Harbor Freight Welder

[Phil750]

Yesterday I purchased their 89.00 mig welder. After reading the manual twice I am still unsure if you rest the nozzle on the metal and feed wire. Or do you hold the nozzle off the metal and feed wire. This is my first attempt at Mig welding. Any help will be appreciated. This is just going to be used for small repairs. 86 C-20Fleetside.
Thanks! Phil:
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[makman1297]

I have one of those welders and also their 220v gas mig. The small one is a flux wire only, it takes a bit to get used to and it burns pretty hot. I was barely able to weld exhaust pipe with it, but it worked really good for some 1/8 plate steel i welded. You hold the torch off of the metal, at your desired angle and weld away. Best thing to do is go get some old steel scraps and practice running some beads. Enjoy.

[irishman999]

Learning by doing is how I learned, I have been welding on projects off and on since I was 14 and even convinced a foreman at my last job that I was a bad A arc welder somehow, just play around with it a little.

If you want to take it to the next level.... Used book stores have great books on learning to weld.

[Pyrotechnic]

There's some pretty good videos on Youtube you can watch. Also, Google search "welding safety" as this is the most important thing before you start.

I have one of those and I've built a motor bike with it. Just the other day I finally finished the spool of wire that came with it.

The mask/faceshield it comes with is a bit of a joke. I was on a tight budget, so I attached some elastic so it would stay on my face without me having to hold it. I recommend getting a better helmet though.

I recommend starting out with 1/8 inch thick steel. It's pretty forgiving and a good way to get to know the basics of welding.

[hatzie]

Some of the cheaper MIG welders leave the wire hot after the trigger is released. A friend had a Campbell Hausfeld 110volt MIG that did that before we modified it's innards.

The face-shield on a stick is good for tacking stuff but not for actual welding. I'd get a Huntsman 411P fiber helmet with a #12 to #14 filter glass for MIG (depending on your light sensitivity). They're low dollar and lightweight. Just keep em dry. I still use my 25year old Hunstman for stick welding with a #12 filter. It's my old buddy.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

make sure to practice on that cheap junk they call welding wire and get some quality stuff later, once your welds look good with the cheap stuff it will loook alot better with some quality wire

[scooterskoolkustoms]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

make sure to practice on that cheap junk they call welding wire and get some quality stuff later, once your welds look good with the cheap stuff it will loook alot better with some quality wire

yes yes and yes the more you use it the better you get.like everyone says get metal and cheap wire and weld everything you can.have fun is the most important part

[rayfinseats]

The wire will be touching the metal but the cone will be off the metal a little bit. The wire will burn as you go.

I spent like a grand for a T170 Lincoln by the time i bought the tanks and gauges, and never looked back. I have had no problems with it for like 10 years.