CMC Welder

I’m planning on getting my cab mount chop done at some point. There a bit of rubbing with my 275/70/17s. I want to give it a shot myself and learn how to weld in the process. I can only go with 110v for now and am looking at the Titanuim 125 at Harbor Freight. I’ve been scanning craigslist for other options, but haven’t found anything. Do you think this HF welder is sufficient for the CMC? Does anyone have any experience with it?
Thanks in advance.

 

I think you’ll be fine. I’m not a welder and I think I used a 140 amp. It looks like the one your looking at got a lot of good reviews. The only thing that looks odd to me is that it only weighs 15lbs???

 

Any chance you could just borrow a buddies?

 

110v for that job will be fine. but practice practice practice first.

 

If you think you may have other uses down the road I'd highly suggest looking into something that you can run a shielding gas with. Personally, I'd look for lightly used stuff on Craigslist. I bought a Hobart Handler on CL about 15yrs ago and it's still going strong today. I don't use it much but typically when you need a welder it's the only tool that'll do the job.

Not sure where you are in Nor Cal, but...
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/tls/d/yuba-city-chicago-170-mig-welder-and/7061768483.html
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/tls/d/diamond-springs-snap-on-blue-point-mig/7061556805.html
https://chico.craigslist.org/tls/d/chico-hobart-mig-welder/7061895201.html

If you're not in a rush you can just keep an eye out till you find a good deal. Ideally you would find something lightly used with a cart, tank, gloves, helmet...etc. All those little add-ons will nickel and dime you when you buy a new one.

 

Mig is a pretty easy process. I’d suggest to upgrade to a machine you could hook to gas. A flux core mig weld is far from pretty or strong.

The major weld machine makers have dual input voltage (110/220), nice. They even make it simple, instead of dialing in amps and wire speed, you dial in the thickness you’re welding. Of course they cost more than what your looking at. But competition has brought the price down over the years.

If you weren’t planning to teach yourself I’d suggest renting one. You could take a beginner welding class at a trade school, then rent one.

Welding hoods, I learned with (35 years ago) and still use the tiny size lense, although I did upgrade to a automatic lense. The nice ones with large adjustable shade lense and fancy art are expensive. Mine cost 40 bucks, the lense was 100 but I’ve seen them cheaper now. I’ve welded with a pizza box, cut a hole in it, taped a lense to the hole. Whatever you get, make sure you can adjust it so you can see out the lense. Different people, different shapes heads, one size doesn’t fit all. Trying to remember model numbers, Huntsman 930p was my favorite, no longer made. Huntsman fiber shell type is available with stationary, flip up, slide up lense holders. They’re durable, as long as they don’t get rained on. The flip up lense, great for arc welding for chipping slag. It’s also good to be able to use the standard lense protectors. Cheaper then having to buy the one made for that hood, and easily available at all welding stores. A guy I work with bought his at harbor freight, it’s decent enough and has an adjustable lense.

 

I have the HF Titanium 125, and I love it. I welded a new trailer couple on my trailer with it, and it works really good. It will burn hot enough to weld a cap in the mod you are wanting to do easily. It is a 110 AC Machine, but it welds in DC.

It is a flux core only machine so the welds are extremely dirty (If MIG and stick welding had a baby...), a wire wheel makes quick work of the flux left over on the weld and turns out a nice weld if you do your part.

 

