Daryn

iTrader: (19)

i am cruising through harbor freight and i see the chicago electric 230v 160amp dual mig welder for $299.

has anyone ever used this welder before? how easy is it to make a clean weld with. i was thinking since it doesnt cost 800$ this would be a great around the house welding mahcine, maybe even do a little mock up on the car with...

no bias answers please, i am just wondering if anyone has one or used one if it seemed like a good deal... .

preciate it

JASON11WS6

iTrader: (7)

interested too. Always wanted a welder, I hear migs welders in general are better then tigs. That's about all I know. Cleaner weld.

G-Body

iTrader: (4)

I have a 220v 110amp chicago electric mig and it seems to work just fine to me. Seems to lay down a clean weld just fine. I`m sure a miller would have a slightly better weld, but I can`t see the extra cost for it.

subarubill96

iTrader: (9)

no, MIG welders arent cleaner than TIG, i have the slag scars to prove it. MIG's biggest advantage over TIG is its much faster to lay a bead but even using gas its not anyway clean as a TIG. hell you could TIG in a suit and not get anything on you. MIG= fast, "ugly" welds TIG= slower, cleaner welds

as far as that welder, for 500 bucks or so you can get a Lincoln Pro- Mig which allows you to weld with flux-core and includes the regulator and misc stuff to use gas. thats what id recommend for a beginner.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

harbor freight welders are tougher then more expensive welders to get a puddle started and produce really clean looking welds. i dont think they are good to learn on. i have used a 110v 100a for exhaust and such and it does fine but then again im a welder. they dont have much ***** though.

jdustu

iTrader: (2)

You'll always be able to find parts and consumables for Lincolns, Hobarts, Millers, ect. Not so much for the cheap stuff.

-Josh

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

i think a lot of it interchanges.

STALL UP

iTrader: (2)

I have a 110v 90amp flux core from harbor freight and it welds fine but is very hard to get a pretty weld really needs the gas, but its decent for the 125$ it cost. If you go for the 230v 160amp w/gas it would do you just fine unless you are going to use it everyday.

Daryn

iTrader: (19)

i am pretty sure im goin to get the dual mig 171 with a small gas hook up. i dont use it very oftem but when i catch i wild hair i wil weld atleast (3) 2lb spools a day

jdustu

iTrader: (2)

My grandpa had a no name welder in his shop, and when it broke he couldn't get parts for it. He bought a Hobart.

I've got all Miller stuff. Something goes wrong I can get parts anywhere. And it's made in america.

-Josh

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

i meant the consumables

tennerv8

iTrader: (7)

There are only four brands worth mentioning...Lincoln,Hobart,Miller,Esab. If it aint one of those four it isnt worth buying.

Daryn

iTrader: (19)

back from the dead!. i ended up gettin new lincoln weld pak 140hd welds up to 5/16'' comes with the gas regulator too. i love it , ben finding alot of stuff to weld on.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

^^^^nice.....

letsrunem

iTrader: (15)

Getting a Lincoln myself! Heard nothing but good things about them, cheaper than Miller too.

mrhzk35404

iTrader: (7)

A friend of mine got one of those for christmas. I can tell you the flux core it puts down is 1000000000x better than the harbor freight $125 piece of junk I have. The harbor freight weld looks like bird crap.

Gordon0652

iTrader: (4)

Lincoln's are very nice! Just have fun with there tech support when you need them...