anyone try the hf tig welders?

[bad_idea]

i got a flyer from harbor freight the other day and they have an arc/tig welder for $229?!?! i am familiar with hf, so i know some things are a home run, while others are a foul ball.... anyone have experience? i am use to using a newer synchrowave 350 at work. i don't imagine the hf unit will compare, but i am looking to weld a car exhaust not build high pressure piping systems. i have an 02 camaro and i'm looking to build my own stainless exhaust. do you all think this unit would do a decent job welding it? i have a hobart handler 187, would it do a decent job? has this post spiraled into a series of mindless questions? i hope this post doesn't turn into a hf vs. u.s.a. tools bashing thread, not my intent.

 

[tcsalvage]

one of my guys just brought one in today for me to teach him how to use. told him its been twenty years since i even touched one so its going to be awile until i get the hang of tig welding again. i'll let you know tomorrow how it goes.

 

[NUTTSGT]

A welder is something I would not buy from HF.

 

[tcsalvage]

neither will i, mine are miller, hobart, hypotherm plasma but what the guys buy is up to them. you would think they would take what they use at the shop into consideration when they buy there own tools but it doesn't work that way.

 

[diggerrick]

At that price I don't think you get a foot control, and I believe they are DC only.

You can't weld aluminum with it.

I still want to try one though.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

My buddy bought one and it's a serviceable machine - nothing too exciting. Functionally it's kind of like the old TIG rigs that you clamp a stinger to.

 

[diesel research]

Steel tig welding doesn't have to require a lot of the advanced features. You are simply using a straight dc power supply, powering a gas solenoid on/off, and maybe some timing/frequency controls for start and stop.

As a matter of fact, a lot of standard car alternators produce acceptable power for that type of light work. Stainless doesn't require so much heat since it holds heat pretty well.

Judging by a lot of the internet buzz, along with a little experieince on stainless, I'd say it should suffice for exhaust work. Used to weld stainless swagelok fittings together to create custom adapters, didn't require much amps at all, nor did it require playing with the advanced settings on the ol synchrowave. Just good dc.

Since you will be doing exhaust, your duty cycle will be pretty low due to constant repositioning and short beads.

Then again, if done properly, there shouldn't need to be much welding for an exhaust anyways. Use band clamps at most of the joints like muffler/pipe. A lil antiseize on the pipe, and a strip of aluminum foil doubled/tripled over wrapped around the joint and then apply band clamp. Leak-free seal but easily disassembled as need be. If you want super high end you could use vee-band clamps, but that is way overkill for most joints. Add in a high quality braided flex joint and a few isolators and you are good to go.

 

[Virgil Cain]

Those welders aren't bad for welding in replacement body panels where you have to cut something out that's too bent or rusted to repair (i.e. welding in patch panels). Works great for that, and that's all I've ever used mine for. Like the other poster said, DC only so not for welding aluminum. I like this little Tig for welding sheet metal so much it is my go to welder for this type work, and I never use the Miller in this application. You've just got to understand the limitations and know if the work you want to do will live within those limitations. The PCB inside isn't too bad, I've got a schematic, and can replace any bad component except the transformer.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

I would not buy the HF Unit. It has no foot control and will not do aluminium and is underpowered. The next best one for the price would be the one Eastwood sells. It will have a foot control and will weld aluminium and has a 200 amp capacity. If it is not the Eastwood you want the next step would be the Lincoln or Miller versions....

 

[bad_idea]

ranger,
i asked about a $229 unit, and you reccomend a $749 unit! i hear what you are saying. but if this thing will weld sheet metal well, then i may give it the ol' college try. i just bought my hobart and havent had a chance to use it yet. it'll be a while till i buy a tig, but like to ponder my options in the mean time.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

ranger,
i asked about a $229 unit, and you reccomend a $749 unit! i hear what you are saying. but if this thing will weld sheet metal well, then i may give it the ol' college try. i just bought my hobart and havent had a chance to use it yet. it'll be a while till i buy a tig, but like to ponder my options in the mean time.

I could have recommended the $1500 dollar unit. For $749 and does almost the same as the Lincoln/Miller is an extremely good price. Consumables are standard Tig unlike the HF and has way more bang for the buck. Also I am sure there would be a better resale value with the Eastwood in the long run because it will do way more.

It is a way better starter unit for the beginner and has the high freq start for much easier arc start up, but its your money and not mine

 

[bradweingartner]

I have the old TIG that you can't get anymore. It's not even in the same ballpark as a full featured AC/DC TIG.

BUT, for Medium sheet metal it does a nice job. It can be turned down to do thinner metal but I find the hot-start is too hot. The lack of a foot pedal hurts here.

But for the money, it's worth a shot. It will give you an idea as to whether or not TIG is for you. Even without High-Frequency start it's not bad to get an Arc with touch-starting. Maybe having burned some stick in my day helped.

 

[diggerrick]

I would not buy the HF Unit. It has no foot control and will not do aluminium and is underpowered. The next best one for the price would be the one Eastwood sells. It will have a foot control and will weld aluminium and has a 200 amp capacity. If it is not the Eastwood you want the next step would be the Lincoln or Miller versions....

