The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Mig Wealeder from Harbor fright

will this welder work for limited body work, the only thing I need to weld is the new floor pan and exhaust pipes. I know some on stick welding but nadda on Mig. So of course I will be doing a lot of practicing prior to actually welding in my stuff. If not will someone please post the minimum requirements for one that will, I cant get a 220v one due to my lack of a 220 outlet, or the money to get one put.

The flux core wire is not recommended for body work, although I cannot personally verify this.

Have you thought about gas welding? Oxy-acetelyne is a pretty versatile. It is not as easy to learn as mig welding, but I like the bead it leaves once you get it figured out. With the proper prep and flux you can even weld aluminum with a torch.

I have a mig welder (Miller 251) that I really like. Until I get my shop built, it really is a pain to use and I won't get it out unless I have a LOT of welding to. I use the torch for almost any welding I do around the house.

calhere,

The price is right on the welder you have linked (Harbor Freight), but as Racecarl points out, you will be less than happy with it because it's a flux core ONLY setup. This particular process requires more heat which is what you DON'T want on thin body panels.

A MIG welder that uses a solid wire (.023) and a shielding gas is the ticket. There are many 120 volt units around that fit this bill. They are just a little more expensive because they have some added do-dads that address the shielding gas, but they make welding thin stuff a pleasure. The flux core unit will not make you happy at all.

Stuart

Ok thanks, Ill keep looking, Like I said I know nodda on MIG welding so it'll be fun to learn, but is 0.023 bigger or smaller the .030, just curious.

Racecarl as far as gas welding I have some concerns there being my garage is small im clumsy sometimes and poof there went my house. but thanks for the suggestion.

.023 is smaller wire and it is what you need to weld panels and exhaust. I would certainly recommend shielding gas over flux core. I have seen many people try to learn to weld with a flux core machine and get frustrated. If you get a good 110v mig and use argon/co2 mix, clean your metal and use a lens dark enough to shield your eyes but light enough to see what you are doing, you can learn to wire weld. Practice by welding scrap pieces the same thickness as your body panels. I have a Hobart 140 120v at home that I use for body panels up to 1/4". I have large welders at the shop up to 400 Amps. But the Hobart does everything I want to do on my jalopies at home.

I have one and it works fine. You can see the pictures in my webshots link look for the cab work. Exteban and Jesse and doing wonders.

Jake

Suit yourself,but I would be wary of stuff from Harbor Freight.To me their stuff looks pretty shoddy.Just my opinion.

I have one of these, works great to play with and learn what your are doing. IF you get one BUY the warrenty mine fried after 1 spool of wire. Combination of operator headspace, real steep learning curve, and cheap equipment. My thoughts were If I tore it up learning I would not loose much. With the $19 warrenty the 800# gave me a control # and store swapped it out no questions asked.
It will not go below 69 amps and I have blown lots of holes in anything less than 1/8" and am now getting ok beads aabout every 3-4 try. DO get some good gloves and arm protection the flux splatters ALL over the place and it's HOT.
I am planning to go after a 220v unit with gas b4 I start body work, something that will go down to 20 or so amps.
Great to play with, but if you know what you are doing get a better unit.
Brad

It will frustrate you more than anything. You could probably use it for what you are talking about if you use a lap joint on the floor pans. I have one just like it that I purchased from a local salvage place for 90% off. I paid under $20. I have relegated it to welding heaver than sheet metal. I put some nice holes in some practice runs with it. If you can swing it you will be a lot happier with a gas shielded welder. A good one that is adjusted correctly is almost like running a bead of caulk.

I have one just like the one you showed and I have been able to make it work acceptable, but if I had it to do over again I would spend a little more and get a decent MIG with gas.
The flux core splatters everywhere and is hard to weld a decent bead without leaving pin holes that you have to go back over and weld up, grind off, re-weld, grind off, you get the picture.
You can look in my Photobucket pictures, especially under the Roof Replace album, and see what I have done with a flux core.

two thoughts
`harbor freiht does not sell top quality equipment see miller hobart or lincoln. Get both versions solid and gas.

Also if you are concerned about oxy acet and feel safer with wire feed you are wrong. Probably just as many fires started with electric welding as with gas


dan bentler

I looked at the one for HF and decided to spend a little extra and buy one that will last awhile, I purchased a Clarke and am happy with it.

Ed

.030 is bigger than .023, and I agree, Harbor Freight welders are junk...I've got a Lincoln Weld-Pak 3200 and I only use solid wire with argon/co2 (Stargon) gas mix..gives a nice clean weld with no slag.

I bought one time HF MIG and returned it next day and bought Hobart 130 and very happy with it, basically HF would have worked if it had welding gas hookup, GAS is very important.

My 2Cents

Ganesh

i have a flux cored unit and would not reccomend it for body panels. too much spatter. get one with gas backup.

and i would think using an oxy-acetelene torch to weld the body panels would create too much heat affected zone, and warp the panel.

leonard

HF stuff is junk, go with Miller, Hobart, or Lincoln. Home Depot has a lincoln mig for under $400 with all the stuff you need minus the tank.

I tried some fenderwork with Lincoln Innershield wire. It burnt more holes than I had to begin with.
I bought the MIG kit and I'm lovin it.

Easy to learn on and with gas, does a professional looking job.
Use co2 for the thin jobs(the gas cools the piece) and a argon co2 mix for more penetration.

Love my millermatic 140 with autoset

A good way to lap weld the panels using flux core is to buy a metal punch, punch holes along the top panel and plug weld using your mig with the flux core. Worked great for my cab corner patch panels.

Hank

I have actually been researching this topic for a while. We have quite a few set ups at work, some with gas, some with flux. In the field a lot of times we contract welders in, and I always ask them their opinion for the best "over all" welder for home use...in terms of body work, motorcycle frames, etc., etc.. I am completely convinced from the professionals opinon and in my own experience that a "good" brand 110 volt mig with gas is the way to go. The Lincoln 135 mig with gas mix is what I am going to buy. With tools, you get what you pay for. Just my opinion, but I don't think you will be happy long term with the harbor freight. If you are just using it a few times a year to tack some things together that is one thing, but if you want a tool that will be around for years and years and you are really going to put some wire through it, I would get a Lincoln, Miller, or Hobart.
Hope that helps, and at the end of the day it is just my opinion...........

Lincoln,Hobart and Miller seem to be pretty good. The Miller has it over the Lincoln,mainly because Miller uses a copper transformer,versus the alluminum one used by Lincoln.A lot of my freinds have burned up the Lincolns just welding in patch panels.And to all of you who buy tools at Harbor Freight,good luck with them,as for me I will spend a little more money and buy quality tools.

I am not sure but I think that Hobart is owned by Miller so both of those are good choices. I have the Handler 140 from Hobart and it does great.

My son-in-law and I went in 1/2's on a Miller and it is great, the wire feed mechanism in much superior to the Lincoln. I was a fair welder with a Lincoln 225 stick welder but it took a bit of practice to do a good bead with the MIG, and the gas bottle is the way to go, makes far less spatter and helps in making a good bead.