89dxhunchback

There are somethings you don't buy from harbor freight, but I took a chance and bought this welder http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=06271 for $200.

I just got done doing all the 220V wiring in my house and I welded a few things with it. And its 250X better than the 85amp cambell-H one I used to make my IC piping with. I still haven't got to use it with gas yet ( Harbor freight was out of regulators at the store I went to ), but even the flux core stuff looks pretty good !!!

A welder posted on a message board that he opened up his $$$$ Mac tools welder and the internals matched part#s and everything with the "cheap-o" off brand one he has, so I bought this one ( the difference he noted was the controls were better on the $$$$ one ).

Anyway, here's the break down...
$200 welder
$20 15 monoth replacement warrenty
$60 autodarkening lens helmet ( light years better than the old "flip-a-roo" helmet I used last time !! )
$6 leather welding gloves ( burnt through my craftmans machinic's gloves last time )
$10-$13 gas welding wire ( 0.030 )
Total at harbor freight was $301
House wiring = $65
reglator was ordered and cost $40 shipped
and I payed $70 for a filled "R1" bottle

Total = $476 for a total 130amp gas/flux core welder... You can't buy just the gas welder for that 9/10 times !!!

Maybe after i redo my IC piping and do some IC piping on the SR20 powered 240sx, I'll post some pics. Besides that just wanted to let everyone know the option for a cheap welder package( for people that don't weld 5 days a week ) can be had at a decent price...

iluvmysh

well i'm a total n00b to welding... what do you mean you just got done with your 220v wiring? you have to rewire your house's wiring to 220volts? what gauge metal does this welder work best with? what is the R1 refill? please, enlighten the n00b....

Dr.Boost

If you don't already have a 220v plug handy you need to add one. Depending on your house, it could be very easy or very fucked up. If you paid someone to addd it, you could expect to pay anywhere from $200-$500 just for the 220v addition.

Depending on the welder you buy you can use the plug your dryer uses, but you dryer would have to be in the garage(most of them are out here). You could possibly tap off the water heater and add a plug off that, but you woul have to bypass the water heater when you are wleding because the welder and the water heater on at the same time will trip the breaker.

I hope I helped.....
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iluvmysh

you did..thanks..

i believe my dryer plug looks exactly like any other 3 pronged plug in my house?

DA-MAX

I know my old *** house doesn't have any decent 220s, I blow the breaker using the microwave and toaster at the same time luckily we have a generator, it should have a 220 on it...looks like I might be getting a cheap decent wleder afterall! nice find!

Dr.Boost

Then your dryer is gas. If the electrician who wired your house was any good he would have ran a 30amp 220v line to it for future use in case the owners changed their minds and wanted to use an electric dryer. If this is the case, you have it made. Go to the hardware store and pick up the plug that matches your welder and hook it up in the box your spare dryer plug is. This will work as long as your welder is under a 30amp rating.
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