Are 110v (120v) Welders Even Worth Buying? 

I stick welded a loading dock back together in 120 volt mode powered off a generator. They can't do every job, but they can do a lot of jobs. I'd also say if all someone has access to is 120v outlets, get an inverter welder over an old school transformer welder. I've never once popped a circuit on my inverter welder, even welding off a 15amp circuit. I've popped a a lot of circuits with a transformer welder though, and overloaded a generator with 20amp outlets.

I welded a 16 foot gate with a 110 welder. That was over 25 years ago and it is still together

I need a little welder to fix a trailer, it's good to hear you did the same thing I need to do.

As long as you recognize the limitations of a 110 Volt machine they are fine. One thing is you can't skimp on the prep of your materials. I needed some work done on my wheelchair ramp. I almost did it with my 110 volt rig but I got a chance to have an old school pro weld it up with his 220 Volt Miller. I took the parts to his shop and offered to grind the rust and mill scale off before he welded. With my welder I would have had to have done that to have any chance of it holding. He looked at me like I was talking nonsense and proceeded to blast through all that crud with his Miller. Those welds are still holding, long after Jim the gentleman who did the welding went on to his eternal reward. Nice thing about welding is if you do it right the things you build or repair have a good chance of outlasting you.

I bought one years ago and a cousin gave me one. I do have big welders also. I actually welded two Toyota truck frames after they rusted back together lol. I mainly used the little 110 for rebuilding floors in old cars. They are handy.

I have a Hobart 130, Hobart 140, and a Miller 252, all 3 of these are very good.

The bad thing about cheap 110V mig welders is when the cable liner wears out you best throw it away because: 1. No replacement parts exist. 2. They were never designed to be changed.

A BIG BLACK EYE FOR HARBOR FREIGHT I have a Harbor freight TITANIUM FLUX 125 WELDER purchased from Harbor Freight a couple years ago. I am a retired plumbing contractor and backyard hobbyist. I love to build things in my spare time and help friends and neighbors that need something repaired. When I retired and closed my business, I had a stick welding machine but had no convenient place to connect it at my home! It would require an upgrade to my electrical service not worth the trouble and expense! When I saw a couple reviews on RU-vid for this Titanium 125 welder, I thought that would be the way to go. I already had a 110 Volt 30 Amp circuit to my workshop! It took me a while to get adjusted to the flux wire welding. I built a minibike from scrap pipe I had left over from the plumbing shop. The welder allowed me to make other things and make repairs for others I wouldn’t be able to do without it. In the middle of my last project, I cut a couple pieces of metal and got ready to weld them and when I pushed the button on the welder, nothing happened! It was dead! The fan did not come on but the light on the ON/OFF indicated there was power to the welder. I checked the manual for a reset button or a fuse and found no mention of either. So, I called the Harbor Freight 800 number and was told there was no repair for this welder. Harbor Freight has no repair facility, and no support is available. I was told by two different tech reps there is no schematics or parts list available from the factory where this is manufactured. “It is not worth getting it repaired and cheaper to go purchase a new one!” If you purchase this welder or many other things from Harbor Freight You only have 3 Months Warranty. It is considered disposable after that! All the reviews and discussion I have read about HARBOR FREIGHT I have never seen anything about their total lack of support for their products! I didn’t even get an “I’m sorry” or any offer for a discount on a new welding machine! I am retired, was an electronics technician in the Navy, active Ham Radio operator and electronics hobbyist. I feel like the electronics in this welding machine is straight forward non computer controlled and any decent electronics tech should be able to repair this given reasonable support. I removed the circuit board from the welder and found where a small component burned of course not knowing the component value or purpose will make it difficult to replace. Providing a schematic and parts list is a very inexpensive form of support that should be a minimum requirement. Their claim to revenue of 7 Billion Dollars tells me they could afford it!

I am 67 years old my dad taught me how to stick weld and when I got older I got my own welder I worked at Manchester tank I got a whole Bart Handler 190 welder very good welder I got tired of switching it over from solid wire to flex core so I want Harbor Freight and bought me a titanium 125 Flex core welder I absolutely love it for a beginner it would be absolutely wonderful program learn how to start welding titanium 125 welder from Harbor Freight is very good and you can also get the extended warranty on it👍👍👍👍

My HF Titanium 125 flux core has been solid so far. I’ve welded all the way up to close to 1/4” metal with zero issues. Im definitely not a welder, not even a novice as i work in healthcare and have zero welding experience. Would i trust the 110v flux core for welding a bridge to drive my truck over? No way. But for basic farm-type welding, it’s great

Yes it is. I have one and use it for flux core only. Works great

I have a high end 120/240 multiprocess welder and sometimes I use it in 120 mode, works almost as good as when is in 240 volts. You have to know your machine limitations.

