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I like this bumper a lot and was ready to pull the trigger when this time last year when Mike told me it was 12 week out. I replied I happy you busy but may be you could have said something in the first couple of emails. I ended up with a Costa Fabs front, yes it was twice as much but I think its twice as good. this thing is beefy 3/8 winch mount !/4 centers & 3/16 wings. It's been tested and it hold up to abuse
I've used cheep welders and finally invested into a nice Lincoln. Difference is night and day. It makes me look like i know what I'm doing.
Good names in welders would be Lincoln, Hobart and Miller. I bought a Lincoln 140 in the Home Depot version for $525 in 2011. I'm on my fourth large spool of flux core wire and it's still works well.
Im taking your advice so lets not bash me for it try and guide me in some sort of direction maybe a link to
Thank you for some good guidance, If you know anyone in Cali who is selling their bumper let me know haha id appreciate it! but yeah I do plan on taking some summer school classes at this University of YouTubeGood names in welders would be Lincoln, Hobart and Miller. I bought a Lincoln 140 in the Home Depot version for $525 in 2011. I'm on my fourth large spool of flux core wire and it's still works well.
If you have good access to a 220V power source, a Lincoln 180 is still pretty inexpensive and will weld thicker metal easier than. 115v unit.
You can find decent deals on CL too but you would need to know more about what to look for.
I think you should spend some time at the university of YouTube and learn a little about the difference between the MIG process and using a wire/filler called flux core, which is what I have been using. Flux core is messier but it's cheaper, unaffected by the breeze if I'm welding out doors (all the time) and it will penetrate a little deeper at the same setting than if a gas were used for shielding.
Being a med student probably has your attention all tied up so buying a welder and teaching yourself to weld right now might not be as feasible as simply saving money until you have enough to buy a good bumper. Other options might be; finding a good used bumper that you like, customizing your stock bumper or forgetting about it all together and focusing more on genetics.
X2 on the little $90 HF welder. Made 5 bumpers over the last 4 years with it. Also welded up shelving in the garage and have helped my neighbor with numerous projects with it. Always use quality wire and not the HF wire. The welder is a POS compared to a big Lincoln but does good welds if you have the higher amp setting always on and extrude at super slow speeds. I can weld up a full bumper with a big name brand welder in about 2-3 hours. The HF welder can do the same job in about 6. It likes to overheat on long lines so I have to do short bursts of welding and then let it cool down. It's annowing but if you have a case of beer and ESPN on in the garage then you should be fine during down time. Never gonna make any money with a HF welder since it's stupid slow, but if you have time to kill and a small budget, then it fits the bill.
Your "right on the money" on your analogy of the welder. I'm retired, so I do MOST, (not ALL) things slow. So I have never had it shut down from being overheated. But, yes if I had to make $$$ with one, it sure as heck wouldn't be a HF! Great for my uses, but like you said..... when the customer is pacing back and forth outside the bay door, the LAST thing I want is to have my welding machine shut down to cool!
