New to electric welding

[se2000]

I have a acetalene setup which I haven't used for decades. Seems I need to do some welding so I am going to take some weekend classes at a local welding school.
HF has some cheap welders on sale and was wondering if anyone has any, which model and do they work?
This is a budget thing for now so I'd like to stick to no more than a few hundred.
230v won't be a problem.

 

[fj40charles]

Do a search for welders. Plenty of threads about buying a welder and what to avoid. I would not buy a welder from horrible freight. Can you say chinese crap?

Buying a 230v welder would be a very good choice.

 

[se2000]

I read the threads and that is why I said I could do 230v. I saw threads about other brands but not the HF.
Do I hold out until I can afford a better one or get practice and some work out of something cheap?

 

[fj40charles]

Have some cash on hand and wait for a deal to come along. Be ready to jump all over it since good deals go fast.

 

[porten1134]

hold out till you find a good one. stay away from HF welders

 

[animaldevictor]

Hi there, I don´t Know, but here is the tip, learn with the cheap ones and perform after with a good one, remember a good weld is 30% Machine and 70% welder, on my small opinion, the HF chinese junk welder what I used to learn tig. still work no issues at all after 2 years, now I am in the moment that I need to move on, and do more work, that´s why I´m buying a sycrowave 200 that cost me like 3000 Us dollars, here in Costa Rica, if you are going to use the machine for work, them go and buy a good one, other wise HF welder can be a nice choice to learn and have fun just for the weekend

cheer

 

[fj40charles]

Hi there, I don´t Know, but here is the tip, learn with the cheap ones and perform after with a good one, remember a good weld is 30% Machine and 70% welder, on my small opinion, the HF chinese junk welder what I used to learn tig. still work no issues at all after 2 years, now I am in the moment that I need to move on, and do more work, that´s why I´m buying a sycrowave 200 that cost me like 3000 Us dollars, here in Costa Rica, if you are going to use the machine for work, them go and buy a good one, other wise HF welder can be a nice choice to learn and have fun just for the weekend

cheer

I respectfully disagree with your statement about learning on a cheap welder and good welds being 70% weldor skill (welder is equipment, weldor is the person welding).

Welding skill is important, but having quality equipment allows you to make better welds because it works better. That is not to say you can't make good quality welds with made in china POS welding equipment.

I don't see why you should not buy the best tool available if you can find a budget for it. No reason non-professionals can't have good toys.

Syncrowave 200 is a good machine. A better option would be the Dynasty 200DX. More features and more expensive, but will give you better results.

 

[se2000]

A great chef can make a gourmet meal out of military rations but the point is, I don't have a lot of cash now, classes and supplies add to the expense.
Anyone that know me knows I have quality stuff where I need it and probably have more tools than most if not all of you because I do so many different things.
HF has a large amount of junk. And a few very good items. I was just hoping someone had their stuff and was willing to go on record saying, I've used it and you should/ should not use it.

 

[Mace]

I have used a HF welder, I would take my Lincoln 110V machine any day over it.

BTW, I just recently picked up a ESAB migmaster 250 for $450 (thanks Charles!) to replace my old Hobart 175 (good machine as well).

The deals are out there if you can be patient..

 

[Pin_Head]

I don't have a lot of cash now, classes and supplies add to the expense.
I was just hoping someone had their stuff and was willing to go on record saying, I've used it and you should/ should not use it.

Then get a used Lincoln AC buzz box stick welder for $75 and have at it. After you learn how to weld with that, you won't have much trouble learning any other process. It will always be worth $75 because it isn't junk.

 

[Chop Shop]

A great chef can make a gourmet meal out of military rations but the point is, I don't have a lot of cash now, classes and supplies add to the expense.
Anyone that know me knows I have quality stuff where I need it and probably have more tools than most if not all of you because I do so many different things.
HF has a large amount of junk. And a few very good items. I was just hoping someone had their stuff and was willing to go on record saying, I've used it and you should/ should not use it.

But ya cant make bacon out of poop.

I think its awesome how you say you have massive amounts of tools and some HF is junk and some is not (like none of us ever figured that out) but yet you endorse the HF welders. You obviously know allot less about HF tools than you seem to think.


HF welders sucks. Get a nice used real welder for the same as a new HF one.

I recently got a miller 180 off of craigs list for $400. 220V with regulator set up for solid wire.

 

[Mace]

But ya cant make bacon out of poop.

I think its awesome how you say you have massive amounts of tools and some HF is junk and some is not (like none of us ever figured that out) but yet you endorse the HF welders. You obviously know allot less about HF tools than you seem to think.


HF welders sucks. Get a nice used real welder for the same as a new HF one.

I recently got a miller 180 off of craigs list for $400. 220V with regulator set up for solid wire.

He is not endorsing HF welders, he is asking if someone out there has used one...

 

[Chop Shop]

He is not endorsing HF welders, he is asking if someone out there has used one...

Man, my reading comprehension sucks in the tool section.

 

[Dirtsquirt]

Craigslist is your friend

That couple of hundred dollars will buy you a miller thunderbolt off of craigslist np. All of them I have ever seen are AC/DC

I have only ever used mine DC. Great tool.

I built a 3500# gvw trailer with it and a Vehicle rotosserie
and countless other projects.

As previously stated start with stick.
Move up to the expensive stuff as you develop a need.

I bought a 110 stick welder from HF 8 years ago or so.
I was gonna use it on some thin material. But I never got satisfactory result. now it is a paper weight. I fantasize about
using it some day as a pipe thawing device.

Thanks for the reminder. I think i will put that little pile on Craigslist..

 

[ready]

What do you guys think about this=lincon 185 220v mig welder =for 500 bucks? Found it on crazedlist and it will be used to help build El Conquistador-4 door fj 45 w/a short bed.

 

[Chop Shop]

What do you guys think about this=lincon 185 220v mig welder =for 500 bucks? Found it on crazedlist and it will be used to help build El Conquistador-4 door fj 45 w/a short bed.

if it has a bottle and you can test use it then sure.

If it has no bottle then beat him down to 400.

If he wont let you test it, just leave.