Welding and Metalworking - Chicago Electric Arc Welder model 40388

I am considering buying a Chicago Electric Welding Systems Arc Welder 120 model 40388 from Harbor Freight for $118 plus tax. My intended use is to weld scrap metal poles (including metal pipes) and posts into Ts to support grape vines and perhaps do odd jobs like welding a skid plate under my car. If I can locate more scrap, I may end up welding dozens of these Ts. Some of the pipe walls are 1/4 inch thick. I don't know what the metal is, but some of it rusts, and some of it doesn't.

I know little about welding, and downloading Chicago Electric's Set UP and Operating Instructions welder manual did not answer my questions.

The clerk at Harbor Freight described this welder as a wire welder, but the Instructions call it an arc welder. If they are not the same thing, what is the difference?

Is the welder I am considering sufficient to weld what I have in mind?

Is the welder I am considering a good welder? Is the price fair?

I would spend twice as much and buy a used Miller brand welder. If you just have a dozen pipes to quickly stick together I would get everthing ready and go to a local welding shop and have them do it for $20.

In the end the Chicago Elect welder should be able to crudley glue your parts together but you might find it frustrating to use and you might find that you cannot get consistent, good results. If you think you might "like" welding and want to do more I would save up (about $300) and buy a better quality used machine.

The clerk was wrong.
That welder is a stick welder.........A wire welder would be considered a MIG and that is not what a 40388 (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40388) is.

The 40388 would be much too small for what you want to do.
This welder (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=97719) would be better but requires 220 volts.
A mig welder (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93793) would be better for versatility and ease of use.

You also might want to reconsider Harbor freight welders and look at a major brand as suggested.

I purchased model 55195- from Harbor Freight. It has done a great job for me. It a bit larger then the one you are thinking of and runs of 220. The only issue I had was the small and short 220 volt wire they had on the machine. I have never seen such a small wire used to feed a welder. It was #14 and was heating up some. I increased up to #12 and about 12 ft long and I dont think you could get a bigger wire in on the terminals on the machines. It has never given me any problems since. While I was inside all seemed to be built pretty good for a import.
You can pick one these up for about the same price if you wait until you get a 15 or 20 percent coupon which they give out pretty often.