Welding to a frame

[Rickracer]

I did a bit of looking and none of what I found was good, if there's any possibility of returning it and upgrading, I'd strongly consider it. I REALLY doubt that machine is gonna do you much good with anything thicker than sheetmetal and .023 wire.

 

[ApocGoD]

I would if I could, I got it at a pawn shop.
Im looking at the Northern Industrial MIG 130 from Northern Tool.130A max. and only 249$. Any suggestions?

 

[Rickracer]

I'd suggest jumping up one grade from that one to the 135. They don't even tell you what the duty cycle is on the 130, it's 20% at 88 amps on the 135, plus it uses Tweco style tips, which is a big plus, they are pretty much available anywhere welding supplies are sold. No telling what the smaller one uses. For the extra $100, you are getting more actual USABLE amperage, and commonly available replacement parts,

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

20% duty cycle at 88 amps is pretty low, imagine what it would be at 135. Welding for two minutes than stopping for 10 would suck, let alone 1 minutes, or less.

 

[Rickracer]

That's why they are so cheap,

 

[motor_head]

yeah 60amps isn't much around me you can go to about any farm sale and find a decent 220v stick welder i got a 230 amp one don't remember exactly how much i paid for it prolly a little over $60 so thats always a good option for a bigger welder

 

[jbruch694]

i recently bought a hobart handler 125 amp from northerntool, around $300, and it has enough power to blast through 3/8 inch steel if the power is turned up too high!

 

[ApocGoD]

I went up to Harbor Freight today and saw a 130A welder by Chicago, any feedback on that welder?

 

[AutoMX]

the 130A buzz box stick welder? ive had mine for 2 years and have never even plugged it in since i keep using the wire feed flux 90A one i have. id imagine its just like every chinese welder, temptingly cheap and works ok to good, not great, and if it breaks you fix it yourself or throw it away.

 

[ApocGoD]

Its a 130A mig welder, 230v.

 

[AutoMX]

ah, yea I haven't tried those. ive been using my 90A HF 110v flux wire feed welder for years without problems. ive actually never had it turn off cuz of duty cycles (for better or worse?) and i know ive welded for more than 1 minute in 10. (10% duty cycle supposedly) so yea, whether that means it's actually better than written or the overload safety isn't working, this i don't know.

if you're looking at spending $250 on an HF, just add another $100 and get a real brand welder. if mine craps out, i'm down $65 after 3 years of use, which is pretty fair, but i wouldn't risk losing $300 without any way to repair or parts to get.