Welder recommendations

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Hi I want to start welding and need some help picking out my first welder Im leaning towards a arc welder from harbor freight tools called 120 arc welder for about 70 bucks or a oxy-acetylene welder or whatevr is recommended I do not care what the weld looks like it just has to work and its only going to be for around the home or just fooling around making stuff and again I do not care what the welds look like and its not for any serious welding. Thanks very much
Reply:In my opinion if you are going to do any serious tinkering even if it's just lawn art (non structural) you really need both.  Oxy/fuel for cutting trimming etc.  Then an arc welder for assembling/attaching bits back together.      You can weld with oxy fuel but depending on your skills/ learning curve probably a bit harder to learn than arc.IF IT WORKS, DON'T FIX IT2 Lincoln CV-300 / LN-7 GMALinde-VI 253,400 & 450 w/MIG35 feedersCNC Table with Oxweld O/A & Hypertherm 1250G3Lincoln Ranger GXT 250Hobart-MicroWire 300ESAB Heliarc 161ESAB-Mobilemaster 2 CC/CV Feeders& more
Reply:I also just found another welder from harbor freight thats can be a arc welder to start and then you can hook up gas later is this a good deal?    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=55833               or                  http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94056    you tell me or    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=55060 this is the original thanks
Reply:I would recommend the Longevity welder.  30 day money back guarantee and 5 years warantee.   They are on this web site.   I would stay away from a used welder unless youare talented enough to troubble shoot it, sone elses junk.keith The older the boys, the more expensive the TOYS!!Previous owned;Linde 300 Amp welderMiller Gas drv welder, Tumbstone,Dayton Miller ac to dc converter,High frequency unitLongevity LS60PCurrrently owned;Longevity WeldAll 200PI
Reply:Originally Posted by welder manI also just found another welder from harbor freight thats can be a arc welder to start and then you can hook up gas later is this a good deal?    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=55833               or                  http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94056    you tell me or    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=55060 this is the original thanks
Reply:I weld for a living,   So my choice would be something other than a very cost competitive asian built machine.   Without knowing how much you might use a welder, it's pretty hard to really make a recomendation.  Lots of the hobby use guys get along very well with imports & hey if it works for you great.Personally I'd hold out for a Lincoln,Miller,ESAB, HTP America, Thermal Arc......IF IT WORKS, DON'T FIX IT2 Lincoln CV-300 / LN-7 GMALinde-VI 253,400 & 450 w/MIG35 feedersCNC Table with Oxweld O/A & Hypertherm 1250G3Lincoln Ranger GXT 250Hobart-MicroWire 300ESAB Heliarc 161ESAB-Mobilemaster 2 CC/CV Feeders& more
Reply:My recommendation would be a used ac/dc Thunderbolt, Tombstone, or Stickmate for stick welders, if you have at least 30 amps of 220v power available,  or if you only have 110v power available, then a used small mig welder.   Look in Craig's List for lots of deals on good used welders.  There are usually a ton of small 110v Lincoln migs in there for cheap and a handful of good used stick welders too.Last edited by DesertRider33; 08-23-2009 at 02:58 PM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I feel that it's doing a buyer a disservice to tell him he's buying someone else's trouble by buying a used USA built machine. Yes, you can buy trouble with a welding machine, and a little historical  browsing on this forum will be a pretty good indication of which brands pack the most of it.Look at all the old USA welders just on this site, some real antiques. Trouble from them is practically unheard of. I'd bet that over 95% of the USA built home/farm welders ever sold have never had the cover pulled for any kind of service.Personally, if I were looking for a welder in this class, I would sooner pay more for, and accept "as-is,"  the nastiest dirtiest old, Airco, Forney, GE, Hobart, Linde, Lincoln, Miller, Smith, Westinghouse  -sorry if I left anyone out- machine, before I would pay less for a brand new import with a 50 year guarantee. I mean it too. Welder-Man, Go to Craigslist and browse, you'll find for sale a good ‘ol USA buzzbox (AC transformer) welder that has outlasted the owner's welding ambition. You'll probably get a machine,  helmet, cart, rods,  and a bunch of leads included for less than a $100. Someday when you're done with