Cheap - Wire Feed Welders ??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 18
From: DFW Texas
Cheap - Wire Feed Welders ??
Anyone ever used one of these 'cheapy' welders for exhaust work?
Can't justify the cost of a $500+ mig welder, but for just a touch here and there on some very infrequent projects, just wondering if one of these 90 amp 110v units would do the job? Can use different kinds of wire feed, including mild steel and stainless wire as well. Some around the $200 range can use 75/25 gas with external tank... for mig welding.
I know the duty cycle is way low, but again, not in any hurry with it. Just an odd job here or there.
Opinions, Experience, Guesses? Anyone?
Can't justify the cost of a $500+ mig welder, but for just a touch here and there on some very infrequent projects, just wondering if one of these 90 amp 110v units would do the job? Can use different kinds of wire feed, including mild steel and stainless wire as well. Some around the $200 range can use 75/25 gas with external tank... for mig welding.
I know the duty cycle is way low, but again, not in any hurry with it. Just an odd job here or there.
Opinions, Experience, Guesses? Anyone?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 412
Likes: 1
From: CT
It'll work for exhaust.. but wire feed welders can be finicky and a piece of junk might not be worth it in the long run.
You might not be able to buy parts for some no-name welder you bought at Walmart or Harbor Freight or your favorite Chinese tool retailer. If you buy a Lincoln or something, you can easily find a dealer.
Obviously, if you buy a 110 welder, you can't weld very thick material... but if you only want to weld exhaust or autobody sheet metal, you should have no problems.
You might not be able to buy parts for some no-name welder you bought at Walmart or Harbor Freight or your favorite Chinese tool retailer. If you buy a Lincoln or something, you can easily find a dealer.
Obviously, if you buy a 110 welder, you can't weld very thick material... but if you only want to weld exhaust or autobody sheet metal, you should have no problems.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 9
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
Bought a Lincoln at Home Depot and it works great I would buy the new Miller next time. Set ***** to wire size and thickness of material or something like that and go with it. I have stick welded for 30 years and bought this for thin stuff. Worked good so far for the 150 or less I paid. Miller is made in USA
Lincoln Mexico 
You could weld 1/4" steel or swap to aluminum wire.
Lincoln Mexico You could weld 1/4" steel or swap to aluminum wire.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 9
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 2
From: Haymarket VA
CI 7-8 Veteran
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
I've got one that I've been using for the last 2 years (lincoln).
It does excellent work, as long as you use it correctly and for the maximum guage of material that it's designed for (although I have successfully welded up to 1/2 inch material with it.. preheat, preheat).
I have done stainless with it as well with the MIG adapter kit, and you can do a very professional job as long as your settings are correct, and you push your puddle rather than pull it. Downhand welds are not very good with these units.
It does excellent work, as long as you use it correctly and for the maximum guage of material that it's designed for (although I have successfully welded up to 1/2 inch material with it.. preheat, preheat).
I have done stainless with it as well with the MIG adapter kit, and you can do a very professional job as long as your settings are correct, and you push your puddle rather than pull it. Downhand welds are not very good with these units.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 9
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,396
Likes: 2
From: North Manchester Indiana
I dont know wher eyou can buy one for 150, especially a lincoln.
I have a miller, have used a lincoln and bought a hobart. The hobart is a cleaper miller, but still a great machine.
I got mine for 400 with cart and regulators, you dont need a tank, you can use the flux wire, not as pretty, but will do just fine. I stop at 1/4 inch then break out the tig or stick welder.
DONT buy the cheapos, nothing but problems, spent the money and get a lincold or miller or hobart. get at least a 120 amp. They have some pretty nice ones, the new miller 110 volt is killer little machine.
I have a friend that bought one of the cheapos, it never feeds right, the damn thing always screws up the wire, ( smashes it and then sticks in the tip)...the rollers are not machined right and they crimp the wire no matter how you adjust it, I have the roller off to remachine the groove right ( today in fact) . he wishes he would have listened and bough the miller.
I have a miller, have used a lincoln and bought a hobart. The hobart is a cleaper miller, but still a great machine.
I got mine for 400 with cart and regulators, you dont need a tank, you can use the flux wire, not as pretty, but will do just fine. I stop at 1/4 inch then break out the tig or stick welder.
DONT buy the cheapos, nothing but problems, spent the money and get a lincold or miller or hobart. get at least a 120 amp. They have some pretty nice ones, the new miller 110 volt is killer little machine.
I have a friend that bought one of the cheapos, it never feeds right, the damn thing always screws up the wire, ( smashes it and then sticks in the tip)...the rollers are not machined right and they crimp the wire no matter how you adjust it, I have the roller off to remachine the groove right ( today in fact) . he wishes he would have listened and bough the miller.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 807
Likes: 21
From: Los Altos CA
I have the Harbor Freight cheap welder. I bought it because it works on 120V and I was welding on a fence. I was able to do what I wanted but it was not as easy to use as my 240V AC stick welder. Took some getting used to. I expect it would be fine for exhaust work after some practice.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,267
Likes: 40
From: Phoenix AZ
Years ago I debated getting a wire feed. I ended up with a Hobart TIG-mate. This way I can weld anything. Steel, Stainless, Aluminum, etc. Not the best for big projects like a 300 meter fence, but it does have the stick welder clamp too. Only drawback for some is 220/240V. But man I can weld 3/8 aluminum, even though it gets the torch hot. (after tripping 30 and 40 amp fuses, had to go 50 amp).
It was around $1200 8 years ago.
It was around $1200 8 years ago.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 14,522
Likes: 24
From: Washington County, South UTAH
I bought a Harbor Freight(HF) 220V mig welder. It was on sale for $200. I have only used it twice and it seemed to work fine. BUT, I am NEW to mig welding and a poor judge of mig welders.
One of my shops had an Itiallian made HF unit, we bought in the early eighties. Worked fine(acording to the techs) till I left, in 1994.
One of my shops had an Itiallian made HF unit, we bought in the early eighties. Worked fine(acording to the techs) till I left, in 1994.
