spin_dry Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 Need a compact mig, gasses welder for the van. 120v with under 30amps input. I looked at the Harbor Fright's titanium welder for under $200. Seems like a decent unit with good reviews. I already have a Lincoln in the garage for larger jobs. This is for unexpected trailside repairs and metal sculptures. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamgreen02 Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 Just saw a deal on a Lincoln from Bezos. That's probably the route I'd go over a Horrible Freight. https://slickdeals.net/f/16771823-lincoln-electric-fc90-120v-flux-core-wire-feed-welder-and-gun-203-more-free-shipping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 He should fit nicely in the van too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin_dry Posted July 13, 2023 Author Share Posted July 13, 2023 5 minutes ago, HSR said: He should fit nicely in the van too!! I knew it!! Right after I posted it. Fucking place is filled with empty head morons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin_dry Posted July 13, 2023 Author Share Posted July 13, 2023 12 minutes ago, teamgreen02 said: Just saw a deal on a Lincoln from Bezos. That's probably the route I'd go over a Horrible Freight. https://slickdeals.net/f/16771823-lincoln-electric-fc90-120v-flux-core-wire-feed-welder-and-gun-203-more-free-shipping Wow...that's a great deal. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamgreen02 Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 7 minutes ago, spin_dry said: Wow...that's a great deal. Thanks!! I was tempted to buy one to have as a more portable option. Or give it to my dad for welding traps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Member 800renegaderider Posted July 13, 2023 Gold Member Share Posted July 13, 2023 They make small bottles of c25 I think 5lb I’d think easy/small enough to carry around. Flux core is such a mess. My Hobart 140 does both but I have it set up for c25. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold War Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 Lincoln/ gas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Member BOHICA Posted July 13, 2023 Gold Member Share Posted July 13, 2023 https://www.harborfreight.com/flux-125-welder-57798.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin_dry Posted July 13, 2023 Author Share Posted July 13, 2023 (edited) 57 minutes ago, 800renegaderider said: They make small bottles of c25 I think 5lb I’d think easy/small enough to carry around. Flux core is such a mess. My Hobart 140 does both but I have it set up for c25. 1 hour ago, teamgreen02 said: I was tempted to buy one to have as a more portable option. Or give it to my dad for welding traps. Got the Lincoln from a local guy. He came close enough to matching the online price. Put it to quick work. I took on the exhaust manifold of my friend’s 3.5 ecoboost. What a fucking nightmare. The manifold warped so badly that it ripped the stud’s threads out of the head. It’s possible the mechanic he had look at may have over tightened the nut and ruined the threads. I rigged up a jig using the old manifold and threaded collar. Welded it to the old manifold as a jig to drill and tap for a helicoil insert. The weld ain’t pretty, but it worked. Cast iron to mild steel. Got in with a right hand drill to hog out the head. The new manifolds are aftermarket. They are very thick. Set him back almost $600. Should wrap it up by dinner. Edited July 13, 2023 by spin_dry 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamgreen02 Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 1 minute ago, spin_dry said: Got the Lincoln from a local guy. He came close enough to matching the online price. Put it to quick work. I took on the exhaust manifold of my friend’s 3.5 ecoboost. What a fucking nightmare. The manifold warped so badly that it ripped the stud’s threads out of the head. It’s possible the mechanic he had look at may have over tightened the nut and ruined the threads. I rigged up a jig using the old manifold and threaded collar. Welded it to the old manifold as a jig to drill and tap for a helicoil insert. The weld ain’t pretty, but it worked. Cast iron to mild steel. The new manifolds are aftermarket. They are very thick. Set him back almost $600. Should wrap it up by dinner. Cast iron to steel won't weld well. What you did is better than most any flat rate tech would have done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin_dry Posted July 13, 2023 Author Share Posted July 13, 2023 2 minutes ago, teamgreen02 said: Cast iron to steel won't weld well. What you did is better than most any flat rate tech would have done. It’s an impressive little machine. Definitely has some heat for 125v. The inverter on the van said it was pulling 15 amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Member 800renegaderider Posted July 13, 2023 Gold Member Share Posted July 13, 2023 19 minutes ago, spin_dry said: Got the Lincoln from a local guy. He came close enough to matching the online price. Put it to quick work. I took on the exhaust manifold of my friend’s 3.5 ecoboost. What a fucking nightmare. The manifold warped so badly that it ripped the stud’s threads out of the head. It’s possible the mechanic he had look at may have over tightened the nut and ruined the threads. I rigged up a jig using the old manifold and threaded collar. Welded it to the old manifold as a jig to drill and tap for a helicoil insert. The weld ain’t pretty, but it worked. Cast iron to mild steel. Got in with a right hand drill to hog out the head. The new manifolds are aftermarket. They are very thick. Set him back almost $600. Should wrap it up by dinner. Sounds like a nightmare job but good work making it work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 57 minutes ago, spin_dry said: Got the Lincoln from a local guy. He came close enough to matching the online price. Put it to quick work. I took on the exhaust manifold of my friend’s 3.5 ecoboost. What a fucking nightmare. The manifold warped so badly that it ripped the stud’s threads out of the head. It’s possible the mechanic he had look at may have over tightened the nut and ruined the threads. I rigged up a jig using the old manifold and threaded collar. Welded it to the old manifold as a jig to drill and tap for a helicoil insert. The weld ain’t pretty, but it worked. Cast iron to mild steel. Got in with a right hand drill to hog out the head. The new manifolds are aftermarket. They are very thick. Set him back almost $600. Should wrap it up by dinner. That has a good chance of breaking. Case iron cools faster than steel and the weld normally has internal cracks that will propagate. Case iron is normally welded with a Nirod rod but I've done it using a MIG process in non-structural application. In either case I pre-heated it to about 200 deg and also use a post heat to slowly bring it back down to ambient temperature. Welded a number of exhaust manifolds where I put the exhaust manifold in a grille pre-heating to 200 deg, weld it and put it back in grille and slowly turn the heat down over a period of time. You can also use a heat blanket or pack it in sand after welding to slow the cooling down. You may be fine but if it does break use a pre-heat and post-heat next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XCR1250 Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 Check Amazon, they even sell one that will fit in your hand. https://www.amazon.com/GZ-GUOZHI-Portable-Inverter-Normally/dp/B0BCDTSQ5G/ref=sr_1_61?crid=1QUI5ND42AKOI&keywords=tig+welder+110v%2F220v&qid=1689277731&sprefix=tig+weld%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-61 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin_dry Posted July 13, 2023 Author Share Posted July 13, 2023 4 hours ago, Doug said: That has a good chance of breaking. Case iron cools faster than steel and the weld normally has internal cracks that will propagate. Case iron is normally welded with a Nirod rod but I've done it using a MIG process in non-structural application. In either case I pre-heated it to about 200 deg and also use a post heat to slowly bring it back down to ambient temperature. Welded a number of exhaust manifolds where I put the exhaust manifold in a grille pre-heating to 200 deg, weld it and put it back in grille and slowly turn the heat down over a period of time. You can also use a heat blanket or pack it in sand after welding to slow the cooling down. You may be fine but if it does break use a pre-heat and post-heat next time. It’s not a high stress part. Only used it as an expendable drilling jig for the helicoil insert. It worked great. Yes, I did preheat the manifold with mapp gas before welding. The manifold is now in the dumpster where it belongs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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