Harbor Freight FCAW welder

[user.69169]

Make sure you have job ready to weld up day you get de machine home, and I mean big job.
Unbox, plug in and test machine to de max right den and dere.

Run it like stolen car for few days.

Makes you happy and fills all yer needs keep it. Don't, take it back, no questions asked.

 

[BufordBoone]

I think welding is a lot like guns. Ask about a good deer rifle and there are some that will insist you need some version of a magnum with at least a 20x scope.

I needed to fix my gate and the only generator I have is a Honda 2,000i. I asked about using my HF Titanium 125 FCAW welder with that generator. I don't think I got any responses that it would work.

I thought "No harm in trying" so did a test run. I couldn't pound the pieces apart with a hammer. So, off to the gate I went and made the needed repairs.

Yeah, I'd prefer to weld with MIG and shielding gas but the would require setting up wind blocks around that gate. Flux core was easy.

Needed to weld a trailer winch onto the skinning pole recently. Quick and easy.

For outdoor "farm type" repairs, I'm very happy with that machine.

 

[user.69169]

Trick to runnin little weldin machine from generator.

Pretty obvious if you ever watch generator and use voltmeter.

Load hits generator it bogs second or 2. Dat OK wid lightbulb but welder need max power same time generator is bogged.

Trick, load generator wid something big enough to get past bog and back to speed. Den welder see full voltage at start of weld.

Welding & guns, kinda sorta maybe. Talk to gun shop owner he tell you how he makes money selling new gun and taking back for part of money. Owned by little old lady who only used it to keep congregation awake when preacher was boring.

 

[BufordBoone]

I think my generator has an "economy" switch. That switch lets it run at lower RPM until needed. Flip the switch off and it runs at wide open throttle.

For the welding project, I ran it with that switch in the off position. I don't recall it bogging down at startup but it is a valid concern.

I had received so much advice that I needed a bigger generator that I almost purchased one but thought "Give it a try". **** if it didn't work out just fine.

 

[GeneV]

Harbor Freight had their Titanium 125 FCAW DC inverter welder on sale for $159 so I decided to buy it. I dont need to weld thick stuff, I have stick rod for that, so the 125 works well for me. I just got thru welding up some shelf brackets I fabbed out of 3/32" thick sheet metal. The little machine worked great. So far it hasn't kicked out on overheating. I think I am going to like it but it does throw off a lot of buckshot.

I have had an Airco MIG 100 for 30 years that was given to me by a LWS and I never used it due mainly to not wanting to buy another gas bottle. I may invest some more money in a 75/25 bottle and try it out later and try it out since I think if would weld smoother than the FCAW. I never really thought about what I could use it for since I have the 250 amp AC/DC Miller stick machine

Like Century FC90, the titanium 125 has good reviews. I was looking at both, but went with the FC90.

But I just couldn't get down with fcaw, I got a mental block to it or something. Personally, I much prefer stick.

 

[bigtiller]

I think my generator has an "economy" switch. That switch lets it run at lower RPM until needed. Flip the switch off and it runs at wide open throttle.

For the welding project, I ran it with that switch in the off position. I don't recall it bogging down at startup but it is a valid concern.

I had received so much advice that I needed a bigger generator that I almost purchased one but thought "Give it a try". **** if it didn't work out just fine.

I have the same generator, and I just bought a FCAW last week from my farm store. It has 2 power settings, high & low. Numerically that is 60 and 90 amps.

What amperage were you using to fix your gate?

It would be good to know that 60 amp is do-able and even better if the 90 amp setting will work for short weld times.

 

[Buggs67]

I have the same generator, and I just bought a FCAW last week from my farm store. It has 2 power settings, high & low. Numerically that is 60 and 90 amps.

Which welder did you get and from what farm store? Are you happy with it's performance?

 

[BufordBoone]

I have the same generator, and I just bought a FCAW last week from my farm store. It has 2 power settings, high & low. Numerically that is 60 and 90 amps.

What amperage were you using to fix your gate?

It would be good to know that 60 amp is do-able and even better if the 90 amp setting will work for short weld times.

I don't recall the settings, sorry. My machine (the HF Titanium 125) has two dials. One is letters and one is numbers. I checked the chart inside the lid and did some test welds. I don't know how to convert it to amps.

 

[Captain Dirty]

I think my generator has an "economy" switch. That switch lets it run at lower RPM until needed. Flip the switch off and it runs at wide open throttle.

For the welding project, I ran it with that switch in the off position. I don't recall it bogging down at startup but it is a valid concern.

I had received so much advice that I needed a bigger generator that I almost purchased one but thought "Give it a try". **** if it didn't work out just fine.

