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The new welder actually welds........

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TerryH

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Springdale, AR
Disclaimer: I am not a welder. I do not play one on TV. I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. I am not going to build top fuel chassis or fighter jets with my HF welder. I will not endager the lives of innocent people with what I weld. I will hire a professional to do those sorts of things. I just want 2 pieces of metal to be attached to each other from time to time without breaking the bank. :)

Here's what I spent. Your mileage may vary.

HF 90 amp welder : $100
HF welder cart: $40
HF auto darkening helment: $40
(2) HF 3" urethane casters for the front of the cart: $6
HF Mig pliers: $6
HF magnetic spray can holer: $8
HF magnetic Mig gun holer: $8
(4) HF magnetic holders: $4
HF small parts bin to keep the extra tips etc.. captured: $4
Radnor MIG welding gloves,I thought all the HF ones were really bad: $12
Radnor anti-splatter spray: $6
Lincoln .030 flux wire: $12
Lincoln .030 tips: $6
Set of wire brushes and flap disk for grinder: $19
New 1/4" bolts with washers and nylocks for cart: $3

Tax and all for the whole deal: $298.66

Here's how she looks all set up...

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The magnetic can holder worked perfect for the anti-splatter and some weld thru primer that I had on hand. Gloves, holders etc... stored on the back as well.

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Center shelf was the perfect spot for the little parts bin for the tips, extra wire, wire bursh etc... I used a rare earth magnet to stick the pliers to the side of the cart so they are always handy and not lost.

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I love the magnetic gun holder. Pretty cool.

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Once I got everything ready, I found a piece of 1/8" thick angle iron, cleaned it up, sprayed some anti-splatter and ran a couple of beads. Not things of beauty for sure but I haven't welded a lick in 10 years. Here's my first 2 beads. Power on max, wire on 8. Little slower pass on the second one.

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Seems to be pretty good penetration. I'm not disappointed with this. Obviously it's not gonna handle much more than 1/8" but that's ok by me.

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I feel like with some more practice that I can actually make welds that will be strong, that will last, and hopefully not be totally ugly to look at. The intended purpose of the welder is just to fix things around the place when they break or fab up a shelf bracket or whatever for the shop. Today's welding project was to weld a washer under one of the legs on the welding table to keep it from rocking. Seemed to do fine for that. :lol:

Here's my new metal working area all done up nice like.

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I just can't imagine that for less than $300 for everything that I could go wrong. Thanks for looking!!!
 
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goodysgotacuda

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Not bad, I did a bunch of welding with a 90amp HF and went to their 170a 220v model.. so far so good!
 
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JimVonBaden

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Dec 2, 2011
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Wow, nice set-up for the price. I like your welds, better than mine with a similar set-up. Does the ANTI-SPLATTER help that much? Maybe I need different wire?

Jim :cool:
 
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TerryH

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Springdale, AR
JimVonBaden said:
Wow, nice set-up for the price. I like your welds, better than mine with a similar set-up. Does the ANTI-SPLATTER help that much? Maybe I need different wire?

Jim :cool:
Click to expand...

Thanks Jim!!! I went to Lowes and bought the better wire and tips so I never used the HF stuff at all. From what I read, the anti-splatter was a really good idea for any of the flux core welders so I got that yesterday at the welding supply house along with the good gloves. Not sure what it would have been like without the better stuff but I'm not unhappy with the results for sure. I welded in the body shop so I'm not a total beginner but it's been a long time since I laid a bead and I never used a flux core before this afternoon.
 
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AirJunky

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Priest River, ID
Nice! Great bargain.

I have a similar setup, used their 4 wheel cart instead, use the top like a welding table. I've had similar results using the Lincoln wire & some tip dip. Haven't tried the Lincoln tips or splatter spray but have been told that it all helps a little bit.
 
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TerryH

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AirJunky said:
Nice! Great bargain.

I have a similar setup, used their 4 wheel cart instead, use the top like a welding table. I've had similar results using the Lincoln wire & some tip dip. Haven't tried the Lincoln tips or splatter spray but have been told that it all helps a little bit.
Click to expand...

