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| CentralCoaster | Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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I have $200 worth of tools I need to return to Sears, and this welder isn't much more than that.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00920580000P Looks like it will be "good enough" for small tasks and comes with a mask. How often do you need something thicker than 1/8" steel anyways? I also don't have a 220V circuit and I don't really feel like installing one. "Lincoln Electric Handy MIG welder kits are compact, portable, and lightweight wire feed welders that plug into a 115 V, 20 amp outlet and are user-friendly. Four voltage settings and continuous wire feed speed adjustment allow you to weld mild steel from 24-gauge to 1/8 in. thick. And it's easy to get started since practically everything you'll need to MIG-weld is in the box, including: * Welding gun and cable assembly * Work cable with work clamp * Gas nozzle, gas regulator, and hose for MIG welding * Gasless nozzle for flux-cored welding * 2 lb. spool of .025 in. SuperArc L-56 solid mild steel MIG wire * 1 lb. spool of .035 in. Innershield NR-211-MP flux-cored wire * Three .025 in. contact tips * Three .035 in. contact tips * Welding handshield with #10 filter plate and clear glass cover plate * Chipping hammer/brush * 35-88 amp output * Welds both MIG (shielding gas sold separately) and flux-cored * Cold contactor safety feature keeps welding wire electrically "cold" until gun trigger is pressed * Selectable voltage ranges for precise control * Fan-cooled for long life expectancy " |
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Posted on: 2009/1/15 0:15
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| JrRifleCoach | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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IMHO no. But then again, you never listen to me anyways.
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Posted on: 2009/1/15 0:20
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As democracy is perfected, the POTUS represents more closely the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day, the folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a fool and narcissistic moron. |
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| Livin_the_dream | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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The duty cycle is what would worry me 20% at 70 amp output. However the reviews seem to be pretty good on this unit. Stop by your local welding/gas supply house they may have one and may be able to fill you in on pros and cons
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Posted on: 2009/1/15 0:32
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| joeld | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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As long as you accept the fact that this welder will only weld thin gauge metal, then it's "OK". But that hand held shield is worthless with a mig welder. It usually takes most people two hands to use a mig welder properly, one to control trigger and one to help guide and hold gun steady. With that amp capacity the welder will " spit & stutter" some even on thin gauge until it runs for a second or two. But this is about the same as my welder and I get by.
Just buy a few extra grinding discs to dress up the welds. Joel |
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Posted on: 2009/1/15 0:35
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| CentralCoaster | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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Ah shit, I thought that was a helmet. I've always used 2 hands when welding.
Looks like auto-darkening ones are only $100 though. |
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Posted on: 2009/1/15 0:45
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| joeld | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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Yea, I made that mistake years ago.
But the welder does have one good feature, the "cold contact", eliminates accidental arcing of the wire. Joel |
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Posted on: 2009/1/15 0:58
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| Ramrod | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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I've had one for about four years, it gets the small stuff done quickly and if you go with multiple passes after grinding it works well on the semi thick stuff. Not a bad starter rig. I don't use any gas with it just the flux core, kinda messy but that's what the grinders and wire brush are for.
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Posted on: 2009/1/15 3:18
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1996 LT-1 DynaSpark Opti, Tapered Rear Wheel Bearings, SS Brake Lines, Speed Bleeders, MC Bias Spring, Hawk HPS Pads, MSD Wires,NGK Iridium, lowered, etc. |
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| BillH | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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The Stig Moderator
 
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I'd had this welder for 15 years. Mine has 2 dials on it instead of one. The extra one controls the wire speed.
I bought it specifically to take to the racetrack because it works with my 4000 watt generator. I've used it for everything from spotting in sheetmetal panels on a car to welding up jackstands for the formula cars. Does it weld like an expensive Lincoln or Miller, NO, BUT: For the money, it's great. And it's portable. I wouldn't weld any suspension/frame points on a car or things like a car trailer hitch but for anything else up to 1/8, it works well. It will cost maybe $120 to get the argon/co2 bottle but, it's worth it. The flux wire is a pain in the ass. AND, belive it or not, I'm using the Harbor Freight auto darkening helmit that I got for $35. I've had it for 10 years. Like the welder, is it the best, nope. Does it work, Yep. If you want to move up to the next level, you'll have to spend $1,500 min and use 240 v. So, for $300 (with tank) it's a good deal. |
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Posted on: 2009/1/15 14:23
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| JDSWHITE93 | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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Senior Guru
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The small welders are all made by Cebora and rebadged as everything from Clarke, to ATD and Astro. I do not know if this is in fact a Cebora welder though. Check to see where it is made as Cebora welders regardless of what name is on them are made in Italy. If it is a Cebora unit it will be fine and if it is actualy made by Lincoln Electric then you can't go wrong either. If you want a big window auto darkening helmut let me know I stock everything from Jackson Products 'U.S.A." to a $49.00 Titan helmut whcih for the $ is really quite nice.
