Just an FYI if you have a Harbor Freight auto darkening hood, remember to turn it off to the grinding mode when your done welding so your battery's last longer.
I have the 90a version of this welder. Actually the same machine except for the labeling. It is an AC welder and flux core doesn't perform very well with AC. I converted mine to DC Electrode Negative (DCEN). It made a much more capable welder out of it. I wouldn't recommend buying this machine with converting it in mind. I already had mine when I learned about the conversion. The HF Titanium 125 is DCEN and doesn't cost much more. DCEN puts 70% of the heat into the weld and 30% into the wire. That ratio is reversed 60 times per second with AC. This leads to marginal penetration. It is sufficient for non critical welds, but if you need a really strong weld you need more penetration. One advantage this welder has over the Titanium 125 is that it will accept a 10# spool of wire where the Titanium 125 will only take a 2# spool. Neither welder is going to build any aircraft carriers, but they are good for light general welding for amateurs like me. After converting mind I used it to make a major modification to my HF motorcycle table lift. I removed the jack it came with and installed a hydraulic cylinder powered by an electric motor. Now instead of manually pumping it up, all I have to do is push a button to raise the lift.
In my opinion, is always nice to keep a cheap welder like this around to help out beginners with questions and projects, especially so if you do a lot of welding projects.
Bit late to the party, but thanks for this great little overview. I couldn't resist getting one of these kits a couple of years ago "just because" for some ridiculous sale price like just $66 bucks, and subsequently got the little cart, an auto-darkening helmet and gloves, also all on sale. I've yet to break any of them out for a try, but finally got a couple of things that need light welding. I guess I just need the Pam spray! Thanks again!
This video should help you out:ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RkkJd0TIa5E.html You'll dip the tip into the gel every once and a while.
I own one of these, and it has been a great little welder, and I highly recommend it. Furthermore, you can buy plastic shields that cover the tip after removing the gas cup. And it is worth noting also, that, you can purchase larger 10 pound spools, that fit inside the top cover. You will run through the 2 pound spools quite quickly. PS...Make sure you use a 120 volt dedicated 20 Amp outlet.
Bought this welding machine a month ago and now I’m looking to use it for the first time. Thank you for the walk through and testing, makes me more confident in doing my first ever weld 🤘🏼
These look exactly the same as the sealey mighty mig 100 we have here in the UK. It's like they took it and just put different livery on it, wonder if it's the same internally PCB board etc.
I know this may be a long shot. Quick question. I purchased the same exact welder to weld nuts on broken manifold bolts. But my weld is not sticking to the broken bolt tip, but it is to the nut. Please advise TIA.
Are both steel? Depending on the size try to focus the wire solely onto the bolt and once you get a puddle move over and tie into the nut. If it's a small bolt you might not be able to do that. Lastly turn up the wire speed.
should I move the tip side to side or in circular motion to achieve 3 mm wide weld? Also, I couldn't see anything with the auto darkening helmet. I use the welding google and I can see better.
Yes you can move side to side. Depending on the thickness of material you'll probably need to turn the settings up. Almost every helmet has adjustable for the darkness. What is the shade set too? Turn it down to around 10 or 11. The goggles are too low of a shade, they usually run around 5.
i was given this welder that was never used. it turns on and feeds the wire fine perfect. when i touch the wire to the steel nothing happens. its metal from a 55 gallon steel drum with all the paint and rust removed. i have the ground clamped to the metal im trying to weld. what am i doing wrong?
Thanks for an honest well rounded review. Had one sitting around for a couple years and need to weld some quarter panels on an old muscle car, good to know it will do the job just fine.
