![]() 10/16/2015 at 17:51 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
I know nothing about these units, but $100 is awfully cheap for a MIG welder, even a wussy one... Should I buy it?
http://burlington.craigslist.org/tls/5264527805…
![]() 10/16/2015 at 18:30 |
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Good for almost nothing but sheet metal, and limited at that. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen a welder with only two fixed power settings. Or is that four, but switched in a really weird way? Either way, 80A makes for a pretty weenie welder - I weld with a 172A welder and it doesn’t even do much over 1/4” plate with heavy wire, so that probably tops out utterly at 1/8”. Which may be okay for what you’d want, I don’t know, but even relatively thin stuff can benefit from having more power than that.
On the other hand, it’s not completely useless, and it does have a gas kit that might fit a better welder that might not come with one...
![]() 10/16/2015 at 18:47 |
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hmmmm, thanks for the opinion... I have only ever done oxy-acetylene before, and I know virtually nothing about the various electric welders... 1/8" capability is more than I have now, and its so damn cheap... Good learning tool? Also, what you said about the gas kit...
![]() 10/16/2015 at 19:00 |
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It’s probably easiest to learn on heavier stuff and graduate smaller and smaller as you get a more delicate touch. That being said, 1/8” is not too small to start on by a long shot - it would only be dumb if you leaped straight in on rusted 20GA (~1/32” minus rust). I warn you, not being able to tune the power level to the perfect point between blowing through and not penetrating may get really old after a while. Then again, I’ve dealt with that grumble for years.
![]() 10/16/2015 at 22:37 |
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That is the same/similar brand Harbor Freight sells. The weak part is the transformer. They are subject to a lot of heat and they fail easily.
If you are serious about welding, buy quality. I bought a $650 Lincoln 140C from a welding jobber in Indianapolis on Ebay for $465 including delivery.
I have welded with both and the Lincoln is so much better.
I would not buy a cheap welder used. It has probably already given up half its life.