I'm looking at a welder to replace the exhaust system on my car. Do you think a 110v welder can do that? I was looking that the Harbor Freight Titanium 140. Any thoughts on that?

Good information, Derek, Thanks!

I have a Hobart Mig120 from the 1990's with .023 wire. It is my go-to machine, for any of my little welding projects. I do have 3 other 240V welders, but I have always liked the 120.

Used my 120V harbor freight blue flux core welder for 3/8” just have to make multiple passes. Root pass then clean then additional passes to fill it in.

I’m a welding school student atm I bought my first welder for I think $200 bucks which is really good. It’s a 120machine and it welds great for me. It welds whatever I need and it’s reliable. The way I put it, you either have a welder machine or you don’t. Yes getting those 220v machines is a goal but those didn’t fit my price range. So if you are just starting out yes these 120v’s are good and reliable for you. If it’s for a real job, probably not. So yes, fully agreed to this video great info!!

Keep making these great videos and you'll be a pro before you know it.

My little Hobart handler 140 has never let me down on are 45 acare farm. I am looking at a stick welder so I can weld thick pipeing. With that said the hobert has welded and connected everything I wanted it to no probs.

College educated welder here, have many rigs from gas to engine driven, bought a century 120v welder, prefer it over it all

You seem like a genuine and good dude wish you the very best in life.

Man for sure, 120v inverter welders totally capable. Especially stick or flux core, you get plenty of penetration on 120v.

Im just a handyman and im expanding my services with some welding. 110 is perfect bc i can do it anywhere. (broken gates, fences, security windows, etc)

Old Lincoln and Hobart 120v machines have been staples of auto body shops. The GOOD shops either gas convert the FCAW versions (cheap, do NOT buy the expensive official kits!) to use shielding gas or buy ones so fitted. I install a quality brass Milton pneumatic chuck on a ten-foot length of green gas hose securing the hose barbs with clamps (NOT ferrules) so I can repair it in the field. For 120V MIGs .023" wire is by far the best choice. Guns are cheap and so are used welders when the previous owner kinks the gun liner or fails to practice and gives up. (If you're a noob, practice on clean steel or cleaned scrap and never on your workpiece.) For thick stock, preheat with a torch. You'll thank me later. Also spend time on welding forums, not just RU-vid because text permits more precise detailed communication while video is for visuals. Use both. It's free.

I bought a Lincloin 110v (120v) years ago now it was the first ones sold at Home Depot and it was great I welded up to 5/8"no trouble. Yestereday, I was trying to help a guy out and he had a 110V Cheap Chicago Tools Harbor Freight machine and I could not get it to even weld at all and it was barely melting the wire and this is the second time I tried one of these machines and it did the same thing to me and the guy really needed it welded so I tried to get it to weld and it came out bad and I was a welder for years, also his helmet only blacked out on one side so I taped the one side and I tried to get it to weld and it came out bad and I looked bad even though I am actually a very good welder. I just made the mistake of trying too hard and should have said this is not working right and I would wait. But I did try to help the guy out and I told him the machine was not working well. and even though I was working for free He turned to an attitude of a paying customer and no good deed goes unpunished. This thing was junk and I should have declined working with shotty equiptment. You are right though if you buy a good quality machine they are fine for small projects. The other thing you can do is preheat the metal as I should have done because I was not getting the heat I needed to penetrate I got a cold adheasion but a after one pass the metal has wormed up but the first pass is not good so you think you are getting it after it worms up but no.

