Harbor Freight FCAW welder

Gary Fowler · Mar 16, 2020

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

dragoneggs · Mar 16, 2020

If you go gas you won't want to go back to flux core.

BukitCase · Mar 16, 2020

Amen - no cleanup on these at all -

C25 gas, .035 Lincoln L56 wire... Steve

Big Barn · Mar 16, 2020

BukitCase said:
Amen - no cleanup on these at all -
View attachment 645868

Except for the permanent marker.

NICE!

WranglerX · Mar 16, 2020

dragoneggs said:
If you go gas you won't want to go back to flux core.

Yes... GMAW forever.... Nothing wrong with FCAW, but GMAW is so much cleaner....

Dale

Gary Fowler · Mar 17, 2020

DL Meisen said:
Yes... GMAW forever.... Nothing wrong with FCAW, but GMAW is so much cleaner....

Dale

All true, but I would never use MIG for heavy steel, hence my purchase of tiny 125 amp machine. I like my stick electrode for that. If I were going to use wire feed as my primary welding equipment, I would have went with a 220V machine with at least 200 Amp rating @60% duty cycle or higher.

WranglerX · Mar 17, 2020

Gary Fowler said:
All true, but I would never use MIG for heavy steel, hence my purchase of tiny 125 amp machine. I like my stick electrode for that. If I were going to use wire feed as my primary welding equipment, I would have went with a 220V machine with at least 200 Amp rating @60% duty cycle or higher.

Sold my 180 amp stick machine many years ago.... About 7 years ago I bought Hobart Handler 140 and it has done admirably all my welding needs, seldom do work over 1/4 to 3/8 inch so stick is non relevant to me....

JUst can't see a 125 amp fluxcore only machine, as it seem bottom end of chinseasiun dung pile... Go with top end 120V machine or 240V machine if the 120V top end machine is to small....

Don't think I would ever go back to stick....

Dale

duramaxsky · Mar 17, 2020

Gas is the only way to go. Flux core blows more crap than stick. And you can do aluminum. I have 2 gas bottles one for steel and one for Aluminum. I may get another welder for steel. It's a pain to keep changing the liner and bottle. I will go bigger for a steel only machine. And maybe Miller instead of Lincoln.

rangerfredbob · Mar 18, 2020

I've been very impressed with what my old transformer 100A flux core welder will do, that new Titanium unit is tiny... I do have a Titanium 175 and 200 (paid $650 for the 200 and $125 for the 175... I abuse the 175) and haven't gotten a bottle yet but they both weld great on flux. I have an AC/DC stick welder at home too to do heavy stuff. I'm used to MIG though, I occasionally use the giant MIG at work, it's an old Lincoln Sinchrowave with a wire feed box on top, that welder is a beast... I am going to get a bottle for the Unlimited welders but I have no regrets right now.

Mark_D · Apr 3, 2020

dragoneggs said:
If you go gas you won't want to go back to flux core.

I disagree. I use both. When FC is dialed in just right the spatter isn't bad. I use FC for most of my dirty repairs and outside welding. I use gas when I'm dabbing fresh steel in the shop. I actually probably use FC about 60% of the time. Here are some pics from a recent project where I added a weight to my box blade. Flux core wire was Lincoln NR-212 .045.

dragoneggs · Apr 3, 2020

Mark_D said:
I disagree. I use both. When FC is dialed in just right the spatter isn't bad. I use FC for most of my dirty repairs and outside welding. I use gas when I'm dabbing fresh steel in the shop. I actually probably use FC about 60% of the time. Here are some pics from a recent project where I added a weight to my box blade. Flux core wire was Lincoln NR-212 .045.View attachment 649084 View attachment 649085

No argument... I am working with fresh steel or well grinded/cleaned in my shop 99% of the time. I just don't have the same dirty/outdoor requirements as you. :thumbsup:

yomax4 · Apr 4, 2020

Flux core comes in more than 1 type and can be good or bad depending on manufacturer. Some is like 6011 and some is fair. For best results I would suggest E71T-11 as opposed to E71TGS. Big difference especially when doing multi pass. I still don't like it but it's there just in case.

theg · Apr 6, 2020

Sometimes you can use multiple passes. Not talking about critical or life safety welding. But on my box blade all I had access to at the time was flux core. Little time in prep and multi passes it is doing well years later.

BufordBoone · Apr 7, 2020

yomax4 said:
Flux core comes in more than 1 type and can be good or bad depending on manufacturer. Some is like 6011 and some is fair. For best results I would suggest E71T-11 as opposed to E71TGS. Big difference especially when doing multi pass. I still don't like it but it's there just in case.

