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Anyone tried the new HF Welder?

Motorman55

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Based on the mostly all positive reviews on the HF and GJ sites, I bought the HF 125 Titanium welder a couple weeks ago.

Being retired now my uses for a welder are minimal so this little guy should work out fine for me. Per recommendations, I'll replace the ground clamp before I do.

Probably won't get around to using it for another month or so as I have too many projects to complete ahead of it. Meanwhile its sitting on one of my current storage shelving projects.
 

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Kenstone1

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Based on the mostly all positive reviews on the HF and GJ sites, I bought the HF 125 Titanium welder a couple weeks ago.

Being retired now my uses for a welder are minimal so this little guy should work out fine for me. Per recommendations, I'll replace the ground clamp before I do.

Probably won't get around to using it for another month or so as I have too many projects to complete ahead of it. Meanwhile its sitting on one of my current storage shelving projects.

Good Deal, you're going to love it.
A word on the ground clamp.
Don't get this one
https://www.harborfreight.com/300-amp-welding-ground-clamp-63784.html
Those copper looking jaws are plated steel, I wrote about it in my review and HF didn't block it :headscrat

Buy this one if you feel the need: https://www.harborfreight.com/400-amp-welding-ground-clamp-63849.html

And another thing, when you end a weld a small ball of flux forms on the wire end, if you don't cut that off with dikes (can I say that?), once cooled, it acts as insulation and will stub when you try to start your next weld.
This ball of flux/insulation, when not cut off produces a stub start, which is then blamed on "a bad/cheap ground clamp".
:wtf:
:beer:
 
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Motorman55

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Good Deal, you're going to love it.
A word on the ground clamp.
Don't get this one
https://www.harborfreight.com/300-amp-welding-ground-clamp-63784.html
Those copper looking jaws are plated steel, I wrote about it in my review and HF didn't block it :shocking:

Buy this one if you feel the need: https://www.harborfreight.com/400-amp-welding-ground-clamp-63849.html

And another thing, when you end a weld a small ball of flux forms on the wire end, if you don't cut that off with dikes (can I say that?), once cooled, it acts as insulation and will stub when you try to start your next weld.
This ball of flux when not cut off producing a stub start, is often blamed on "a bad/cheap ground clamp".
:wtf:
:beer:

Noted...Thanks. :)
 

JZiggy

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Hey guys, I just got one of these welders and have been tinkering with it. Been about 15 years since I took a welding class so I'm still a solid n00b at it.

I'm using the 30thou wire it came with. Can anyone recommend the best settings to get a good weld on 1/4"? I know it's not rated for that but a couple folks have chimed in saying it worked for them. Not sure if I need to be at 100% power and slow wire feed or...?
 

sberry

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Wire feed IS the power, the voltage is really arc length or a little intensity so it burns off. Somewhere we have a thingy wrote by some one splain it better.
 

JZiggy

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Sounds like I need to do some more reading and more experimentation. If the thingy shows up I'd be interested for sure.
 

MoonRise

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All wire feed welders can vary two parameters, voltage and amperage.

Voltage is controlled with the voltage control switch/knob/screen.

Amperage is controlled with the wire feed speed.

The main thing you control or vary is the wire feed speed. You need the voltage control to 'balance' the wire feed speed with the arc length and the resistance of the wire and arc.

That whole volts = amps x ohms thing, it's not just a good idea but is actually a Law. :lol:

In broad terms, if the voltage is too low, then the wire stubs into workpiece.

If the voltage is too high (ignoring getting into spray transfer mode, where you want/need a 'high' voltage), then the arc is unstable and you get spatter (possibly transitioning into globular transfer mode).

(the voltage setting will also affect the height and width of the weld bead, and also some other welds effects)

Generally, set the voltage midway between 'too little' (wire stubs into workpiece) and 'too much' (increased spatter).

A 'good' weld on 1/4" thick steel with a 120V wire feed welder with a max output of 125 amps and a 200 ipm max WFS and using 0.030 FCAW-S wire?