Thanks AJ! I was going to buy the tip dip but the Radnor anti-splatter says that you can use it on the tip also so I just hosed some inside and out and went for it. Seemed to work really well. Everything just wiped away. I sprayed some on the table as well and not a single speck stuck to the table. I'm an instant believer.
 
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superspec

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Can you tell me how tall,wide and deep the bottom shelf of the cart is and how long and wide the to one is? I'm looking for a cart to put my plasma cutter and tight on without breaking the bank.
 
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LutzTD

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nothing there to cause damage except the helmet, do your eyes a favor and get a good brand non auto helmet for the same money or splurge and get a good auto darkening. If you find your eyes itchy or red stop using it immediately. HF is ok for some things but I wouldnt ever trust my eyes to them again
 
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TerryH

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Springdale, AR
superspec said:
Can you tell me how tall,wide and deep the bottom shelf of the cart is and how long and wide the to one is? I'm looking for a cart to put my plasma cutter and tight on without breaking the bank.
Click to expand...

All the shelves are technically 11" wide but there are nuts protuding into that space so it's more like 10 1/2" of useable space. The lower shelf is 17" deep and there is 14" of height to the middle shelf. The top shelf is also 17" deep.
 
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TerryH

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LutzTD said:
nothing there to cause damage except the helmet, do your eyes a favor and get a good brand non auto helmet for the same money or splurge and get a good auto darkening. If you find your eyes itchy or red stop using it immediately. HF is ok for some things but I wouldnt ever trust my eyes to them again
Click to expand...

Have you had a bad experience with the HFatuo helmet? Everything seemed fine to me when I was using it and nothing out of the ordinary now few hours later but I certainly don't want to take an unnecessary chance if there has been past issues with them. I had to actually turn the darkness off full dark to be able to see where I needed the bead to go so it felt safe to me while I was using it. I've had my eyes welder burned before. Don't want to go back there.
 
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AirJunky

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Priest River, ID
TerryH said:
Have you had a bad experience with the HFatuo helmet? Everything seemed fine to me when I was using it and nothing out of the ordinary now few hours later but I certainly don't want to take an unnecessary chance if there has been past issues with them. I had to actually turn the darkness off full dark to actually be able to see where I needed the bead to go so it felt safe to me while I was using it. I've had my eyes welder burned before. Don't want to go back there.
Click to expand...

I use their helmet with the auto changing lens too. Granted I'm a rookie & don't know good from bad, but my eyes haven't had a problem. I still have trouble seeing the puddle to pull it in a circle, but I don't think thats a problem with the lens.

IMG_20121208_190208_323.jpg


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superspec

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TerryH said:
Have you had a bad experience with the HFatuo helmet? Everything seemed fine to me when I was using it and nothing out of the ordinary now few hours later but I certainly don't want to take an unnecessary chance if there has been past issues with them. I had to actually turn the darkness off full dark to actually be able to see where I needed the bead to go so it felt safe to me while I was using it. I've had my eyes welder burned before. Don't want to go back there.
Click to expand...

thank you ver much sir, ill check the height of the PC tomorrow but i think it just might fit on the bottom...now the question is will the cart support a T bottles weight hahaha
 
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carhouse

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Alabama USA
TerryH said:
Tax and all for the whole deal: $298.66
Today's welding project was to weld a washer under one of the legs on the welding table to keep it from rocking. Seemed to do fine for that. :lol:
Click to expand...

Nothing like spending 300.00 to weld a washer :lol_hitti (Joke)

If I ever get any extra money I want to pick one up.
 
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CNGsaves

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KS and OK
Hey TerryH and AirJunkie . . . wander over to LutzTD garage build and you'll be wise to take his advice . . . . ditch the cheapie HF welding helmet.

Lutz has decades of experience and rebuilt cars that normal guys like us dream about just driving . . . . I'm a listener when Lutz is talking !
 
