Cheap MIG Welder - Harbor Freight

doc · Post by **doc** » Thu May 20, 2004 7:12 pm

I had a chance recently to use the Harbor Freight $129 115V MIG Welder. First, let me say I don't know how to weld, so my basis for comparison is limited. But I did use the welder to weld my trailer fenders back on (fairly heavy guage steel). Not pretty, but you can't break the weld hitting it with a 5 lb. hammer. I welded a lawn mower handle back together where my kids busted it cause they didn't want to mow the lawn anymore. This was sort of medium guage tubing which I welded, ground smooth and painted with Rustoleum. Pretty good, even if I do say so myself. Finally I welded in a small patch panel in the firewall of the '57. OK, not perfect, but not bad. Has more to do with my lack of ability than the welder I think.

Anyway, for $129, this is a tool we poor boys should consider. Even if you don't weld your classic, it'll keep your kids mowing the lawn!

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Fri May 21, 2004 5:42 am

For uses like this (heavy gauge steel) it's a great tool.

I've always suggested asking a welding supplier for leads on buying used welders. Most outside sales pros know of someone who would love to upgrade if they didn't have a welder around.

Pro-class welders get ugly -- they don't wear out. The major brand welders use "commodity" innards -- feed rollers, guns, spools, transformers etc.

We've picked up 135 Century, Hobart etc with the gas option for $175-225.

If you're welding body panels, you'll need something with fine tuning. For household repairs most people over buy tools.

T.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 21, 2004 7:12 am

The problem I have with those off brand welders, where will you get parts and service. Buy a name brand (Miller or Lincoln) welder from a welding shop or even Home Depot (sells Lincolns). Welding supply shops will honor the warantee even if it is purchased from H Depot. Harbour freight will give you NO service, simply because they don't know or care. Harbour Freight welders (with the exception of the Hobart) are made in Italy, and who is going to stock parts for them ??

lorddoom · Post by **lorddoom** » Fri May 21, 2004 10:35 am

I have the same one. It works ok, just don't try to weld anything thin with it. For generic, not critical tasks I think its a fine welder.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Sat May 22, 2004 7:48 am

The guy who taught me welding (welding director for a Fortune 500 motor sports fabrication company) said that he "Would not waste any time with me if I bought a welder that didn't have the gas option"

Normally guys have brand and/or model preferences.... he pointed out that they're basically all the same on the inside... and that it's the feed rollers and guns that need maintenance

His advice was look closely -- the parts must be interchangeable... it must accept gas... and it must accommodate fine tuning for speed and heat.

After gulping on what our first unit cost ($300).. I was reluctant to plop down the extra money for the gas tank... a year later was wondering why I wasted my time.

I still own a Harbor Freight type mig.... we only use it for non-structural decorative thick steel repairs.... I've put it in 10 garage sales without any nibbles.

T

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 22, 2004 5:12 pm

Anonymous wrote:The problem I have with those off brand welders, where will you get parts and service. Buy a name brand (Miller or Lincoln) welder from a welding shop or even Home Depot (sells Lincolns). Welding supply shops will honor the warantee even if it is purchased from H Depot. Harbour freight will give you NO service, simply because they don't know or care. Harbour Freight welders (with the exception of the Hobart) are made in Italy, and who is going to stock parts for them ??

Actually the low cost harborfreight welders are made in china but HF carries replacement parts , the plasma cutter and the more expensive welders are made in Italy one of the top welding manufacturer in the world both in quality and quantity, the parts are
mostly available , Cebora, INES, TELWIN these are the names that harbor freight uses to manufacture some of their welders and plasma cutters these names are readly available from US dealers Like daytona MIG a US company that carries Cebora welders under their US name

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Tue May 25, 2004 1:06 pm

I've bought the same item number 3 weeks in a row and received 3 different products in the box.... HF's manager said they sell it by description and not physical product.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 26, 2004 4:53 am

Century welders are a nice shop items. Though recently they were bought out by Lincoln . Unfortunately you cannot get replacemnet parts right now...... there is an 8 month wait. So when my welder crapped out I bought a new Lincoln (220v input). I did find one thing out as I was trying to get my century repaired. The certified Century / Lincoln repair man told me that the cooling fans on most 100v units are under rated. He recommended for extended use to take the side covers off and blow a fan across the circuit board. Over extending the use heats the circuits up which causes them to fail. The larger cooling fan will increase the duty cycle , however you will have to let it sit longer to cool off be using it again. Gas shielding welding will cut your weld time and give you quality welds.

Coils · Post by **Coils** » Tue Jun 01, 2004 11:15 pm

Is this the one you got?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=44567

If it is I got the same one, it's not a true mig just wire feed. It does work pretty good for the price, it's better then there under a $100 stick welder too.

crvc · Post by **crvc** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 9:59 am

Mine is one step up from the model 100. It's also a flux-core welder. Even with thin metals the mig works but I have to go agonizingly slow. Also stopping frequently to let the metal cool. Once I started that the burn-throughs quit happening. The flux-core wire is 4-5 times the cost of regular mig wire. And it's harder to get ahold of. I couldn't find 0.035 wire anywhere here and had to order it online. Mine doesn't work with thinner wire.

lorddoom · Post by **lorddoom** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:47 pm

Coils wrote:Is this the one you got?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=44567

If it is I got the same one, it's not a true mig just wire feed. It does work pretty good for the price, it's better then there under a $100 stick welder too.

That the one I have, like I said before it works ok for just throwin things together.

Goodwrench · Post by **Goodwrench** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 7:18 pm

I'm considering buying that same welder this weekend. Plan to use it welding in floor pan halves and welding some openings in the dash face. Would you consider this welder okay for that type of work? TIA.

Travis S · Post by **Travis S** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 8:16 am

Goodwrench, you would be better off buying the nicest one you can afford. For doing the pans a flux core welder is fine, but if you are doing welding on a visble place on thin metal you need gas. This would be a better option. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... umber=6098

Goodwrench · Post by **Goodwrench** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 12:45 pm

Thanks Travis...I'll look into that this weekend.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 26, 2004 3:33 am

Goodwrench if that's not to much for you, get it. That's a great price for an actual Mig to start out with.
Travis I also thank you, I'll keep my eye on this one. Can't get it right know, got some bills to take care of, if I'm lucky that price will stay for another week.

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Cheap MIG Welder - Harbor Freight

Cheap MIG Welder - Harbor Freight

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