Forney 180?

[MRHilux87]

Just getting into welding.  Read a couple books but only have limited practice.  Im looking to buy a welder for general fab on the yota.  Sliders, bumpers, ect. I can get a small discount on Forney stuff at my local hardware store and i was looking at the 180.  Anyone have experience with forney products? 

[crazykooter]

If you have ability to run 220v then thats the way to go.  Imo the best welder for the money is a Lincoln SP-175 Plus.  You have to find one used but they are very strong welders.
I havent messed with a forney welder before but I believe they are just remarked lincoln welders.  The key is to get a welder with a rheostat power adjustment.  The finer you can adjust the power the better control over your welds will be.

[junya92toy]

What he means is a infinite voltage adjustment. Not a tapped one. Or one with just 4 or 5 selections.
I have a miler 211 and a lincoln 135t.
Practice practice practice.

Id highly recommend running gas too, I use co2

[ryan_ackerman]

What he means is a infinite voltage adjustment. Not a tapped one. Or one with just 4 or 5 selections.
I have a miler 211 and a lincoln 135t.
Practice practice practice.

Id highly recommend running gas too, I use co2

x2 i use 75/25 argon CO2

[MRHilux87]

Started this thread a while back... been welding for a few months now.  I put chevy springs in the rear after about an hour of practice welding.  haha.  been driving and wheeling with them for months with no breakage.  A couple weeks ago I did RUF and high steer.  Still booger welding but practicing as much as possible.  Having the 220 and 75/25 like you guys recomended made all the difference in the world.  The heat it puts out makes up for my lack of skill and experience and the gas makes it so much cleaner.  Thanks for the advice. 

[junya92toy]

Hows it going? got any pictures of your welds, any questions?

[MRHilux87]

Its going well thanks!  I actually just bobbed my bed last week.  I can't seem to make my camera take small enough pics to put on here and my picture resize program sucks.  What do you use to shrink images?
I also did my first stick welding the other night at a buddys house.  It was almost more fun than mig.  Obviously not as clean, but I can see the advantages. 

[Cheesemaker]

Just host your pictures to Photobucket, (or any other online photo storage) and then link them here.  It will automatically resize them for you. 

[junya92toy]

Its going well thanks!  I actually just bobbed my bed last week.  I can't seem to make my camera take small enough pics to put on here and my picture resize program sucks.  What do you use to shrink images?
I also did my first stick welding the other night at a buddys house.  It was almost more fun than mig.  Obviously not as clean, but I can see the advantages. 

Stick is as clean as mig, it can pass a x ray test easy.

[Cheesemaker]

So, how's the welder holding up?  Is it a decent one to learn on?

I have a couple projects on the horizon, and I never learned how to use a welder.  I am getting ready to run 220 to my shop.  And the local Hardware store gives me employee prices.  And they carry the Forney line.  I would sign up for a class to learn, but the Community College we have might offer it once every couple years.  But usually kill the class due to insufficient turn out for it.  So, I may have to try to teach myself.  I have a couple neighbors I may need to bribe with beer or parts to help to teach me.