welders???????
 

I am going to take the plunge and buy a welder (been using my friends friends.......) to fix the holes in my engine compartment - I have pounded some sheet metal into the right size and grinded it down to about 1/4" larger than the hole so that I can lap weld it.

Has anyone ever used the Chicago Electric welders from Harbor Freight? I was looking at the Lincoln Electric at Home Depot that is $459 but Harbor Freight has a 220V gas capable welder for $199 (I have a 220V outlet so am good there). I will use it on several add'l bits to be done on the 66 but they won't involve stress points or load bearing type stuff. What's the call guys - lincoln or chicago????

RE: welders???????
 

i got one from harbor freight, works fine. but that doesnt mean much coming from me, i havnt ever owned a lincoln

RE: welders???????
 

did you get a 120V or a 220V, do you remember what model?

RE: welders???????
 

go for the goal and buy an ESAB, got one and it works great, actually we have a MIG, TIG, and Plasma Cutter from ESAB. the Mig and plasma have saved ours and our friends ****loads of work, the tig i am actually currently practicing with.

RE: welders???????
 

anyone ever used a "speedway series" - saw this on ebay

item 170040315644
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-125-Amp-Flux...QQcmdZViewItem

RE: welders???????
 

i think mine is the 120, i dont remember the model off the top of my head im too tired to go look, ill fid out tomarrow

RE: welders???????
 

thanks atom, is yours capable of welding with gas?

RE: welders???????
 

no, when i went to get the welder, they told me they had one that was with or without gas. same price as the one i got, but when i got there i found they lied so i got flux core only. works fine, just gets a little more splatter but you can clean it up fast

RE: welders???????
 

i want a TIG i used one in high school a bit but i dunno what brand to trust cept lincoln and Miller

RE: welders???????
 

ehh, when i use mine without gas it mate but fugly welds. TIG is fun, im learning alot and my welds are lookin really good.

RE: welders???????
 

if your not going to be welding daily, just get a little 110 v wire feed and use flux-core wire. then theres no gas needed. i spend 10k a year on a deisel lincoln welder (TAX WRITEOFF). i prefer lincoln when your going to work the sh???t out of it. but as far as a wire feed goes, find one with easy for you to understand settings and a good heavy whip (LEAD). lincoln,miller,esab,hobard,thermal dianamics are soon of the better known brands. but if your going to use it sparingly the brand really wouldnt matter if its not junk to begin with!

RE: welders???????
 

I bought a lincoln sp-135 120v it can be used gas or gasless Im very happy with it. And
much like every other tool be it a compressor or HVLP paint gun spend a little bit
more up front and it will last longer and the results that the tool produces will be more
appealing. One last note on Mig welders look for one that has a infinite power level
switch not one with Power level A,B,C,D it makes fine tuning the welder to your work
easier

RE: welders???????
 

Only 1 person that has used the chicago electric then. Its sounding like I should just shuck out a few extra nickels and go with Lincoln. My grandfather had a gas operating lincoln arc welder from hell that we used to build arenas for our cutting horses and that thing went forever. My son wants to use the welder too and I could use it for tons of projects so probably better to spend a couple hundred extra and get something that will work forever



thanks guys

RE: welders???????
 

To quote a wise old man..."only the rich can afford to buy cheap".
If I could throw out another name. Hobart makes (or should I say puts their name on) some quality welders. I had a Lincoln Bobcat 220 and two years later the Hobart equivalent. Both were exceptional for stick welders/generators. I'm using a Hobart 220V Mig welder (thanks to my gracious neighbor) now that works really well. Unless the metal is very clean of paint, oil, etc. Flux core is your best choice. Make sure you can run at least 0.025"-0.035" wire.
Keep the tip of the wire out of the gun one inch at all times during the weld, and stay out of the wind. Follow that advice and the spatter diminishes to almost nothing. Also some good anti spatter dip will really increase tip life.

