TrailerTrash

thanks

Basslicks

Bush hog is all finished up. Customer was thrilled with the work!

Bugout4x4

Recently installed Linux on my laptop. Linux has fantastic security features and monitors. So it is showing me that there is a LAN connection to my laptop I was not aware of. So I went researching and it appears it might be through my smartmeter. So while doing this research a thought occurred to me about welding and having a smart meter.

I wonder if some of the problems folks are having with their welds might be a direct result of smart meter intervention and control? If I am remembering right, I started to have problems and wondered what was happing right after they installed our smart meter here at the shop. Could just be my imagination but there might be something to this...

MWMahoneyJr

I was thinking the same thing. Is this a secret machine we cannot see? Show us the rest of the mower.

(EDIT: I was behind. I now see that you've shown us the mower. Thanks.)

Basslicks

lol.... I think he was saying "you show that MFing mower" because one of the pics was me beating on it with a 4lb cross peen hammer. Damn thing was so bent up, I had to beat it into shape just to close up the gaps for some of the welds

MWMahoneyJr

MWMahoneyJr

bad_idea

You are asking for aggravation and failure using the HF machine to weld 2x6 rockers. I had the machine. It won't lay a decent bead. It doesn't have the amperage to penetrate. Save your money and buy a Hobart or Lincoln capable of using shielding gas. Scour CL and you may be able to find a used one cheap.

Martlor13

you are going to be wasting money on that machine...buy once, cry once. Welders especially or else your projects will remain projects.

Basslicks

craigslist or FB market place.... or maybe letgo.... I have a HF welder (the 90 amp flux-core machine) and yeah, I'm finally used to it and can put down some okay welds with it, but I hate the freakin' thing.

You're really better off just saving up for a better machine. Like the Everlast PowerMIG 140.... you're still limited to 110v power, but at least it's a good machine..

MWMahoneyJr

That baby is like $450!

I like that it is 110v. I'm working in a detached garage and don't have access to 220.

Look, I'm not knocking the welder, and I don't mind paying for something when it is worth it.
I just don't have that kind of money.

I've been checking Craigslist and I see a lot of Lincoln stick welders for cheap, but they are 220v. And from what I read, stick maybe wouldn't be so good in my case (floor pans, thin sheet metal.)

Hell, I cannot even justify spending the $100 for the HF welder. I was hoping I could use it to also fix our couch, which would save us having to buy another couch. I think we'll just put a piece of plywood down so we don't fall into the couch. I guess.

​

Basslicks

Speaking from experience, the el-cheapo HF welders aren't good for sheet metal either. You need a welder that can run gas and very low amperage to be able to weld sheet metal and not blow through it. OR get an affordable stick welder and buy the attachments for scratch-start or lift-arc TIG... which you'll still need a gas bottle and flowmeter for... but by the time you do that, you're almost at the cost for that MIG in the link.

Martlor13

dont rush into a purchase...thats how regret happens lol.....save up and until you can get something decent.

MWMahoneyJr

You guys are dropping truth bombs on me, left and right.

You know that's not what I want to hear. LOL.

I was hoping someone would say:
"Look, you handsome S.O.B., you seem like a capable, handsome, burly dude. From reading your build thread it seems you are really going at this Jeep resto with no fear, learning along the way and buying the appropriate budget-minded equipment to keep moving forward. I think it's time for you to step up to a quality piece of equipment.

HOWEVER, you are working with a non-existent budget, so...I wouldn't recommend the Harbor Freight $100 welder, but it'll lay down a useable weld, IF you get some good wire AND practice like hell. And you'll need a helmet and leather gloves, which is another $50 or so, minimum. THEN you need to buy material for practice AND for repairs. So just keep in mind that your $100 to start welding is more like $300."

Damn. I just truth-bombed myself...

TrailerTrash

You will hate a cheap flux core welder. You will regret buying it after 10 minutes of attempting to lay even a half decent weld. And you will probably hate the cheapo hood you buy too. Some people have good luck with cheap hoods but I never did.



As said above buy once cry once.


Buying the welder is just the beginning like you said there is other stuff to buy. You can get some $10 leather work gloves from Walmart. a Harbor freight hood will get you started. then there is the wire, probably a good extension cord, wire brush, tips, grinder, the list goes on


But you gotta pay to play man. If the funds aren't there for half this stuff then the funds probably aren't going to be there for the projects the welder will allow you to tackle