I was a professional fabricator for nearly 40 years. With flux core or mig I always pushed the weld (instead of of pulling like you - except when laying root) leaving a nice overlapping dimes pattern. With the right spool of flux core (I prefer INETUB BA71TGS .030, as it's nearly splatterless and penetrates well) and proper settings, the HF 90 can do a beautiful job. I've had the HF for about 9 years now - still running just fine,and I drag it everywhere! Also have a Lincoln 125 mig/flux-core, but it stays in the barn.
You should be at about a 10% drag angle. Remember heat goes where you are pointing. When I was learning I found making little circles helped me pace myself. Voltage was either too low or too much wire (set your wire for your desired penetration and set voltage accordingly). In this example your wire feed was too low, travel speed too slow, and voltage too low. 90 amps isn't enough to do much structurally. If that is 1/8th HSS you should be using about 140 amps at 21 volts. Welding 3GF up gets you better penetration all be it at a slower speed. Spatter was caused by both settings and gun angle. The end of a wire feeder gun is called a nozzle. Your tip is the contact point between your wire and your welder and is inside the nozzle attached to the diffuser(which doesn't actually diffuse anything in this welders case as your running FCAW. You can get flux core nozzles that are much smaller and gum up less because you don't need gas flow. Pause at the end of your welds for a second to fill in crater cracks. Keep your face out of the fumes you don't want to breath that in. It is best to wear respiratory protection. When holding your wire feeder gun go side to side not towards you. Keep up the good work!
Yeah, we mostly called it dragon scales or snake scales. Looked like a line of dimes overlapping each other along the seam. When you do a straight push (or pull) you tend to get cold shoulders. But, no one I ever worked with dragged it. When pushing the weld you heat up the metal in advance of the puddle resulting in better penetration - when you drag you're aiming at the puddle, not in front of the path of travel. That makes for less penetration. Some of the places I worked required every weld to be tested and certified 100% penetration - especially refinery tanks, and reactors.
Thanks for taking the time to get this up here. I grabbed one of these little welders on an impulse a couple of years back for like 70-something bucks during some sale, but have not yet needed to use it until now. Before I do, I'm just seeing what folks think about them and how they work.For the little I paid, I'm not expecting pro-grade results, but am gratified to learn that you and others think they're "good enough" for the sort of light duty stuff I have in mind. Thanks again!
Ditto this comment!… mine was gifted to me, I only want to do some spot welding , ie, repair my bbq grill, and patio furniture.. thanks for the honest review for us DIY guys!
I'm a subscriber. I have this welder. I keep coming back to this YT of yours and many others because you are a tell-it-like-I-lived-it kinda guy. You have integrity. Thanks, again and keep on keeping on doing what you do.
Sweet! We don't get to do much welding at the shop. We've got two welders that come with their own truck. Mainly because the welding we need to do on the boats are on the aluminum t-tops, and those welds have to be super clean and tight!
I got one of these a couple months ago for $75 open box. I love it. It's so damn fun to learn on. And don't laugh at the brush/slag hammer. It WORKS.. Hell even the cheapo mask it came with works. And the free spool of wire worked great on a welding job I did for a friend.
I just came across your video, and I have to say the way you explained and showed the welder and welds is exactly what I’ve experienced with mine . I’ve never welded before or taken any classes, I’ve just winged it. I also had mine for tour years now and I bought when I started my truck restoration. And yeah they’re not the prettiest of welds but they work. And for being on a retirement budget, it was worth the $100 bucks. Great job on the video
i was raised as a welders son and i have Lincoln and miller mig welders but i also have the 90 amp Chicago welder and i can make just as good of a weld that i can with a name brand welder. it is just as good. for smaller stuff. its not about the machine but more so the one doing the welding.
my bad with the wording. like i was always told. "if i could spell / put sentences together on paper i wouldn't be doing what i due. cheers to those that have their beers
I just picked up a second hand unit for $50, and I think it should do fine. Great for small projects and tacking things together. I'm not a welder, nor will I ever be (at 50), but this looks like a good way to make some really cool stuff. Thanks for the video!
Hello sir good post. I have that welder, stiil in the box,my wife gave it to me for Xmas a few years ago, use a stick welder at work what i really need is the cart and more importantly a helmet. It did a fine job a little messy but the weld looked fine to me
Hey Justin ive had mine for 8 years and have found the its all about the WIRE WIRE WIRE I can lay a bead of dimes with this welder vaculan wire is the best
Finally got a lincoln welder always wanted one I bought the mp 140 and love it I'm a mechanic not a welder but I've welded through the years next purchase will be lincoln ac dc tig
I just learned I have to press the button to activate the power so my wire weld. Tomorrow I'll try my welder, let's see if I do my first weld and repair and start saving some bucks!
