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Topic: Would you buy this mig welder? It's on sale at harbor freight for $99.00 (Read 3033 times) previous topic - next topic

Would you buy this mig welder? It's on sale at harbor freight for $99.00

http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/mig-flux-welders/90-amp-flux-wire-welder-98871.html

Looks pretty good,  reviews are decent. Would I be better off with one that does gas too.  I just want it to have for car projects and stuff around the house. 

They have an auto darkening mask for $50 too.
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Would you buy this mig welder? It's on sale at harbor freight for $99.00

Reply #1 –
If your looking for something to weld thicker material it would probably be ok.... not anything like sheet metal though.
Flux core welders make an awful mess too, and shoot hot burning flux everywhere. but if your going to use it a couple of times, then I would say it's a deal. if your planning on doing panel work on your car, then no
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***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
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5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
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Would you buy this mig welder? It's on sale at harbor freight for $99.00

Reply #2 –
A family friend told me not to get anything smaller than 110A. He said the smaller ones just don't have enough power to really cut it. Someone else can probably chime in, It all depends on what you plan on doing with it.

Would you buy this mig welder? It's on sale at harbor freight for $99.00

Reply #3 –
I would hold out for a MIG vs. a flux core, if youre goin wire feed. As Jerry said, flux core makes a huge mess, but it is great for thicker metals and when welding outside. I used flux core to do my SFCs cause it was all I had access to at that time.

I average about three years out of one of their auto dark helmets using it everyday for TIG welding. I killed the first one using it primarily in overhead MIG situations.
gumby - beauty may fade, but stupid is forever!

Would you buy this mig welder? It's on sale at harbor freight for $99.00

Reply #4 –
My father bought me a Lincoln flux core welder for Christmas about a half decade ago, and I've certainly put it through its paces (built three trailers, two ATV snowplows, some roof racks for my old Cherokee, and have done countless repairs, including rebuilding a set of snowmobile skis just today). For thick metal it's the cat's ass. I also find it works better on rusty or galvanized metal than a straight MIG (although really you should avoid welding on either, but sometimes, such as when repairing the rusty frame on your old Dakota it's just not possible to avoid). It does make a spattery mess though, and you will burn plenty of holes in your clothes (and yourself) because of that spattering. It's also better for welding outside because the wind can't blow the protective shielding gas that is created by the burning flux away.

It does suck for thin metal. It is possible to weld thin stuff (I welded new rockers on my old Cherokee, as well as a new floor into it) but it's not easy. The thick wire required for flux core (usually .035") just carries too much current to get a nice arc going on thin metal without blowing right through it.

Also, flux core welders are cheaper to buy and don't require any gas but the wire for them is much more expensive. I think I pay something like $18 for a two pound roll. I'd take Gumby's advice and save the extra bit for a "convertible" welder, one that comes set up for flux core but can be upgraded to gas later on. My next welder will definitely be gas type...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

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Would you buy this mig welder? It's on sale at harbor freight for $99.00

Reply #5 –
I'm gonna hold off buying that one.  I've never welded before so I didn't know the flux core was so messy.
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Would you buy this mig welder? It's on sale at harbor freight for $99.00

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Bob;346254
I'm gonna hold off buying that one.  I've never welded before so I didn't know the flux core was so messy.


Good decision Bob.

Gas shielding is so much better than splatter welding (flux core)
I have the Lincoln 115v mig welder I bought from Summit racing for $ 350.00 . I love those welders.
Alan Mackin--Semi Professional Ford der
83 T-Bird 460
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84 T-Bird 5.0
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95 Mustang GT auto
2004 F-350 CC Dually V-10

Would you buy this mig welder? It's on sale at harbor freight for $99.00

Reply #7 –
I bought this one, got it on super sale + 20% coupon:
http://www.harborfreight.com/110-amp-220-volt-flux-and-mig-welder-94164.html

and converted it to gas shield.  I like it alot.  Took a while to figure out how to get perfect welds.  I can make textbook rosette welds about 90% of the time now.  Its 220 which welds better than the 110 buzz-boxes I had used prior.  I made a 50' extension cord that plugs into my drier outlet.

I even used it today to fix a broken door hinge for a friend.
The flux core was worthless....just fyi.

Used it to rebuild the front of my mustang and soon for the floors as well.  I'm pretty novice too, built some chairs in high school and a go-kart frame in college.  Figured I would buy this one and use it for a while to practice.  It was too good of a deal.  Maybe upgrade to a nice Lincoln or Miller later in life.  PS, if you want the coupon, swing by a book shop and pick up just about any car mag.  They usually give out 10 and 15%ers now.  I have tons of them from my subscription to  Car Craft and Hot Rod.

My car is a gravity hybrid.  The gasoline engine gets me up the hills, and gravity gets me down.
 

Would you buy this mig welder? It's on sale at harbor freight for $99.00

Reply #8 –
Cool thanks guys.  Glad I posted this, I don't think I would have been happy with the flux after reading your responses
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