Welder for go kart frames

[anickode]

Actually Mech Master put the two up against each other. He's also a member on here in fact.

And I will say that every HF tool I've used, including some recent ones, feel like crap compared to the Craftsman tools my dad and I use. We have a HF torque wrench that wore out really fast, and the mechanism just FEELS terrible. All the HF ratchets I've used also have felt terrible and have slipped off the bolts I tried to tighten.
On the other hand, our set of Craftsman sockets/ratchets/box wrenches have held up for my entire lifetime, at least as far as I can remember, which is over 12 years.

On top of it, my parents would NEVER allow me to get a welder from HF, they're already stretching to let me have the Century.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDF-vZG850M

That video basically invalidates your arguments... I didn't see anything in there that suggested the Century was one iota better than the Titanium, and he pointed out at the end that if you wait for a sale or coupon at HF, the Titanium is a better value. Not to mention the no questions asked warranty that harbor freight offers...

There is no doubt that compared to other brands, harbor freight's hand tools are lacking in quality. But look at the price. $10 for a 15 or so piece wrench set vs $80. Or a $20 torque wrench vs $150. Compare them to another cheapo tool like a Stanley set from walmart, or Tekton. Similar price, similar quality.

It all boils down to you getting exactly what you pay for, and sometimes, harbor freight accidentally makes a darn good tool.

I have an old chicago electric 4-1/2" angle grinder from there (the old $20 orange one) that I absolutely cannot kill. I've had it for 15+ years. I've used for everything you can use an angle grinder for, including cutting bricks (silica dust is VERY hard on motors). The gears and bearings sound just as terrible as they did the day I got it, but it will not die. I have a whole slew of much better (and bigger) grinders now, and the only time it gets used anymore is when someone needs to borrow an angle grinder, but it always works.

Point is, being anti-harbor freight just because it's harbor freight makes no sense, when you're talking about going out and buying a different equally cheap tool made from equally cheap chinese parts.

 

[RandomK]

I ended up finding a good deal on the Lincoln electric 140 easy mig! And its working out really good so far

 

[anickode]

I ended up finding a good deal on the Lincoln electric 140 easy mig! And its working out really good so far

A good choice.

If you don't have a gas cylinder, when you're feeling like spending some more money, get an 80 or 125cf bottle and some solid wire. The 20 and 40cf bottles are tempting because of price, but you end up paying for it in filling costs (the filling costs more than the gas itself with the little tanks). Don't get me wrong, flux core certainly has its place, and is great for working outside (shielding gas blows away), but running true mig is really nice. It's cleaner, less smoky, and you get more linear feet of weld out of a spool of wire.

 

[Functional Artist]

neither will produce "stronger" welds, per se. That's mostly got to do with your ability to weld.

Between the two, if you're willing to spend the extra, I'd go for the 140 because it has gas capability. You CAN run flux core wire in it (as with most any mig welder) if you aren't ready to spring for a gas cylinder just yet. Having the option to upgrade to gas without having to go out and buy a whole different machine is definitely a plus. If you go this route, get whatever is the longest extended warranty they offer for it. ANYTHING goes wrong with it, and you can plop it on the counter and walk out with a new one.

Obviously, a brand name machine will probably be a smarter buy for the long term. I guess it would mainly depend on just how used it is, and what all is included with it. One thing to keep in mind about Lincoln is that they have a line of "dumbed down" versions of the machines, like what you find at home depot. Miller does the same thing, except they are sold under the HOBART brand to keep the product lines distinct from each other. For example, the Hobart 210 and Miller 211 are essentially the same machine, but the hobart will have plastic parts in places the miller would have metal, and it will lack certain features. Point being, just know what you're getting when buying a used machine.

I agree
...doin' research it looks like the Titanium 140 (~$350.00 w/coupon) seems like the best deal
(plus, the option to add gas later)

I've had/used a little HF 90A flux-core welder to build several karts (from the ground up)
…& recently a plastic clamper thing broke
(the adjustable thing that holds the wire feed wheels together)

I have a DIY repair on it, so it still functions
...but, lookin' to upgrade

 

[anickode]

I agree
...doin' research it looks like the Titanium 140 (~$350.00 w/coupon) seems like the best deal
(plus, the option to add gas later)

I've had/used a little HF 90A flux-core welder to build several karts (from the ground up)
…& recently a plastic clamper thing broke
(the adjustable thing that holds the wire feed wheels together)

I have a DIY repair on it, so it still functions
...but, lookin' to upgrade

That titanium 140 is a good deal for what it is, IMO.

I'm still waiting for my store to get the Vulcan ProTig 205 in stock. I'm really want to try one out.

 

[Kartorbust]

I'm waiting to get one of the GMAW/SMAW/GTAW machines from them. Would get the Everlast, but man kind of hard to want to spend $3000+ for that one.

 

[anickode]

I'm waiting to get one of the GMAW/SMAW/GTAW machines from them. Would get the Everlast, but man kind of hard to want to spend $3000+ for that one.

The big drawback to those (and most multiprocess machines) is that they can't do AC TIG. That's not much of an issue for a lot of hobbyists, but it's the #1 reason I never purchased one.

 

[Bansil]

I just got my Everlast power tig 200DV yesterday, its still in the box in my truck...ac/dc tig...finally after 30 years

Still need to grab a new bottle with argon (still on fence about alumix since it burns hotter, but argon I don't have to swap tanks between steel and aluminum, just tungsten...agh...finally 1st world problems ), other 2 bottles are 75/25 mix

Everlast has a good solid reputation and best warranty 5 years....so with the amount of welding I do, she should be good

 

[Kartorbust]

I believe the Everlast can do A/C tig. Only reason I don't do Aluminum is, I don't have a capable machine to do it (technically I can, but I'm not using a spool gun, too bulky) and the cost of Aluminum itself. But I do like the weld that you can get with a Tig than wirefeed since you can get much better heat and puddle control.

https://www.everlastgenerators.com/product/multi-process-tig-stick-plasma/powerpro-256d does have A/C pulse tig.

Main reason I'd get the multiprocess is to save on space. One machine instead of three.

 

[anickode]

I just got my Everlast power tig 200DV yesterday, its still in the box in my truck...ac/dc tig...finally after 30 years

Still need to grab a new bottle with argon (still on fence about alumix since it burns hotter, but argon I don't have to swap tanks between steel and aluminum, just tungsten...agh...finally 1st world problems ), other 2 bottles are 75/25 mix

Everlast has a good solid reputation and best warranty 5 years....so with the amount of welding I do, she should be good

I never cared for straight argon for MIG on steel. I really prefer a 90/10 ar/co2 mix, but I usually just run 75/25 because it's cheaper and still does a fine job. Helps eek a little more heat out of a small welder too, if you're pushing the limit on what it can do.

Switching tanks back and forth on one machine is kind of a PITA though.

 

[Bansil]

Ive wanted the aluminum tig side at home and steel tig will be for more art work at home...I actually bought it to just .....cough...cough...hello wifey...cough, to build a center console for our pontoon...Im so glad it only cost $200...wink..wink..
Both "steel" mig machines run 75/25.

100% argon is just for aluminum.

---------- Post added at 05:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:59 PM ----------

so does 75/25 work for tig on say 6061 alum? Always used 100% argon or a mix

I am not professional at all...just been "farm/race" welding for years

 

[Kartorbust]

100% Argon for tig aluminum and mig aluminum.