I'm screwed

[16valex]

Guys, I need some advise. I need to get a welder to repair my snow blower. Pictures are the result of my negligible attention.

What is your recommendation of proper amps welder I should get? I'm thinking of going to Harborfreight for an el cheapo.

Unless, someone here know of a good place where I can get it fix. I live in the Albany NY area.

Thank you very much.

 

[grsthegreat]

Guys, I need some advise. I need to get a welder to repair my snow blower. Pictures are the result of my negligible attention.

What is your recommendation of proper amps welder I should get? I'm thinking of going to Harborfreight for an el cheapo.

Unless, someone here know of a good place where I can get it fix. I live in the Albany NY area.


Thank you very much.

do you even know how to weld? if not, this might not be the best time to learn with all the snow falling. Do you have a welding repair shop nearby??

as far as good welders go, the term good welder and harbor freight cannot be written in same sentence.

spend a few dollars more and get a good 240 volt mig welder. this will give you a good range of metal thicknesses you can repair. Even a cheaper home depot version would be better than HF.

 

[16valex]

do you even know how to weld? if not, this might not be the best time to learn with all the snow falling. Do you have a welding repair shop nearby??

as far as good welders go, the term good welder and harbor freight cannot be written in same sentence.

spend a few dollars more and get a good 240 volt mig welder. this will give you a good range of metal thicknesses you can repair. Even a cheaper home depot version would be better than HF.

Took a class 30 years ago. I'm one of those that usually not happy from any shop. I fix all my five cars and appliances and tractor.
However, I'm willing to hire a mobile welding service, I don't have any mean to bring my Kubota to a shop.

I thought China freight would be OK for once or twice of use then throw away.
I don't have 240V in my garage.
Do you think one of those 110V 90 amp from Chinafreight is OK?

 

[BigE_]

I agree: get a good MIG.

You'd be better off getting a $100 tombstone welder off of Craigslist than going to Harbor Freight.

I have a Harbor Freight welder and you can weld with it. It is just 10x harder to get a good weld. I also have a decent Hobart MIG and haven't used the HF welder since I got the Hobart.

I picked up my AC arc welder off Craigslist for $35 and it works fine. My Hobart was $700 new.

 

[BigE_]

If you don't have 240 I wouldn't try to repair this. You can do it on 120 but you need really good surface prep.

 

[JPRambo]

How about this one? I bought one about 4 years ago. It does what I need it to.
Hobart Handler® 140 MIG Welder - Tractor Supply Co.

 

[radioman]

Others have sound advice, however my opinion is a bit different. I bought the strongest 120V hobart mig I could buy at the time and it was 125ez. I put it on a 20 amp plug/circuit with nothing else on it and use it to fix/build stuff with. I am still in novice stage, but I am able to weld enough so it holds and I can fix stuff and build and move on. I agree to stay away from HF for welding machine, but it works in a pinch but its not the time to save money that way if you never welded in your life. I suggested to another TBN to try, and he never welded before. I think he is still struggling with welds and it keeps giving him cold beads on metal. I bought mine from local TSC store.

What I see on your blower - you will need to clamp the best you can where you want a tack weld and tack an inch worth ever 2-4 inches depending on the metal staying straight or not.

 

[Pete6114]

If you'd live close to me, i'd come pick it up and weld it up for you. I wouldn't wast my money on a crap welder. If you dont have enough use to buy a good welder, your only good option is to rent or borrow a trailer and haul it to a shop.

 

[Mike476]

Others have sound advice, however my opinion is a bit different. I bought the strongest 120V hobart mig I could buy at the time and it was 125ez. I put it on a 20 amp plug/circuit with nothing else on it and use it to fix/build stuff with.

I would give similar advice; I like the portability of the 120V Lincoln-electric MIG I bought, I also use a dedicated 20 Amp circuit and I've no issues conducting typical repairs.

 

[grsthegreat]

you dont have to haul the tractor... you only have to haul the blower.

Even though i do alot of welding myself, i still take things to a great shop i know of when the works seemed far above my skillset. The last job i had farmed out was on a hydraulic fluid storage tank.... i didnt feel comfortable welding this tank, especially with some remaining hyd fluid in it. The shop straightened it out and welded and painted it for $78.00 . cant beat that with a stick.

as far as 120 volt migs are concerned... i have one. its a lincoln from h depot... i think i spent about $250 for it years ago. Is a fine machine for welding up to 1/8" on single pass. could probably do 1/4" ok...but i generally use my Hobart stick welder for that size or larger. What i really like about the 120v mig is fixing horse panels and other thin metal crap on the ranch. and getting 120 volts to it is a breeze.