That machine will do a fine job for this job, and if you decide later to get an upgraded machine with gas shielding, you will STILL want that little machine. Here is why. It is small and very portable. Once you add gas you have a big rig to deal with. There are times when you simply don't have access to 220V, but 110 is everywhere. Flux core welding is much better outside unless you have very still air. In some cases flux core is all you can use outside under a vehicle. A good flux weld beats a gas shielded weld every time if the conditions are windy. Because of the polarity difference between flux and gas, you get a little more penetration with the flux at a given power setting.
The downside to flux is that it creates a crust on the weld that must be chipped and wire brushed off. Some guys are really good with flux, but most people can get a prettier weld with gas. You will have a little more spatter coming down on you so wear appropriate protection.
As some have suggested, practice before you start on the truck. It's going to be harder in a cramped space to get good welds. Make sure you understand the safety steps involved, and always have a fire extinguisher. Make sure you have a good ground to BARE metal near the weld site if possible. More novice welds are ruined by a shitty ground than anything else. Get the best fit between the pieces that you can before you weld. Avoid excessive gaps or big overlaps. These tips will give you a better chance of success.
The one thing that limits nearly every budget welder is the shitty ground clamp provided. I would spend a couple extra bucks and buy a good ground clamp. It is an instant upgrade to the welder.

 

You can upgrade the ground clamp on that 125, and I think ive seen guys modify it to accept a removable ground on it! The Titanium is not little, its TINY!! I was really impressed on how well it performed for a $150 welder.

 

Yes, agreed, you can and should upgrade the ground clamp on any welder, and I agree that 125 might even be better if the OP plans on eventually getting a bigger gas rig. I have a little 125 fluxer. I also have bigger mig machines, a $7,000 water cooled TIG machine , and I still occasionally use the 125.

 

Dont use the wire that comes with the welder, I swear it's all flux. Instead, toss it in the trash and the Vulcan wire worked well for me. Remember, your not going along as fast as the wire comes out, you're creating a puddle and moving it along the line in which you want to weld. I prefer pushing the puddle, some prefer dragging the puddle.

 

I can "weld" aka make metal stick together structurally but im far from a welder(really not even close lol)! I was looking at a MIG machines but couldn't justify the cost for the occasional use it would get. I wouldn't mind getting the Titanium one HF sells that has capability to do stick, mig and tig. Im just a terrible at using TIG.

 

I used one of their CE 125 welder for my CMC. For odds and ends they're great for the price. If you plan on diy fabrication like skid plates and more, you might want to spend the money on a higher end set-up. That's what I am going do.

 

Thanks to everyone for the tips and suggestions. I will hold out a bit longer to see what's available nearby on craigslist. After that, I might go with this little HF Titanium. Like you guys said...does a decent enough job, and doesn't break the bank with how inexpensive it is. I also love the portability of the little thing. To me, at this point, it is not worth another couple hundred dollars to upgrade to a better machine as I am just learning. Even if I find that I enjoy doing it, I can't ever see myself doing any major fabrication, or doing it often enough that would warrant the upgrade. And if I decide that welding not for me, then I'm only out <$200, but could probably still resell it for something.

 

Great mindset. A lil welder is VERY useful for random stuff on and off of the truck. It will tackle the CMC just fine, like stated get some better Vulcan wire and call it good. Grab a few pieces of scrap metal to play on first and remember, PREP IS KEY!

I always applaud a person willing to give something new a try and someone like you that has a great mindset about it. Go for it man! and make sure to report back!

Currently on sale too!

 

Don't completely rule out an older stick welder either if you're on a budget. They've fallen out of favor with the home workshop folks and can often be found cheap. They're versatile and you can get very good welds with them but like any style of welding, it takes some practice.

 

As a side note when buying your wire note there are two styles of flux core wire. Some, which is what you are looking for shields itself and also goes by "inner-shield", whereas the other style of flux core wire actually does require an outer shielding gas. Just making sure you don't purchase the wrong thing. Also be aware of the different mixes of outer shielding gasses that are available because they will change the way your welds will come out also. Research it, some cause a higher weld and others cause wider welds, and some are better with different steels and alloys..

 

Puddle dragger for sure. Unless the situation dictates pushing. Thinner or painted material.

Some of those suitcase welders are good. I tried one a salesman brought, 440v input. I think it was thremal dynamics. Really nice, stable, hot start. The only issue was it was so tiny, the huge cables going in and out, it wouldn't stay standing up, kept falling over and getting dragged around.

 

Sometimes you have to push, and sometimes you have to pull. It's good to know both.