I was a structual steel welder for 15 yrs, ironworker and Boilermaker. I would advise you DO NOT buy a welding machine from Harbor Freight, even if you are just getting into it. Look on Craigslist for a used one, Lincoln, Miller and even Hobart, all good quality machines. I take it you will be doing light gauge stuff out of your garage and stuff, so you should be able to find run that runs on 110 or 220, thats plenty enough to power the stuff you will be doing. Learn it and get good at it, the world will always need good welders. Plus if u get good enough, u can pick up side jobs and make some decent money, welding ornamental iron and residential work on your spare time. Have fun. Remember, welders do it hotter
You're an Ironworker?? So we have something in common besides McFlurry's? Let's be friends.
FWIW, I've used little Harbor Freight squirt guns installing 1 1/4" Sched 40 commercial railings in the past w/o issue. Not ideal, but I think it would be fine for a hobbiest just starting out. If you get a $1000 set-up, use it for a month and then it sits in your garage, it's not worth it.
Mostly light work around the house and for a hobby. I might plan on doing some exhaust work as well, but from what I understand, I have to use a stick welder to do aluminum, don't I? I think I read flux line Mig welding won't work on light alloys
yep, welded using different kind of wires and rods from 0.45 flux core to 3/32, 232 (nasty shit) xlh nickel, 7018, 6011, p5. Full pen, partial pen, fillet, sub arcs dual tandem and single. Structual steel is my pedigree though, and fabrication. Worked on alot of big projects from hospitals, high rises and alot of hotel/casinos in Vegas. Wish i would of learned TIG when i had the chance.You're an Ironworker?? So we have something in common besides McFlurry's? Let's be friends.
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Bro I gave you my run down on this....buy the lincoln
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