The OP doesn't intend to be welding aluminum, although he may want to in the future. I missed that in my first reply.

For exhaust work it would be great.

I'm sure it would also weld mild steel roll cages well.

Anyone have any input on it's use on .058-.065 wall 4130 chrome-moly? Will the hot start cause problems?

 

[Trey T]

Is tig welding technology changed a whole lot since decades ago? is welding technology even an extraordinary technology anymore?

 

[RangerDaleXp]

The OP doesn't intend to be welding aluminum, although he may want to in the future. I missed that in my first reply.

For exhaust work it would be great.

I'm sure it would also weld mild steel roll cages well.

Anyone have any input on it's use on .058-.065 wall 4130 chrome-moly? Will the hot start cause problems?

I actually did not realize that he was looking at Hf's low end model till after I posted. I did look into there So called high end tig model that I did not like, but then again as much as I like lots of HFs stuff, I was never impressed with any of there welders. Maybe its just me, but I think I would rather put the $250 towards a better machine then try to learn off of a very cheap machine and try to make a proper decision off that machine if I would like Tig welding or not. I guess it is like having your first beer in life. If you have a really bad Beer the first time, you may think all beer taste that way, and come to the conclusion that I hate all beer

Tig welding is the Cadillac of all welding and to judge it on a cheap machine would not do it any justice

 

[4x4gearhead]

I actually did not realize that he was looking at Hf's low end model till after I posted. I did look into there So called high end tig model that I did not like, but then again as much as I like lots of HFs stuff, I was never impressed with any of there welders. Maybe its just me, but I think I would rather put the $250 towards a better machine then try to learn off of a very cheap machine and try to make a proper decision off that machine if I would like Tig welding or not. I guess it is like having your first beer in life. If you have a really bad Beer the first time, you may think all beer taste that way, and come to the conclusion that I hate all beer

Tig welding is the Cadillac of all welding and to judge it on a cheap machine would not do it any justice

I agree with this, lets face it you dont have to learn on a nice liquid cooled machine, but ******** a $250 job from the all you can eat buffet? I know with HF you usually get more than you paid for but I just have a hard time believing it in this case.

 

[newie]

I have the older HF version as well, can't say enough about the welder for the money. There is a lot of info online about this welder, even some cool mods to create a pedal for heat control. I have been able to TIG some smaller intricate projects that were not suitable for mig welding.
Just upgraded to an AC/DC unit, so my little HF DC TIG is for sale if anyone is interested (bay area, ca).

 

[Lightfoot]

I have a Lincoln bought off craigslist, but a buddy (i've been helping build him a smoker) has the HF unit. I've used it quite a bit---works great. I'd have no problems buying one if i didn't already have the Lincoln.

 

[Conor]

I want one, i'm a hobbist and wont be making money off of this welder so spending 1500.00 for something ill use 2x a year is not worthwhile...


for the person who said that the HF units doesnt use standard consumables, did you actually test this yourself or are you ASSuming this? There are lots of posts on different forums that this welder uses standard miller consumables and is a pretty good performer for what it is.


also here is a review of the digital one

all of the consumables are the same as the miller tig rig. The binzel torch has a trigger on it , to start the high frequency start ( very good quality torch). Stick welding works great too. The only thing I wish it had was an adjustable amperage foot pedal. The trigger is on/off only, so what you set the dial to you get constantly


If i had 220v service in my garage i'd already own one. waiting till we get the electrician out there later this year before i jump on one. Like someone else mentioned there are ways to add a foot pedal to it too....

 

[RangerDaleXp]

I want one, i'm a hobbist and wont be making money off of this welder so spending 1500.00 for something ill use 2x a year is not worthwhile...


for the person who said that the HF units doesnt use standard consumables, did you actually test this yourself or are you ASSuming this? There are lots of posts on different forums that this welder uses standard miller consumables and is a pretty good performer for what it is.


also here is a review of the digital one

all of the consumables are the same as the miller tig rig. The binzel torch has a trigger on it , to start the high frequency start ( very good quality torch). Stick welding works great too. The only thing I wish it had was an adjustable amperage foot pedal. The trigger is on/off only, so what you set the dial to you get constantly


If i had 220v service in my garage i'd already own one. waiting till we get the electrician out there later this year before i jump on one. Like someone else mentioned there are ways to add a foot pedal to it too....

First off conner, I have looked at it very well and played with one. The other thing is none of the HF tig welders have High Freq start ups or AC capability or a foot control. the high end model has a modification to scab one in but shuts off the one on the board. In fact the person who offered one is no longer doing so. And again there is no ability to put foot control on to the low end machine which we are talking about here. If you add all the **** to there high end machine like AC and foot control, you matters well go with the Eastwood machine which has all of it to begin with and still more power and high freq capability.

25 years of working with welders and it is impossible to explain the difference between a low end piece of junk and something that can be worth while which again if you read all the post. I said the $749 dollar unit is light years ahead of any HF Tig welder for the price and a much better deal and would be the closest thing to the $1500 dollar unit that would be the base line Miller/Lincoln units....

At this time HF does not have a worthy well built Chinese welder like what Northern tool sells, but I do believe that in the future they may faze out there current line and start selling a much better product because they need to.....