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'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 UA-cam some helpful hints
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.
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 🤘🏼
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
Wait until you upgrade to MIG welding. Same basics, but the travel speed will change a lot, depending on the thickness of steel. I still have my 90amp flux-core welder, will keep it until it dies even though I have a nice welder now.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
@@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.
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.
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!
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!
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
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 can just tell that you are a person who would benefit a lot from reading those instructions thoroughly, several times. Put that think on MAX and wire on 5 for that .030 although that may burn thru automotive sheet metal. In which case i'd put it on MIN and just make a series of tacks.
Check out my resent review of this welder: ua-cam.com/video/GFE1L1EF1-4/v-deo.html
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.
Saw Simone tell me this and it works. Also leaving in sun for a little before welding
@@Teeon2wheelz Best time to weld is at 2pm
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 UA-cam some helpful hints
Thanks for the tips!
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.
I don't do alot or any I just got it to make a few cheap bumps and be done with it I'm more better at cutting trees
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 🤘🏼
Glad it helped!
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.
Thanks for the info!
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.
Right on, thanks!
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.
$75, great deal! Have fun with it!
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.
I noticed those at HF the other day. They have finally started selling dedicated flux core nozzles.
@@-DIYPRO- The only ones my HF store has aren't threaded so they won't fit on this welder.
Can you use a 10 pound roll of wire
@@zachferguson2037 yes you can use 10 lb rolls
I hooked it to the power strip on my computer and now my computer won’t work 😩
Thanks for the info I picked one of these up for free been sitting in my garage gonna try and weld it eventually
That shield you threw away keeps you from welding the tip to the metal your welding. Gives you the gap. Also stops the gun from grounding out
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!
You sold me on this welder, I am going to pick one up tomorrow to mainly do little exhaust work whenever I need it.. thanks alot for the video..
How did it turn out
@@MuscleCarMike great man, that welder works great for the price, even my brother purchased one after using it.. does basi stuff I need no problem..
@@civicpride1986 that's good, I bought one last night but I can't get it to work its either burning through or splattering everywhere lol
@@MuscleCarMike they sell some anti splatter gel that helps with that
Cooking spray works as well, just spray the piece and nozzle before welding.
Got one never thought of using pam. Great idea. Great Vid. Thanks. Heard Lincoln wire helps cutting on splatter.
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.
Can you Weld mufflers? O exhaust pipes?
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.
Agreed, this does throw a lot of spatter.
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.
Very technical, i like it. I'll have to use that explanation next time.
Harbour Freight has a nice Welding cart that is perfect with this welder. You can put your helmet, gloves, and other welding tools in the cart too.
And the cart is on sale today for $29!
I got enough wood I could make one
U r 100% correct, u don't need the nozzle. I took off my nozzle 2 yrs ago, becuz i only do flux welding.
Helps out to see better.
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.
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”.
I think HF even carries them now.
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.
Great video. Almost ready to do my first weld
Sweet, how did it turn out?!
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.
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.
Great vid bro! I'm a new welder with the flux core 125, and I learned a lot from ur vid.
Thank u.
Glad to hear it!
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.
Probably is the same.
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.
Yea this video was done a while ago. They will go on sale again during Christmas but not as low as they used to be.
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.
Thanks!
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.
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!
On sale now, go pick one up for $89!
Got mine for a truck seat
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.
Hello Mech , I love the simplicity of your work. I am going to buy my first flux 125. Please tell me when and where and how to use flux gel
4-22-24
This video should help you out:ua-cam.com/video/RkkJd0TIa5E/v-deo.html
You'll dip the tip into the gel every once and a while.
i built a whole 16 foot tandem trailer with mine
Sweet, how is it holding up?
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.
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.
Yep stick out plays a big factor into the weld.
I’m truly thank you so much for your video it’s really dose helping me out so much just because I am a very new welder.
Glad to hear it!
2:32 I just recently bought one of these and watching your video reminds me of the fact, mine didn’t come with wire!!
🤬🤬🤬
Love that inflation.
That settles it, I'm getting one!
Not to throw a wrench in your plans but if you have a little extra I'd get the titanium 125.
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
Ive been useing the tip cover.LOL Im use to a mig welder.
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.
Thank you great video. I really appreciate how you got right into it. Also the tips you recommended were spot on.
Glad it was helpful!
I just bought this last weekend. Thanks for the tips! One question : where does the Pam or gel go?
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.
Excellent! Thank you!
Great video just wish I could get the wire to feed all the way through nvm got it
Through to the gun?
@@-DIYPRO- yea my tip was a little clogged so it wouldn't push through took the tip off fed it through myself and it works just fine
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!
The 90a is the same machine. The only difference is the label.
Just learning...but can this be used on body panels? Gonna do my truck bed over. Thanks
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.