I was on the fence leaning towards the Chicago until I ran across the Century FC-90. It is half the weight, a DC machine rather than AC (AC='s more spatter), owned by Lincoln, and when on sale it is very close in price. Lots of people make do with the AC Chicago machine and so I intended to but read the reviews and watched the videos comparing the two...Century wins hands down.
Hey Justin, I just was going back through the 90 amp reviews and found yours. I watch your channel all the time and did not know you had one of these. I am a mobile welder and have thousands of dollars in equipment. This being said I love these little things for auto sheet metal. I am starting a restoration on a Porsche Barn Find. My suggestion is to always use Lincoln flux core .030 with these machines. Love Ya Brother! How's the jeep life? I am thinking of building a badass jeep from scratch with wooden bucks and panel beating.
Yep good idea to have all your welding supplies on a cart - very handy that way - you can just grab and go to the project in the driveway and everything you need is right there - make the same weld with a faster wire speed - actually read what matt wrote and remember not all mig wire is good ......... nice video
Biggest mistake by beginners is not bracing yourself against something to get a steady hand. You appear to be making that mistake here until about 8:00. That metal appears to have a coating/plate on it.
You were so kind in your response to my earlier comment that I thought I should drop in again to pass along a suggestion I got elsewhere that you try some of that plain old Pam anti-stick spray normally used for cooking near your welds to help keep that spatter or splatter from sticking. Just sort of mask off the area to be welded and give the surrounding area a spray. Apparently they also sell special and pricier "anti-stick welding sprays", but some folks swear by the Pam by name. Others claim the even cheaper dollar store stuff works as well. The only downside I've heard is that it may smell like fried chicken and make you hungry.
Hi Justin. I tried all the cheap welders: Northern Tool, Eastwood, Everlast and wound up with the Lincoln LE31 MP. 120V, it runs on my generator when needed, and does all 3: Mig, Tig, Stick. I like it a lot compared to the other 3 I tried. And I can get it serviced at any local weld shop.
4 year reveiw? If anything last 4 years from harbor feight I'd say it's a good buy. Some of their cheaper stuff falls apart as soon as you get it from harbor freight.
Thanks man, good video, you make me feel better about buying mine just like that from a guy today, I got a new helmet, cart welder wire brush & extra 35 tips and its all new, he used it once & sold it to me on offer up for $120.00. I build custom bicycles, go~karts & different stuff like that, plus Im hoping it'll work for some VW BAJA BUG Stuff too i.e. roll cage. Thanks again buddy for the good video.👍😉🏁
Does this unit run well with 0.035 wire? I have it with 0.03 now. Would 0.035 give better penetration over 0.03 with this unit, or does penetration depends more on the manufacturer or specs of the wire?
Another great video! Just want to make sure, this is a 110 v not 220? I have the lincoln version of this welder and always not had a lot of confidence in it due to 110 v. If it is 110, you show it can work great!!!
Has anyone out there run into this problem with this Chicago Electric 90 Amp Flux Core Welder? When I press the trigger to start welding the wire feeder comes on for about a second and then stops. It does it even when I remove the wire. I took a shot in the dark and replaced the wire feeder with a new one that came with the small electric motor on it. It did not fix the problem so I lost that gamble. It still only runs for a bout a second then stops dead although the welder is energized. What is the problem? Can anyone help me here?
just got used 90 amp flux wire welder before putting new wire in I read instructions! It said to make sure wire spool number is same as wire diameter.. the spool on my machine says 0.8 as I understand my wire is .030 not sure what to do? any suggestions?
I'm not satisified with my Harbor Freight 90 amp flux core welder. I bought it about 7 years ago. It's not working well, never has - doesn't lay down a bead, at all. I wonder if it's the crap flux wire (0.030) that came with it. I ordered Lincoln flux core wire, 0.30, today. Hopefully that will make a difference. Any comments, tips on best quality, best type of wire to be used with this welder? Thanks.
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?
you have to use the trigger to feed the wire through the mini .030 bearing. I hand feed mine through, lock it down, and pull the trigger until it comes out then slide the .030 tip on and screw it in place. too easy. Cheers! no push button feeder on this one. All feeding is controlled by the trigger
Possibly. I'm no Pro Welder by any means. Practice makes perfect. I'll keep that in mind the next time I use it. Thanks for the question. I may try a lower speed the next time.
Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong I bought one of them are installed in the wired When I went to use it only the wire comes out it doesn't make no sparks
I was a professional fabricator for nearly 40 years. With flux core or mig I always pushed the weld (instead of of pulling like you - except when laying root) leaving a nice overlapping dimes pattern. With the right spool of flux core (I prefer INETUB BA71TGS .030, as it's nearly splatterless and penetrates well) and proper settings, the HF 90 can do a beautiful job. I've had the HF for about 9 years now - still running just fine,and I drag it everywhere! Also have a Lincoln 125 mig/flux-core, but it stays in the barn.
Hal Rhoads can I put 23gag wire in this welder
Hal Rhoads : I’ve always heard “drag the slag” in flux core. Seems to work better than pushing as you push the slag into your pool.
Thanks for the tip. I just ordered some
I just picked one of these up for $30. Came with a welding hood too. Looks like it's been used maybe 1 time. Excited to use it. 😊
You should be at about a 10% drag angle. Remember heat goes where you are pointing. When I was learning I found making little circles helped me pace myself. Voltage was either too low or too much wire (set your wire for your desired penetration and set voltage accordingly). In this example your wire feed was too low, travel speed too slow, and voltage too low. 90 amps isn't enough to do much structurally. If that is 1/8th HSS you should be using about 140 amps at 21 volts. Welding 3GF up gets you better penetration all be it at a slower speed. Spatter was caused by both settings and gun angle. The end of a wire feeder gun is called a nozzle. Your tip is the contact point between your wire and your welder and is inside the nozzle attached to the diffuser(which doesn't actually diffuse anything in this welders case as your running FCAW. You can get flux core nozzles that are much smaller and gum up less because you don't need gas flow. Pause at the end of your welds for a second to fill in crater cracks. Keep your face out of the fumes you don't want to breath that in. It is best to wear respiratory protection. When holding your wire feeder gun go side to side not towards you. Keep up the good work!
matt taylor Wow! Lots of Great Information!!! Thanks. Definitely going to remember to come back and re-read again later👍
Yeah, we mostly called it dragon scales or snake scales. Looked like a line of dimes overlapping each other along the seam. When you do a straight push (or pull) you tend to get cold shoulders. But, no one I ever worked with dragged it. When pushing the weld you heat up the metal in advance of the puddle resulting in better penetration - when you drag you're aiming at the puddle, not in front of the path of travel. That makes for less penetration. Some of the places I worked required every weld to be tested and certified 100% penetration - especially refinery tanks, and reactors.
@@halrhoads6194 Thank You, Your information helps greatly.
Thanks for taking the time to get this up here. I grabbed one of these little welders on an impulse a couple of years back for like 70-something bucks during some sale, but have not yet needed to use it until now. Before I do, I'm just seeing what folks think about them and how they work.For the little I paid, I'm not expecting pro-grade results, but am gratified to learn that you and others think they're "good enough" for the sort of light duty stuff I have in mind. Thanks again!
BilgemasterBill No problem Brother thanks for your support 👍🍻
Ditto this comment!… mine was gifted to me, I only want to do some spot welding , ie, repair my bbq grill, and patio furniture.. thanks for the honest review for us DIY guys!
I'm a subscriber. I have this welder. I keep coming back to this YT of yours and many others because you are a tell-it-like-I-lived-it kinda guy. You have integrity. Thanks, again and keep on keeping on doing what you do.
Sweet! We don't get to do much welding at the shop. We've got two welders that come with their own truck.
Mainly because the welding we need to do on the boats are on the aluminum t-tops, and those welds have to be super clean and tight!
I have that same one. I've only used it once or twice, but I think I'll give welding a shot again after seeing this.
I got one of these a couple months ago for $75 open box. I love it. It's so damn fun to learn on. And don't laugh at the brush/slag hammer. It WORKS.. Hell even the cheapo mask it came with works. And the free spool of wire worked great on a welding job I did for a friend.
Mines so old. It's blue. Yep. It still works too.
I just came across your video, and I have to say the way you explained and showed the welder and welds is exactly what I’ve experienced with mine . I’ve never welded before or taken any classes, I’ve just winged it. I also had mine for tour years now and I bought when I started my truck restoration. And yeah they’re not the prettiest of welds but they work. And for being on a retirement budget, it was worth the $100 bucks. Great job on the video
i was raised as a welders son and i have Lincoln and miller mig welders but i also have the 90 amp Chicago welder and i can make just as good of a weld that i can with a name brand welder. it is just as good. for smaller stuff. its not about the machine but more so the one doing the welding.
my bad with the wording. like i was always told. "if i could spell / put sentences together on paper i wouldn't be doing what i due. cheers to those that have their beers
That's true with most things. Makes me think of Sabine Schmitz racing at Nurburgring in a van on Top Gear.
