Anything welding

Sometimes you luck out sometimes it is a paper weight .

I just love the people buying what the clueless call Suitcase welders (LN-25/ 12VS etc) we get one now and then poor person complaining it does not weld. If it does work depending on age I might make an offer.

 

Glad it was easy!!

 

Just catching up on this thread so this may have already been addressed.
Does the stock, lower arm bracket look like the weld is broke near the top? About an inch or so?

 

I just noticed in this pic that there's a crack forming right above the alignment tab mounts.

 

hahaha good eye. You liking my comment prompted me to go back and I just noticed the same thing.

 

Welded up my downpipe and most of the exhaust. Still waiting on some o2 sensor bungs and trying to decide if I want to add a muffler or not.

 

Zoomies or GTFO.

 

Second update. The first fix was a band aid. After a few inches of weld, the machine started to act up again. Turns out the trigger switch was bad and my previous kajiggering with it just kinda held it in place long enough to work for a little while. Replaced it today ($25) and immediately noticed a difference in the weld quality and even the sound of the drive roll motor. As an aside, I saw a YouTube video where a dude opened up the trigger and replaced the SPST temp switch inside it (a $2 part if you can find it locally). Sadly most electronic stores around here are complete failures for stuff like that or have staff that have no clue what you're talking about. They had the switch at my welding shop so I picked one up while I was getting a few spools of wire and I figured why not. It was worth the few extra bucks since I have orders that need to be filled and don't want to wait a few extra days.

 

Also picked up this little gem form Amazon warehouse for $100 off. Cuts through steel like butter and makes super fast, clean cuts. Loud as hell though but probably less damaging to my ears than my abrasive chop saw that I was using since it was just as loud but took three times as long to get a less accurate cut that I'd still have to clean up with a flap disc. Ear protection either way.

$367 Evolution Power Tools EVOSAW380 15" Steel Cutting Chop Saw , Blue

https://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Po...MX0EVGN0GBC&psc=1&refRID=D9KYZCDEAMX0EVGN0GBC

 

Lol I'm just gonna go straight piped for the time being.

 

One of my friends has one of these and really likes it:

https://www.trick-tools.com/Fein_Slugger_14_inch_TCT_Chop_Saw_MCCS14_2180

I wonder if this is some sort of new saw technology, when I was a kid the only metal cutting saw in shop class was this wet saw monster. But then again, it was a public school shop class..

 

The evo saw is the “economy” version of the slugger. Having never used the slugger I can tell you this one is really well built.

 

I thought they looked pretty similar. Nice to bracket a price range this way too.


Dang tool wishlist never seems to get shorter.

 

Alright, so I wasn't sure if I should start a new thread or ask here.. figured id just ask you guys because 748 pages is rough to read lol

I know absolutely nothing about welding other than I've wanted to try it for a few years. Obviously as a beginner I won't weld huge projects, but if possible (In the very distant future) I would like to try a cab mount relocation, archive shock relocation, or maybe even build my own shock towers, bumpers, etc. the possibilities are exciting.


The downside is I have more exciting ideas than money
so im wondering if the harbor freight titanium 125 would suffice? seems like an upgrade from this one? maybe??

 

I’ve got the smaller one and I really really like it. Bigger one is just that much more awesome.

 

I would personally save up some extra and buy a welder than can use shielding gas and isnt flux core only like the titanium 125 that you linked is. Just going to give you more options down the road

Something like the MIG 140 (for ~400) or the MIGMAX 140 ( for ~570) for harbor Freight offerings. Id also take a look at the Hobart 140 which is ~500.

 

Some people will tell you different and I am by no means an expert but I own the cheaper of those two welders and I am happy with my purchase. I feel comfortable welding 1/4” steel reliably on the correct settings.

The titanium would be nicer than the Chicago electric because of the increased adjustability and improved duty cycle, but for me it wasn’t worth the extra $70ish. I built an entire rear dual swing out bumper for ~$650 including everything - all tools, supplies, wire, paint...

Main thing is practice. I would say that it would be nice to have more adjustability learning so you don’t have to compensate with how you weld as much, but it also could be overwhelming.

 

Or look for a used machine. Hobart, Miller, ESAB, etc all have better support and better machines than HF and will be more fun to work with, not to mention probably last longer.

 

Another truss on a d44. This miller machine is just about broken in I’d say

 

im having a hard time believing this did not warp.