@@-DIYPRO- thanks
This helped me out so much! Thank you!
Glad it helped!
its crazy how much more expensive its gotten for all harbor freight products that were reviewed 2 years ago.
I have a 90. And im still learning it. To me it dont get hot anuff and it pinholes. But it does ok for tacking welding till i get to the weld shop.
Wait until you upgrade to MIG welding. Same basics, but the travel speed will change a lot, depending on the thickness of steel. I still have my 90amp flux-core welder, will keep it until it dies even though I have a nice welder now.
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?
Try it on a small scrap piece of metal only a couple inches long. Most of the time it's just not a good ground connection.
have u tryed the 035 wire in it?
Yep, can do slightly thicker material. I typically weld thinner stuff so I stick with 0.030
You use the welder on wire speed 8 on high. What speed do you recommend on the low setting?
Best video by far thanks
Glad it helped
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.
Sorry for the late response. Mine turns on when the machine is turned on.
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
Harbor Freight, definitely light duty stuff.
The puns he throwing out are wild😩🤣
Can you weld gas tank holes with this welder, can you make a video about welding holes , filling them in
I'll have to add that to the lineup. Welding in general it's hard to fill a gap. It's worth a shot though.
Good ideal
Hey at least you got wire mine did not come with it lol
That what i've heard. No more wire with Harbor Freight.
How is the gel used? You never showed us
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.
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.
You ever figure it out? Wtf mines i cant even join a paper clip together it just sparks and splatters not welding the metals
Very good video intro thanks for sharing
Glad you liked it
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.
@@grassrat4506 keep us posted.
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.
ua-cam.com/video/jXLRunEp1tg/v-deo.html
Thanks for the tips.
Getting rid of the nozzle, fucking brilliant mate. I'm gonna try that today.
Let me know how it turns out. Cheers.
tell you what , if you can weld with this welder then normal mig will be like childs play (as long as you get the gas right and settings)
Right on!
I'm about to weld a muffler on with this exact same welder so I throw the tip away correct?
Keep the tip, throw away the nozzle ( or just put it aside as a spare when you upgrade to a mig welder!)
@@-DIYPRO- How can I get a smooth weld and not the little popcorn splatter?
@@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.
Would this work for exhaust pipes?
Yep, you can do exhaust with it.
So this welder needs a 20amp breaker correct? Also would a 50ft. 12/3 extension cable rated at 20amps 125v work okay with this?
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.
@@-DIYPRO- Okay thank you! I was confused because I saw in the instructions it asks for a 20amp circuit but theres a nema 5-15 plug.
If I use extension cord would this welder perform good as no extension?
Depends on how long. I'm sure you'd be fine with 25-50' (Make sure the wire gauge is big enough)
Is this machine good enough to weld breaks in the tubing on the yerfdog go kart frame?
Yes
Thank you sir. For taking the time to make this video.
My pleasure
Hello, I bought the machine but I am using the wire 0.35 0.9mm but I am very thick with the solder which must do to better this
This helped a lot
Glad it helped!
Will it work for cars too ? Like a small rust spot
Show me some sheet metal welds.
By any chance do u know what’s wrong if it will feed wire but will not arc?
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!
Mech Master ok thank u so much I will try that!!
@@jessicagutierrez9734, could also be that your metal is not clean enough if is rusty. This welder has plenty of power to burn through mill scale.
Awesome video!
Thanks!
Awesome video. Tks
Right on, thanks!
@10:08 " it's 50 bucks " but you can get it on sale " for 49 "
Yea good catch, goes on sale for $39!
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
these going on sale for $100 on the next sidewalk sale 😃
Good deal!
So, how do you use the oil? For what purpose?
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!
Good vid my man 😉
Thanks!
Man I am struggling lol welding is a lot harder than it looks lol
It does take practice.
Great job, I learned alot!
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
Would you buy this or the forney 299?
Hey is this thing still available anywhere
Yep, my local HF still has them.
Can you weld stainless steel with this welder?
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.
So can u connect this on a regular house plug?
If you are in the US with 110 volts then yes!
Which extension cord would work with this machine,?
None
Did you just plug it up in your garage outlets and it works?
Yep, you'll need a 20 amp breaker if you want to go to the max settings. 15 amp works for lower settings.
I like that yerf dog in the back.
That will be one of the next videos to come!
I can just tell that you are a person who would benefit a lot from reading those instructions thoroughly, several times. Put that think on MAX and wire on 5 for that .030 although that may burn thru automotive sheet metal. In which case i'd put it on MIN and just make a series of tacks.
I can just tell that you are a person who has never read any of harbor freights manuals, Haha! They don't give any good welding suggestions.
Your wife has it in the kitchen PAM 🤣🤣🤣
True true.
mine actually didn't come with wire and it was a whole new trip to the store I was so confused.
Thanks