Harbor Freight introduces a full line of new welders

[California]

HF's new 'Vulcan' welder line.

Thanks to Noble18 over on Welding Web for the pictures and descriptions. New "Vulcan" welder line? - Page 2

 

[Ford850]

Interesting. I'm a little surprised the price is as high as it is on these. I only checked the Commander 225 compared to a Hobart Stickmate. I can grab a Stickmate today at Rural King, with their rebate sale, for $422. The HF is $400, and has 8' leads compared to 15' on the Hobart. If HF allowed the 20% coupons to be used on these Vulcans, it might be enough of a price difference to matter though. The Vulcans do look like nice, compared to some of the junk knock offs.

 

[MJO63]

You have to be careful what you buy there something are cheaper elsewhere.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

These are copies of Lincoln products including the SW200 and the 210MP. And only have 1 year warranty. It isn't likely that Lincoln will let things alone.

 

[Raspy]

Right or wrong, I made it a rule not to buy electrical tools from HF. To many things have failed for too many reasons. I'm tired of feeling ripped off or hoping I got a nice new tool and finding out it's junk.

It would be nice to be proven wrong with these, but I'll let others do the field testing.

My concrete contractor had a HF welder he used while doing my forms and rebar. It would have been cheaper to buy a new quality welder and give it to him, than to put up with the HF junk.

I'll buy chain, sockets and electrical tape, but the list thins out after that.

 

[California]

My concrete contractor had a HF welder he used while doing my forms and rebar. It would have been cheaper to buy a new quality welder and give it to him, than to put up with the HF junk.

I'll buy chain, sockets and electrical tape, but the list thins out after that.

What did he use on that rebar, the little 90 amp AC 'mig' welder? No way! I'm curious what you observed.

 

[Raspy]

California,

He wanted to stick weld the rebar together in the footings. I balked, and pointed out it wasn't designed that way and was not needed, but he insisted. The welder had about a 20% duty cycle that allowed him to BS for a half hour and weld for a few minutes. The HF welder kept tripping itself off and just seemed like junk. Pretty soon, steam was coming out of my ears, especially since I had a perfectly good Miller on site, if needed. But it wasn't needed.

It wasn't the only problem and we parted ways shortly after that as the attitude devolved. Sloppy workmanship and wasting my time doesn't sit well with me. HF electrical tools have repeatedly proven to be unworthy.

 

[2458n]

Should be good they use everyones technology.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Should be good they use everyones technology.

BUT, they don't use every ones "build quality" or quality control!!

SR

 

[stuckmotor]

With Harbor Freight trying to sell higher end equipment it doesn't seem like Harbor Freight anymore. Makes me kind of sad.