I've seen this busy before and as a welder I have a couple pointers to add here. Get yourself some of those cotton gloves they have and wear them under the welding gloves, you'll thank me later. Get a wire brush and to help clean those tips. That nozzle is used to protect the tips on these models, keep the spatter off to help with smoother operation. Let's say you're using this welder on something you don't want alot spatter on get you a shop rag, and wipe a really thin coat of that nozzle gel on it. Once the weld cools, wipe clean then wipe with acetone if needed(good example is paint prep). Thank you for the awesome content! I use Lincoln power wave with a setup that needs a power supply. So I came to RU-vid some helpful hints
Sir, I purchased on of these last fall to weld new bed supports on to my truck bed. It's a 94 Chevy. Mind you,I had dumped money into the front end and tires before I found out after removing the bed that I had a very thin frame and some cracks in the bottom of the c channel. Too late to scrap it. I thought I would be saving time and purchased the Rust buster frame stifteners pre drilled. They are 5/16 and most of the truck frame is 3/8 and less. Thats one problem. I'm not sure if I might be able to put the heat towards the thick and bring a little of the puddle into the thin without blowing through. The products were a disappointment as most of the holes were off or not there. I did get 20 percent credit,but it's a lot of time consuming work. Anyway,When I first used the welder with the original nozzle, I couldn't see the puddle good,but put down decent welds,I recently picked up a flux core nozzle and for some reason my welds are inconsistent and the arc is not sounding like bacon frying. My wire gets stuck to the weld or the weld is good in on spot and not in the next,but the arc keeps stopping. I am not crazy about the cheap ground clamp. Do you think the ground is the issue or something wrong with the wire feed and do you think I can weld the stifteners on with this welder or should I upgrade to the Titanium 125? Thank you in advance. I'm pretty frustrated.
Thanks for the video. I am on hold for an hour with Harbor Freight because I didn't know this thing had to be plugged into a 20-amp outlet. Was yours plugged into a 20-amp outlet?
I tested mine out with a 15amp outlet and it will work on the lower settings. As soon as you start welding on the higher settings it will trip the breaker.
@@-DIYPRO- Upon further review after leaving comments and on hold for 3 hours for harbor freight which gave only the help written in the instructions that a 20-amp outlet was required: I see that the exterior outlets on my sister's garage have the t type of plug slots. I then spent an hour online researching how to test an outlet to see if it can hold 20 amps and...ya. I'm just going to buy a 20-ft extension cord to the machine and just give it the beans and hope for the best.
Great review, although the price has jumped from the 89.00, it is still a good deal. I have been curious about this welder for a long time, mainly because of 110 power, because of your review and lesson I will purchase this the next time it goes on sale. Membership price as of 10/07/21 is 119.99.
good advice for a beginners like me, I hear you, we have to change the nozzle every couple inches when soldering. question: how to see or know when its time to change the nozzle ... as I told you I am bigger in soldering.
You'll probably never need to replace the nozzle. The tip yes, wire starts to stick and ball up on the tip if you don't use nozzle gel is hard to get off and you have to replace it a lot.
If you want to run it on the highest setting, yes you'll need 20 breaker. I used it a bunch on my 15amp and it works great until you crank it up then it just trips. I would assume at that gauge you should be fine but I haven't ever run it on an extension cord.
I bought an older one from a friend and the nozzle was missing and I was thinking the whole time that's why there is so much splatter lol. Thanks for the video because I was about to scrap it and buy a new one because I can't get the nozzle anymore.
But using the copper coated wire in that makes our fuse short out and shuts it off and it's a 20 fuse in the box so I'm thinking of putting a 30 fuse in none of that never happened when i used the silver wire Anyhow I didn't like the copper coated wire weld lines that type of wire takes more energy to heat it up I found out
This may answer your questions. I explain the difference between the "copper" and "silver" wire. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jXLRunEp1tg.html
I'm a seasoned welder. Atleast I been taught industrial aws welding through schooling and internships. I just ordered mine online today.despite it not being the best welder but I only got 120v circuit. Good for around house stuff And simple metal fusing and messing around. Definitely not for industrial types of work with really thick metal.
Those grinders are good for cutting disks don't use them for heavy grinding and put a cutting disk on it the grinding wheels and wire wheels destroy the bearings in the head of grinder and will cause a wobble it will make the cutting disks explode . learned the hard way
Simply dip the tip in the gel prior to welding and repeat every once and a while. After a couple minutes of welding I'll actually brush off whatever is stuck to the tip and work piece with a wire brush prior to dipping it again.