I like the video thank you for posting it. I've never welded before but now that I'm out on the Homestead I am in the market for a welder And definitely on a budget and don't have Power ran to the shop yet so I'm working out of an extension cord so it's good to see all the projects you can do with the 110 V welder

Thank you !

flux core is the way to go for simple stuff on a budget. i just upgraded to a bigger stick welder mainly so i could run e4043 sticks on project and have that ability in the future. that's the only reason.. tried a 120v stick model which on paper should have been able but it just wasn't enough to keep it going. this new one on 120v, 240v capable, will run it. still haven't got the wiring in place but oh man will it weld with the adapter. btw it was the cheapest way to get into aluminum welding. it's not pretty, runs fast and while i can get an ok bead on steel, it's ugly on aluminum. cool thing is i can run either on a 120v cord anywhere around the house with some limits on the big welder. if you are in the market, dude ain't wrong, if not for the aluminum situation, i wouldn't have bothered. that little fc-90 flux core welder is a beast.

You ever consider getting into the Hercules line? I see HF is releasing a new brushless Hercules high torque in the near future. Guess they’re replacing the earthquake line. Excited to see what the performance is

Great upload! I've done some flux core plate work running off an old 110 generator, quick fix work for a scrapyard 👨🏾‍🏭🤙🏿💰

Some of them are kinda gimmicky because they want you to run it on a 110v 40/50 amp breaker to get full amperage. Almost nobody already has 110v on more than a 20 amp breaker. If you're putting in a 110v 40/50 amp breaker, you might as well put in a 220v 50amp breaker. If you install a new outlet right next to your breaker box it will be cheap.

Rather have a 120v welder than no welder. I've done a bunch of trail repairs with my titanium 125. That said, if you can afford it, I'd much prefer a dual voltage machine

wow I just thought 110v just meant Americans had slow sandwich toasters and electric kettles, this is an eye opener. Our standard wall outlet in the house is 240v 16A outlet it's on a 20A breaker. I run my welder on a 30m (65f) 1.5mm (18guage) extension cord out to my shed, it seems fine, runs the power tools and lights.

If a 110 welder can do up to 3/16 metal, I should be able to weld auto floorpans which are around 18 gauge, right?

I live in a three family apartment building and I don't want to do any to hurt my neighbors. Can I use a 110 or 120 Volt welder with a generator ?

You can make some nice looking weld with a 110 flux core. They wouldn’t hold FA though

Harris Donald Wilson Amy Martin Elizabeth

I just used my 110v 80 amp small welder. There are obviously jobs too big for it, but it handles small jobs perfectly. I had to weld a spring for a lawnmower which saved me $58. It paid for the welder right there but be careful you are fooled by welds for bigger items. You don’t want to think it’s welded but actually it just hid the crack.

Depends on the job you are trying to do.

I have a question rather than a comment. That is what breaker is required for this weilder

120AC welder how much max Amps can draw and what is maximum Breaker in service panel you need to change for this 20A 120v plug/wiring?

I picked up a new YesWeld MTS-160 machine on sale for under $200 in 2023. I had first looked at almost every machine in this size and category before settling on it. It can only do up to 1/8" at 120A (with 110/120v AC), and is maybe more suitable for 14 gauge, or if the metal is already good and hot. And it will do 3/16" at up to 160A (but using the 220v feature which is why I got it). I don't know that I'd only want a 110/120v machine because of it's limits to 1/8" and thinner. They are pretty limiting if you regularly do 1/8", especially in colder months where you often need the headroom of extra amps, say ~130. I run .030 wire in it almost exclusively though and admittedly weld 14g to 1/8" about 90% the time but that other 10% is always important. And for that I have an Everlast MTS 275 which is my big dog. What a lot of people quickly find out with small box machines is when doing joints and layers, even when both sides are 1/8" you'll find you need some extra amps for increased penetration. So for me that's why I found a 110v small box that can still bring the heat when needed with some 220v.

I got myself to harbor freight and picked up a titanium 125 flux core welder, a roll of wire, gloves, visor, tool, brush, square magnets, and a fiberglass cloth, amongst other minor things. $350 out the door, and ready to stick sh!t together with hot glue. I've burned through the Vulcan roll fking things up and got a Forney one which is way better, and I can actually make it look good. If it wasn't for that low entry price I would've never touched welding.

Are they good for welding horseshoes?

Can they be used for automotive exhaust systems?

Don’t remember brand but I killed three in 3 weeks but was welding 1/4 galvanized steal min breaks for 12 hours, I think if u give it a break and not work it hard it might last?

I really just want to weld mufflers every couple months when I get bored of one. I have experience with mig welding a new box on our woodchip truck box so I know I can hold a pretty stable bead. Just never used a gasless one and wondering if those are crap or not

I have Mastercraft 125i flux core welder. Which is 115v and I cannot use it plugged on my garage outlet which is 15amp. When i touch to weld. Breaker pop before I see arc. Can it be because of 50' long 16 gauge extension cord? Do you have any idea what can be the issue? Thank you!

