Topic: buying a welder... exaust an ok first project

[the technological J]

Im thinking of buying a welder some thing around a hundred or so bucks and on a 110line.... prob from harborfrieght..... what am I not gonna be able to do with this... like what will my limitations be... no custum frame stuff
Is the exhaust an ok place to start With modifications? I have a few beat exausts around to mess with

[rbmgf7]

Are you wanting to make a useable exhaust? If so, you might want to start off with some practice pieces of similar wall thickness to get the voltage and feed rate correct. Try and get one with an Argon/CO2 hookup. You can begin with flux-core to practice but if you want to get serious, the gas will give you a better weld.

If I had the choice to pickup a welder, I'd look into a used TIG. They can be had for about a grand, used. With TIG, you can make more meticulous welds. Best for making exhausts.

For a beginner, you're fine with the HF MIGs. Just practice!

[Grabcon]

May I suggest before you buy a welder, maybe take a class at a trade school to see what welding is all about.

[FuZZie]

Don't even bother with those cheap welders unless your only farking with tin cans!

[jamesb]

the harbor freight welders are ok in a pinch. i bought one i have had it for 5 or 6 years now i have got it down to a science on using it the only problems is that the bearing that feeds the wire gets worn out and the wire wont feed this has happened 3 times now the 3rd my extended warranty was up so i used a small 3'' clamp and it works fine. like rbmgf7 said you'll get better results with gas wire feeds, and practice makes perfect. if you go with the hb setup make sure you get the extended warranty. i use mine all the time. i just did my sons 60 belair exhaust with it and my 72 gmc exhaust and it has held up just fine. i've even done some patch repairs on some of my cars.

[ofreen]

A cheap welder can be a very frustrating thing.  Weld with a cheapie, then weld on a good machine, and the difference is instantly obvious.  Welding thin material with decent results takes good heat control and smooth operation, something usually lacking in cheap machines. 

[Eddie]

I just bought a Mig135 from Eastwood. It had great reviews and features. Looked at may others and read all the reviews and the Eastwood looked the best. $500 got the welder, spool of wire, cart, gage for the gas a hand held shield and a auto,darking helmet. Thing welds awesome !  highly recommend..

[K5owner]

Friend of mine has a Harbor Freight model and its "okay". The Eastwood Mig135 is a nice piece of equipment. Before buying any welder; know what you're thinking of welding and what you might have in mind for future projects. Metal thickness will determine amperage & wire feed. I started out with a Hobart 120. Great machine, and I was able to sell it at a decent price to get the Lincoln.

Once you get your welder...   practice (a lot) & try different metals/thicknesses.
+1 on taking a welding class. Many of the vocational & community colleges offer them.

[70CB750]

Dont waste money on HF. Get one of the three - Lincoln, Miller, Hobart - or you will never learn to weld.
To take a class is the best way to start, before you buy anything. 110 box will weld everything on a motorcycle, the structural solution is as important as the weld quality.
My first project was Miging new exhaust for my jeep, but i am MSc in MechEng - I at least had the theorethical background, it was still very frustrating project using rented welder. You can borrow one for $50 bucks a day to give it a try.

Best project for beginner? Weld some angle iron frame, flat bars overlapping and such. The exhaust is thin walled, you will keep burning holes in it, dont ask me how I know:)

[faux fiddy]

May I suggest before you buy a welder, maybe take a class at a trade school to see what welding is all about.

+1
uhh okay... or play around with othe people's sh8, And learn by do. But save  job (your  part) until you are very comfortablw with the setup and how to use it.

find some old car sdkins to weld together first, and uhh screw them up on purpose so you know what bu8rns a hole and what makes blobs, and slag hammer it after that.... (?)

$100 harbot freight welder, get what you pay for.  $ 100 to have some guy do your part for you, maybe it will actually look good and be quick and be done.

[the technological J]

in the long term im thinking of making my own exausts or tacking up frames the way i want..... then taking them to someone who backs their work ( i have a local chopper guy in mind)

[Don R]

I built a light car trailer for our two jr. dragsters and honda 3 wheeler tow vehicle a few years ago with a 110 mig. The biggest issue is the duty cycle. 2 minutes welding in every 10 minutes. I did pre-heat before starting a bead. 

 It was still going down the road last I knew with a front engined blown hemi dragster riding aboard. 
 My 12 year old daughter learned to weld on it. She would never tell anyone even in jr high shop class, but she did great. I put leathers on her and a leather apron because I knew the first time she caught a hot BB it would be over with.

[Stev-o]

I self taught on a Millermatic 240V TIG, practice, practice practice. I can really appreciate a nice bead.

[Grabcon]

Remember welding is a technical art. Technical from the material knowledge, equipment and experience. Art from making the weld a thing of beauty.