New welder

[odledh]

I am new to welding and I want to build a go cart from scratch...
I was wondering what is a good welder to start with?
preferably mig

 

[DirtyDamage]

I hear the Harbor Freight welders are diamonds in the rough, cheap and works good. I've heard that the HF wire sucks though...

Please fill in a profile location.

 

[JMINDY]

Do a search, there are many threads on the subject...

Harbor Freight is a cheap source, Miller & Lincoln are popular brands with others.

NAPA sells Thermal Arc made by FirePower (3-N-1 style is a good starter unit for someone just learning), and Marquette by Lincoln Electric is their higher quality brand but pricey.

I have an old Clark Mig welder. I like it a lot, but they have been out of business for years and replacement parts are harder to find, nothing locally - mainly online out of Chicago. So I buy parts in bulk, but I use the welder 3-4 times per month/year round.

My suggestion is to evaluate how much you will be using it in the future and what you may be working on (metal thickness/sheet metal/aluminum/etc.), buy the best your willing to afford, not the cheapest you can find. You will improve over time, your welder will not... you'll be limited to it's capabilities.

 

[maxpower49]

Dang filling out the profile really dose help, I live one town over in Hornell!

Depending on your budget I recommend an eastwood mig 135, great welder and it shows up ready for gas welding (you have to provide a bottle) however it will do flux core as well but it does not come with flux wire only regular mig wire. However it is around $300 on sale and normally $350.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Dang filling out the profile really dose help, I live one town over in Hornell!

Yep!!!! We get new members every now and then that get a real attitude about disclosing their location....but it just helps everyone.

I haven't found one member that posted any regrets for filling out a profile location....but many that are happy they did!!!!!

 

[odledh]

Thanks for all the replies.

I was wondering where people get there material they use to build the frame

 

[KartFab]

Google "steel distributors near me" then make some calls.

 

[maxpower49]

Thanks for all the replies.

I was wondering where people get there material they use to build the frame

If you are in Alfred then I highly recommend Bradley Supply in Hornell. It is where I get my welding supplies as well as metal.

 

[supermanotorious]

I second the 90 amp Harbor Freight flux core welder for starters, it's affordable, easy to set up and learn, and puts down an acceptable bead when using Lincoln or other name brand wire, DO NOT use Harbor Freight wire other than what comes with the welder- strictly for practice on scrap pieces.

 

[odledh]

what did you mean about not using the HF welding wire?

 

[DirtyDamage]

It's garbage. The welds don't come out clean and are atrocious

 

[supermanotorious]

DO NOT use the Harbor Freight flux core wire, however if you ever get a true MIG welder, I happen to love HF's MIG wire

 

[mckutzy]

Lincoln welding fluxcore wire is good, aswell as millers varient.