Recommend cheap welder
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 90
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From: Colorado Springs
Recommend cheap welder
I'm building a hardtail sportster bobber and need to get a cheap and easy to use/learn welder...I have no experience so it has to be easy as possible .Does anyone have any recommendations or tips on what to look for,,,,thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
RE: Recommend cheap welder
Before you start building something you are going to bet your life on, you need to take a welding course or two and learn what you are doing. Welders make 30 to 40 dollars per hour for a reason. You don't learn it over night and start trying to build motor vehicles.
Bill
Bill
Banned
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,292
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From: Sacramento California!!!
RE: Recommend cheap welder
ORIGINAL: billnourse
Before you start building something you are going to bet your life on, you need to take a welding course or two and learn what you are doing. Welders make 30 to 40 dollars per hour for a reason. You don't learn it over night and start trying to build motor vehicles.
Bill
Before you start building something you are going to bet your life on, you need to take a welding course or two and learn what you are doing. Welders make 30 to 40 dollars per hour for a reason. You don't learn it over night and start trying to build motor vehicles.
Bill
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Windsor, CO
RE: Recommend cheap welder
I'm not a mechanic, by any stretch of the imagination, and I'm sure some of the real welders on this site will chime in here with some real advise soon, but until then I'll tell you what I bought. I also wanted to learn to weld (it's a LOT harder than it looks) but didn't want to spend a lot to learn. So I bought a welder from Harbor Freight. I paid $99 on sale, and I've been using it about 18 months now.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=55167
I built a small go cart a couple months ago using this thing. It's only got a 2 HP weed wacker motor on it, but the darn thing has held together pretty well. I'm not sure I'd do a lot of motorcycle welding, especially for frames and such, but for small jobs (fabrication of sheet metal, etc.) this welder seems to be perfect.
And for what it's worth ... practice a bunch before you try anything complicated or important. I probably burned through $100 worth of steel trying to figure out the rudiments of this welding thing. I wish I had a local Vo-Tech or trade school nearby where I could take classes, and if you've got one then I'd suggest taking the class. Otherwise get a couple good books or better yet ... get some friends who know how to weld (and have patience) to teach you the rudiments of the skill.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=55167
I built a small go cart a couple months ago using this thing. It's only got a 2 HP weed wacker motor on it, but the darn thing has held together pretty well. I'm not sure I'd do a lot of motorcycle welding, especially for frames and such, but for small jobs (fabrication of sheet metal, etc.) this welder seems to be perfect.
And for what it's worth ... practice a bunch before you try anything complicated or important. I probably burned through $100 worth of steel trying to figure out the rudiments of this welding thing. I wish I had a local Vo-Tech or trade school nearby where I could take classes, and if you've got one then I'd suggest taking the class. Otherwise get a couple good books or better yet ... get some friends who know how to weld (and have patience) to teach you the rudiments of the skill.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,061
Likes: 52
From: So-Cal
RE: Recommend cheap welder
Don't buy cheap tools. A Harbor Freight welder? I avoid thathouse brandlike the plague. Get a good one from Esab, Miller or Lincoln. If you're welding tins, you can MIG it with a small 110-volt unit, but I recommend acquiring some skills and a higher amperage 220-volt welder (I've used MIG but most TIG weld) for the frame and brackets.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,741
Likes: 1
From: South Jersey
RE: Recommend cheap welder
Get a good name brand mig welder. You'll love it. It doesn't need to be big either.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
RE: Recommend cheap welder
Spend the money and get good tools.I've seen small Lincoln migs for around $500.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,872
Likes: 83
From: Canton, Michigan
RE: Recommend cheap welder
Check out your local adult education or community college for an evening welding class. Well worth the time/money spent. Plus you'll get to practice (which is something amateurs don't do a lot of). I know I'm lookingto take another welding class this fall.
For a decent welder that will lay down good welds you can't go wrong with a Miller 180 MIG. However, most of the experienced frame builders/welders will use TIG to put together a frame. While the average home wrench can lay down decent beads with a MIG, running a TIG takes practice.
For a decent welder that will lay down good welds you can't go wrong with a Miller 180 MIG. However, most of the experienced frame builders/welders will use TIG to put together a frame. While the average home wrench can lay down decent beads with a MIG, running a TIG takes practice.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
RE: Recommend cheap welder
I'm another one for taking a class.I did this after I got out high school.Welding takes practice.laying bead after bead after bead.
I would not take on a task like you want without learning how to weld first.Your life will depend on it.
I would not take on a task like you want without learning how to weld first.Your life will depend on it.