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JimVonBaden

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TerryH said:
Have you had a bad experience with the HFatuo helmet? Everything seemed fine to me when I was using it and nothing out of the ordinary now few hours later but I certainly don't want to take an unnecessary chance if there has been past issues with them. I had to actually turn the darkness off full dark to be able to see where I needed the bead to go so it felt safe to me while I was using it. I've had my eyes welder burned before. Don't want to go back there.
Click to expand...

I've used mine a fair amount with no issues. I got it on a special (I think they screwed up) for $12.99, same as the $59.99 one is, and looks exactly like the one you can get from Home Depot for $99.99.

Jim :cool:
 
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LutzTD

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Location
Lutz, Florida
TerryH said:
Have you had a bad experience with the HFatuo helmet? Everything seemed fine to me when I was using it and nothing out of the ordinary now few hours later but I certainly don't want to take an unnecessary chance if there has been past issues with them. I had to actually turn the darkness off full dark to be able to see where I needed the bead to go so it felt safe to me while I was using it. I've had my eyes welder burned before. Don't want to go back there.
Click to expand...

Im an occasional welder, mostly stick so I liked the idea of the HF auto darkening. I stick welded for about 6 hrs and had eye buggers and dry eye the next day. This was when I welded my machine movers. My guess would be the lens is too slow and doesnt truly shade the right frequencies even though it darkens, actually it darkens too much for my taste. I now have a lincoln auto and its really night and day, after 25 hours of tig no eye issues at all and I can see much better too. If i wanted to spend $40 on a helmet I would get a good gold shade non auto and just flip it down after my experience with the HF one.
 
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elronin

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Hialeah,Fl
Terry I have the same set up but with all the coupons got it at around 200 bucks. I welded a outdoor gate with it out of 1/8 inch square tubing. I also have a HF arc welder new it was free neighbor gave it to me. Here are my pics. PS the helmet is good I also have not had any problems with it. Some of the name brands are also made in China just cost more for the name.
:beer:

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darkk

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Willimantic, Ct.
I have been out of the business for a few years now, retired. But I've welded *fabrication/body work* for around 50 years, never had an auto helmet until recently. I like the fact it darkens immediately which is great but I can't see what I'm welding. I tried all different settings. It's a Miller helmet so I'm assuming it's a decent one. My old flip lens just seems to be the right shade I guess, if it ain't broke don't fix it..:dunno:
 
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goodysgotacuda

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I used to use the HF auto darkening hood, it was "okay" until I used something else. I now use the $100 Kobalt hood and the definition of the puddle/weld is much greater.
 
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vartz04

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LaSalle County IL
Glad I read this. I'm gonna pass on a cart for now and get the higher quality helmet. I plan to buy the same welder soon
 
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superspec

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darkk said:
I have been out of the business for a few years now, retired. But I've welded *fabrication/body work* for around 50 years, never had an auto helmet until recently. I like the fact it darkens immediately which is great but I can't see what I'm welding. I tried all different settings. It's a Miller helmet so I'm assuming it's a decent one. My old flip lens just seems to be the right shade I guess, if it ain't broke don't fix it..:dunno:
Click to expand...


which one did you get? my miller is fantastic and super easy to set up.
 
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brownbagg

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i saw an helmet on the welder web that use cameras instead of lens, the camera filter out all the arc so all you see is the puddle. it has a like a fighter plane display.

i saw you bought some magantic holders, becareful when you weld close to the magentic, the force will make your arc go crazy and you will think its you.
 
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crewchief888

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NW indiana
i had a cheap AD hood from another well known tool supplier, it wasnt my primary hood, it was an "occasional use" @ work

every time i used it, it was nothing but headaches, and the scratchy eye syndrome the next day.

finally took a hammer to it...


IMHO

spend a little more money on a name brand hood,
miller pro-hobby is a good inexpensive choice.
i got mine from cyberweld, delivered, for under $150


:beer:
 
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TerryH

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Irregardless of the helmet issues I practiced a little more this evening. Turning it down to 10 helped me to see where I needed to put the bead a little better even though I'm still not happy with it. One way or the other I think the welds are looking better. Still trying to get used to it.

