Welder?

[GregOC]

I have a forney mini. About 40 lbs wire feed. my metal supply salesman sent it to a landscape jobsite for me to have a look at it. I had them put it on an invoice I was so impressed. I use it often to tack stuff together. Can run it off of my little Yamaha 2.3 . Stick is good to have around but a big red buzz box is the way to go for dirty large stuff and cheap enough. So I would say go with a mini mig for tac work and onsite hack repairs. Leaves funds for a good helmet and better shop mig. Can't have portable and all the options these guys list.

[MRPutz]

Originally Posted by rtpn60

I bought a small Harbor Freight MIG welder to learn with for $115 on sell. It's 120v 125a unit. It's small, cheap, works, and fits in my small FC storage bays. It was even used off my generator to repair John Finns generator slide once in Arizona after a tree attacked him at our White Tanks rally.

Keep in mind it is cheap, but it works! Duty cycle is only 20% at 90a and I've had it stop and needed to cool down, but so does my $500 Miller unit too. It's good with 1/8" material I typically weld with it.

Here's the gate I built with the Harbor Freight MIG welder. I'ts .125 tube welded to .0625 slats. I've since gone to MIG /gas and love it!

I embedded the wheel inside the lower support to eliminate gaps in the bottom. I replaced a make-shift swing gate with a nice sliding gate.

[tsdevane]

Originally Posted by rtpn60

Here's the gate I built... a nice sliding gate.

I like the craftsmanship and the overall design


Timothy

[Revision]

Awesome, thank you guys for the recommendations. I'm going to scope out CL and FB for the hobart 140 and the vulcan protig units.

[Revision]

Originally Posted by rtpn60

Here's the gate I built with the Harbor Freight MIG welder. I'ts .125 tube welded to .0625 slats. I've since gone to MIG /gas and love it!

I embedded the wheel inside the lower support to eliminate gaps in the bottom. I replaced a make-shift swing gate with a nice sliding gate.

That's a beautiful gate!

[Revision]

Picked up a Vulcan Protig 165 for $350. Figured I could stick now and learn tig as I go. Still have an eye out for a handler 140.