Any welders out there? I want to get a welder but am a rookie, Help!!

[pandemonium]

ok thanks then its the bigger one ill get then

 

[smokingohiobutcher]

Well it seems I was as this very crossroad a few weeks ago and I went down the reconditioned Hobart EZ-125 way...at Toolking.com.   Its a 110v wire welder that is able to be converted to a gas shieled unit with a mod kit later if you want.  I would have liked the bigger 210 unit, but this is what I could afford. So far it has worked out great!!! I have used it for UDS work and made a cart to hold the welder. It welds so nice for such a small unit. I think it will be all I really need to be honest. Toolking was great to order from no hassels at all.

I don't know if this helps you much but I am not sorry at all I got this little welder...Goodluck on your choice.

SOB

 

[tom37]

 http://www.harborfreight.com/weldin...0-amp-230-volt-mig-and-flux-welder-97503.html

 I can say from experience that this little dude will do way more then most would think. BUT. Like said already its all about what you are planing for the future. If your gonna build a few smokers and do a few mods here and there then go for it. This is the very machine I learned on, just because it was what I could afford at the time.

Yes the big names do run better in most cases.

I have to agree if the money is available get the gas option, you can always use co2 instead of argon if you are working on all but the really thin material.

I wish I had pics of my drums that I built when I very first started but I didnt get that close with the camera. Here is a pic of a weld on clamp for my bench. Its made from 1/2 plate and the upright piece had a bevel. This was welded with the harbor freight welder that is in the above link. BTW Its welded with .030 flux core wire. Can't remember for sure but it looks like I made it in three passes.So just because its china or cheep doesnt mean it wont weld. BUT its all about the money if you can afford better go for the better, it will hold its value better anyways.

 

[pandemonium]

Thats good info once again Tom, I will go with the hf one and if for whaterver reason its no good i will just return it and get a better brand, but is that one good for thin metals like a uds drum or will it blast through the metal?

 

[pandemonium]

well i ended up buying this welder and i gotta say for the price i am impressed with it, seems like it will do anything i will need to weld, i will post pics of my crappy welds sometime lol i didnt bother using the wire that came with it because a few people said it sucks so i bought lincoln wire and lincoln tips for it.

 

[tom37]

Sorry Pan, I missed post 24 somehow. Yes you can get pretty thin with that. If you have trouble blowing thru, try finding a piece of  copper water line and smash it flat to use as a backer bar.

Check around a little bit on the wire. When I first started welding HF was by far the best price on wire. There wire isn't to bad as all. I try to buy from Air Gas any more since they do me very good on price. For instance they get 7 dollars for a roll of aluminum 1 lb. The best price I found it for at the local stores was 20 something. If you have an Air Gas near by it may be worth checking out.

 

[smokingohiobutcher]

well i ended up buying this welder and i gotta say for the price i am impressed with it, seems like it will do anything i will need to weld, i will post pics of my crappy welds sometime lol i didnt bother using the wire that came with it because a few people said it sucks so i bought lincoln wire and lincoln tips for it.

Did you replace the sheet metal ground clamp with a solid brass one??? BBQ Engineer suggested to do that when he helped me out on my decision making. They aren't very expensive and the spring is super strong...good grip to get a good ground.  Just a thought.

Later

SOB

 

 

[pandemonium]

SOB not yet but i have also read to replace it, i will pretty soon i think but its working ok right now.

 

[pandemonium]

Where would i find a good one at? im thinking harbor freight has them but probably same cheap ones?