Just thought I would ask if anybody in the central pa area would be willing to help get some new sheet metal welded into the floors of my xj. My floors are rotted through and it is due for inspection, I am sure the last person paid extra for the last inspection but I don't know any inspectors that would do that for me up here in PA, I did in Texas though. I don't have many tools, I would have to buy a drill and a rivet gun to repair the floor the crappy way but that's what I might have to do if I can't find anybody willing to help me for a affordable amount of money putting in some floors with their welder. I thought about buying the 90.00 harbor freight special welder but I am not sure a first time welder + pos welder would be good.

 

To be honest you would get your moneys worth with a cheapo harbor freight welder. They are not the best in the world but for small jobs they do work pretty good. I picked one up several years ago and it helped me repair my Chevy p/u and several other vehicles of my own and friends. Just find some scrap metal and practice with it. They do work good for sheet metal such as body panels and floor boards.

 

Thanks. I found a coupon for the harbor freight 90amp for 100 bucks. I am going to try a lazy state inspection place to see if it will pass. If I can get it inspected I will save up for the welder I really want, the eastwood mig welder and fix it before the winter, if it fails... harbor freight junker and some license plates for now.

 

The old girl passed inspection. I was told it probably will not pass next year because the rust will become a safety issue if not resolved. This is exactly what I needed, time to save up for a eastwood mig 135 with gas. I might do the rocker on the driver side as well this year even though its about 70% solid (looks solid from the sides). Can't wait to be able to fab my own transfer case skid plate, fuel tank armor, remove all my crappy exhaust u bolt clamps , and maybe even my own 1/4 plate bumpers.

http://www.eastwood.com/mig-welder-1...5a-output.html

 

Glad you got it taken care of. At least good enough to get the inspection passed on it. Like I said the HB welder is good enough for body work and floor boards but not to good for heavier metals. Just keep practicing with it until you get yourself a better welder.
BTW, Thanks for the update. I hate when someone never lets us know if they got there problem taken care of.

 

Before
Them harbor freight welders are pretty good I welded most of that roof rack together with mine all 1/4" steel then front flipped the Durango directly on top of it and not a single weld broke it didn't even bend any welds. although the flux core splatters more it is a harder weld than gas mig... that's also how i learned 150+ lbs of steel has no business being on the roof of a vehicle

After

 

Stay away from the HF welder. Save your money. A flux-core welder is simply not the tool for the job. For it to be done right, you need to MIG weld it. I've done two floor pan jobs now with my Eastwood 135, and it's been great. Even that has been a challenge with some of the sheet metal in my girlfriend's car.

Highly recommend you save your pennies for the Eastwood, it's the best bang for the buck. I'd offer to help but my time is limited as is. I'm in southcentral PA

 

Thanks. Yeah I wouldn't mind learning with a HF but the lack of adjust ability sounds great when dealing with crap metal like my exhaust. I took my xj to a joke of exhaust shop up here and they put it together with 10 u bolt clamps, only one weld.. for a hanger. I really want to help my friends up here that also are broke 4x4-ers, you can find a decent XJ with rotted floors for dirt cheap up here... just a few days of work and some sheet metal and your back in business, or do it the easy route and cut out floors from a good jeep in the junk yard, not sure if my 28V Milwaukee sawzaw will work or if I should have a battery jig saw, I know theres a guy with a torch as well.