ok, guys. I need some info..only if you have used and had experience using this brand of welder. click it

not to be rude sounding or anything..but plz no "my friend this.." or "my friend didnt like..." type of comments..im needin first hand experience.

ty.

 

ok..im not to sure if anyone here has heard any word about this..but i take back wut i said first..if anyone has any second hand knowledge, plz share that with me.

 

I used a Tig welder once for about 5 minutes.. then the shop manager figured out why I went into software instead!

 

I would ask the seller if it's upgradeable to using a gas bottle because without gas you can only weld mild steel meaning no aluminum or stainless. It's got a variable wire speed control which is good but only two settings for the heat so you may find it difficult to get the speed set right to get good weld penetration without burning the matterial you're trying to weld. Also find out if it can hold 10lb spools of wire or if it only holds 1lb spools.

Also keep in mind that at the buy it now price, it's $135 plus $55 for shipping. Take a ride to your local Lowes or Home Depot and check out the price on the Lincoln Weld-Pak 110 (I think). It's upgradeable to gas, holds 10lb spools, and has 4 heat settings. When I got mine, it came with a really good manual on how to weld.

Lastly, if you're going to use your welder at all, pick up a welding helmet ($20) and a pair of welding gloves ($20) as they will become your best friends. Don't waste money on an auto darkening helmet until after you've upgraded your welder.

 

I have no direct knowledge -- BUT (there's always a but) I have a call into our fab shop where we have some fabulous welders (that's why it's called the "fab" shop, or so they think, lol).

Seriously, they are really expert welders. We're a steel mill and they commonly fabricate hard-or-impossible-to-buy parts for our aging machinery. The guy I have a call into is going to make my new skidplate for me, and he'll give me a straight answer on a flux-type MIG at that amp range.

As far as that brand goes -- that's a "no-name" generic like you might find at Harbor Freight or whatever and the quality is variable. Sometimes they are excellent, and sometimes they are junk. The sellers feedback is your best indication of whether they sell anything worthwhile -- although sometimes people give good feedback just for GETTING something, before they've really used it for anything.

Edit: Just saw Tom's answer (guess he was typing as I was, lol) and I think that pretty much gives you a perspective. If Jesse gets back to me I'll post his reply still as well.

 

I know what position you are in (trying to get a welder but cant afford the NICE ones).
I agree on the "no name" comment.

Here si the deal, I was in teh same boat abotu a year and a half ago. I jsut broke down and bought a good welder, got it on sale at tractor supply for $340 I believe. It is a Hobart Mig 135 welder.

THe gas is KEY! Hobart is made by Miller, or is owned by Miller either way it is great wuality. I have built everythign on my truck and then some with thsi welder with no problems.

Do yourself a favor and get a good welder, save you time, heartache and money inteh long run!

Now the other thing is some people are dead set on only 220V machines, mine is 115V and it does jsut fine. i liek it b/c it is much more versatile. Right now it is in the warehouse at work (no 220v outlets, so I am really glad I go thet 115v machine.

Just some thoiughts for you...

 

Awe, but those things are so damn cool!

 

I know how to weld back in high school..

But not any more. I just pay sombody to do it for me...

 

My buddy here at work, a welder for over 20 years, says not to buy it.

Pros: price

Cons: not enough current for big jobs (anything over sheet metal), poor control of welding current (not enough settings), low capacity of actual metal in the wire when using flux (less metal per foot of wire) which limits welding runs, no capacity for gas, uncertain quality.

He says hold out for gas and solid wire and forget the small spools as well. Pretty much confirms what was said earlier.

 

well since nobody is realy helping you (other than mr griggs post) i say dont buy it. the duty cycle is probably 10% which means you can weld 1 min out of 10. without the gas it limits you to what you can weld. try and find a miller 135, new they are about 600.

 

Quit smoking the crack and read all the posts before typing some ignorant bull**** about nobody helping. You seem to have missed my earlier post.

 

OH SNAP!! ALON GOT A SMACK DOWN!!




Tom also I got my welding gloves for like 8 bucks.

 

yeh, i plan on gettin a nice lil lincoln..but the cheapest thing at home depot & lowes aroudn here is like $300+...kinda rediculous to me..i have more important things to spend money on..so saving up that kind of money will take way too long..so i might just buy a craftsman(any info would be good) or a lincoln on ebay where i might be able to get a deal...oh and miller's are a lil outa my price range =\

 

That is why I mentioned Hobart, Made by Miller adn they are comparable price to Lincoln, adn a better welder, IMHO.

 

ohhh ok..ill take a look at em, thnx

 

yeah your Hobarts are really nice and millers and lincolns I would stick to one of them. Also look into what you plan on welding and get a welder acordingly.

For example I have a matco 140amp which is a lincoln I have done pretty much everything with it around the house I have not had a job that it wouldn't do it only welds up to 5/16 in. metal in one pass, but I have done roll cages for stock cars repairing lawnmower blades anything you can think off.

Duty cycle is what you also need to look into look for a welder with a 60% duty cycle thats the best you can get for a electric powered welder.

And last make sure that you can hook up gas to it... gasless mig welders are hard to weld with you get a gas mig welder and you should pick that up farily quick... took me 5 minutes to learn to mig weld took me half a year to stick weld.

Thats about all the information I can think of right now

 

ok TBarCYa, i apologize, some of the posts were helpful, but others were pointless... and i am sure you know which ones they were.

gil..... grow up

 

Ill get right on that!

 

Yeah, that's gotta be my fault. Although in my defense it had been a while and no one had posted anything, so I thought smartass comments were not totally uncalled for. Aweful sorry if I disturbed your delicate sensibilities..

 

i didnt mean to offend or criticize anyone

 

It's okay. I really don't care! Maybe the sarcasm in my last post wasn't evident enough..

 

Cry me a river you little girls...

 

once again pointless jump in.

 

Coming from you, thats pretty hypocritical...

 

thats a given.