Harbor frieght 90amp welder

[Walterchang]

Just got an email advertising the Christmas in July sale. They have a Chicago 90 amp welder on sale for $89.99. I have a 20 percent off coupon too so the price would be about~70. Is it worth it or pass and save up for something nicer?

I've welded a bit mostly tig, just looking for something to mess around with, no serious fab work.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

pass mine worked about an hour anbd a half then i brought it back

i only used it for light hobby work

 

[mrholeshot]

I have yet to see a cheap welder that fed good.

 

[arkangel06]

Why dont you take that $89 and wipe your a$$ with it instead. Atleast then your money will work for you

 

[NUTTSGT]

I used a cheap one like that years ago. It may have even been a Chicago Elelctric, can't remember though. It never really had much penetration and the wire speed wasn't consisitent.

I'd pass.

 

[lilredex]

Buy a REAL welder like Miller or Lincoln................save your $$$$$$$$.

 

[welderwink]

I am all about the power of blue. just not that shade of blue.

 

[Buxfan]

Save your $$$

 

[malibu101]

I have yet to see a cheap welder that fed good.

X2.
The power supply is what it is. As long as it's putting out the correct volts/amps all is good.
However, the smoothness and consistency of the drive rolls in feeding wire through the liner to the gun is as critical as the electric being supplied to the wire.
I have never used a HF welder, but, assuming the transformer can do it's job properly I'd be a bit worried about the smoothness of the wire feed.
Don't know unless you try though I guess.
Having the MIG option (gas) is almost vital to your use and "enjoyment" of any MIG machine.

 

[mcdtommy23]

Depends on what you're doing. Get good wire and you should be o.k. We have one that I purchased for roof-top work. It's been used more times then I could remember and has never failed us. I actually considered it disposable as we needed it for one job.

My first wire feed was the Harbor Freight model without the internal fan. I learned on it and welded a ton of stuff. The feed motor went out and I sold it on Craigslist for $40.00. The "new" model has a large muffin fan that works really well.

Granted these aren't Miller's but for light duty or hobby stuff with a low investment or to get a feel for welding you can't go wrong.

 

[Walterchang]

Thanks for the input. I'm going to have to pass on it.

 

[alamerang]

I bought one a few years back and it still works fine. Don't expect anything professional. It costs $89 for a reason. But if you need to do some light welding on nothing structural then its not bad. I used mine to weld up a bumper for my jeep and it worked fine. Just don't use the HF flux core wire. Too much splatter.

 

[d33pt]

i have one and use it to fix random non-structural things. i used it to fix a herman miller chair and make a bike headset press. paid for itself 2x with that. it makes some great booger welds. that's about it.

 

[sanddrag]

Don't all the Harbor Freight wirefeed welders not have a contactor? That would be a big downside to me. If I were dead set on getting a cheap little welder, this one doesn't seem bad http://www.harborfreight.com/80-amp-inverter-arc-welder-91110.html I like how it's nice and small; very portable. Also, much less to go wrong with a stick welder.

 

[musgofasta]

I'm definitely in the minority, but I've beat on that welder and it's never complained. Buy brand-name wire and you're good to go.

NEVER had a problem with the wire feed, probably have 6-8 rolls through the welder.

It's worth the $100

 

[78Bird]

All that does is make the good one you replace it with when it finally pisses you off the last time cost that ~$80 more... pass.

 

[Abbott]

I have one and it does what I ask of it. It's cheap but it works for what it was intended for. Believe it or not when the wire feed starts acting up I give the spool of flux core a shot of WD40 and that fixes it every time. I also replaced the ground clamp on the welder with a heavier clamp from a set of jumper cables which improved the spark immensely.

I rebuilt a bus with the 90 amp machine including cutting off the roof and raising it 14" then welding it back in place plus adding a new 16 ga. metal skin. I have owned the machine for several years without anything but minor issues that the above simple fixes have taken care of.

I also have a Lincoln Tombstone stick welder and the small HF 90 amp flux wire welder and those two machines cover my needs. However I am starting to look at the Hobart Handler 140 with great interest. I see the Hobart 140 listed at Northern Tool for $479.00 (free shipping) and would have to purchase a Argon bottle locally for another probably $250.00 or so.

 

[MattT]

Also, much less to go wrong with a stick welder.

If you're on a tight budget go with stick. I've had off brand Migs in the past