@@wildestcowboy2668 practice! If you are just starting out welding it really does take practice. Don't start with a pipe, start on a flat horizontal piece.
@@-DIYPRO- Fair enough I can respect that, the other question is why am I having trouble seeing it. I literally can't see anything until I start to weld and then it's foggy boss.
I am an Ironworker. This weld isn’t too bad. Price only matters when you need all the crazy features like pulse and Arc gouge. I’ve welded some I beams with machines way more sketchy than this thing. Came to this video because my Buddy leant me his in a pinch, and I wanted to see the bead. I’m honestly impressed. Thanks.
Just picked up this welder from HF I think you said something about running it on house power and if that would be fine? I'm trying to figure out if I can plug it into the standard sockets in my house. The tag on the handle of the welding gun says it must be plugged into a 20 amp plug or the one that has the little sideways "T" Is this necessary? The welder doesn't have the "T" on it so this is why i'm asking. Thanks for the help!
Yes you can use standard house power. Depending on what amperage the outlet is you may not be able to go on the highest settings. For example one of my outlets in my garage is a 15 amp and it will trip the breaker if I weld on the highest setting whereas I have another outlet that is a 20 amp and it will just fine without tripping the breaker.
@@-DIYPRO- A question, I also picked up one of these welders and was wondering the same. All my outlets are rated to 15amps but several are connected to 20amp breakers in my breaker box, my fridge and washer outlets. If I connected to either one of those, is there a risk of burning out those outlets themselves that are rated to 15amps?
@@grassrat4506 the welder will run just fine on the smaller 15 amp outlets on the lower settings. If you put it to the max (high and 10 wire speed) it's still won't damage the outlet it will just trip your breaker.
@@-DIYPRO- Okay, Thanks. I'm going to pickup a heavy duty extension cord and run it from my washer outlet to reach outside to my driveway. I looked in my breaker panel and saw that it was full. So I can't add another 20amp breaker and 20amp outlet designated to just the welder. I was hoping later on to upgrade to a 220 stick welder, but see now I'll have to get an electrician, my panel has room for 4 more 220 breakers but don't have the middle legs. I'll come back in a few days and let you know if I trip a breaker to that circuit to the washer outlet.
Love mine have had it for going on 10 years pull it out now and again to buzz this or that. I would add you will really want an apron and look at the sleeve kit, It was very hot last time I welding and skipped the sleeves. Got a nice sun burn on my arm inside elbow joint since it was close to the sparky part.
If u leave the nozzle on will welding with the wire too far away from the metal affect the integrity of the weld because I tried welding a nut to a broken exhaust bolt and the nut kept breaking off.
Yea I talked about getting it and nothing else. If you get the gel you'll dip the tip into it ever once and a while. Pam just spray it on your tip and you can also spray what you'll be welding and the splatter will just fall right off.
Hi. I picked up this model used for 50.00. When I turned it on to try it,I noticed that the fan did not immediately come on. I don't plan on keeping it as I already have a Lincoln mig welder with a fan that turns on as soon as it's powered on. Does the fan on your welder come on when it gets warm or should it come on as soon as the switch is turned on? Thanks.
There’s actually a slim profile rubber/poly nozzle. It’s usually sold separately. You can also find it at most big and small hardware store or Home Depot, lowes, ace,Amazon, eBay. “Flux core welder Gassless Nozzle”.
Quite right nozzle encapsulates the weld in inert gas envelope. Flux core generates no inert gas. So it would not if intend to trap gas. Flux by definition is chemical reaction that takes place to chemically clean the metals being joined. BIG difference.
If you pull the trigger and wire comes out then you need a better ground connection, make sure the clamp is close to the piece you welding if you aren't using a metal table then you need to clamp the actual piece you are welding. If you pull the trigger and nothing then you have a bad machine and hopefully it's within the 90 days so you can return it. Good luck!
Bought this welder a few months ago. Just got around to setting it up. This video was helpful in confirming that I did it correctly. I subbed, mostly because I saw you lost all 100 subs seemingly overnight. Hope my sub helps! Thanks.