I just picked up a second hand unit for $50, and I think it should do fine. Great for small projects and tacking things together. I'm not a welder, nor will I ever be (at 50), but this looks like a good way to make some really cool stuff. Thanks for the video!
There's a couple videos out there about changing the ground clamp out (item 63784) for like $6 which supposedly improves the performance.
Hello sir good post. I have that welder, stiil in the box,my wife gave it to me for Xmas a few years ago, use a stick welder at work what i really need is the cart and more importantly a helmet. It did a fine job a little messy but the weld looked fine to me
Hey Justin ive had mine for 8 years and have found the its all about the WIRE WIRE WIRE I can lay a bead of dimes with this welder vaculan wire is the best
James Brown can I put 23 gage wires in this welder
Not seeing this wire on the internet. Where. An I get it?
@@sheklikak amazon
Also at harbor freight
Finally got a lincoln welder always wanted one I bought the mp 140 and love it I'm a mechanic not a welder but I've welded through the years next purchase will be lincoln ac dc tig
I just learned I have to press the button to activate the power so my wire weld. Tomorrow I'll try my welder, let's see if I do my first weld and repair and start saving some bucks!
i changed ground clamp and cut the gas sheild down changed to INE wire , works really better.
I was on the fence leaning towards the Chicago until I ran across the Century FC-90. It is half the weight, a DC machine rather than AC (AC='s more spatter), owned by Lincoln, and when on sale it is very close in price. Lots of people make do with the AC Chicago machine and so I intended to but read the reviews and watched the videos comparing the two...Century wins hands down.
Hey Justin, I just was going back through the 90 amp reviews and found yours. I watch your channel all the time and did not know you had one of these. I am a mobile welder and have thousands of dollars in equipment. This being said I love these little things for auto sheet metal. I am starting a restoration on a Porsche Barn Find. My suggestion is to always use Lincoln flux core .030 with these machines. Love Ya Brother! How's the jeep life? I am thinking of building a badass jeep from scratch with wooden bucks and panel beating.
Yep good idea to have all your welding supplies on a cart - very handy that way - you can just grab and go to the project in the driveway and everything you need is right there - make the same weld with a faster wire speed - actually read what matt wrote and remember not all mig wire is good ......... nice video
The Home Handyman Thanks Dad!
Biggest mistake by beginners is not bracing yourself against something to get a steady hand. You appear to be making that mistake here until about 8:00. That metal appears to have a coating/plate on it.
hey you Good Tip. Thanks a million
You were so kind in your response to my earlier comment that I thought I should drop in again to pass along a suggestion I got elsewhere that you try some of that plain old Pam anti-stick spray normally used for cooking near your welds to help keep that spatter or splatter from sticking. Just sort of mask off the area to be welded and give the surrounding area a spray. Apparently they also sell special and pricier "anti-stick welding sprays", but some folks swear by the Pam by name. Others claim the even cheaper dollar store stuff works as well. The only downside I've heard is that it may smell like fried chicken and make you hungry.
Hi Justin. I tried all the cheap welders: Northern Tool, Eastwood, Everlast and wound up with the Lincoln LE31 MP. 120V, it runs on my generator when needed, and does all 3: Mig, Tig, Stick. I like it a lot compared to the other 3 I tried. And I can get it serviced at any local weld shop.
Its a good startup machine. But any more recent INVERTER technology welder blows ALL older ones away
For fluxcore you really don't need the gun nozzle. You can see your weld puddle better without it. That's only to help shield shielding gas.
I still leave the cup on its easier to lay welds down
Thanks helps alot I'm doing my exaust today right now with same one thanks again helped alot
Excellent video. Thank you.
You are welcome! :)
4 year reveiw? If anything last 4 years from harbor feight I'd say it's a good buy. Some of their cheaper stuff falls apart as soon as you get it from harbor freight.
twn5858 Agreed!
I have the same welder. Bought in 2015 or 16 and still works like the day i bought it
What the hell is spackle? It's called spatter!
Hot and fast, best way for people that don’t know how to weld to make your beads look decent ( high amps fast wire speed)
ZachBraps Good to know. Thanks for the Tip!
Thanks for the video
Welders magnets, and a chalk marker would go good in that cart. Maybe a tape measure too.
