Recommend a cheap 120 volt portable welder?

[texasdiver]

Hi everyone.

I have a small repair project I need to do on a boat trailer that requires a couple of welds. Because I already have the trailer torn apart (with the boat on it) I can't haul it to a shop where I can use a regular 220 volt welder. I ruined a stuck bolt on the rear spring hanger and I have to cut it off and weld on a replacement.

The sailing club where I currently have the boat and trailer has 120 volt outlets in the clubhouse about 100 feet away so I can roll out about 100 ft of extension cords and plug into an old 120 volt outlet that is probably on a 15 or 20 amp breaker (not actually sure about that). And that is the best I can do.

Any recommendations for a small portable welder that can accomplish the job under those conditions? I just gotta make the one weld and then I'll basically put it away in the garage for any future welding jobs I might have which are not likely to be very often.

I thought about using a bolt-on spring hanger but the trailer rail is actually too narrow to use with the typical bolt-on hangers.

 

[bluedog225]

In your situation, I’d consider having it done with a more capable machine. Or braze. Hope it works out.

 

[texasdiver]

In your situation, I’d consider having it done with a more capable machine. Or braze. Hope it works out.

The other thing is that the trailer doesn't have to be road worthy. I only ever hook up to it, drive it 100 yards across the grass to the boat ramp, and then back to my parking spot. I don't even have a license plate or lights on the trailer so it won't ever go on a paved road or more than 10 mph. I just need it to hold together and carry my lightning sailboat which weighs 700 lbs. to and from the boat ramp.

That also means I can't really jury-rig something together to haul it over the highway to a better equipped shop. By the time I get it rigged up to haul over the road I have already accomplished what I need anyway.

I just need to weld one of these to the bottom of the trailer frame and I am done:

 

[jd_1138]

Titanium Easy Flux 125 welder at HF is $215. I think you can get it with a coupon for less sometimes. I think I only paid $160 for the one I got my neighbor as a gift 2 years ago for helping me with a project. He welds at work but never had a home welder. He loves this one I got him. He says it works well.

He repaired his trailer with it and a lot of other projects.

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welders/easy-flux-125-amp-welder-56355.html

 

[KSJeff]

I'd probably grab one of the cheap 110V stick welders on Amazon. I haven't used one, but I have used my Primeweld stick on 110 volts to weld up my mower deck and it was fine.

This one is $69

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074Y26C55/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[texasdiver]

Titanium Easy Flux 125 welder at HF is $215. I think you can get it with a coupon for less sometimes. I think I only paid $160 for the one I got my neighbor as a gift 2 years ago for helping me with a project. He welds at work but never had a home welder. He loves this one I got him. He says it works well.

He repaired his trailer with it and a lot of other projects.

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welders/easy-flux-125-amp-welder-56355.html

I've only ever used old-school stick welders. Would you recommend one of these flux welders over a stick welder? Do they tend to pull less amps than a stick welder?

 

[corn chip]

sounds like it would be a one time use. you might be able to rent a small stick welder for a couple hours . its worth a few phone calls anyways. even a local welding shop may have a guy that could run over and do it for $50 or something

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Rent a generator and an appropriate welder?

 

[speed bump]

Gonna be tough to get it to work on 100 ft of cord, my little welder gets iffy on a 50 ft cord. I would just rent a bobcat or equivalent for a few hours for the money.

 

[corn chip]

Rent a generator and an appropriate welder?

well he said theres a 110outlet already. i was at a local rental store for landscrape stuff and thought i seen or heard them say something about welders. itsvworth a phone call as i said before. maybe they have a small thunderbolt sized machine

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I would rent an engine driven welder and be done. No need to mess with extension cords and underpowered machines.

 

[no704]

Couple of car batteries and pair of jumper cables with a smallish arc rod will get her done !

 

[sparky 1971]

I've heard good things about the Harbor Freight MIG welders. I've nothing good about the cheap welders sold on Amazon. There, that answers the initial question. Are you a good enough welder that you trust your welds enough to pull the trailer down the road at 70 MPH? If not, I would just consider hiring a welding company to come out and do it for you. It will probably cost more than just buying a welder, but you can be confident that the weld will be strong.