I wondered if LINCOLN - INNERSHIELD NR-211 is the same or similar to E71T-11. I did a bit of research and believe it is. Lincoln Electric AWS E71T-11 Innershield NR-211-MP

If I'm wrong, I hope someone will chime in.

BTW, I've decided there is a place for this type of welding and am very pleased I bought the Harbor Freight Titanium flux core welder. I was able to reinforce a lock box on my gate using it. Main goal was to install a piece of rebar to prevent a bolt cutter from reaching the lock. Used a small generator to run the welder (had a thread on it on this forum) and it worked very well.

I spent less on the machine than I would have spent to get a pro down or even to rent a large generator. Now I have a tool for light repairs.

yomax4 · Apr 7, 2020

BufordBoone said:
I wondered if LINCOLN - INNERSHIELD NR-211 is the same or similar to E71T-11. I did a bit of research and believe it is. Lincoln Electric AWS E71T-11 Innershield NR-211-MP

If I'm wrong, I hope someone will chime in.

BTW, I've decided there is a place for this type of welding and am very pleased I bought the Harbor Freight Titanium flux core welder. I was able to reinforce a lock box on my gate using it. Main goal was to install a piece of rebar to prevent a bolt cutter from reaching the lock. Used a small generator to run the welder (had a thread on it on this forum) and it worked very well.

I spent less on the machine than I would have spent to get a pro down or even to rent a large generator. Now I have a tool for light repairs.

NR211 is 71T-11. You are correct.

Gary Fowler · Apr 23, 2020

The Titanium from HF came with a spool of wire and I am using that up. I have heard that HF FCAW wire is crap so next time I go to my LWS, I will pick up a spool of E71T-11 and see if it runs smoother.
I really like the ability to weld thin sheet metal with the little wire feed welder. I am surprised by how much I am using it lately. I think I may get a bottle of 75/25 and try my little MIG machine also.

I also want to pick up one of the little welding carts from HF to mount it all on. May even modify it a bit so it will hold both machines and the extras that go with them.

Gary Fowler · Apr 23, 2020

The Titanium from HF came with a spool of wire and I am using that up. I have heard that HF FCAW wire is crap so next time I go to my LWS, I will pick up a spool of E71T-11 and see if it runs smoother.
I really like the ability to weld thin sheet metal with the little wire feed welder. I am surprised by how much I am using it lately. I think I may get a bottle of 75/25 and try my little MIG machine also.

I also want to pick up one of the little welding carts from HF to mount it all on. May even modify it a bit so it will hold both machines and the extras that go with them.

Buggs67 · Jan 4, 2021

Interesting tread.

I want to get a welder for light duty stuff. I've never welded before but I am tired of imposing on my neighbor friends and BIL (who is 40 min away) for simple repairs and fabrication. I was considering this same welder and also the HF stick welders. From what I've read the inverter technology is better; not sure it's true.

I realize I'm not giving much to go on but I'm not sure what all I'll be doing.

Any advice and feedback is appreciated.

radios1 · Jan 4, 2021

be sure to get one with a working fan!. I bought the 70 amp inverter welder from Harbor Freight, and had to replace the fan because it was mechanically broken!..

WranglerX · Jan 4, 2021

Buggs67 said:
Interesting tread.

I want to get a welder for light duty stuff. I've never welded before but I am tired of imposing on my neighbor friends and BIL (who is 40 min away) for simple repairs and fabrication. I was considering this same welder and also the HF stick welders. From what I've read the inverter technology is better; not sure it's true.

I realize I'm not giving much to go on but I'm not sure what all I'll be doing.

Any advice and feedback is appreciated.

Suggest you think of a little bit better machine, at least one the can do GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Weld ) which is solid wire and shield gas and can also do FCAW (Flux Core Arc Weld) which is flux cored (hollow) wire..... That way you can have best of both worlds.....

If you are not educated on "wire welding" (MIG) then suggest you go to link below and do a bit of looking....

Welding Tips and Tricks - TIG, MIG, Stick and a pantload of other info

Jody also has some very good YouTube videos....

Personally I when with Hobart Handler 140 which is top end 120 VAC MIG ..... Knowing what I know now and what I did not know at time of purchase (7 years ago) I would give serious consideration to a 240VAC machine as projects seem to get bigger and bigger....

And for those who argue "stick' welding, I gave up stick for MIG....Would not go back to stick ...Ever....

Dale