Suggestions? (calling welding Oppos)

"JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t" (jawzx2)
10/17/2016 at 13:33 • Filed to: None

MIG/Flux-core welder. 120volt. Budget of <~$500 to include mask and accessories. I have some oxy-acetylene experience, but it’s been a while and this will be my first arc welder. Learning/hobby tool.

DISCUSSION (18)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
10/17/2016 at 13:37

Go at least quasi-name brand. Don’t get something Chinese/etc. that uses oddball parts such as tips, because you will be replacing spools, tips, shields, and so on pretty often.. You may be best-served getting used, seeing as how even a basic Hobart Handler 140 will run you ~$490 at Northern Tool. (A Hobart is a down-market Miller - readily available parts). Also, try to shoot for one that you can upgrade to gas down the line, because flux-core is evil.

HammerheadFistpunch > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/17/2016 at 13:39

I’ve don’t weld, but I just got one (well its been in my family for a while) and while searching the forums for specs I keep hearing that Lincoln is a good cheap starter brand, but from what I’ve also read, just make sure you can do gas conversion and not rely on fluxcore . Like Ramblin said basically.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/17/2016 at 13:44

know anything about Forney? They’re offering some rebates right now...

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
10/17/2016 at 13:56

Just did some research. The current line of Forney welders used to be sold as Clarke, used to be sold as Craftsman. They’re Italian welders being sold by a reshuffled concern mostly inhabiting the skin of the historic Forney brand, though there is some continuity and they do have some warehousing of parts for the old pre-Italy welders - which is the gold standard for “is this new company even close to being related”. Loose descent, but it’s more like “historic Forney got out of welders mostly, rearranged their business, then had opportunity to buy Clarke concern, reshuffled again, bought new space, now sells Italian welders”.

Bottom line, they don’t appear to be bad welders, but the parts and bits could be a little odd and you might be chaining yourself to Home Depot, unless your local welding place is a dealer.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
10/17/2016 at 13:59

I’ll give it this - it doesn’t seem to be a Chinese-who-kn0ws-what-the-fuck welder. Just... not ‘MERICA and previously of a Harry Homeowner grade. Research gas kit availability if you go that route at a minimum.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/17/2016 at 14:01

hmmm, interesting...

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
10/17/2016 at 14:01

Get a good auto-dark helmet with as big a window as budget allows. Doesn’t matter how good the welder is if you’re blind.

crowmolly > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
10/17/2016 at 14:07

See if you can find a used Lincoln/Miller. People tend to sell ‘em to move up to a larger unit with some level of frequency.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
10/17/2016 at 14:10

It depends on the application. I bought a MIG and auto darkening helmet for what probably equates to a bit over $200 and it makes messy but solid welds on thinner metals (it wont penetrate really thick plate properly). This is fine for me since its only used on thin car panels and the welds get ground back afterwards.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/17/2016 at 14:12

Yup, everything they said. And flux core is the worst.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/17/2016 at 14:14

They have a “model 309" that is $440 after rebate and comes with gas line and regulator, 140amp.

The used market is *CRAP* around here for some reason. People on Craigslist trying to sell a used Lincoln HandyCore without the freebie accessory pack and a damaged cord for $275, and they they jump right up to high-end stuff for >$1000...

I no longer trust eBay.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > I Will Always Be The Honey Badger
10/17/2016 at 14:18

The helmet is a good priority and probably worth getting newish. He can get a lot done with a good helmet and medium grade welder that’s a bit used that he can’t with a weak blinding helmet and a new low-grade welder filling the air with stank-ass flux fumes.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
10/17/2016 at 14:27

The model 309 is probably similar to the Hobart Handler 140, but more Italian. Doesn’t sound like you’re leaving yourself much budget for a good helmet if you go for one, though the gas kit is nice to have at the outset. It’d at least be a good place to start, and you could do worse than something that Herp Derpot supports.

The used market is hit and miss on this stuff in general - you can go months without there being much good and then stumble on a really nice (if old) Spoolmate rig with a Spoolmatic I gun with the gas kit and some aluminum wire thrown in for $600. Not that I got that a while back and am bragging... much.

Actually, you might have more luck with a local classified paper (as seen at a local convenience store) than Craigslist on this. It depends.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/17/2016 at 14:36

I have Clarke MIG kit I bought quite a few years ago and I’ve been quite happy with it. I got the welder, cart, crappy mask, some other miscellaneous bits (cheap brush, metal hammer, etc.) and the gas hoses and regulator. I think I paid around $400 for all of it. I had to buy a better mask, jacket, and gloves, so I was probably $500 all in. Granted I don’t do a ton of welding (couple times a year max) but it always does what I need it to do.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Snuze: Needs another Swede
10/17/2016 at 14:43

We’ll put that down as an anecdote in favor of the Forney al forno, then.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
10/17/2016 at 14:45

Snuze: The New Slobalt says that his Clarke seems to be a pretty good unit, so we’ve got one positive review in this thread so far for the Forn issimo.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/17/2016 at 15:31

well, this is what my Amazon cart looks like right now:

Kinja'd!!!

$50 rebate on welder, not gonna quibble about $40 +/- on $500...

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
10/17/2016 at 15:41

Looks pretty good. You’ll be burning metal in no time.