TaTommyWS6

I was thinking maybe I should just buy this MIG welder for an incredible price at harborfreight.com:
Item #:
44567-0jja

It is a 90Amp MIG welder.

I have some exhaust work, specifically welding in Cats on an ORP pipe, that I will need to do in the near future.

I can pay some muffler shop to do it, or I could potentially learn another good skill?

What do you think?

Tommy <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

2002blackZ

iTrader: (4)

First off, I think it is always a good idea to learn new skills. Welding would be a good one. On the other hand, I have heard that these welders are difficult to use. May not be the best to learn on. Could be discouraging if you are learning. I'm sure someone with experience with one of these welders will chime in on this. I have only used the MIG welders with shielding gas. It's been a while as well. One thing to keep in mind, if you are looking into stainless steel, you will need a different type of wire. I think that most use silver for welding stainless.
Anyone?

TaTommyWS6

I was under the impression that arc welders were harder to beginners, but cheaper to purchase. Migs are a bit more expensive initially, but easier to use since no rods are needed... But what the hell do I know!!! This is all totally new to me, it just seems like a good piece of equipment to have around for smaller jobs.

Tommy <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

DARK AGE 53

Tommy, It looks like we're in two different worlds, your $129 and my $1000.

I really can't say what the quality is of the Harborfrieght mig welder is but as I said , you usally get what you pay for.

Why not check out a welding supply store and go from there. May the power be with you, later.

Al

TaTommyWS6

Hi Al,
I'm all about doing things the right way, don't get me wrong. I'm just trying to figure out HOW there can be such a huge price discrepency between these two particular products. (I have no clue about what makes a welding machine a good one. That is what I would like to know)
There is NO doubt in my mind that the setup you suggested would be great. I just don't know if what I am planning to do requires such a setup.
Thanks again for the advice!

Tommy <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Reckless

iTrader: (9)

I paid $325 for my Lincoln gasless welder at Lowes and it works frickin awesome. I have used high dollar welders that didn't work as well (with gas).

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

The cheapest wire feed welders use flux-cored
wire. They may, or may not, have provisions
for adding shielding gas. You have to be very
careful with the fine print. A bottle, regulator
(flow regulators are best, but $$) and hoses
might add another $200-$300 to the setup.

Exhaust and frame work, a cheapo might suffice.
However, your choice of flux-cored wire types
is very limited, even more so than what you can
commonly find for MIG. I don't know if you can
get stainless flux-cored, or not. Flux-cored
leaves a residue and may have more inclusions
but seems fine for ugly, mild steel weldments.
Whether you could live with it as your only
option, you'll have to think about.

There are a lot of low-end MIG boxes out there
now and some are not so bad. I have a big, old
one I got used, and now it's pinned behind the
project car and I'd have a hard time getting it
out and using; small can be beautiful. I would
recommend going with a cheap box by a big name,
though, because stuff like tips and repair
parts are hard to come by for many Fine Imported
Tools.

It's probably the easiest form of welding for
a hack hobbyist to learn. It's the only one that
makes sense for automotive sheet metal work.
Yeah, somebody will probably pipe up about
doing it with a TIG, but really. It's limited
in penetration so anything over 1/4" you'd
want a stick box. But there's nothing over
1/4" on any car I've had, except the block
castings.

Cody Brooks

iTrader: (2)

mig welding is easy to learn and very handy you can weld lots of stuff with a mig welder. you should get a lincoln welder with a flux core set-up but comes with everything to switch over to gas. you practice without gas and get real good at it and learn the limits of the flux core then do the jobs you can without gas. then when you need to use stainless steel mig wire or some .20 mig wire you use gas. flux core comes in only 2 or 3 sizes .30 and.35, perhaps .25. deciding what welder and equipment you need is the hardest part in fact i want one right now and don't want to spend alot but since i have already done my exhaust and used some elses welder i don't need one right now.

DARK AGE 53

Tommy, Usally you get what you pay for so I'd pass on the Harborfreight stuff, to do it wright you should get your welding suppies from a Welding Equipment & Supplie store. This is just my opinion but in the long run it's the only way to go. You'll get better service and help when buying from this type of store.

Now if you're still with me here's what I would suggest, Lincoln 135 Plus mig welder, Lincoln cart, argon tank with gas regulator and hose, spool/spools of mig wire, welding gloves and a Auto-Dimming welding helment.

Now here comes the kicker, you probably where looking to spend under $400....what I've suggested will be more like a $1000. If you do or plan on doing steel work in the future it will be well worth it, if someone needs something welded charge them a small fee and that will help you get some of the money back that you spent on the welder.

Sorry for making this so long but here's one more thing, a mig welder is not hard to learn to use at all.

Al

TaTommyWS6

Al,
That sounds like great advice. I was just thinking for the amount of stuff I would actually be welding, maybe a cheap welder wouldn't be so bad. And for the price, I could kinda see if it's the way I want to go without too big of an investement.
Do you think that the harbor freight welder will not work? Or do you just think it is of poor quality?
Thanks again.

Tommy <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

PS, the damn thing is on sale for $129, that's what really got my thinking! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />