For anybody who's curious, this Harbor Freight welder is flux-only. I got a lot better while I was putting my bumper together and would recommend it to anybody who needs a cheap welder to put some basic stuff together and see if they enjoy welding. They're $100 so it's not like you're out much if it breaks. If you decide to upgrade you could probably sell it for $50 on Craigslist and call it a $50 welding lesson.

 

alaskan, thanks for confirming that. I'd like to see fotos of your project when you're done, if you are willing. First projects are not often pretty but they teach us alot.

 

Looking to get a inexpensive welder to weld body and floor panels. Also a new exhaust system and later bumpers.
Looking at either a Northern Industrial 125 amp Flux Core Welder or Arc 200 welder.
Do you know if these can be used to weld body panels and exhaust pipe?

 

Sorry Dave, no and no. Well the flux core welder will do exhaust work but not body panels. The stick welder could work on heavy wall bumpers but it's scarey cheap. Please look at the welding links I gave a few posts earlier and do some reading before you spend your money.

The Hobart 140 is an excellent mig welder and do everything you want but it's not cheap at near $500 new + the cost of shielding gas. Maybe you can find one used on CL for less. I have the Clarke 130EN mig welder and it's not a bad little machine for home use and about $150 less than the Hobart. If I had to do it over I would buy the Hobart. It is just a better tool.

 

Another good site for welding info

 

Pics of the bumper in progress, completed and mounted are here:

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/st...omorrow-73766/