Harbor Freight Easy Mig 100

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Hi, Harbor freight has the easymig 100 on sale for 84.99 or 94.99 *cant remember exactly* for 3 days this month. im only 15 and ive never welded before. and i was just gonna ask if anyone has one? and if so whats the best wire/settings/technuiqes yall have found for different materials. Im gonna be welding on lawntractors *i use them as my toys since i dont have a truck* so nothing above 1/8 steel. but im also gonna be welding mufflers. so if anyone has any input on best settings/wires then please post.And i dont wanna hear people telling me to save for a better one. im not asking people to tell me what to get im askin for best settings and what not.Thanks in advance!
Reply:Max it out and don't expect to weld long, maybe 15 minutes before it is too hot to weld and needs a break.Bill LambertArgon WeldingABQ NMSic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc
Reply:If that's the welder I'm thinking of, you can extend the welding time by adding an internal  fan for cooling.  From the factory they have no cooling fan at all--eek!  ArgonWelding is correct that you will have to max it out to weld 1/8" steel. That unit uses only gas core wire so it will weld hotter (thicker metal) than it would if it supported solid wire with argon/co2.  If you are welding thinner, then you can probably go with lower settings.  They really are functional little welders. The wire is hot all the time, not just when the trigger is being pulled.  Have fun, and if you burn it up, Harbor Freight has sales all the time.DougMiller Syncrowave 350Millermatic 252/ 30A spoolgunMiller Bobcat 225g w/ 3545 spoolgunLincoln PowerArc4000Lincoln 175 Mig  Lincoln 135 Mig Everlast 250EX TigCentury ac/dc 230 amp stickVictor O/AHypertherm 1000 plasma
Reply:Thank you both. The other two forums i asked this question in just gave me a lecture for wanting such a small machine. If anyone else has any more info please keep the comments coming...
Reply:Yea, just keep 'er cool and it should be a decent first machine.  I wouldn't use it for work, per se, but probably okay to learn on .Have a Jeep Cherokee?  Click Here!
Reply:for what they  are they will do any light gauge steelhad one a fews back for lawnmower decks and bed frame angle worked great.just remember it has its limits for the beginner it's a good starter machine
Reply:im not plannin on usin it on a production line or nothin. Just for custom lawntractor exhaust, some welding on the lawntractor's frames and whatnot. so nothing really thick. as i said before max would be 1/8" steel.
Reply:As a curious side note, the "Easy MIG" can't actually MIG weld at all.  It can only do flux core.But the thing goes on sale for $80 every so often, which makes it kind of a no-brainer if all you need to do are occasional small jobs where the world won't end if your machine suddenly gives up the ghost.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Yeah i know its only flux. But flux is cheaper then mig, and i'll only be welding outside *no wind protection*, so i kinda need flux. and i looked at lowes and the 4" roll of lincoln .030 flux wire is about $10. so this is the best bet for me. ty all for your oppinions.and as i said before, thank you all very very much for not bashing me for wanting such a cheap machine as everyone else has done.
Reply:I'm not knocking flux core -- I use it all the time.  It's just funny for Harbor Freight to call the thing 'Easy MIG,' when it's not MIG.Granted, even MIG isn't MIG, officially -- it's GMAW.  But no one wants to say 'Easy GMAW' (or 'Easy FCAW,' for that matter).Last edited by Jack Olsen; 11-06-2009 at 01:39 AM.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Originally Posted by Jack OlsenI'm not knocking flux core -- I use it all the time.  It's just funny for Harbor Freight to call the thing 'Easy MIG,' when it's not MIG.Granted, even MIG isn't MIG, officially -- it's GMAW.  But no one wants to say 'Easy GMAW' (or 'Easy FCAW,' for that matter).