Good luck,

RE: welders???????
 

When my daddy came back from Germany after serving over there during WWII, the government sent him to welding school, and bought him a Lincoln welder. I inherited that Lincoln welder, and still have it at the farm. It still works just great. I also have a Lincoln mig welder here at my house, and would not consider any other brand. They are built "Ford" tough. :D

RE: welders???????
 

i got my lincoln sp 135 120V for approx 375.00 at the home depot, it does mig or flux and it works great! it will weld almost any body panel you can throw at it, and being 120 if you move it will work where ever you go, were as 220 will be hit or miss.

RE: welders???????
 

I use a Hobart 135, gas & flux, works great, bought it off eBay for a good price. Perfect for car applications, the only reason to go with more amperage is if you’re going to weld thick metal, over 1/2 inch.

Just make sure you get one that lets you use gas, that way you have options.

The other important piece is a good mask, the auto darkening masks are great, and Hobart has a good one for about $100, worth the money to save your eyes. Don't try the close your eyes trick, you're still burning your retina, you need a mask. And don't for get gloves; the pretty red glow is hot.

Remember, you get what you pay for!

RE: welders???????
 

I think it is a run to Home Depot and going Lincoln - my brother is still using my grandpa's (so I can feel ya soaring)!!!!!!!!! And I definitely think that the 120 with gas capability is the ticket.

Definitely going with the auto darken mask - I saw those hand hold things and I just can't see doing that - I have never seen anyone use those things until I saw the adverts for welding packages

RE: welders???????
 

interesting note about the 1" distance Scot, I will start keeping the tip a bit farther out, thanks

RE: welders???????
 

The Hobart "Handler" migs are sweet for sheetmetal. My experience with Harbor Freight's electric tools is they last about as long as their warranty period.

RE: welders???????
 

I made the call on Lincoln - got the HD3200 kit - nice part is that it has the little mounting piece with the mount/brackets for the gas, sweet!

manual says to hold the tip 3/8 to 1/2 from tip so I am going to give it a try this weekend - I just got it put together, been working like a dog:)

RE: welders???????
 

Go to a computer repair place and see if they will let you haul off any old CPU's. then take the backs and sides off and practice with those. If you can weld that thin metal together without making a mess of it, you can weld any panel on your car and have a good looking weld. Practice makes perfect. Good for you in getting the Lincoln. You won't regret it. Your grandson will inherit it. :D

RE: welders???????
 

thanks soaring, just finished connected the handle and feeding the wire, we are ready to rock as soon as I get off work tomorrow. I have pounded some sheet metal pieces into shape to cover the holes some idiot cut in the shock towers - I am shooting for getting this welded in place by end of weekend - did an ok job, will have about 1/8" of bondo to smooth things out at most:)

RE: welders???????
 

I've seen guys pull off the outer brass shield so they could keep the wire closer to the tip, and still get a nice "gas" balloon over the puddle. I prefer to leave the sleeve in place and let the wire run a little further out. The 1" distance was a tip I got from a pro, when I was having a tough time getting a clean weld without spatter on some nasty old metal. Since then, I've stayed with it, and been very happy. I can't remember the last time I stuck a tip, and clean up is a breeze.
Let us know what works for you.

Good luck!

Scott

RE: welders???????
 

Thanks Scott. finished connecting all the lines and fed the wire so tomorrow we rock:)

RE: welders???????
 

The only disappointing feature of the Home depot lincoln Ive seen is it doesnt have an infinite power
it has click click click A - B - C - D - Etc. And just thought I would give a little tip Ive found useful. They
sell these copper pieces in Eastwood that you can put behind the the seam your welding. I make my own
by taking 3/4 copper pipe and flatten it out. It works great behind a butt joint of say a qaurter panel. Ive
always steered clear of lap joints , to me its just one more pocket to capture moisture. Thats just my 2 cents.
Enjoy your new toy.