GaRn

Just using this to learn how to weld and for exhaust work basically..

Which do you guys think would be the best to go with? The two craftsman are apparently made by lincoln..

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...00&tab=des#tab

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...00&tab=des#tab

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...00&tab=spe#tab

KnowForever

Go with the cheapest one

to the cut-out on your GF's car, shit is LOUD!

GaRn

Thanks lol, I had to open it up haha, no time to talk at the stoplight..

I went to a friends house to get my oilpan fitting welded, and he let me give it a try, I suck. Haha, I should have gotten a welder in the first place, could have saved money in the long run, but then again, thats usually how it goes :\

He welded gasless and it didn't look too bad really for how much people say it sucks.. for somethin like a fitting its no big deal I guess..

GaRn

Should I even go for a MIG capable welder? Not sure if i will ever need that, but it might be good down the road..

Anyone have any of the cheap harbor freight welders?

AMDxp2000

I want to learn but my dad used to do it..bitches whenever i mention trying it out...claims you can get black spots on your lungs from the fumes.......which is true....hence why every time i take stuff for welding they allways got a gas mask on...........i know cash convertors on willamson had a stick welder for like 60 bucks....was the northern tool brand

GaRn

hmm didn't know that, but I guess thats if you do it ALL the time, I'm only gonna be welding when I need to basically..

I really kinda want a wire feed, just seems easier to handle to me..

non-vtecpower

I have been welding for 4 years now.. As long as you have good ventilation, Welding is not bad for you.. I was at the ship yard for a year in a half and i would get put in holes, Called cofferdames and innerbottom.. This was all on the george bush aircraft carrier.. 8 to 10 hours welding everyday with 045 or 1/16 mig or fluxcore wire on rusty thick metal does fuck your lungs up though.

AMDxp2000

Yea..dad used to weld on trucks etc.......his new plant by osha says they have to use a certain gas mask.....something about the fumes/smoke cuasing black lung or whatever miners got.....

myclone

Of those three this is the only one Id consider
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...00&tab=des#tab

Flux core MIGing is ok for thin stuff, do dads that you dont care what the weld looks like just as long as the two pieces stick togeather, or occassional exhaust patching but you'll really REALLY appreciate a welder that uses a shielding gas when you inevidably end up with more frequent/bigger welding tasks (and you will as soon as everyone else finds out you have a welder..BTDT).

I dunno your budget but unless youre positive youll only use the unit a couple times a year get the biggest welder you can afford since its WAY less of an aggrevation to just turn the power down rather than try to weld something with a unit that is too small for the thickness material. One final thing to think about is resale....the cheaper/smaller units are worth a lot less even if only used once vs a bigger/nicer machine should you decide you want to get rid of it due to non usage or you want to step up to a nicer machine if you get into doing a fair amount of welding jobs for some cash money.

BTW, pick up a auto darkening welding helmet too. I broke down and bought one a few years ago and you couldnt pay me to use one of the old school non self darkening helmets now.

My .02 FWIW

mnchvgs79

Buy a hobart 140 if you want a 110v or a hobart 180 if you want a 220v welder. They are made by miller and are quite a bit cheaper for a good quality machine.


140: http://cgi.ebay.com/HOBART-HANDLER-1...QQcmdZViewItem

180:http://cgi.ebay.com/HOBART-HANDLER-1...QQcmdZViewItem