will this be a good welder?

[MaddMaxx21]

Will a Lincoln electric k2185 handy welder be a good choice if I'm looking to do some light fabrication and maybe build a kart?
Any help would be great
Thanks, Maxx

 

[Poboy kartman]

Will a Lincoln electric k2185 handy welder be a good choice if I'm looking to do some light fabrication and maybe build a kart?
Any help would be great
Thanks, Maxx

You don't have to suck up here....we'll help even if you don't build a kart.....

Welcome to the forum! !!!!

Unfortunately. ....I can't answer your question. ...or I would......I had one of those welders once......unfortunately. ...they caught me before I could get out of the door......

 

[KartFab]

"Welds up to 1/8" thick" that will cut it, but is on the light duty side.

 

[moose]

Where are you located?

For that price point, you are in chinese made quality level. I would tend towards something from HF http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=welder
or Princess Auto on my side of the border. Better prices for essentially same machine. Get something that has provisions for gas (i.e. MIG, not just wirefeed FC). A cheapo HF with a bottle of gas can be had for about the same price as the brand name entry level machine.

TLDR: handy mig overpriced, but reasonably well suited for go karts. Get a bottle of gas to go with whatever you end up with.

 

[davidbooth1991]

Hey man,
That machine only pushes 88 amps (enough to bite Into 1/8, but remember thats on full bore. And its never a good idea to run a welder on full bore for long unless it's an invertor ( a lot more expensive). The coils won't appreciate it lol. Get a second hand 140 amp. You can weld at 50% power all day long and when it comes to welding the thicker stuff (1/4) which you will. You'll have the penetration and power to rely on.

 

[garciafamily]

I bought a really nice mig 115V gasless from Northern Tool for 129.00, it has been a great welder no problems with it whatsoever. Does everything I need it to do.

 

[rmm727]

Its just me but I wouldn't buy anything below 140 amps and would rather have atleast 180amps and run on 220v. I have a Millermatic 180 auto-set. Best money I ever spent.