HF Welder Reliability and Performance vs. Price

[Pyrotechnic]

I've seen some of the welders that HF sells, and they look like they could get the job done. They have a 110 amp MIG that will do flux core or run sheilding gas for $199.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=94164

How reliable are these welders ? Has anyone here used one for a long time and had good success with it ? How well do they play with beginners ? Are they going to make learning harder than something like a Miller, Lincoln, Hobart, etc ?

I'm just trying to decide if one of these would be a decent buy for starting out, learning, and building a kart and some other small jobs, or if I'm better off just saving my $200 and putting it towards a name brand welder ?

 

[kibble]

I have that exact same welder. I've been using it for a while now and I haven't had any big problems with it. I used it to build my kart and it hasn't fallen apart yet! It's not tremendously feature packed just as anything that's inexpensive but it gets the job done.

 

[SloS13]

I've got the cheaper flux-only version and have done a few car turbo setups with it (exhausts, intercooler piping, brackets, etc) and have owned it for about 3 years. Still works fine and dandy. Never had a weld break.

If you get that welder, ditch the wire it comes with and get some better stuff from lowes.

 

[Pyrotechnic]

How hard is it to set up one of these for gas ? I know some welders require a kit, and it doesn't really say if this one comes with the hoses and regulators and such or if there is a even a separate kit for it if there isn't anything included.

Though I'm really wondering if I should worry about having shielding gas when buying a cheap welder, just because the gas tank really adds a good bit to the final price.

Should I step down to this one ?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=94056

or

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44567

Why the price difference, they both have the same specs ?

It would save me from having to install a 220V outlet, I wouldn't be tempted to buy shielding gas, and it's $149 which leaves me some cash to buy a good mask and gloves and some better wire. I would be mostly purchasing it for use this summer to build a cart until I can afford something better like a Hobart or Miller true MIG. Like I said, biggest thing I'm looking for is beginner friendly and able to well a kart together.

 

[kibble]

I'm using gas with mine. The welder comes with a hose already and all you have to do is get a regulator and tank.

I don't know why there's a difference in price between those two welders you linked to. they seem identical other than the design on the front.

You can weld with the gas-less stuff, but you'll see the difference when you go to gas. It's much cleaner and neat. I welded with the flux core for a while until I was able to get me a tank of CO2. Let's just say that for anything that matters, I won't use flux core. If I can remember to, I'll take some pics of where I used flux core on my kart and where I used CO2 and solid wire.