Cheapo Flux-core welder

[gerifalte]

Hello gents,

I was wondering if any of you can give me your opinion about this cheapo flux-cored welder:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JUJJKI/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I can get it for $125 (shipping included) from Homier.

I already have a pretty heavy duty Lincoln AC/DC 220 welder and a good Oxy-Acetylene set, but I was looking into a smaller MIG unit for small/quick repairs. The price on this thing is really low, even lower than Harbor Freight's products, so I am wondering if this is any good. I have only found one review and is very positive, but that doesn't say much. Comments?

Thanks!

G

[GuglioLS]

Not bad for the price.

The only suggestion I would have is make sure you can get spare shield nozzles and contact tips, or any other part that may need replacement.

IMHO, once you use MIG you will get spoiled real quick and will want to use it for everything, so more amps is better, then you will want shield gas. MIG welds using Ar / CO2 are very impressive, no slag and very low splatter.

Let us know how it works out.

Larry

[gerifalte]

Thanks for your reply Larry. I am debating whether to shed the extra money for a Lincoln 3200HD or just buy this cheapo. I guess I can't really justify the cost right now given I already have two good welders!

I'll let you know what I end up doing...

G

[3RRL]

I can't help you with your question, but I guess I can't blame you for wanting another welder.
That Lincoln AC-DC stick welder you have is a very good unit. Personally, I like stick welding for thicker materials, although I have never tried mig-welding. I guess it's what you get used to.

The last welders I bought in reverse order is diesel generator AC/DC welder combo. I haven't even taken it out of the box yet.
Before that, I bought a Lincoln AC220 stick for camp. Before that I had (for many years) a Miller 330AP/B TIG welder. I've TIG welded for over 30 years in the plastic injection mold making industry. That machine also has AC/DC stick on it though. Then before that I've had Forney FS235 AC stick welder and also Oxy/acetylene, of course.
I still have all those welders ... so I guess a guy can't have too many welders. ;D
Rob-

[gerifalte]

"I guess a guy can't have too many welders" You are darn right about that Rob!! I would expand that to all sources of tools too. My shop is filling up by the minute.

OK, I guess you guys have convinced me. I will get the little welder and see how it goes.

Speaking about tools and shops. Rob, how about a section/thread with pictures of the participant's shops? Mine will be pretty bare-bones compared to yours, but oh well, who can beat Mr. 3rrl anyways!

G

[Ronmar]

As GuglioLS mentioned, if you haven't done it, you will find it very handy and quickly get hooked. For that reason I would pop the extra bucks down for a Lincoln. I know it is a lot of cost difference, but you will have a good one and use it regularly for years to come. As some background, I made my living as a welder for a while before I started my career in the USCG.

What is the Duty cycle of that speedway? The little Lincoln's also have a lower duty cycle, but I bet it is bigger than the comparable sized lower end welders. If you start using it for projects, duty cycle will slow you down and force you to plan your project assembly a little more carefully around that limitation. I also think a Lincoln will handle the heat of a max duty cycle better.

Is it a hot or cold tip, meaning is the tip/wire energized all the time, or only when you pull the trigger? If it is a hot tip, and many of the lower end units are, this is VERY annoying. With MIG, you can precisely pre-position the wire where you want to start the weld. If the tip is hot, you will be flashing yourself before your shade is down all the time, which gets real old real fast. With a cold tip, you place the wire where you want to start, drop the shade and squeeze the trigger. I have worked with a few different machines helping friends set them up, showing them how to weld and helping them work out performance issues. The two that were hot tipped, were resold eventually and replaced with better machines for that reason.

Can the Speedway be upgraded to gas? If not, it is going to only ever do steel. the Lincoln 3200 comes with the regulator if I am reading the HD website correctly, so that Little jewel will do Steel, Stainless Steel, and Aluminum... And as mentioned, shield gas with solid core wire is virtually spatter free and requires no real folowon cleanup.. Just fire and forget.

Consistent feed speed is important as the feed rate determines the amperage/heat delivered to the weld puddle. Because of this the quality and design of the feed mechanism and cable/liner to the gun is very important. Glitches in the wire feed system are usually what stumble up new MIG users as they don't realize what is happening and why their welds are so poor.

