Welding advice, Can a cheap flux welder do what I need? Options

[Deusexmachina77]

I have to weld in a new front trunk pan replacing the hole left from an AC unit. I have taken two MIG classes. Beside being a newbie, I have other limitations to consider.

I don’t have access to a 220 line.
I’m inexperienced.
It would cost me $1000 to have it professionally done. And I don’t want to buy a bunch of equipment for one job.

Can I use a flux welder? There a couple cheap units at Harbor Freight (under $150) on sale right now. What don’t I know that I should know?

Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

[MikeK]

@mb911 That TIG weld is a thing of beauty. I only have access to a MIG welder and am not skilled enough to lay down beads like that.

Re-reading my follow-up post, the litany of not wanting to weld from the bottom was about the lap weld. I thought I would have to do the top and the bottom.

I have a pretty good mess to clean up first, so I'll see how I do with all that work first. And then I'll decide how comfortable I am with the butt weld. I usually have to do things twice. Something tells me I'll be paying a professional–eventually.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. It is a constructive discussion. I've learned a lot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Use magnets to hold the but joint tight until it’s tacked in.

I find that my arc likes to wander when I'm tacking things up with a MIG while using magnets. Maybe I'm imagining it.

It also took me a couple of Winters to figure out that my welds went to shit when my shop heater turned on. Then I realized all my shielding gas was blowing away...