Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2012
Posts: 59
Location: Chi-Town
| Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 10:28 am Post subject: | |||
okay, if there is any type welder or a particular brand that would have what i need for around 300? | |||
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Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2012
Posts: 59
Location: Chi-Town
| Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 12:12 pm Post subject: | |||
| I found this Hobart Welder. its MIG/Flux Core and can definitely do what I need. It operates at 110v so i think i will have to do up some frankenstein stuff in the garage. edit: duh we already have 115v >.< http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/wirefeed/handler140/ I found it factory reconditioned which is apparently better than og spec. for a lot less. like almost 300 less. http://www.hobartweldshop.com/servlet/the-133/Factory-Reconditioned-HOBART-Handler/Detail
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Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2007
Posts: 1076
Location: Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 12:51 pm Post subject: | |||||
I did a bunch of MIG welding on my Fastback with flux core wire and although it wasn't pretty, I ended up grinding off the excess and it ended up working fine. I have a bottle now so I can use solid wire, but given how badly I matched the panel cuts on my old and new metal (the rear section of the Fastback subframe, where all the compound curved panels come together to form the air intake, water drain flaps and the like...try measuring that precisely!) I knew I'd be filling gaps with welding wire. It took a long time, and it's not pretty...but it's a solid bead, is very structurally sound and will be covered by sealant, paint and a fender. I'd never use flux core on exterior panels, but it was fine for hidden stuff. | |||||
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Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2010
Posts: 728
Location: Vancouver, WA USA
| Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:01 pm Post subject: | |
| Stay away from Harbor Freight if you want a welder. You kuda had mine for $50 at my yard sale a few weeks ago. But then you would have wondered why you couldn't weld anything, either. Eastwood MIG 135 is the only way to go. Or that Hobart you were loking at. -dasdachshund | |
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Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2008
Posts: 797
Location: Asheville, NC
| Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:07 pm Post subject: | |
| Go with a Hobart and skip the harbor freight sh*t. I got a Hobart 120 with a full owner's tank for $300 off my local craigslist, couldn't be happier. _________________ Jimmy - 1974 Safaré Custom Camper. 091 trans + Dual Weber 34 ICTs + Pertronix SVDA + 1.7L 914 T4 engine. | |
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Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2012
Posts: 59
Location: Chi-Town
| Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:11 pm Post subject: | |
| so i could use it on MIG with pre-sheilded wire, OR a 75%ox-25%co2? sorry im new to welding but I have been soldering and grinding all my life so i think i can pick it up. i dont think that welder comes with tanks but gas sounds better the pre-shield | |
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Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2007
Posts: 1076
Location: Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:45 pm Post subject: | |
| I'm no expert by any means, but I don't think it's "pre-shielded"...the wire has a core made of flux, that creates a shielding gas (and lots of residue) when the electrical heat burns it up. You don't have to use a tank, but the welds are not as nice and you have to periodically clean off the residue that builds up lest it interfere with achieving an arc. That said, the wire is cheap, readily available and, well, it creates welds. I run it in my Lincoln WeldPak SP135T because my lack of skill results in too many bottles emptied when I'm using solid core wire. _________________ '75 Campmobile (tin-top to SpaceRoof) '73 Fastback '52 BMW R67/2 '41 Zundapp KS600 '55 Puch SGS250 A very, very understanding wife | |
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Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2008
Posts: 1285
Location: Wisconsin: Rustbelt, USA baby!!
| Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 2:07 pm Post subject: | |
| I have the dreaded Harbor Freight welder in 220V flavor, and guess what--- IT WORKS GREAT. I also have a Lincoln in 120v and that is a nicer welder- longer cables, 110volts easy, etc. The HF welder is not a bad welder, especially when used with gas (25/75 ). You get what you pay for, but it gets er dun.  _________________ Sent from a white van down the street. | |
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Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2012
Posts: 59
Location: Chi-Town
| Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 2:23 pm Post subject: | |
| soo i guess i will need 2 tanks like my friends use for glass blowing if i want to go that route. do i use different wire or does the gas just remove the residue? | |
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Samba Brewer
Joined: July 12, 2003
Posts: 2689
Location: Savannah
| Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 3:28 pm Post subject: | |
| I would just buy some mig wire. _________________ KK4NTP 96 Tacoma 86 4Runner My bus caught on fire and is now on the other coast with someone who gave me money for it. | |
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Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2012
Posts: 1882
Location: Mckinleyville, CA (Humboldt County)
| Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 8:47 pm Post subject: | |||
For those reading be aware that the cheaper of the two harbor freight mig welders can not be used with gas. I have a harbor freight welder that I got for free and I wouldnt say that it is great but it does work. I tend to burn holes in everything (always trying to weld thin things) but that is not what this welder is good at. The thicker the metal the better these cheap welders do | |||
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Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007
Posts: 4683
Location: east-tn
| Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 3:49 am Post subject: | |
| My Miller 'Cricket' wire one hasn't missed a beat in about 25 yrs and a bunch of welding, 98.447326% of welding done on vw's. | |
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Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 17004
Location: sticksville, ct.
| Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:30 am Post subject: | |||||||||
| here is my .02 on welders. Do not buy a no name one. None of them are serviceable, and you will need wheels and wands at some point. I like miller, lincoln is a close second. I am good with gasless, but the spatter is out of control, and the weld quality is poor. Cry once and buy a middle of the road name brand MIG. Some get away with cheap welders, but I need my welds perfect, I refuse to fool with tons of grinding....that's just me
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Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
| Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 7:27 am Post subject: | |
| The Hobart Handler 140 with gas is the set up you desire. | |
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Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2005
Posts: 1035
Location: Woodsfield, Ohio
| Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 7:36 am Post subject: | |
| I bought this: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200...7AodZmgApw It's a Northern Industrial Mig 135. Comes ready for gas. You just need the bottle. I'm no expert, but it has worked well for me. It is about $100 cheaper than the name brand counterpart, and I'm pretty sure some of the parts are interchangeable with a Hobart. If not, Northern Industrial is really good about replacing parts. I had a defective pressure gauge (actually, my misuse screwed it up), and they replaced it no questions asked. neverdnf on Instagram | |
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Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2012
Posts: 3037
Location: Prescott Az.
| Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 7:50 am Post subject: | |||
Welders are rated by "duty cycle" and good ones have a high number meaning you can weld longer before the transformer heats up and the welds get crappy. Amp ratings are not as important until you are welding thicker material. Always check the duty cycle rating of the welder you are buying, thats the way to judge how good it is. And of course I'll plug my favorite welder here again, the Ready Welder haha, tis the bomb with 100% duty cycle, uses flux core wire or solid with a bottle plus it runs off ANY dc power source even a couple or three 12 volt batteries.  I also suggest practice welding in a controlled environment such as in a shop, on a bench. Learning to weld in this manner allows you to focus on the weld and create beautiful beads. Welding outside, upside down under a car, on rusty unlike and non similar metals is ugly and tough work. You also want to learn about how to use your welders "calculator" which is a graph that suggest what settings you use for the thickness of the metal you are welding, based on what wire size and type you are using._________________ 1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods 1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack 1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer 1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey
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Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2012
Posts: 59
Location: Chi-Town
| Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 3:17 am Post subject: | |
| Thanks for the replies guys! i ended up going with a FIMER 152 arc welder that i borrowed from a guy with the same name as me at the local show. it was totally overkill totally awesome and totally worked. took the bus for a drive today. slammed it from third to second after the po-po dipped out of my rear view. Moments before, he rolled past me as i had no headlights, side markers, bulbs in any of the turn signals, no seats/belts... and that was the first time i got to hear the fresh engine really purrrrr lol | |
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Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2008
Posts: 951
Location: Socal
| Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 10:03 am Post subject: | |
| I have the HF 180, 220V, mig.........works like a champ and you can add gas to it. It will weld from 22 gauge and up to 1/4". I paid $70.00 for mine as a scratch and dent, did a capacitor mod to it and it will weld anything. If you buy a new one with the warranty..........its an exchange thing, no hassle. Everyone is telling you to get a 110V welder, there ok, but wont weld anything over 1/8" with decent penetration. Stay away from Everlast and Longevity......don't know about Eastwoods | |
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Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2008
Posts: 951
Location: Socal
| Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 10:09 am Post subject: | |
| [quote="CoastalAirCooledVW] The HF welder is not a bad welder, especially when used with gas (25/75 ). You get what you pay for, but it gets er dun. For those reading be aware that the cheaper of the two harbor freight mig welders can not be used with gas. I have a harbor freight welder that I got for free and I wouldnt say that it is great but it does work. I tend to burn holes in everything (always trying to weld thin things) but that is not what this welder is good at. The thicker the metal the better these cheap welders do[/quote] They have 3....a 90amp/110V (garbage), a 170amp/220V..not bad, can use gas, affordable, and the 180amp/220V.....this is the one to get if your going HF, do the capacitor mod and it will weld with the best of'um. | |
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