I have had a weldpak 100 for 12+ years now, and it is still going strong. It has built every project I have ever posted about, and a whole lot more I have not. It works very well from 18GA to 1/4" plate. I don't know how much wire I have put thru it, but I have quite a collection of used spools holding other coiled materials around my place:)

We did a dockside availability on the first ship I was on 12 years ago(just after I bought mine at Cosco). The contractor showed up with a couple of crane singable 4'X4' frames. Each contained 4 weldpacks connected to coiled extension cords. Talking with the weld sup, he said the only time they ever had any problems with them was when the welders dropped them down ladders:)

Oh ya, and the consumables such as nozzels, tips, liners ect, for the linclon are all pretty much available at any weld supply store(and at Home Depot now).

regardless of the welder you choose, I also reccomend Lincoln flux core wire. I have tried a few different brands in different machines, and the Lincoln wire has always consistently performed well.

Good Luck

Ron

[bradblazer]

I think this is the lowest price I've seen on a mig welder with regulator.
www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200342925_200342925
It was recently on sale in the store for $219.
The ones for flux core lack a solenoid valve and regulator wich typically runs $100 for a kit.

I actually bought A CO2 regulator at HF and run straight CO2 which is a lot less expensive.
Here is a multi pass weld using my Hobart Handler 135 with CO2 and solid wire. The weld is untouched after welding.

[gerifalte]

thanks for your really good advice Ronmar and bradblazer!

I placed the order before I saw you replies! If I outgrow it I will just sell it and get a "real" machine like the 3,200HD that I have been looking for. I have seen them in the local pawn shops for just a couple hundred...

Thanks again, and I will let you know my impressions once I test the little cheapo!

G

[gerifalte]

So, I realize I forgot to post a follow-up on the welder!

I got it about a week ago and I have used it only for a small project, so I cant say too much about it, other than it's really easy to use! It only has two power outputs, and also a dial to regulate the wire speed. I was really impressed by how smooth that mechanism is. Overall I am pretty pleased with the machine. I don't have any points of comparisons as this is the first MIG machine I have used.

The only problem so far is that it trips my 110v system! Not surprising anyway, as the electrical system in my 100+yr old rural property is far from good!

[3RRL]

Do you have a portable generator you can run it from?
That might be the way to go to avoid tripping your old farm electrics?
How about some pictures...you got any showing what you been doing with it?
Rob-

[gerifalte]

Hey Rob,

Nope, I don't have a generator. Since my 220v circuit works well I am thinking I will just have to stick to my stick welder (pun intended) :-)

Right now I am working on a non-tractor related project: I am making a man-powered trike for the farm workers to haul stuff up and down the narrows rows in the farm. I started with a Futon frame and an old bike I had laying around. I have taken some pics, so if you guys are interested I will post a thread once I am done.

I bought the MIG machine mostly for that project, as I was piercing a whole lot of holes in the tubing with the stick welder, but I am getting a bit better at it; low amps and DC work pretty smoothly.

The other tractor-related welding project I have is that darn tiller that cracked. I hope I will have some time to work on that this weekend! I better hurry up because I have a couple of rows waiting to be tilled so we can plant sweet corn for the raccoons to have a feast later I will post pics on that too (the tiller, not the coons!) ;D

[3RRL]

Sounds like the trike is a perfect project for the mig and the the tiller for the stick to me.
Yea, post some pics when you can.
I'd like to see some of your tilling too! Maybe start a new thread in the Land and Garden section. I know Loretta would appreciate some tips on tilling since she got herself a tiller for the Jinma.
Rob-

[gerifalte]

3rrl said:

Yea, post some pics when you can.

OK, I will post a new thread with the trike pics in a few weeks.

3rrl said:

I'd like to see some of your tilling too! Maybe start a new thread in the Land and Garden section. I know Loretta would appreciate some tips on tilling since she got herself a tiller for the Jinma.
Rob-

There is really not too much to it. You put the tractor in low, creeper and 2nd speed, crank it to 2,000rpm or more (depending on how hard is the soil), lower the tiller slowly and off you go! Tell Loretta I will be happy to answer any questions she may have about tilling. We use that implement quite a bit so I can claim some level of expertise with it (unlike pretty much any other tractor related topic)

[odleo]

I know this is an old topic, but if you did not buy the welder yet save your money. I ahve two that are fixing to go for scrap. If you can find parts that is good. I have not been able to find any parts to fix mine with. I was given one and bought the other they worked good for about 3 months then went south on me. Contacted teh person I bought from and he wanted almost the price of a new welder for the drive mechanism. Just my experince with them

[linus69]

Northern Tool has Brad`s recommendation on sale right now for $199.00 and if you say delivery is to a business you save about $8 on the shipping.

www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200342925_200342925

Paul