The deck on the old Cub Cadet needed some welding done and after spending $300 a few years ago getting it done and looking at the cost of new decks we rolled over to Harbor Freight and I bought her (being the welding half of the family, she worked in a plant for years welding stuff) a Wire Flux 125 Welder https://www.harborfreight.com/flux-1...der-63582.html on sale for $90 at Harbor Freight.
So, how does it do? We stopped at Home Depot to buy a new ladder and I got a couple of pieces of 3/16 flat bar to practice on and homeward we went. After the easy set up she gave it a shot. The results were entirely satisfactory. Even on high the welder did not trip the 20amp breaker and the beads came out good. How long it will last is iffy but many reviewers online are getting 4-5yrs or more of use than we will give it so if we get a couple of years out of it welding mower decks, mufflers etc it will be worth the money.
It will weld up to 3/16 steel and take .035 wire max so it's light duty for sure but it's easy to handle and a generator can run it so for a general purpose home owner rig for use around the house I think it's a good deal.