it, it'll still be functional and you'll get your money back.Sounds like you're welding art, since you're an artist,  you may  want folks to ooh and ahh at your neat old welder too; in that case you might look for a high-style old welder, like a  Forney. Whichever you choose, all of the big-name USA machines were good.Good LuckLast edited by denrep; 08-23-2009 at 03:12 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepI feel that it's doing a buyer a disservice to tell him he's buying someone else's trouble by buying a used USA built machine. Yes, you can buy trouble with a welding machine, and a little historical  browsing on this forum will be a pretty good indication of which brands pack the most of it.Look at all the old USA welders just on this site, some real antiques. Trouble from them is practically unheard of. I'd bet that over 95% of the USA built home/farm welders ever sold have never had the cover pulled for any kind of service.Personally, if I were looking for a welder in this class, I would sooner pay more for, and accept "as-is,"  the nastiest dirtiest old, Airco, Forney, GE, Hobart, Linde, Lincoln, Miller, Smith, Westinghouse  -sorry if I left anyone out- machine, before I would pay less for a brand new import with a 50 year guarantee. I mean it too. Welder-Man, Go to Craigslist and browse, you'll find for sale a good ‘ol USA buzzbox (AC transformer) welder that has outlasted the owner's welding ambition. You'll probably get a machine,  helmet, cart, rods,  and a bunch of leads included for less than a $100. Someday when you're done with it, it'll still be functional and you'll get your money back.Sounds like you're welding art, since you're an artist,  you may  want folks to ooh and ahh at your neat old welder too; in that case you might look for a high-style old welder, like a  Forney. Whichever you choose, all of the big-name USA machines were good.Good Luck
Reply:I also agree w/Denrep and Millman. Since you're just starting you don't need a new machine of questionable quality giving you trouble and you not knowing if it's the welder or you. Don't think I'm saying you're stupid, learning to weld is frustrating enough w/o having trouble w/ the machine. I have heard enough of the troubles experienced weldors have w/ the asian welders to stay clear of them.                            JMHO,                                     MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Should I get a mig welder or a arc welder or a oxy-acylene welder? Im guessing a arc welder but whats the difference between them all. thanks very much
Reply:If you're doing art and little "fixits" at home, I recommend a mig. Not a wire feed welder w/o gas, a mig is a wire feed that uses gas to shield the arc from the atmosphere. It will cost more than a stick welder but I think you'd be happier w/ it than a stick welder. W/ oxy/acet. the tanks are the most expensive part and the initial learning curve is pretty steep.                            JMHO,                                        MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:do mig welders require tanks for the gas and if so what kind of gas?
Reply:Originally Posted by welder manHi I want to start welding and need some help picking out my first welder Im leaning towards a arc welder from harbor freight tools called 120 arc welder for about 70 bucks or a oxy-acetylene welder or whatevr is recommended I do not care what the weld looks like it just has to work and its only going to be for around the home or just fooling around making stuff and again I do not care what the welds look like and its not for any serious welding. Thanks very much
Reply:You can use gas shielded mig wire or self shielded fluxcore wire in any mig welder.   If  you intend to be welding outdoors, self shielded fluxcore wire is the way to go.  Wind can blow away shielding gas, which results in porosity in the weld, if using mig outdoors in on a windy day.   Although I carry solid mig wire and shielding gas on the truck, I very rarely use it.  99% of the time if I'm wire welding on-site, I'm using self shielded fluxcore wire.   I use mig wire and shielding gas almost exclusively for wire welding inside the shop.If you want to use a gas shielded mig wire, you will need a tank and regulator and a gas-capable machine (meaning one that has a gas solenoid/valve installed in the machine.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadi have to say, your comments about  not caring what the welds look like needs to be addressed.. just because a weld is not structural carrying 20 tons  does not mean it is not a serious weld. an ugly weld is probably a weak weld and you must not tolerate that, even if you are making lawn chairs and craprakes...