During a power outage I was trying to start a refrigerator with a 1.5KW generator, not enough omph. By holding the governor open and letting the engine overspeed for a few seconds, it would store enough energy in the flywheel to start the refrigerator motor that would then run fine.

 

[user.69169]

Replacement frigerators & freezer sales go way up about 2 weeks after power failure. Most get replaced in houses wid automatic generators dat come on line fast to replace power company.

Cooling compressor needs time after shutoff to bleed down head pressure or it can self destruct starting

Sump pumps are pure he!! to start too

Newer oil burner wid electronic control very sensitive to power frequency. Under 58 and over 62hz will throw to shutdown for flame failure.

 

[bigtiller]

Which welder did you get and from what farm store? Are you happy with it's performance?

This one, but I got it from Orscheln not Amazon.

Titan Vaper 41185 9 Ampere Gasless Wire Feed Welder - Power Welders - Amazon.com

 

[BufordBoone]

It may have already been mentioned but the HF welder mentioned is a DC welder. It runs a lot smoother than an AC flux core welder I tried.

To me, anyway. Anyone else got input on AC vs. DC in flux core wire welding?

 

[Muhammad]

It may have already been mentioned but the HF welder mentioned is a DC welder. It runs a lot smoother than an AC flux core welder I tried.

To me, anyway. Anyone else got input on AC vs. DC in flux core wire welding?

Yeah we discussed this over at WeldingSite: https://weldingsite.com/threads/welding-a-wrought-iron-railing.283/

I tried both and wound up with the unit Gary bought. I found the AC flux core to be essentially unusable as a newbie. With the DC I was able to get strong welds and not all that much cleanup when welding good clean metal.

 

[user.69169]

Yeah we discussed this over at WeldingSite: https://weldingsite.com/threads/welding-a-wrought-iron-railing.283/

I tried both and wound up with the unit Gary bought. I found the AC flux core to be essentially unusable as a newbie. With the DC I was able to get strong welds and not all that much cleanup when welding good clean metal.

Hey, you know pictures over der really suck. Too small! Too many ads too.

Why all you kids call steel "wrought iron"? You ever meet wrought you gonna know what a day of work is for sure.

SanDiego look like one dem califoolish places. Look around fer ceramic shop. You find get a gallon of what called slip clay, I tell you dirty trick for next flux job. Save up some dat drywalmud too, another trick you don't know fer dat.

 

[Muhammad]

Hey, you know pictures over der really suck. Too small! Too many ads too.

Why all you kids call steel "wrought iron"? You ever meet wrought you gonna know what a day of work is for sure.

SanDiego look like one dem califoolish places. Look around fer ceramic shop. You find get a gallon of what called slip clay, I tell you dirty trick for next flux job. Save up some dat drywalmud too, another trick you don't know fer dat.

okay

 

[Buggs67]

okay

My reaction too.

I am leaning towards the Titanium 125. Video reviews were good and I think I'd have a better learning curve. It's $180 now and with a 20% off coupon.

Now deciding to get auto darkening or standard helmet. My concern is not cost but safety and workability. I have a friend who is a professional welder and he swears by the HF auto darkening helmets.

 

[user.69169]

Free HINT- Horrible Fright autodark same technology as Hobart, Miller, and de rest. Few guys have torn em down and element & electronics same. Been known fer years.

BangGood.com sells same helmets cheap direct from China, goo look you can even buy replacement package for 10 bucks.

Big important part is battery replacement. Coin cells on some easy to change, others you gotta open de package and glue back shut after solder new battery.

Autodark all began wid General Electric self shading window dat was big flop. Technology of glass ain't changed, electronics got better over time.

 

[Muhammad]

My reaction too.

I am leaning towards the Titanium 125. Video reviews were good and I think I'd have a better learning curve. It's $180 now and with a 20% off coupon.

Now deciding to get auto darkening or standard helmet. My concern is not cost but safety and workability. I have a friend who is a professional welder and he swears by the HF auto darkening helmets.

I bought one of the cheap $50 auto darkening HF helmets and while using it outside, decent results. If you have glare you might need a cover behind your head otherwise you won't see anything. Also be sure to remove the protective film from the glass otherwise it's all blurry.

 

[user.69169]

I bought one of the cheap $50 auto darkening HF helmets and while using it outside, decent results. If you have glare you might need a cover behind your head otherwise you won't see anything. Also be sure to remove the protective film from the glass otherwise it's all blurry.

Don't forget to add bib, or at least slather wid de zinc paint protects from Sun.

Wash off outside spatter lense every day too.

 

[Muhammad]

And good PPE. First time you burn a hole through the crotch of your pants you'll get on Amazon for a good set.