Edit: I just read post post #3. If it doesn't need to go on the road, weld away.

 

[zendriver]

Just me, but a 700# boat making a 100 yard trip, any chance of just getting something that bolts on?

Google Search

 

[Snip's]

The clubhouse 120 volt outlet is probably 15 amps.... Add a hundred ft extension cord...
I doubt this will work for you...

 

[nadogail]

This is a job for an Engine Driven Stick Welder, I own one, but I don't feel like driving driving two long days to bring it to your job.

 

[Mas78]

Bought a Vulcan migmax a couple years ago for a 2nd / portable wire welder at the farm. It works good but the current $900 price tag is probley over budget. I've been impressed with this welder though.

A couple months back I bought the titanium stick welder on sale for around $250. Haven't used it allot but I bet you could get some 3/32" rod and weld on the trailer. I haven't tried welding with 100' of 12ga cord on 120v yet but might have to give it shot sometime soon to see how it'll do.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The sailing club where I currently have the boat and trailer has 120 volt outlets in the clubhouse about 100 feet away so I can roll out about 100 ft of extension cords ...

Bad idea (cheap welder), made worse (extension cord).

 

[MJD1]

Weld the spring hanger to a piece of angle and clamp it with a few C clamps or attach it with a few self drilling screws.

 

[texasdiver]

Just me, but a 700# boat making a 100 yard trip, any chance of just getting something that bolts on?

Google Search

I might actually do that. The bolt-on ones have 4 bolt holes that are spaced 1 and 5/8" apart which is too wide for the trailer frame which is only about that wide itself. But I can just take one of the hangers that is designed to be welded on, drill two 1/2" holes in it and use some shorty 1/2" bolts to bolt it to the frame. That should be plenty strong for this use. Then I can supplement the bolts some day with welds if I think it necessary.

 

[corn chip]

just drove by a local rental store and there was some kind of small miller outside. maybe a bobcat

 

[Higgins]

Just call a mobile welder. Should only take a few seconds.. Done !!!

 

[Al Borland]

100' of cord is a problem, but maybe tack it @ 100' away and then pull up close and burn it in solid?

 

[corn chip]

100' of cord is a problem, but maybe tack it @ 100' away and then pull up close and burn it in solid?

well it depends. the higher end machines will go just fine on 300'. would probly want 10 or 12 gauge but ya they wont blink a eye at those long distances

 

[Rinspeed]

From my experience 120V welders are kinda sucky to say the least.

 

[corn chip]

From my experience 120V welders are kinda sucky to say the least.

by chance were you using one of them $200 **** asian imports ? nobody wants to spend more than a couple hundred bucks (or even less if they can) then complain when they see how junky it is

 

[whateg01]

If you put the thing back together then die, somebody else is going to see a boat trailer. Not a boat trailer that is not roadworthy. How will you ensure that it won't be on the road after it's out of your control. Best to do it right.

200' of 12ga (100' there and 100' back) will drop about 14v. So that welder is not going to weld well, or even as good as it should. I would vote for a bolt on solution even if it's only temporary.

 

[MadMechMaster]

I don't know what a mobile welder would charge. But buying $200+ in equipment for a onetime use could cover a visit. It's worth a call. Another way is to borrow a 240V generator and use the welder from the shop you would take it to and get it done.

 

[Al Borland]

well it depends. the higher end machines will go just fine on 300'. would probly want 10 or 12 gauge but ya they wont blink a eye at those long distances

Not discussing higher end machines here though, low-to-bottom-end 120V buzz-boxes.
Best/safest/smartest answer is mobile welding service with onboard welder/generator and TRAINED OPERATOR.
However, that answer doesn't allow acquiring more tools, and this IS Garage Journal, so...

 

[Jswain]

If you can't find a bolt on option then buy a welder of your choice.........and build a bolt on option.