At Wal-Mart today, I saw a $260 115V Campbell-Hausfield welder, complete with MIG gas bottle setup. Anyone tried this? Would it be good for the home garage, including welding the occasional patch panel? Or would I be better off waiting until I've got the $4-500 for a Hobart Handler 135, or equivalent?

Cheers,
mark.
'71 Fodor
383 "Smokey"

My vote is for the Hobart. The Hobart is repairable should something go wrong with it. The C/H is a throwaway. That's not to say it won't give you a few good years of service. There are quite a few people here who have them and are happy with them. But once it breaks or burns up parts internally, you pretty much have to go buy a new one.

Mark
go with a name brand,I got mine at a pawn shop,cheap.

-Kid

Yep...you don't want one of those CH welders...I fell into that trap a few years ago. Unless they have improved remarkably. It's an overblown battery charger. Mine did not have any high current solenoid, so the welding power was always on. After getting flash-burn about 4 times and finding that I still couldn't lay a bead I wrapped it up and took it back.

If you are electronically inclined, you could probably retrofit it with a relay, smoothing caps and inductance, and a few other goodies, but you would have just as much in it afterward as if you just bought a good used brand name welder.

Originally posted by TonawandaKid:
Mark
go with a name brand,I got mine at a pawn shop,cheap.

-Kid Ay! I been looking for my damned Mig......wait right here while I get the cops! smile.gif