New HTP welder on sale for 349

http://www.usaweld.com/MIG-130-s/116.htm

not mine, but still interesting. especially the 90 day money back guarantee...

Andrew

Looks like a great price. But what is up with only having 4 heat settings? I have a TIG set up so what do I know? I guess the wire feed speed can help control the heat a little (please school me)? Let us know how it works out if you buy one. I would love to have a MIG setup for all the hard to get to stuff.

You will have to play with the settings to get it right. Having only 4 settings is one of the short cuts they took to get the price down, and possibly push buyers to a more expensive, full featured, unit. You will probably use the highest heat setting most of the time, play around with wire speed to get the bead right.

I have no experience with HTP. My Lincoln however does have a similar setup, with 4 heat settings. It works fine for most of what I need to do, which is usually sheet metal or tubing. cwh is correct in the need to experiment with wire feed settings.

Just remember that this unit is set up as a flux cored welder, you have to pay more to get it to work as gas shielded. This limits you in terms of doing bodywork (thin gauge stuff) and cleaner looking welds. It really depends on your application.

How does the thin gauge metal welding change from flux cored to using gas?

I mean, obviously the flux core weld is ugly and needs to be cleaned up but is there some other reason?

The quality of the weld is better with gas. Cleaner, more even, better looking. Better penetration and control. Flux core is good when you are welding outside in a breeze. Other than that, true MIG is superior.

don't get me wrong, I would like to get a welder, but have too many things on my plate at the current moment. I dunno about HTP though, I'm still undecided on if I would buy from them or whom. I know there are 4 or 5 lincoln 140 something welders at one of the local pawn shops for about 250 each, so that's an option as well.

I thought it was a pretty good deal is all, thus the post.

Andrew

In reply to Vigo:

For mine at least, welding thin gauge sucks on flux cored. I mean anything like thin stuff (20gauge). When you switch to flux cored wire, you reverse the polarity on most welders. This changes arc characteristics and penetration. You tend to get too much. Think of flux cored Mig welding as a tiny version of arc welding.

What it IS good for is, like mentioned welding outside in the wind, fixing stuff that you don't care to prep too well (grinding, paint removal and the like). With patience and practice, you can get decent welds done on thin stuff too.

From a structural point of view, flux cored welds tend to be more porous than gas shielded, which makes things more brittle and prone to cracking.

P.S. still looks like a killer deal, if you can get good support for consumables and service.

digdug18 wrote: I dunno about HTP though, I'm still undecided on if I would buy from them or whom.

HTP is a good crew based in the Chicago area, I still have a MIG from them that I bought (from them) as a trade school return, that was more than 15 years ago and the machine is still going strong. Also even though it was used I was always able just to drop into their shop to ask questions or get help.

If you have any doubt give them a call and talk to them, they're a small outfit but they really are big on service.

I think buying a welder at a pawn shop would be a crap shoot. You might get a real good one, or one that has been beat to death and then cleaned up real well. With a thorough inspection of all the guts, better. I suggest trying a welding supply place, they will have trade ins that were serviced, probably priced well.

i agree, and there are a couple welding supply places around, but i always feel like im going to pay more as well by buying a used welder from one of them. I mean I guess you could get a deal if its a store you frequent on a regular basis and buy your supplies and everything from them. But starting out and buying a used welder, and some supplies, I don't think they will give me the greatest price on a used welder. But then again I guess I should try anyway.

I will tell you this, I order a free catalog from HTP, and it came enclosed in a stay fresh package, the catalog smells like burnt steel, mmmmmm.

Andrew

digdug18 wrote: i agree, and there are a couple welding supply places around, but i always feel like im going to pay more as well by buying a used welder from one of them. I mean I guess you could get a deal if its a store you frequent on a regular basis and buy your supplies and everything from them. But starting out and buying a used welder, and some supplies, I don't think they will give me the greatest price on a used welder. But then again I guess I should try anyway. I will tell you this, I order a free catalog from HTP, and it came enclosed in a stay fresh package, the catalog smells like burnt steel, mmmmmm. Andrew

You will pay more, but you will be paying for the knowledge that you are getting a working welder that may even have a warranty. Also, the best way to start getting discounts from local businesses is to buy from them. Buying weld wire and a occasional grinding stone won't earn you good customer status, but buy your welder, your mask and other gear from them will be a good start.

And don't think that you are just giving away money by buying like that. Get a used welder that is slightly screwed up, and you may spend hours trying to figure out why your welds suck before you realize that there are problems with the welder and not your skills.

This is the kind of deal you look for Just dont advertise it.. . . Wait.. . . Nothing to see here folks.. . Move along.

MILLER MILLERMATIC 135 WELDER 115v

My Lincoln was advertised about the same way on Craigs list. Virtually new (used 2-3 x)

wow, 9.99 starting bid and 85 for shipping, lol.