i wana buy this welder

[go kart mozart]

has anybody used this welder before i need input!!
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=55060
im a first time welder and i dont have an accesable 220v outlet

 

[GoAlterBridge]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44567
If you have the money, get that; It's what I have. I know a lot of people (generally) don't think much of the low-cost, smaller welders, But they do alright.

 

[AutoMX]

the dual voltage HF arc welders usually have a 30amp breaker at 110v so its not nearly pulling all the power it can at 220v. the wire feed in the other link would be way more suggested, i got mine for $80 on sale. only $5 more than my arc welder at $75.
meanwhile the wire itself lasts much longer than the rods.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

If your gonna go stick, go all the way with a 220volt 200+ amp unit. The only option I recommend to people who dont have a 50 amp outlet are the little gas less wirefeed units. They weld the stuff you encounter in cart building fine. The stick welder you linked to wont make the full 140 on 110volts.

Go with a cheap fluxcore wire welder.

 

[oscaryu1]

If you do plan on getting that fluxcore, go to Home Depot and buy some decent Lincoln Electric welding wire. I could see a instant improvement when I switched from the china wire.

 

[GoAlterBridge]

If you do plan on getting that fluxcore, go to Home Depot and buy some decent Lincoln Electric welding wire. I could see a instant improvement when I switched from the china wire.

Yeah, same here. I was like "Whooaaa.... those are some decent welds." When I switched to a new spool. The only thing I didn't like about it was that it had half the wire on the spool that HF had.
Still good though.

 

[johnboggs21]

If you do plan on getting that fluxcore, go to Home Depot and buy some decent Lincoln Electric welding wire. I could see a instant improvement when I switched from the china wire.

Ive bin down that road before. i did buy the lincoln electric wire at sears for like 15 dollars. the improvement was crazy.

 

[jr dragster T]

If you do plan on getting that fluxcore, go to Home Depot and buy some decent Lincoln Electric welding wire. I could see a instant improvement when I switched from the china wire.

Hmm and who do you give the credit too?

 

[modelengineer]

Welder looks a bit dodgy. Duty cycle of 15% at 65 amps. That means that at 140 amps you would have a very small duty cycle (funny how they don't give you the duty cycle at 140 amps). This WILL be a problem, believe me.

 

[oscaryu1]

Hmm and who do you give the credit too?

Durrr, me?

Just kidding, Tayler o' course.

 

[sayre315]

i just got the little 90 amp flux wire welder
its pretty good
i've been welding 1/4'' stuff just fine
but if you go stick
get one of those lincoln 225v 225amp stick welders
there are alot of them around
i've seen em everywhere on craigslist for about $100-$150

 

[go kart mozart]

ive heard bad things about fluxcore
will it hold up to heavy duty stuff?

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Define heavy duty, you can do anything cart related.

 

[go kart mozart]

thanks guys but im jus gonna start with oxyacetalene and learn 2 braise. i found a cheap set at lowes near my house for $50its just disposable tanks of oxy and map gas there like $7 a piece

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

You cant do large things like a cart at any reasonable amount of money with disposable tanks, those little sets probably dont get hot enough to braze a cart frame anyways. Save some more money and get a flux core welder or a 230amp stick welder($100 used).

 

[fluxcored]

You'll waste your time with that set and Kenny's right - it's gonna cost you more in the long run and from your description it does'nt sound like it's worth the investment in money and time.

Plus, brazing is a forgotten art and starts with proper joint design, fitup and prep - otherwise you'll lose a lot of strength and your kart'll fall apart on the first bump. There's a myth out there that MIG, brazing, stick is easy - it's easy to start off but real difficult to get expert in - nothing in this or at least my life is easy.

I regularly do OA and pay thro my teeth to maintain my set coz the versatility of OA cannot be beaten in my opinion but honestly I think you gonna hit a brick wall with that set.

But I've been known to be wrong and I hope I did'nt come on too strong, sir and best of luck.

You do know that brazing rods are more expensive than arc rods and they go just as fast?

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

The only thing brazing is good for is cast iron because its a ***** to weld. You can weld steel with oxy and a coat hanger but it takes more than a disposable tank setup and it takes about the same skill as TIG welding.

 

[go kart mozart]

ok thanks guys
yeah i got the braising kit only cus i wanted to try doin body work and stuff. Works pretty good on sheet metal and stuff.

next im gonna go arc and then ill try fluxcore. my buddys got all the different types of welders so he lets me try em.

Definitely gonna get an arc welder tho

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

A 230amp AC stick welder is the best bang for your buck welder out there, keep the fan oiled, follow the duty cycle and it will last forever.

 

[go kart mozart]

did i mention im REALLY cheap