Cheap MIG Welder - Harbor Freight

[poldo]

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 they are made in China the GAS version I believe cost $200 or less and it is a decent machine, copper transformer and a decent wire feed mechanism equal to the one found in the low end Lincoln.. probably made in china anyway the parts are available from Harbor freight but you can fit Lincoln and hobart consumables without modifications..

[Coils]

If you guys are looking for an actual MIG, Wal-Mart has one for just over $200, I think 235 to be more closer. You might want to look into that one if you got a Wal-Mart near you.

[Kywoodwrkr]

Travis
Notice that there is not a regulator mentioned.
It may be plumbed for gas but I didn't see a regulator mentined in the info.
As Sturm and Ruger said, let the buyer beware!
Read and then reread.
DaveP

[caamperman]

I think gas is the way to go once you try it you'll never go back. but I think you paid a good price for the one you have I work close to a Harbor Freight and am tempted to go look at these Ive never seen the online catalog ( until now-thanks ) because the store is so close but Ive never noticed a mig welder so inexpensive. I might have to buy one just for repairing the kinds of things youve mentioned.

[Good-ol-Dad]

I bought a Mig Welder from Harbor Frieght myself. I'm just now practicing but I happy with it so far. I would have preferred one of the big brand names but the budget just won't allow it.
The one I bought supports Flux-Core & Gas up to 5/32 and also can Weld Alluminum. One thing that surprised me was the Warranty. I thought it would come with a 90-Day Warranty. It actually came with a Limited 5 Year Warranty.
If you go with Harbor Freights, be a bit patient because they post Sales quite frequently. And download the PDF document for that model off their Web site.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... umber=6098

PS - Coils, Thanks for the link to this Web site. You are a wealth of information for us DIY folks.

[Rowdy]

I've never welded before, but I'm sure it something I can handle with a little practice. I'm building a rail buggy and need a welder for exhaust pipes, rail buggy frames, trailer repair, and also simple home repairs. Will these Harbor Frieght (on sale under $200) MIG welders handle these kinds of jobs? Are they a good choice for a newbie welder?

[doc]

Thanks to all for the great replies over the last weeks. It seems pretty clear to me that the guys who have used the Harbor Freight or other "cheapos" haven't been too disappointed, so at least they work.

Equally as evident are the comments from the more experienced guys that if you really want to do more than fix your trailer fender, there's just no substitute for the regulated gas MIG products. I suspect they are 100% on the mark if you are really considering body panel work. But, alas, we're definitely talking more money.

I'd like to hear more about experiences with used welders. This sounds like a good alternative. Few of us will use a welder everyday, but would be better served by a quality unit. Cosmetics can be solved with a can of spray paint.

Is it true that the basic components of a Lincoln or Hobart, etc. really don't wear out? How do you keep from getting burned with a "problem" unit? What sources for used? I suspect the weld shops in my area would mark up significantly any used unit they came by - they sure aren't giving away the new ones!

Any comments?

[chris64]

lincoln welder from pawn shop 200$ selonoid for mig package from home depot that you can install yourself 90$ the look on that boys face when he saw that fixed lawnmore...priceless!!

[FITNESSFORYOUTOO]

I know this is an old topic but I thought I would add my two cents, I have a 15 year old HF 110 mig welder with argon gas I purchased new. I took the gun apart the first year and changed out the plastic tube the wire runs though for a Lincoln metal one made for .023 wire. I also made a brace to hold the first couple of inches of cable coming out of the box.
With these two mod's the welder has been welding as good as any name brand welder for years now.

[doc]

I've had my HF for a while and have done some welding. As FITNESS described above, I have had the same issues with the wire feed and have had to take it apart and mess with it a few times. Other than that, it has worked just fine. The better I got at welding, the less trouble I had with the machine. I remain worried about what I do if I need a new cable and gun setup.

I think I will make the same changes that FITNESS made on his. Thanks!

doc