http://da.harborfreight.com/cp...elder

I've been wanting to start learning how to weld, but I can't afford the equipment. Harbor Freight sells some cheap welding stuff. I want to know if it's decent and even worth the money. Obviously there's a difference between this and Snap On grade ****. But maybe someone can tell me if this will work for my needs or if I need to save up for something better.

Basically I want to be able to fabricate my own suspension and chassis brace parts, brackets/adapters for seats, alternator relocation. Make my own exhaust and turbo piping. Nothing beautiful or fancy, just purely functional. I'm not going to be selling or mass producing anything. So this welder will probably see some light duty usage.

What else would I need to buy?

 

If you are serious about learning to weld and actually making quality welds then the only thing you should buy from HF is an auto dimming helmet.

Just save your up your money and get a Hobart/Miller or a lincoln. Keep an eye on craigslist for used ones also and definitaly get your self a gas bottle for argon/co2.

I've done flux core wire feed and solid core wire feed. After you do solid core you will never want to ever touch a flux core welder again.

 

are the welds done with flux core not the same as the mig? ( i know that they might not look the same) but are they weaker or something?

 

Weaker? I cant say for sure, its easier to get an accurate and clean weld with solid core. Its the amount of slag and spatter involved with flux core that makes it messy. And for me it was not safe, some spatter flew over onto some rags and I had a lil mini fire in my garage.

One advantage of flux core is that you can weld thicker pieces of metal with one pass and the metal does not have to be perfectly clean.

 

If you can deal with the mess then go for a flux core. As for strength, my rock sliders on my 4runner are flux cored on and I have beaten the **** out of them and jacked the car up on them numerous times. Those welds are strong as hell but ugly as sh#t

 

Thanks for the advice! Will do.