Re: [Amc-list] rust (welders)

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

I more or less agree with Mike. I have a cheap Campbell-Hausfeld 100V wire welder and it's fine for light things -- no more than 1/8" thick. So for rust repair on sheet metal it's great. BUT... I didn't get the cheapest model. I made sure mine was capable of using a gas bottle, not just flux core wire. When you opt for the slightly better model you also get four heat ranges. I use mine on the third setting 99% of the time. Flux core wire can be used, but the welds won't be pretty and will have lots of porosity (holes!) in them. So get out the grinder and weld over every pass at least once more to fill in the gaps, then grind some more to make it look presentable -- but still not like "pretty" welds. The bottle will run at least $100 over the cost of the welder, but doesn't cost much to fill. You can use straight CO2, but an Argon/CO2 mix is recommended for the 110V welders. With straight CO2 I'd be welding on the highest setting all the time, which wouldn't be a big problem b
 ut would mean you have to let the welder cool down a bit between passes if doing a lot of welding.  You can get good enough to make welds that need no grinding with the bottle, but it takes a lot of practice. I used to teach welding, but now by the time I'm making good welds I'm almost through with the job if it's a small one (10-15 minutes of weld time, maybe 5-10" of weld bead) before I'm making nice pretty welds again. Welding is 20% knowledge and 80% practice! You can know exactly what to do and still have to practice to get it right. 

So no, I can't recommend the 90A/110V MIG welder form Harbor Freight. They don't list the prices on the website for welders, which is strange (at least they don't load right now). They don't even have a 110V MIG, all are 220/230V. I bought my C-H from Wal-Mart of all places, but it works fine for what I do. I have easy access to a 200A stick welder at my brother's farm shop about 100 yards away, so don't need to have a HD welder. Think I paid a bit over $200 for mine new, then about $90-$95 for the bottle with the first filling of CO2/Argon mix gas. That was a few years ago. Here's a good deal from Northern Tools on one similar to mine, might be better built but who knows? 
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200342925_200342925
Everyone who thought enough to write a review (some beginners, one listed himself as a "professional" welder...) seemed to like it. It's the LEAST welder I'd get, but if you have a 220V outlet you can get to (electric dryer in/near the garage?) I'd make a 20-30 drop cord (make sure it's #10 wire!) and get the 220V model. 



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Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 17:12:47 -0700
From: Mike Kindle <mike90066@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Amc-list] rust
 
If you get good at welding, there is nothing you cannot fix.  In my opinion:
You will not get good at welding with the POS HF welder.  There is not enough adjustability 
and many you can't even hook up inert gas to.  I have a chronically cheap friend who went this route.
I got to play with the HF welder a bit and it was bad.  He then sold it.  Don't waste your time.

I got a used Lincoln 110 wire welder for a hundred bucks off craigslist and now I confidently 
weld things with great success.  I suspect it will outlast me.  It is worth it to get a good
 welder you are going to want to use, rather than a cheap one you are going to want to avoid using.
It is okay to be frugal.  It is not okay to be cheap.

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)


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