I do love playing with my mig welder, but it does make the meter spin. . .
When I built the garage, I ran 220 outlets to all four corners.
MMmmhhh bought a harbor freight MIG welder.
- harryset
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- Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:16 pm
Re: MMmmhhh bought a harbor freight MIG welder.
'72 Standard
"I am the proud owner of a "Hoover Bit".
185 60's, EMPI disc kit, EMPI 2 1/2" dropped spindles on the front.
185 65's and stock binders on the back.
SecondSkin - Damplifier Pro and Luxury Liner Pro for sound control.
"I am the proud owner of a "Hoover Bit".
185 60's, EMPI disc kit, EMPI 2 1/2" dropped spindles on the front.
185 65's and stock binders on the back.
SecondSkin - Damplifier Pro and Luxury Liner Pro for sound control.
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- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:17 pm
- fusername
- Posts: 6806
- Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:26 am
Re: MMmmhhh bought a harbor freight MIG welder.
a lot of sears are stopping caring welding stuff, which sucks for me, but it means a lot of thier stuff is on sale/clearence. just a heads up for folks looking for a deal. I still no better than to by off brand welder. fool me once...
give a man a watch and he'll allways know what time it is. give him two and he can never be sure again.
Things are rarely just crazy enough to work, but they're frequently just crazy enough to fail hilariously.
Things are rarely just crazy enough to work, but they're frequently just crazy enough to fail hilariously.
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- Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2001 1:01 am
Re: MMmmhhh bought a harbor freight MIG welder.
No Sears or HF near where I live.
Anyhoo. Got gas, regulator, wire, welder wired up, and tool wise all set to go. Even have a new dash panel from Sherman's for the Nova. Have windshield adhesive.
Have primers and paints, but no weld-through primer yet. And I wanted to get some sheetmetal too, found a place but the sheet was too big for my car Either get a bigger vehicle or bring tin snips next time. They wouldn't cut it for me.
Also need to wait a bit longer, to get money for an Eastwood order. Need lead and butter. No local suppliers, it seems One shop sold lead, at an outrageous price, $19 a stick... while Eastwood's price is $5. Their weld-through primer was $20.
Oh well. Still need to wait.
Oh teh windshield isn't here yet so even if I had everything else, I couldn't get started. The main problem is the cracked windshield. Can't install it without fixing the rust underneath. And I'd hate to half ass the metalwork and then put a good new windshield on it and have it rust again in a few years.
Anyhoo. Got gas, regulator, wire, welder wired up, and tool wise all set to go. Even have a new dash panel from Sherman's for the Nova. Have windshield adhesive.
Have primers and paints, but no weld-through primer yet. And I wanted to get some sheetmetal too, found a place but the sheet was too big for my car Either get a bigger vehicle or bring tin snips next time. They wouldn't cut it for me.
Also need to wait a bit longer, to get money for an Eastwood order. Need lead and butter. No local suppliers, it seems One shop sold lead, at an outrageous price, $19 a stick... while Eastwood's price is $5. Their weld-through primer was $20.
Oh well. Still need to wait.
Oh teh windshield isn't here yet so even if I had everything else, I couldn't get started. The main problem is the cracked windshield. Can't install it without fixing the rust underneath. And I'd hate to half ass the metalwork and then put a good new windshield on it and have it rust again in a few years.
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- Posts: 3011
- Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2001 1:01 am
Re: MMmmhhh bought a harbor freight MIG welder.
First test weld successful!
I welded the legs on a mover's dolly, the manufacturer had not welded all around the base where the legs attach to the load bearing plate. Did not need to crank the power to max, it welded fine on the 3rd highest setting (available settings are 1-4). That was much heavier gauge stuff than any car sheetmetal.
29 foot 10/3 cable hardwired to the welder itself, and plugged in the kitchen stove outlet (50A 250V or whatever it is). 0.8mm (.030") wire, argon/co2 mix shield gas. Never tried the flux core wire it came with.
Very promising. Now my only concern is longevity. I know it can weld.
Based on the little welding I did today, I'd say it was well worth the money for occasional hobby use. With shield gas that is. The cost of gas bottle and dual gauge regulator pretty much doubles the total cost of the machine but if you get a better machine later, you have the bottle and the regulator already. I got a tiny 40cu ft bottle
and it will later on be left for alu welding and filled with pure argon. This little bottle keeps the unit extremely mobile. With the full bottle strapped to the welder, I had no trouble carrying the whole deal upstairs from the basement. The bottle stands maybe knee high from the floor.
I welded the legs on a mover's dolly, the manufacturer had not welded all around the base where the legs attach to the load bearing plate. Did not need to crank the power to max, it welded fine on the 3rd highest setting (available settings are 1-4). That was much heavier gauge stuff than any car sheetmetal.
29 foot 10/3 cable hardwired to the welder itself, and plugged in the kitchen stove outlet (50A 250V or whatever it is). 0.8mm (.030") wire, argon/co2 mix shield gas. Never tried the flux core wire it came with.
Very promising. Now my only concern is longevity. I know it can weld.
Based on the little welding I did today, I'd say it was well worth the money for occasional hobby use. With shield gas that is. The cost of gas bottle and dual gauge regulator pretty much doubles the total cost of the machine but if you get a better machine later, you have the bottle and the regulator already. I got a tiny 40cu ft bottle
and it will later on be left for alu welding and filled with pure argon. This little bottle keeps the unit extremely mobile. With the full bottle strapped to the welder, I had no trouble carrying the whole deal upstairs from the basement. The bottle stands maybe knee high from the floor.