Well, from my reading and watching videos of this Harbor Freight 125 amp flux core welder, I am tempted to pick one up. However my Longevity 100 amp is still working great. The more that I watch it appears as if everyone is happy with it.
Best Inexpensive Welder
- Thread starter jives
- Start date
BD1
Well-known member
Once you start welding you will be hooked on it.
As mentioned, skip the 110 volt machines. The 110 volt usedmachines by me are always avaiable. Guys use them for awhile and find there's not enough amps so they sell them. Buy a decent machine and you'll avoid being frustrated.
Consider getting a used machine if on a strict budget. Check with local supplier to see what they have and get a package deal.
Flux core is like stick welding and has its place.
A mig machine with 75/25 gas is awesome ! Nice clean welds with minimum spatter. It's really nice for art and craft work.
Watch videos on gasless mig and mig welding with gas.
Remember, flux core is more money per spool.
As mentioned, skip the 110 volt machines. The 110 volt usedmachines by me are always avaiable. Guys use them for awhile and find there's not enough amps so they sell them. Buy a decent machine and you'll avoid being frustrated.
Consider getting a used machine if on a strict budget. Check with local supplier to see what they have and get a package deal.
Flux core is like stick welding and has its place.
A mig machine with 75/25 gas is awesome ! Nice clean welds with minimum spatter. It's really nice for art and craft work.
Watch videos on gasless mig and mig welding with gas.
Remember, flux core is more money per spool.
Ok thanks!
Yep, just after I posted the question, one guy guy reviewing it said replace the ground clamp: too light duty; about $8 for a new one seems like a no-brainer.
OP here;
So, I've decided that getting something to functionally weld at a cheap price is the way to go. I'll avoid 220 V for now if for only price, and avoid the MIG (gas) option. Again, simplicity and price. If I do get to a point where I want to upgrade, the old welder goes to a son. I can see being addicted to fabrication. . .
Okay, The HF Titanium 125 gets raves. But there are a ton of other inexpensive welders from "weird" and less common brands, and some have better specs. . . SUNCO (and a bunch of others that look exactly the same), Forney, MetalMan, YesWelder, SereneLife, and untold number of house brands.
Thoughts on any of these?
So, I've decided that getting something to functionally weld at a cheap price is the way to go. I'll avoid 220 V for now if for only price, and avoid the MIG (gas) option. Again, simplicity and price. If I do get to a point where I want to upgrade, the old welder goes to a son. I can see being addicted to fabrication. . .
Okay, The HF Titanium 125 gets raves. But there are a ton of other inexpensive welders from "weird" and less common brands, and some have better specs. . . SUNCO (and a bunch of others that look exactly the same), Forney, MetalMan, YesWelder, SereneLife, and untold number of house brands.
Thoughts on any of these?
There are lots of comparison vids on utube that show the Titanium 125 verses all the brands you mentioned here.
And a few that look "exactly" the same are way different underneath the tin covers.
here's a few:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Harbor+Freight+verses+other+welders
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Harbor+Freight+verses+Sunco+welder
.
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Yes I have a thought. With the Harbor Freight, you will know wear you bought it. Yes it has a 90 day warranty. If bought from another less common brands and you have an issue with it where will you take it to have it repaired or replaced? However if you purchase on from say Home Depo you can get a year warranty or certain models.
BD1
Well-known member
As mentioned, buy from Harbor Freight in store and get the extended warranty. This will definitely save any shipping issues on other brands.
There are many shipping nightmares with these imports . In store is definitely the easiest.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
There are many shipping nightmares with these imports . In store is definitely the easiest.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
OK, I never heard of that Longevity 100 amp welder so a searched and read about it.
It looks to be a clone of the HF Chicago Electric (AC) Flux welder (once 90amp, now sold as 120amp).
If that's the case, I converted my old HF 90amp/AC welder to DCNE (DC Negative Electrode), the same as the 125 Easy-Flux, with $30 of electronics following a utube vid.
Something you might look into as the welder is way better after that conversion.
EDIT!!! read some more about it...looks like it's already DC
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Isabella
Member
Yeah, Using Harbor Freight from last couple of years and it works great from my side.
Harbor Freight, has a complete line of high-quality MIG, TIG, Flux and Stick welders. If you're a seasoned professional, or just getting started, Harbor Freight welders are a great value without compromising features or capabilities.
But as Jives already mentioned that there many cheap welders available. What's your thought about Forney Easy weld 261? It's very cheap mig and also the most rated welder out of All Forney Welders.
Harbor Freight, has a complete line of high-quality MIG, TIG, Flux and Stick welders. If you're a seasoned professional, or just getting started, Harbor Freight welders are a great value without compromising features or capabilities.
But as Jives already mentioned that there many cheap welders available. What's your thought about Forney Easy weld 261? It's very cheap mig and also the most rated welder out of All Forney Welders.
looking for some info, I just picked up a used harbor freight tig with a Vulcan torch, but no collets or tips. so 2 questions are all tips the same or do I need special for the Vulcan like how do I figure out what ones fit?. And seeing how I have NEVER (tiged) before would one size or color be more forgiving than another? all info appreciated, thanks
I don't have the experience to give you any suggestions. Just popping in to say my flux-core "Arcweld Handycore" I got about 20 years ago is capable of a surprising amount of work. You probably will do just fine starting out on a budget flux core welder, even if a MIG is nicer.
It took me awhile to get the hang of it. The biggest improvement I made by far was buying an auto-darkening helmet. Being able to actually see my torch when I squeeze the button and adjust the shade so I can see the weld was lifechanging. Before that I thought I was doomed to grind all my welds away to practically nothing just so no one would see them.
That miserable flux core can weld sheet metal just fine - though you need to be careful. Trying to run a bead it a recipe for a hole. It also welds up all the square tubing and the like you'll find at the hardware store. It does require more cleanup. The worse you are at welding the more cleanup you'll do anyway.
It took me awhile to get the hang of it. The biggest improvement I made by far was buying an auto-darkening helmet. Being able to actually see my torch when I squeeze the button and adjust the shade so I can see the weld was lifechanging. Before that I thought I was doomed to grind all my welds away to practically nothing just so no one would see them.
That miserable flux core can weld sheet metal just fine - though you need to be careful. Trying to run a bead it a recipe for a hole. It also welds up all the square tubing and the like you'll find at the hardware store. It does require more cleanup. The worse you are at welding the more cleanup you'll do anyway.