Do you recommend this to someone who has never welded and willing to learn at home?
I'm building me a little 4x8 utility trailer and am wondering if this welder would help and not break
Great video man thanks
Thanks man, good video, you make me feel better about buying mine just like that from a guy today, I got a new helmet, cart welder wire brush & extra 35 tips and its all new, he used it once & sold it to me on offer up for $120.00. I build custom bicycles, go~karts & different stuff like that, plus Im hoping it'll work for some VW BAJA BUG Stuff too i.e. roll cage. Thanks again buddy for the good video.👍😉🏁
Rockin Roll! Have fun and thanks for your kind words. Cheers!
Nice video, I have a Lincoln but no gas for it. Maybe I’ll pick up some flux core wire and try to weld some stuff together
Does this unit run well with 0.035 wire? I have it with 0.03 now.
Would 0.035 give better penetration over 0.03 with this unit, or does penetration depends more on the manufacturer or specs of the wire?
Pushing your welding so your puddles in front will give you better control and clean it up, flux is in dirty in nature.
Another great video! Just want to make sure, this is a 110 v not 220? I have the lincoln version of this welder and always not had a lot of confidence in it due to 110 v. If it is 110, you show it can work great!!!
bsa 1970 110V that is correct.
i threw mine in the trash where it belongs. now have a 200 amp machine that works fine
Has anyone out there run into this problem with this Chicago Electric 90 Amp Flux Core Welder?
When I press the trigger to start welding the wire feeder comes on for about a second and then stops. It does it even when I remove the wire.
I took a shot in the dark and replaced the wire feeder with a new one that came with the small electric motor on it. It did not fix the problem so I lost that gamble. It still only runs for a bout a second then stops dead although the welder is energized.
What is the problem?
Can anyone help me here?
just got used 90 amp flux wire welder before putting new wire in I read instructions! It said to make sure wire spool number is same as wire diameter.. the spool on my machine says 0.8 as I understand my wire is .030 not sure what to do? any suggestions?
A for effort, great video thanks
Thanks great video
Just got a everlast mig have not used yet freezing balls in Chicago no heat in garage. Hope it’s not a waste tbd
The spackling you refer to is due mostly to this being an ac machine.
I'm not satisified with my Harbor Freight 90 amp flux core welder. I bought it about 7 years ago. It's not working well, never has - doesn't lay down a bead, at all. I wonder if it's the crap flux wire (0.030) that came with it. I ordered Lincoln flux core wire, 0.30, today. Hopefully that will make a difference. Any comments, tips on best quality, best type of wire to be used with this welder? Thanks.
I have the 125 HF flux core welder I love it hy Justin your #SMALLENGINATION brother
Can you weld sheat metal with it?
And at what setting?
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?
Looks great I have one myself. Bought it not long ago but where do you feed the wire at? Help! Thanks
you have to use the trigger to feed the wire through the mini .030 bearing. I hand feed mine through, lock it down, and pull the trigger until it comes out then slide the .030 tip on and screw it in place. too easy. Cheers! no push button feeder on this one. All feeding is controlled by the trigger
Justin Dow it helped a lot thanks. Another question, does the wire matter for what welding? Because there is a couple different types kind of wire.
Would type/quality of wire have anything to do with the spatter?
Sometimes. They make a anti spatter spray that reduces it just forgot what it's called.
Do you recommend this for auto panels repairs I have some rust underneath the car trying to cut them out and weld some sheet metals on
That I'm not sure. I'm not a professional welder and would think that it might be to hot for sheet metal.
Wire speed too fast??? Great video btw.
Possibly. I'm no Pro Welder by any means. Practice makes perfect. I'll keep that in mind the next time I use it. Thanks for the question. I may try a lower speed the next time.
Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong I bought one of them are installed in the wired When I went to use it only the wire comes out it doesn't make no sparks
We’re you grounded
@@AlexD02 that would be my first guess.. I'd say to the OP, watch a shitload of weld dot com channel videos.
Mine works great at 5 and on minimum
Oh and also u can use regular Pam spray and can clean the splatter better
Just some HF tools I won't buy. This would be one. I'm using a craftsman that's about 6 or 7 years old still works perfect.
I bought 1 new and it won't weld
🇺🇸👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
But Justin I thought you had a volcan welder
I actually gave this one away to a Marine after I bought the Titanium MIG 170. This video footage was taken before that purchase was made.
Your the man dude and your on top of the content
u subbed ..
I taught my self how to weld but the day I welded a wooden dick on a snow man I knew I became a professional u didnt do that bad on ur welding