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.

 

[Gator6x4]

Look in the yellow pages and find someone in your area that does on site welding. Will be cheaper, last longer and quicker than buying a welder and learning how to weld.m

 

[Carl_NH]

Everlast Welders (an advertiser here) Model 140 and 200 both will work on 20Amp 120V circuit and they are decent welders, not too expensive, and offer TBN members discounts.

It doesn't appear your material is overly thick either - just need to clamp it together and weld. Looks like you should improve your skid shoes setup too.

 

[stuckmotor]

There's a forum on Harbor Freight welders on Welding Web. You might want to see what the owners say.
Harbor Freight

 

[msb1766]

Give Govel Welding a call they are very good and have been in business a long time.
Here is their address and number:
1932 CENTRAL AVE
Albany, NY 12205
(518) 456-1558

 

[TSO]

I have a Harbor Freight 90amp flux mig welder. Paid $90 for it. I am completely satisfied with it. It says 3/16" is the max thickness, but I've been able to successfully penetrate into 1/4" when I take the time to do so. For the money, you can't beat it. I've probably passed close to 7 full spools of wire thru it without a single issue. A gas mig welder will make a cleaner weld than flux, but the ease & convenience of flux can't be overstated.

For 1/4" & up, I have a high powered Marquette 220/240v stick welder. I think it'll power up to 295 amps. That thing is no joke; it'll get crazy hot and burn right thru thick plate steel if you don't have it adjusted properly.

The stick welder is nice for when I need the power, but I use the mig welder whenever I can. Once you learn your own successful way to use them, you'll be cruising along. And again, for $90, you can't beat the Harbor Freight one, especially if you only need it for the odd repair or small project like I do.

I can't say it's better or worse than a high dollar Miller or Hobart unit... maybe it's not as fancy ... but it does the job.

 

[brin]

There's a forum on Harbor Freight welders on Welding Web. You might want to see what the owners say.
Harbor Freight

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[BigE_]

I welded for years with the HF 90A flux welder, but only used 5 spools. If nothing else, it will make you a darn good welder, because it is so hard to use. When I finally got my Hobart 180, it was cake to weld with it, even with flux only.

I will say that the HF welds much better with Lincoln spools vs the HF spools.

 

[2458n]

If I wanted it fixed now I would get 4 or 5 $3.00 C-clamps and hammer the thing flat and clamp it back together. There are holes in the two pieces now I would drill some more and put some 1/4 inch carriage bolts in. Make sure the flat head is underneath and the auger is not going to hit the top part of the bolt. Flat washers would add a little more holding power. Ten bolts will make it work until you can get it welded.

 

[Guesseral]

I have a Harbor Freight 90amp flux mig welder. Paid $90 for it. I am completely satisfied with it. It says 3/16" is the max thickness, but I've been able to successfully penetrate into 1/4" when I take the time to do so. For the money, you can't beat it. I've probably passed close to 7 full spools of wire thru it without a single issue. A gas mig welder will make a cleaner weld than flux, but the ease & convenience of flux can't be overstated.

For 1/4" & up, I have a high powered Marquette 220/240v stick welder. I think it'll power up to 295 amps. That thing is no joke; it'll get crazy hot and burn right thru thick plate steel if you don't have it adjusted properly.

The stick welder is nice for when I need the power, but I use the mig welder whenever I can. Once you learn your own successful way to use them, you'll be cruising along. And again, for $90, you can't beat the Harbor Freight one, especially if you only need it for the odd repair or small project like I do.

I can't say it's better or worse than a high dollar Miller or Hobart unit... maybe it's not as fancy ... but it does the job.

Same here but mine is a 180A mig. Welds just great and IU have used it on 1/2" and larger steel with no problems. As above I can't compare it to any other mfg because I have never used one, but it sure beats my old biz box stick welder. If you only have some small welding to do and you have a clue as to how to weld the HF mig welder should do just fine for you.

 

[timster2]

You need more than a welder! The cutting edge was worn down far enough to wear the heads of the carriage bolts off and the edge of the blower housing is worn as well. You need to get a new cutting edge and repair the blower housing, perhaps cutting and welding in a new section drilled to match the cutting edge bolt pattern. If you don't have the skills and/or equipment to tackle the whole job time to find a welding shop, they will have it back up and running in a day or two. If you do go to a welding shop bring a new cutting edge and the bolts with you it will save a lot of time.