Chicago Electric Welder

[viking]

Anybody have a welder from harbor freight? Are they crap?
Haven't put a bead down in probably 20 years but would like to have one here in my shop.
Need to put an exhaust kit on my truck and want to tach on my exhaust tip (so need it to work with Stainless steel). Also need to weld part of my boat trailer fender when my flat tire tore it apart those are just a couple little jobs on my list.

Also looking at getting a decent drill press. Hows about this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/16-spee...ess-43378.html

Or do I ignore HF for these items and go name brand?

[wolfeman131]

HF always seems to be hit or miss for folks. Whatever I purchase from there, I consider it disposable.

[Hoopskier]

No experience with HF/Chicago line. I have a Hobart MIG welder (built by Miller). I have been happy with it. It can run on flux core wire or solid wire with seperate tank of shieldling gas. Shielding gas is more user friendly in my opinion. Runs on standard 110v.

My dad has a cheap drill press from Menards. It physically works for what we use it for, but I could not recomend it. It has low power, spins to fast, and arbor seams to be sloppy. But it doesnt get used to often.

[chawk610]

I had a Chicago Electric angle grinder once... that worked ONCE.

I wouldn't trust a welder from them. If you can, I would get a Lincoln or at least a Hobart.

[Suprahunter]

Chicago Electric is pretty much junk. Check craigslist for a good brand used unit . You may be able to get a few technique pointers from the seller when you test the welder.

[newty]

Buy the lifetime warranty for it for $30 bucks then you never have to worry about it.

[bergermaister]

I own the little light duty $90 wire feed welder from HF. I've ran at least 5 spools of wire through it with no issues. It will do up to 1/4" pretty well. Just need to do a little adjusting of the feeder and clean the tip every once in a while. I'm no welder but I built an 8ft utility trailer using it. I didn't opt for the warranty though. Figured if I could get a few years of light use out of it I'm good.

[parrothd]

I bought this Mig the other day when it was on sale when it was closer to $300, works great. The harbor freight one only does flux core wire, not sure if they sell stainless with flux core..

http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Electr.../dp/B000QFNZ74

Forgot to mention get the auto darkening helmet, well worth it...

[viking]

thanks guys. I think i'll start shopping around for a hobart, lincoln, miller or the like. Not a pro by any stretch of the imagination so don't need anything fancy. But I do like things to work when I tie into something. Reliability is a must for me.......that's why I Moomba

[chawk610]

Are you thinking a wire fed or an actual mig?