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JimVonBaden

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TerryH said:
Irregardless of the helmet issues I practiced a little more this evening. Turning it down to 10 helped me to see where I needed to put the bead a little better even though I'm still not happy with it. One way or the other I think the welds are looking better. Still trying to get used to it.

21214198.JPG
Click to expand...

That weld is MUCH better than I have done so far. I need practice, obviously!:beer:

Jim :cool:
 
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JerryC

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carhouse said:
Nothing like spending 300.00 to weld a washer :lol_hitti (Joke)

If I ever get any extra money I want to pick one up.
Click to expand...

That's nothing. I've got close to $1600 in my setup and all I've done is build a cart. A cart that has about $130 in materials in it, functionally i could have bought one for about half of that and put it together in less than an hour. My cart took a month of sundays and then some. It works for the purpose, it was learning project and it shows :)

Terry, you're doing good, keep at it.
 
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TerryH

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JerryC said:
That's nothing. I've got close to $1600 in my setup and all I've done is build a cart. A cart that has about $130 in materials in it, functionally i could have bought one for about half of that and put it together in less than an hour. My cart took a month of sundays and then some. It works for the purpose, it was learning project and it shows :)

Terry, you're doing good, keep at it.
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Thanks Jerry! I'm going to start a couple of simple projects over the next couple of weeks while continuing to practice. I did order a better helmet, a Speed Glas 9100V. I have as much in the helmet as I have in all the rest but I just couldn't get comfortable with the HF helmet. Hopefully the new helmet will allow me to see and weld better.
 
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Falcon67

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Clamp that in a big vice and beat the two pieces apart. That will let you see what the real penetration is on that metal.
 
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JerryC

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TerryH said:
Thanks Jerry! I'm going to start a couple of simple projects over the next couple of weeks while continuing to practice. I did order a better helmet, a Speed Glas 9100V. I have as much in the helmet as I have in all the rest but I just couldn't get comfortable with the HF helmet. Hopefully the new helmet will allow me to see and weld better.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I've got both a HF auto and Northern Tool auto helmet. They both work well for me, no eye issues after welding, havent been flashed yet.

One thing I'd like is better coverage by the helmet(s) against sparks, I had one get to my ear, made me think about if it had got into my ear... Now when I weld at angles I wear a hat that covers my ears.

Most of my money went to the welder and extension cord. M211 and 25' 50amp extension cord.

It was a merry christmas to me!

Knock on wood, so far the HF and NT stuff has worked well. I've worked the $9.99 angle grinders hard and no complaints about the HF grinding, cutting and flap disks either.
 

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TerryH

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JerryC said:
FWIW, I've got both a HF auto and Northern Tool auto helmet. They both work well for me, no eye issues after welding, havent been flashed yet.

One thing I'd like is better coverage by the helmet(s) against sparks, I had one get to my ear, made me think about if it had got into my ear... Now when I weld at angles I wear a hat that covers my ears.

Most of my money went to the welder and extension cord. M211 and 25' 50amp extension cord.

It was a merry christmas to me!

Knock on wood, so far the HF and NT stuff has worked well. I've worked the $9.99 angle grinders hard and no complaints about the HF grinding, cutting and flap disks either.
Click to expand...

Merry Christmas to you indeed!!! Nice setup! My issue is that I can't see where I'm welding with the HF helmet. Hoping that spending $250 on the one that a really good friend that's a welding supply house manager suggested will be the fix. I never thought that the HF was unsafe. I just couldn't see where I needed to lay the bead. I started a welding helmet thread that had every opinion in it from there was nothing wrong with the HF to I was an idiot for buying it in the first place. :)

We will see in a few days when the new helmet gets here. I also bought a nice Tillman apron and sleeves. I've used the heck out of the HF grinders. Gonna buy another one tomorrow so I don't have to change disks. I'll have one set up with a wire wheel and one with a disk then. :D I think I'm hooked.
 
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