I'm not 1 of those guys with power in garage for 220. I'm off grid, using generator for power only when needed.

I just got a $53 stick welder. Not bad for Chinese junk. More useful than my 110 mig welder.

Great video. What is your go to rod(s) you normally use? 6011, 6013, 7014 or 7018?

220 is is only two 110 lines sharing the same ground.. not to hard to rig it up-- youtube university

Could I run a titanium flux 125 welder on a 30 amp circuit or will it damage the welder?

what about lighter gauge thin metal body parts for car and trailers? I want to avoid burn through

Is a 110V machine is enough to fabricate a staircase handrail? Thanks

thanks for your vidio,

I enjoyed your video I have two of these welders my problem is is it constantly pops Breakers in my house is it necessary to install a 20 amp outlet?

The Amazon Blue welder is better than all these and harbor freight

Great video that is very helpful and well thought out. Thank you.

I’m in school to become a pro welder but I could really use a nice little portable 110 machine so I can practice my welding, and so I can make some cool things and maybe even get some money on the side with it.

That was a good, fair, and reasonable explanation.

Man I’m just trying to teach myself to weld without spending $500+ on my first stick welder. I’d like to do 1/4”.

Someone just needs to show me a 110v gas mig two dial machine. Not everyone wants multi-process, dual voltage or high end. Welding 18 gauge sheet metal doesn't take all the things.

I dislike 110v welders, 220V hits harder for not much of a stretch on the supply front.

I’m sold

Hey helpful video man thanks I'm trying to custom my Razor frame that I modded the electronics but need to do some framework I'm a carpenter so good with wood about to be with metal lol I think 110 will do to start 🤷‍♂️ let me know if you have any input Thanks for the video

Most of these newer inverter machines will run on either 120 or 240. I don’t see the point on getting a 120 volt model for the rare occasion you might have to run it on 120 volts. If you don’t have 240 volt power get yourself a engine driven unit. I know mine has a terrible duty cycle on 120 volts. My inverter welder will run 150 amps at 100 percent duty cycle on 240 volts but is only 20 percent duty cycle at 125 amps on 120 volts and draws 40 amps! On a 20 amp circuit you can’t get more then about 90 amps out of it before you trip the breaker. Combine that with about a 40 percent duty cycle and you can see how useless it is. I must add you can weld anything at 90 amps including 1 in steel plate! You just have to bevel it and run a multi pass weld. Open root multi pass welds are just as good if not better then single pass welds. But it’s that terrible duty cycle that sucks. I couldn’t tolerate a machine that could only weld for 2 or 3 minutes at a time before needing to cool off for 7 or 8 minutes!

Really needing to weld in some 2x6 rockers on my Jeep, likely 0.125" thickness, I know you said 3/8" is as thick as you can really go, but do you think I'll be good with a Titanium dual voltage 140 ran off 110v (120)? HF has a coupon right now and I'm itching to get this project started lol.

Can I weld a trailer jack into a trailer?

I just love garabge boys knowing more than fabricators.

absolutely what I needed to know. Job Well Done. Thank you

4:19 what size pipe did you use? I asked other about using a 110v flux welder for the 2 7/8ths drill pipe and they say it can't be done. Just wanting to know if I can buy pipe that I can use for an entrance as well.

Nice to be able to run it off a small generator.

Thank you

I showed up to a job with a 110 welder and one of my coworkers grabbed me by my neck and threw me to the ground, I asked wtf was that for as my eyes started to water but before I knew it my other coworkers starting kicking me while repeatedly shouting “you’re going to learn today boy”. One of them took a shit on my 110 welder while another one grabbed my credit card and charged a 5,000 dollar welder and said don’t ever come to the worksite with a purse and don’t show up without the welder you just bought yourself

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Excellent machines!

too much talk hands on the project would be better!!!🙁

Rambling on and on didn't tell or show any thing about the welder

Thanks for the video. I saw you welding with what looked like a wire feed machine is this all that you are reviewing or does it apply to stick (welding rods) also.

I just wanna patch the holes in the floor of my van and one of these seem perfect. Cheaper than having them fixed plus I get a handy little welder when I'm done