Any Welders on board??

[SeaSerpent]

I would like to buy a cheap arc welder.

For example, I need to weld on some brackets for my transmission cross member.
I also would like to make up a roll cage for the truck.

I have seen a few on egay that are around 100 bucks..like this one and maybe this one

would any of these be any good?
If not, what would you suggest.

Thanks,
Christian

 

[drum]

I recommend a Lincoln or a Miller. can't go wrong with those. of course the miller i used was a high-dollar industrial welder at work. Lincoln has nice small models if you have 115V available to hook up to.

Lincoln

 

[Antisocial Virge]

We have one of those little buzz boxes for small jobs around work. Its probably ok for small and light guage jobs but I wouldn't do any serious heavy-duty stuff with it. We use industrial migs for the big stuff.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: love1u0
I would like to buy a cheap arc welder.

For example, I need to weld on some brackets for my transmission cross member.
I also would like to make up a roll cage for the truck.

I have seen a few on egay that are around 100 bucks..like this one and maybe this one

would any of these be any good?
If not, what would you suggest.

Thanks,
Christian

A stick welder is prob. to hot for what you need. How thick is the metal you will be working with, the thinnest that is.

I tried, when I first started welding, to use a stick welder to do some sheet metal , That was bad. Just keep burning a hole into everything and tearing it up.
What you Prob. need is a mig welder. I got a UBER-CHEAP one from Harbor frieght. I got it for $119. It ONLY does .030 and .035 flux wire, wire that needs no gas. For close to $200 you can get a basic one that will do flux wire and can add on a gas adapter if you want.



Also if anybody else buys flux wire, where do you get it?? Tring to find some cheap .030 wire. Cheapest I have found is about $7.50 a pound

 

[Analog]

I have basic Lincoln arc (stick) welder. Does all sorts of stuff, built like a tank. Be careful on the cheap wire welders, they have low duty cycle ratings, which can be problematic.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
I have basic Lincoln arc (stick) welder. Does all sorts of stuff, built like a tank. Be careful on the cheap wire welders, they have low duty cycle ratings, which can be problematic.

Mine is supposed to have a low duty cycle on it, but I have never hit my limit and what I am doing I am using the low voltage so never been a problem so far. That and has a 3 year warrenty on it. Was surprised as I thought they would have not even given a little cheap one soemthing like that.

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
I have basic Lincoln arc (stick) welder. Does all sorts of stuff, built like a tank. Be careful on the cheap wire welders, they have low duty cycle ratings, which can be problematic.

Mine is supposed to have a low duty cycle on it, but I have never hit my limit and what I am doing I am using the low voltage so never been a problem so far. That and has a 3 year warrenty on it. Was surprised as I thought they would have not even given a little cheap one soemthing like that.

Interesting, how do you know when you've reached the duty cycle? I've ordered a lot of stuff from Harbor Freight, and have (for the most part) been happy.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: yellowfiero
I have basic Lincoln arc (stick) welder. Does all sorts of stuff, built like a tank. Be careful on the cheap wire welders, they have low duty cycle ratings, which can be problematic.

Mine is supposed to have a low duty cycle on it, but I have never hit my limit and what I am doing I am using the low voltage so never been a problem so far. That and has a 3 year warrenty on it. Was surprised as I thought they would have not even given a little cheap one soemthing like that.

Interesting, how do you know when you've reached the duty cycle? I've ordered a lot of stuff from Harbor Freight, and have (for the most part) been happy.

I think it just runs out of power, kinda cuts off. I think mine is about 2 min's on low voltage and maybe 1 min on high voltage. Like I said never happened yet, and most of my welding is doing 2-3 inches stopping and letting it cool(as the metal is thin) then starting up. So I don't really push it to hard.

As far as Harbor Freigth they have some good stuff here and there. Yes it is cheap, but if you are not running a business with thwir cheap stuff you will be fine. That is why I buy a lot of my personal use items from them. Now my Mechanic tools I get from somewhere else as I make my living off them so I can't go low bidder on those items. But I have been very pleased with my $119 welder.

 

[SeaSerpent]

The part I need to weld is about 3/4s of an 1".
I figured by the time I get both of them welded on it would cost me at least 50 bucks.
So I might as well just buy a cheap welder and do it myself. I seem to always run into stuff I need to weld.