WTB: Welder

[mark4g63t]

Looking to begin my welding journey. I am looking for a good tig welder to begin welding on. I've heard tig produced good welds for automotive stuff.
Looked at this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/tig-arc-welders/240-volt-inverter-arc-tig-welder-66787.html
Let me know what you have.
Mark

[JET]

Welder is one of those things you don't want to go really cheap with. What type of stuff are you wanting to weld? MIG has a much better learning curve and is faster, but won't weld aluminum for crap on the cheaper ones. TIG to get a decent one you are looking at more money and it is harder to learn.

[93gtpeater]

If you buy a welder buy a wire feed weld that uses argon gas.

[mark4g63t]

Yea i'm just seeing what's out there. I don't want to go cheap but I don't need a thousand dollar unit to start out with. I'm going to be starting school and will be taking a welding class. I want to be able to do some basic things for now (make brackets, fill holes, make catch cans, side project bar stool racer, ex.) I will eventually want to be able to do aluminum and make things like intakes, roll cages and SMIM and exhaust manifolds but that wont be for a while obviously and most likely on a different machine. Basic stuff for now.

[JET]

Start with the MIG. Hobart Handler 130/135/140 is a great little starter machine. The feed mechanism is a big finicky, but once you get it set up it is a great little welder. Under $500 new:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200471413_200471413?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Welding-_-Wirefeed%20Welding-_-15165&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=15165&gclid=CJ_o2KL0zbgCFaXm7AodxFQAQQ

Northern has a generic version too that looks identical and has good reviews for only $350. Might be worth looking in to.

[mark4g63t]

Ok i'll look around. Found some good deals in Wisconsin. Nothing so far in MN

[19TsiAwd90]

I learned how to weld on a mig in just a few days. They are super easy to learn. You can get stainless wire for it, even aluminum(i haven't tried welding aluminum yet). I have done many little jobs like fixing my buddies trunk latch, welded a cutout on my downpipe (back when i had a dsm) welded wideband bung in downpipes.. and much more, they are really versatile. but it all comes down to prepping the welds and having the right heat/speed combo to get good penetration(cue the funnies!!) without over heating the areas and causing warpage

[mark4g63t]

Good to know. That is basically the stuff I want to start out with. The Hobart 140 says it can do aluminum as well. Obviously not huge projects tho. I'm starting to lean towards something like that now.

[Goat Blower]

The handlers can't do aluminum for crap, you need a tig for that. But realistically, 95% of what you'd do for car and home stuff is mild or stainless. You can't beat it for the money.

[mark4g63t]

That's what I figured. Thanks.