Iffy (without some 'tricks', and maybe not even then). What parameters does the door chart suggest for that metal thickness with that wire diameter and type?

Do a test weld. Take a piece of 1/4" steel and set the machine voltage to 'max' and the wire feed speed (amperage) to 'max' also (you only have a max of 200 ipm on that machine and some 0.030 FCAW wire at ~200 ipm will be ~125 amps). See if you can get an acceptable weld (bead size/shape and penetration into the workpiece).

Then try and weld two pieces of 1/4" steel together. **** joint or lap joint or T joint. Make a test and then try and break the weld joint apart. Examine the break and see if you got decent weld penetration into those 1/4" steel pieces.

And remember,

If there's slag, then drag.

(FCAW is a slag producing/using welding process, just like SMAW aka stick welding, use a "drag" technique when welding.)
 

mc4life27

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Hey guys, I just got one of these welders and have been tinkering with it. Been about 15 years since I took a welding class so I'm still a solid n00b at it.

I'm using the 30thou wire it came with. Can anyone recommend the best settings to get a good weld on 1/4"? I know it's not rated for that but a couple folks have chimed in saying it worked for them. Not sure if I need to be at 100% power and slow wire feed or...?



Also with the 1/4 you need to bevel your edges to get good penetration


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woody6904

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NW Ohio
I have done 1/4 with this welder, with beveled edges as previously recommended. Not sure on the settings, I think chart on inside goes up to 3/16, took those settings and just went up one more on both knobs. Really impressed with this welder so far.
 

Kenstone1

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Oct 2, 2015
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@JZiggy

For a **** joint V out both sides so the edge looks like a chisel if you can weld both sides.
Leave a gap between the edges.

If you can only weld from one side, V out only from that side so the edge looks like a lawn mower blade edge but with a steeper angle.
Leave gap between the edges, I sometimes clamp the gap over a piece of aluminum to keep the weld from blowing thru.

Weave/follow a circular pattern over/bridging the gap, out to the edges of the V and beyond to determine the size of the circles.
I'm from the single pass school of welding so I go slow and let the puddle fill the V.

As far as wire size/wire speed/heat settings I suggest you start with some .035 wire, the highest heat setting and slowest wire speed that will maintain an ark as a starting point.

And if you change wire size remember to flip the wire feed rollers to the proper size/side too.

Also remember what you clamp or rest your work on becomes a heat sink that pulls the heat generated away from the weld.
A fire brick is way better than a piece to steel or aluminum, or out in the air.
I've welded over wood to keep the heat in the work, yes the wood caught fire but I got way better penetration.
Oh, and I have been known to preheat with a propane torch so a weld gets hotter faster to avoid cold starts.
Real welders are going to tear this post apart but it's just stuff I found that works when I'm bubba welding with my cheap azz welder.
I found this vid helpful:
jmo,
:)
 
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xman_charl

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my settings







your-mig-memory-settings.jpg



Charl
 

sledneck32!

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Omw to HF to buy a welder if anyone has extra coupons laying around [emoji2957]

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Kev442

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None to be had around here, called both stores locally. Online orders delayed up to two weeks.
Bummer, could have put it to work this weekend on sheetmetal that my old welder hates.
 

sledneck32!

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They were outta stock. Came home with a Miller 211, and aluminum spool gun. This thing is amazing!

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Dave588

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Nov 5, 2016
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I was told there's a service plan on welders when you check out? Is that the 1 year?
 
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Bigbandguy

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I was checking the HF website to send a link about this welder to a friend. While there I looked at the current reviews now almost a year in from first deployment of this machine. I am amazed had how good the reviews are. I realize this the HF website but the comments are interesting . I think they have a winner with this machine and no I have no stock in HF.

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welders/titanium-easy-flux-125-amp-welder-56355.html
 

Kenstone1

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I was checking the HF website to send a link about this welder to a friend. While there I looked at the current reviews now almost a year in from first deployment of this machine. I am amazed had how good the reviews are. I realize this the HF website but the comments are interesting . I think they have a winner with this machine and no I have no stock in HF.

