cheap cheap cheap mig??

[ZX-10R Urza]

Hey all, I would like to try my hand at MIG, but i really don't wanna have to shell out 3-400$ for a welder that I'm not sure I'll use. So I went to the HF site ( ) and they got this lil 100 AMP flux-cored mig welder. I don't mind using flux core, becasue this is only a lil demo. Is the 100$ price worth the test of MIG? or should i forget? MY stick came from HF, and it's not THAT bad.

[Sberry]

First of all,, why wouldnt you use a machine if you got it? Those cheap migs are junk and thats not an opinion, its a fact. A stick machine is built differently and some cheapies will work fairly well. With all this "stuff you wanna try" take a class at the comm college, they got them all, and they have good ones. A decent small mig is 600$ and with a bottle, some wire dont even think about getting out of it for less than 700. Anything less is a total waste of money.

[Storydude1]

Originally Posted by Sberry27

First of all,, why wouldnt you use a machine if you got it? Those cheap migs are junk and thats not an opinion, its a fact. A stick machine is built differently and some cheapies will work fairly well. With all this "stuff you wanna try" take a class at the comm college, they got them all, and they have good ones. A decent small mig is 600$ and with a bottle, some wire dont even think about getting out of it for less than 700. Anything less is a total waste of money.

Yep.

I have one of those HF Battery chargers. CrapX2.

[Sundown]

If there is no school around try to find someone who has a mig and ask them if you would be able to try it out. If you lived around here I would be happy to give you a few lessons. You will not be happy IMHO, with a HF $100 flux welder. My first was a $278 [made in italy] from a big box store, had it one week, took it back and ordered a HH135, I never looked back after that.

[klsm54]

Originally Posted by Sberry27

First of all,, why wouldnt you use a machine if you got it? Those cheap migs are junk and thats not an opinion, its a fact. A stick machine is built differently and some cheapies will work fairly well. With all this "stuff you wanna try" take a class at the comm college, they got them all, and they have good ones. A decent small mig is 600$ and with a bottle, some wire dont even think about getting out of it for less than 700. Anything less is a total waste of money.

Nothing that I can add to those words of wisdom. Well said Sberry...

[hankj]

Real quick note: flux-core isn't really MIG, or GMAW. It's just wire welding, kinda like "mini stick". If you really want to compare the advantages of GMAW over any other process, you need a machine that has shielding gas provisions, and runs solid wire.

Good luck.

Hank

[MigManiac]

Try looking in the pawn shops. I found a little Lincoln Handycore 100 welder for 150.00 that i keep loaded with flux core for those outdoor jobs. Works great.

[ZX-10R Urza]

Originally Posted by Sberry27

First of all,, why wouldnt you use a machine if you got it?

don't get me wrong, I still use my stick, just wondered about other processes. My neighbor has a 220 mig, but no 220. So i'll have to wait till he get's a breaker out to his garage. It's funny, he builds demolition derby cars with no welder!

I guess i wanted to try MIG for a simple reason. I suck

really, I can make a bead on a peice of steel, but i can't USE my welds for anything.

Since stick is considered a harder form to learn than MIG, i thought i might try that.

There's nothing better than practice though (Aside from eating the brains of another welder! ). I was thinking of building a shed in the back yard outta some 1" sqaure steel tubing. Casue right now i got this huge hassle to get started welding. Gotta get the weldor outside, get a cord out there, get all my gear. etc .etc. Just a big hassle.

[ZX-10R Urza]

Originally Posted by MigManiac

Try looking in the pawn shops. I found a little Lincoln Handycore 100 welder for 150.00 that i keep loaded with flux core for those outdoor jobs. Works great.

pretty sweet, there are three next to my house, so I'll guess I'll have to check them out.

[sdcaller]

I have a Clarke 130 amp Mig which I have used for over 2 years at home doing several projects with steel and aluminum I have had no problems with it, you might consider it as a posibility I bought it thru WeldingDepot http://www.weldingdepot.com.

[Sberry]

I hear they do work and would be interested to see someone like Dan or Scott test them just for the heck of it. There was a guy here that had a Clarke 180 and bought a new HH175, he said there was a noticeable difference. I bet it you ran it side by side a 140 you would see it. Just wondering.

[Snidley]

ZX-10R Urza ,

Quote: "I can make a bead on a peice of steel, but i can't USE my welds for anything."

Nonsense. Practice is good but you've got to try some practical. Get some scrap, make some holders for garbage cans. Make a cart, a gate, some art. Just do it. You'll shortly realize as you get experience that you will be able to do lots and learn from you bad welds what you did wrong and what you would do different nextime. Just start small.

You can weld pretty much anything, anywhere with stick.

[ZX-10R Urza]

Originally Posted by Snidley

ZX-10R Urza ,

Quote: "I can make a bead on a peice of steel, but i can't USE my welds for anything."

Nonsense. Practice is good but you've got to try some practical. Get some scrap, make some holders for garbage cans. Make a cart, a gate, some art. Just do it. You'll shortly realize as you get experience that you will be able to do lots and learn from you bad welds what you did wrong and what you would do different nextime. Just start small.

You can weld pretty much anything, anywhere with stick.

thanks for the comment snidley. I was thinking of buying some 1"tubing, and build a shed int he back yard, and take a picture of my first weld on it, and a picture of my last weld on it, so i can see the difference. Guess I know what my next pay check is going too

[GunLocators]

ZX
practice, practice, practice. I suggest perfecting stick the best you can with the machine you have. One you learn to lay a bead with stick mig will be a cake walk.

[grayw0lf]

No H.F.! Definately Not anything mail order. If it comes damaged, you are completely S.O.L.

If you only have 3-400 to spend, get a little 135 MIG/Flux. Buy the bottle later.