07-26-2013
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#1
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Twin Cities
Drives: 95 Talon TSI
Posts: 941
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WTB: Welder
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...der-66787.html
Let me know what you have.
Mark
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BW8776, e-85
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07-26-2013
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#2
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Is funding Exxon.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Ham Lake
Drives: like a bat outta hell!
Posts: 7,983
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Re: WTB: Welder
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.
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Is burning corn and stayin' warm!
My motorcycle is stock and reliable, my Talon is neither!
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07-26-2013
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#3
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: stillwater
Drives: cbr 1000rr repsol
Posts: 1,451
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Re: WTB: Welder
If you buy a welder buy a wire feed weld that uses argon gas.
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07-26-2013
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#4
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Twin Cities
Drives: 95 Talon TSI
Posts: 941
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Re: WTB: Welder
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.
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BW8776, e-85
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07-26-2013
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#5
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Is funding Exxon.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Ham Lake
Drives: like a bat outta hell!
Posts: 7,983
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Re: WTB: Welder
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/too...FaXm7AodxFQAQQ
Northern has a generic version too that looks identical and has good reviews for only $350. Might be worth looking in to.
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Is burning corn and stayin' warm!
My motorcycle is stock and reliable, my Talon is neither!
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07-26-2013
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#6
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Twin Cities
Drives: 95 Talon TSI
Posts: 941
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Re: WTB: Welder
Ok i'll look around. Found some good deals in Wisconsin. Nothing so far in MN
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BW8776, e-85
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07-26-2013
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#7
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2stepadepaaadepaaadep
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: bloomington, Mn
Drives: myself crazy
Posts: 822
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Re: WTB: Welder
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
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by 311evo
I put more into my car then what its worth, did it for my own enjoyment and that was all.
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^^thats what modding is about.. your own enjoyment
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07-26-2013
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#8
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Twin Cities
Drives: 95 Talon TSI
Posts: 941
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Re: WTB: Welder
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.
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BW8776, e-85
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07-26-2013
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#9
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aka Goodbye
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Re: WTB: Welder
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.
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2009 Corvette Z51-SOLD
1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX-SOLD
2013 BMW Z4-Current summer hooptie
2017 GMC Yukon-Current winter hooptie
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07-26-2013
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#10
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Twin Cities
Drives: 95 Talon TSI
Posts: 941
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Re: WTB: Welder
That's what I figured. Thanks.
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BW8776, e-85
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07-26-2013
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#11
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Osakis, MN
Drives: 97 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
Posts: 245
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Re: WTB: Welder
I have a handler 140 and with a spool gun its a shit show trying to weld aluminum. Great little welder otherwise for mild and stainless. If you're dead set on something that can weld aluminum good you'll need a tig and anything decent (even used stuff) will run you at least $1000 and that's if you find a killer deal. I usually see used Miller Synchrowaves going for around $1200-1700 on craigslist. That might be your best bet getting into a good tig machine.
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07-27-2013
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#12
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Twin Cities
Drives: 95 Talon TSI
Posts: 941
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Re: WTB: Welder
Good deal. Look like i'll look into a MIG setup for now. Then I'll purchase a nice TIG after school. Thanks Guys!
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BW8776, e-85
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08-06-2013
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#13
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Twin Cities
Drives: 95 Talon TSI
Posts: 941
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Re: WTB: Welder
Anyone heard of Tollarc? I think that's the brand. If so are they any good? It's a 240v ARC
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BW8776, e-85
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08-06-2013
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#14
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Twin Cities
Drives: 95 Talon TSI
Posts: 941
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Re: WTB: Welder
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BW8776, e-85
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08-06-2013
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#15
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Linwood, MN
Drives: You crazy!
Posts: 2,354
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Re: WTB: Welder
From everything I've been told Hobart make solid units. I'd spring for that one.
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08-06-2013
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#16
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Osakis, MN
Drives: 97 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
Posts: 245
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Re: WTB: Welder
^^^what cornfed said. Cant say I've ever heard of tollarc. The handler 140 is debatablely the best 110v welder out there. It's come in handy more than once for me to be able to take it, load it in the truck, and plug in just about anywhere. Unless you're trying to weld 1/2" in a single pass you won't be disappointed with that welder.
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08-06-2013
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#17
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Twin Cities
Drives: 95 Talon TSI
Posts: 941
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Re: WTB: Welder
There is also a Hobart 180 in Bloomington for $500
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BW8776, e-85
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08-06-2013
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#18
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Is funding Exxon.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Ham Lake
Drives: like a bat outta hell!
Posts: 7,983
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Re: WTB: Welder
The handler 140 is only $490 new from Northern Tool with free shipping. I would try to talk him down on it. If he has a tank too, then $400 is a good deal.
__________________
Is burning corn and stayin' warm!
My motorcycle is stock and reliable, my Talon is neither!
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08-07-2013
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#20
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Osakis, MN
Drives: 97 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
Posts: 245
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Re: WTB: Welder
From what I'm seeing in those pictures that welder is currently only setup for flux core. So to you have a factor in the cost of a regulator and gas lines. Been a while since I've looked but I believe that'll cost around $100 and you'll still have a slightly less powerful machine. Choice is yours, but I'd still push for the handler. Have you tried throwing the guy a lower offer?
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