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welders/titanium-easy-flux-125-amp-welder-56355.html

I trust that HF publishes ALL reviews good or bad because I've written some no star and 1 star reviews there, and they published them ALL as written :)
 

shopnut

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After all the great reviews at HF, GJ, and the general internet, the Easy Flux 125 was on my shopping list when deciding to get back into welding after a 35 year hiatus. I knew they put them on sale occasionally and was waiting patiently until the discount popped up. Today was my lucky day. i woke up to an email with the welder on sale for $170 and while eating breakfast, I placed the order.

I decided to order it online and pay the extra 6.99 shipping because all the stores near me showed no inventory and listed it as "In-store Special Ordering" only. I figured $7 was worth saving 2 trips to the store for ordering and pickup.

My uses will just be general repairs around the the shop and home. The old Chevelle needs some new floorboards and I'm hoping it will work for that too. I'm sure there will be dozens of little projects that pop up once I have the capability.

Thanks for all your prior comments here in helping me decide.
 

rpcraft

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After all the great reviews at HF, GJ, and the general internet, the Easy Flux 125 was on my shopping list when deciding to get back into welding after a 35 year hiatus. I knew they put them on sale occasionally and was waiting patiently until the discount popped up. Today was my lucky day. i woke up to an email with the welder on sale for $170 and while eating breakfast, I placed the order.

I decided to order it online and pay the extra 6.99 shipping because all the stores near me showed no inventory and listed it as "In-store Special Ordering" only. I figured $7 was worth saving 2 trips to the store for ordering and pickup.

My uses will just be general repairs around the the shop and home. The old Chevelle needs some new floorboards and I'm hoping it will work for that too. I'm sure there will be dozens of little projects that pop up once I have the capability.

Thanks for all your prior comments here in helping me decide.

It may not have quite the range for doing body work but the at worst all you can do is try it once. 7 bucks for shipping is definitely worth it if you are in no rush to have instant gratification. I often times wish I could order stuff online at HF and have it available for in store pick up as an option as well. Annoys me when I go to grap the couple of items on special or whatever and they don't have any at the store. I will say at least their availability indicator online is an improvement though so now it is at least worth looking online to check first. Has saved me multiple trips now.
 
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Bigbandguy

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Noticed that HF is having a "parking lot sale" this weekend (dunno why they keep trying to sell off the parking lot) and among other things have a sale on the Easy Flux 125 welder at around 169. That is about the best price on it since it came out . (no I have no HF stock or interest.) Since this looks like a decent deal on a good little welder I thought others would like to know.
 

dnschmidt

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My view is no gas no go. True I'm an HTP Propulse 200 kind of a guy but If I was looking for a cheap MIG I'd still want gas. You can always use flux core in a gas machine but you can't use solid wire in a flux machine. I hate weld spatter and without gas you're going to face that every time you use it. Got nothing against a 110V machine as my secondary MIG is a Century 140 which I bought at Costco 20 years ago that has never let me down. One commenter mentioned that he used the AHP AlphaTig (which I also have) for the thicker stuff since it's an excellent stick welder and works great with 7018. I second that thought. Use the 110 MIG for thin stuff like tubing and stick for structural. High powered Synergic MIGs like the Propulse is great as the pulse feature enables the use of Dual Shield which is the bomb and Aluminum MIG relatively easy without the need for a spool gun. But for the average dude in his garage a 110V MIG and a AlphaTig 200 should do everything he'll ever need.
 
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Bigbandguy

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Just FYI guys (and no I still have no stock) the no longer new but well thought of Easy Flux 125 is on sale beginning 08/16 for $129. That is pretty decent and less than I paid for mine. They probably hope you will buy the small cart and basic auto dimming mask with it, also both on sale.
 
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Bigbandguy

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Yes I know it is an old thread, it is also one I started. HF is currently selling the Easy Flux 125 for $114.00 or so which may be the best price yet for this useful little DC Flux Core welder. I still have no interest beyond pointing out a decent deal. I have really enjoyed mine.
 
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