Harbor Freight welders?

How bad are these welders really? Let's I say I just want one to learn with and do small jobs. I have access to a bunch of welders but they are a decent drive away.

I'm sure it's like everything else at Harbor Freight: it'll work, but won't be the best, and you'll eventually trade up to a better one.

I did use one of their welding helmets from approximately 3 minutes. Then it un-dimmed whilst my face was 9" from an arc. Yea, that got returned.

I'd rather use JB Weld then a HF welder.

I paid $125 for my Lincoln flux core. It's the cheapest Lincoln out there, and it does so much nicer than a HF welder. Keep an eye out for lightly used stuff, and be ready to jump on the right deal.

I've had good results with my HF MIG. I've been using it since the mid 90's. They tell me the newer ones are not the same as the one I have. I have 2 of the auto darkening HF helmets. Best thing for welding evar.

I have a Miller 230 amp AC stick (SMAW) welder for big stuff or when it absolutely positively has to stick.

Can you trust used welders? It is sold now but I saw a Miller 110V MIG for $200.

I recently got the H-F FCAW welder. I also just got a visit from my brother who has taken many welding classes and has a Hobart Handler 187 MIG among others. He tried my welder and admitted that it wasn't nearly as big a berkeleying piece of E36 M3 as he had expected it to be.

I'm not sure if that qualifies as a favorable review, but there ya go!

I have an old one that fluctuates in output voltage some times after a lot of use.

In reply to 93EXCivic: I've always bought used ones. Good old welders last forever and someone is always upgrading.

93EXCivic wrote: Can you trust used welders? It is sold now but I saw a Miller 110V MIG for $200.

I bought a used Hobart Handler 140 a couple of months ago to replace my Campbell Hausfeld. It's the best $200 I've spent in a long time. The difference between the two is like night and day.

I have a HF 220v stick welder I have used it a bit, but my cousin who used to be a prof. welder hs used it a good deal, he says it does a good job, we even used it to weld up my cage. I wouldn't want to use it in a professional capacity, but for home use it's great.

Name brand welders are cheaper to own.

Buy a used one. then use it.. and if you don't like it sell it for what you paid for it..

Buy a harbor freight welder.. and try to give it away... the trashman might take it..

Can you trust used welders? It is sold now but I saw a Miller 110V MIG for $200

Yep.. just be ready to move when another comes up... darn right it sold.. I don't need one..

Most welders are VERY simple machines.. Not much to break..

hess is right. those are decent helmets.

I bought one, used it to do a subframe repair on my E36 18 months ago. It worked, haven't plugged it in since. May use it again to install the header I just got for said car. But yeah couldn't justify spending $400 on a name brand welder considering my desire to weld is "only if I absolutely have to".