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Posted on: 2009/1/15 14:59
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The few, the proud, the crazy, the LT1 owners association :thumbright: |
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| BillH | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Quote:
They're Lincoln, made here. Yep, good quality for the money. I looked in my paper Sears catalog. My 110 v is actually a Lincoln MIG 100 wjich is in the catalog but I didn't see it on line. The Titan sounds like a good deal. Auto darkening really helps me. With a conventional helmit, every time I nod my head to lower the helmit, I move the gun and miss the spot by 1/8th. |
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Posted on: 2009/1/15 15:27
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| Midnight85 | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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I don't know how you plan to use it but you could probably stitch weld with it all day if the material isn't too heavy. Stay away from flux core wire, you might as well be using a stick welder, very messy. I bought a Miller years ago when I was building my tube chassis Chevelle, I wouldn't have anything less because many times my welds have been on a critical part. If they weren't so expensive I would have a tig.
Bottom line is that if all you want is a small part welder then go for it but if you are going to be welding anything heavy then pass on it. |
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Posted on: 2009/1/15 16:03
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HORSEPOWER! Some is good, more is better, too much is just right. |
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| cuisinartvette | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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Elite Guru
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auto darkening helmet is a huge plus if youre a beginner, get the gas also, flux core is a pain, messy and easy to miss a spot and not see it.
I borrowed one similar to that and it worked well on a frame brace and exhaust, just gotta get the heat/speed right. Tips and wire are cheap at your local home depot. |
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Posted on: 2009/1/15 18:16
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| CentralCoaster | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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Ok then.
I bet you guys would approve of this one? http://cgi.ebay.com/Lincoln-Precision ... %3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 |
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Posted on: 2009/1/16 2:15
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| joeld | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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Guru
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YEA! I'll take that one myself!
Actually I would approve the other one, just wanted to help you understand just what to expect from it. Joel |
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Posted on: 2009/1/16 3:09
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1989 Coupe,L98 automatic |
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| Ramrod | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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Senior Guru
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Holy $hit!! Nice Rig........... only 3 G's
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Posted on: 2009/1/16 5:49
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1996 LT-1 DynaSpark Opti, Tapered Rear Wheel Bearings, SS Brake Lines, Speed Bleeders, MC Bias Spring, Hawk HPS Pads, MSD Wires,NGK Iridium, lowered, etc. |
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| BillH | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Nice enough, but it's a TIG and TIGs are pricey. If I had the bucks to get a TIG, I still wouldn't give up the little Lincoln. |
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Posted on: 2009/1/16 15:12
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| CentralCoaster | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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Senior Guru
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That $3K looks like it includes everything but gas and a mask.
Are you guys saying I should use gas regardless? I've used flux core before and yeah chipping slag sucks, but with a little talent the weld will be as good as any. First I've decided that I invested a bunch of money in paint guns and equipment, and I haven't used it much, so I need to put that to use before I can justify spending $500+ on a welder. I don't mind buying good shit the first time, but I gotta at least be sure I'm going to use it first! |
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Posted on: 2009/1/16 15:57
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| Schrade | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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Elite Guru
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Quote:
Would this welder work?  |
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Posted on: 2009/1/17 1:26
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| cuisinartvette | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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Elite Guru
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Just use gas, flux core sucks.
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Posted on: 2009/1/17 1:37
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| BillH | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Quote:
That's the big question, how much will you use it. It's the same as buying the compressor or buying a car lift. You're just starting to accuire the "bigger ticket items" and you already have the compressor. You've got $200 to play with, what do you need the most? I can't remember, do you have an engine crane? It's like a welder, don't use it that often but when you need it, it's there. There's nothing wrong with flux core and yes, the weld can be just as good. It's just not as convenient. I used my Lincoln for a year with flux before I bought the mig bottle. For a $100 out of pocket, you have a welder. Get the bottle later. When you decide to build a tube chassis get the big welder. Also fot that price, you could get a used acc torch. You're going to keep buying the big shit anyway, just a question of when and how much you'll use it. I bought a big Atlas/Copco lathe 10 years ago with all the tooling for $300. Don't use it much but I'm damn glad I bought it. |
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Posted on: 2009/1/17 13:44
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| CentralCoaster | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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Senior Guru
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Part of the problem is all this crap has to go in a one-car garage and still leave room to work on a car. So far so good. It forces you to be efficient with space I need to be buying more square footage.
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Posted on: 2009/1/19 20:48
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1985 Z51, ZF6 |
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| BillH | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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The Stig Moderator
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Truer words were never said. That's why I'm selling my place. |
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Posted on: 2009/1/20 13:50
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Every man dies but not every man lives. |
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| Ramrod | Re: Is this welder worth buying? | ||
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Senior Guru
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I don't mean to be anal.........but....... in the picture with the girl holding the torch..........the guy grinding isn't wearing safety goggles!!!!! I hope this dosen't reflect on the GURU's not being safety minded? Hey I work for the state, tooo long time to quit.
P.S. Nice Pair......of gloves that is. |
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Posted on: 2009/1/21 14:12
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1996 LT-1 DynaSpark Opti, Tapered Rear Wheel Bearings, SS Brake Lines, Speed Bleeders, MC Bias Spring, Hawk HPS Pads, MSD Wires,NGK Iridium, lowered, etc. |
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