It was on sale plus I had a 10% coupon, its been good to re-learn or should I say teach my self for an affordable price
someday when I win the lottery I will get a bigger, fancier one

I have done some exhaust's and mild repairs around the garage with it

I will always have a stick welder. There are alot of things I can do with mine that I can't with a wire feed. Or at least not without alotof changes. I can use it as a cutter with the right rods, (and have) weld with stainless steel rods, nickel rods for spring steel and a ton of other applications. Stick welders definitely still have their PLACE. They take more time to learn to use though. I can also use mine to thaw frozen water pipes if I ever needed to. I can definitely weld alot heavier metals with my stick welder than with the 110 wire feed welders I have used.

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk

Most definatly.....but there are migs that can handle that but are not cheap. I personally have the miller 250. It will weld 1/2" with little problem. But compared to the price of a normal a normal stick welder they are really expensive.

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Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy horsepower...and that's kind of the same thing...

Thanks for all the input. Keep it coming. I'm reading it all.

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

Most HF electric tools - stuff is junk, not all of it.. I have a 110v mig from Tractor Supply. It does ok. It is 110 volt, so I have not done much HD, thick stuff. I never had any luck with stick welders on thin metal-sheet metal. I have done gas on those before, but takes more work to me.I have done 1/4 " with gas.. Thick metal with a small mig takes multiple passes. I was the shop foreman at a shop where we did oilfield and gooseneck trailer manufacturing. Stick took multiple passes too. Big Millers, so I have a preference for Millers. Nothing wrong with a Lincoln or even a Hobart.

So it still comes down to what you want to do.... if it is auto, get some old fenders to practice on.

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

I have been welding for 9 years and my dad use to own a local sheet metal company for 25 years and we only used Lincoln and Miller welders hands down the best in both of our opinions. I have a small Lincoln wire feed in my garage and it gets any job done not sure what model will have to look but I have built trailers with my dad and dog boxes/canopy's. My dad has a little plasma torch that has a connection on it for stick also really neat but I never have toyed with that one to much he likes 2 in 1 product lol.

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A good friend will bail you out of jail, and even better friend would be sitting in the cell with you saying how awesome that was!!!

Not sure if its been listed, or if you've already gotten a welder but, I'd recommend a Lincoln welder to anyone.

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"Because I can"
1978 Luv

been useing the lincoln 225 I got in 1960 no problem
geo

OK. So HFT is out of the equation. That being the case, I will need to save up more money for a "real" welder. I'll start reading Craigslist. I'll ask around at work too. Maybe there's one in the back I can get real cheep.

Miller, Hobart, Lincoln, Seems like the Ford, Chevy, Dodge arguments.
Thanks guys

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

I have never used a Hobart but have friends that have and they swear by them just like I do my Lincoln Stick welder. We get Hobart here at the BIG R and they are alot more affordable than Millers. Just thought I would throw that out there because I'm going to price them today myself. I need one but if I can make myself have patience, it will be a Millermatic. Good luck with whichever one you buy.

_________________
In life there is the "Way things should be" and then "There's the way they are".

2005 Silverado 3/4T Crew Cab
1981 Luv 2WD
1979 Luv 4x4 Currently going through Open Heart and Cosmetic surgery
1995 Roughneck JetBoat
1981 Luv parts trk