I'm building a hardtail sportster bobber and need to get a cheap and easy to use/learn welder...I have no experience so it has to be easy as possible .Does anyone have any recommendations or tips on what to look for,,,,thanks

 

Yes, I have some useful info...

You're taking your life into your own hands by having no welding experience and wanting to build a 2-wheeler.

My best advice to you...fit your parts up and take it to a welding shop. You don't need to BS around with something that could get you OR someone else injured, possibly killed!

 

I'd love to take a welding course but that not possible due to avalibility and time...

maybe I should elaborate more..I plan it to get a friend, who does know how to weld to help/teach me weld a few bolts on a seat pan, nothing fancy. hopefully I'll learn in the process...

looking at harbor freight, I saw some MIG welders that required no gas...I assumed that are those would be safey but I know nothing about welding...

thanks

 

Getthe 230V HF MIG welder that will do gas/flux wire (no gas), not the cheap 110V no-gas only one. The 110V gas/flux one is OK (I have one), but a bit light on anything over maybe 16ga, _maybe_ 1/8" if everything is "just right." Certainly too light on 1/4". You can use the flux core wire to tack your stuff up, but I would also suggest taking it to a professional welder to get it finished, like a TIG welder who can do real purty work. MIG welds tend to be kinda ugly. Add a surplus fan to the back of the MIG welder and you won't have thermal overload issues.

 

If you are doing this in your garage with a residential electrical connection, make sure that you don't excede the capacity of the junction box with the current and amperage that a welder will draw. You will probably have to run a dedicated line for the welder. Like Dr. Hess said, you will have to get a fairly substantial one to do anything over 1/8"thk. at least 180 Amp or more.

 

As a welder, I'd use mig or tig. You can't possibly learn to weld if you won't take time out for a course. Find someone with the skills and pay him. You won't regret it down the road.
Ron

 

Tig or mig is the only way to go. I stopped using a stick many years ago. I know you want your personal touch-saying you did it-but you are better off letting someone who know what they are doing. I don't like the gasless welders, they mess of the lens too quick and wont burn deep enough for me. Course I am a heavy industry welder