Totally agree, I guess i'd been used to mig. I just recently posted a better review for this same welder: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GFE1L1EF1-4.html
For just one job, yes. If you are looking to do a lot, then I'd get a mig welder (less clean up and it's easier to do thinner stuff). The Titanium 140 or 170 are great mig welders.
Check that you have the ground cable touching a nice clear shiny part have your peace you were trying to weld. If there's any rust or corrosion on it it won't make a good connection.
never welded in my life and have no teacher or even anyone to show me how, except for youtube...most ive done was use a cutter to cut thru steel but it was gas... my father has a flag pole (he is a 80yr old retired Navy Commander) and it is super important to him to raise the American Flag (also his college flag underneath haha) anyways...his pole is one that came in 3 sections and recently the weather has been ruff at his home and the flag pole is leaning from the joints..Ive driven screws in to help steady the pole but it really needs to be welded..Now ive lost both of my hips and Im very limited to what I can do physically but I have seen this welder for 89 bucks and because im poor (SSI only gives me $550 a month to live on, or at least used to) I was hoping to try and fix his flag pole. Will this do the trick? I dont think the pole is aluminum it seems to be more like chain fence post poles. If it is fence pole material and I use self tap screws in all 4 directions to hold it still and use this welder to make a 360 degree weld do you think it would hold reasonably? Im in SC Greenville and we have a harbor frieght beside the hospital. I just dont have the money to waste
Great video, I could have used this years ago! I have the old 90 amp one, works fine for around the house, I will try it with the gas shield tip off like you said. I want to upgrade to a mig welder, but just do not really have enough use to, yet!
Old video but hey I'm using this to try to fix my mower brackets and its not penetrating but ifk which piece to ground to. Just splatters and doesn't weld the two togather
Are you asking about the nozzle get? If so then you dip the tip in it every once in a while to keep the spatter from sticking to it. Saves on buying tips!
I've been thinking about if I can take off the gas directing tip shield (thing-a-ma-gig) & did it after watching this video, putting electrical tape around the threads & more. The only thing is if you get too close it will melt the wire into the hole of the tip, now I know you are not suppose to weld that close, but I'm still getting wire feed welding down. But that being said it helps a lot to see what I'm doing. I'm trying to follow all the safety precautions the main one I'm having a problem is breathing the smoke, I put a good fan pointing right at the work & it seem to help a lot, it also helps me see the puddle. And I have both of the large roll up doors up so the wind always blows through the building. I'm not sure if the fan blows away the flux gas shielding before it can do the job all the way, it seem to not really bother it but I'm not sure. I'll test it with out the fan now that the tip cover is off & see what I can see. Thanks for the upload.
Have the filler wire stick out more to see the weld pool so you can still use the cup. Your gonna run through tips faster then normal. The cup does help protect tip and concentrate shielding gas when you get closer. Try changing the angle depending how you are working if you cannot see weld pool. If i am welding in 1G (this is for mig, flux) i like doing a pusing motion when i can. However, sometimes its necessary to drag as well. Practice both ways. Good video!
Looks like those pliers also have little hammer knobs on them on the outside granted on a sharp angle like a 90° weld may be a little difficult to hit the weld with the little hammer nubs but on a flatter surface weld looks like they’re made so you could use them MAC the weld
Yes you can. If you are welding carbon steel to stainless you can just use regular steel flux core wire. If you are doing stainless to stainless you'll want to use a stainless flux core wire.
I work at Harbor freight and just bought this welder today 2/1/23. I paid $75 and some change for it with my employee discount, I'm not a welder by any means but I do a lot of repairs. I work on small engines and cars. This is gonna be perfect for my needs. Thank you so much for the detailed information. Great review and demo.
Just picked one up a couole hours ago. A bit more than 89 but cheap nonetheless. Surprisingly I couldn't get it to go as it seems easy af. Maybe it was the metals i was trying to "weld". Or maybe the extra long extension cord?...maybe...idk. im in that "just starting out" category..clearly. lol decided to pick one up to introduce myself to welding.
