Welder Question

[timm1]

I am looking at a titanium ez flux 125 amp welder and before I buy it I would like to know if the trigger energizes the wire or does the trigger just feed the wire out. I bought a chinese welder on ebay but when I position the wire on the part to be welded it starts welding. I am blind so I need to have the wire not live so I can position it on the work then I can press the trigtger and start to weld. thanks

 

[nadogail]

When you go to the dealer, you ask them to demonstrate how it works; if they can't demonstrate how it works, they wont sell one to me.

 

[rlitman]

When you go to the dealer, you ask them to demonstrate how it works; if they can't demonstrate how it works, they wont sell one to me.

LOL, yeah, you try that at HF.

My HF 90A POS FCAW welder has a contactor, so I can only assume that the Titanium 125 does too. It's something I'd completely expect with any inverter anyway.

 

[Walkers]

It should have a contactor. If it doesn't, just return it as non functioning.

 

[dave_dj1]

I believe any of them will give you a spark if you touch the wire to the work without squerzing the trigger. Once you squeeze the switch the wire starts to feed and the juice flows at whatever setting you are set on.

 

[brownbagg]

the trigger enerize the wire

look, Im a twenty year cwi and grew up welding.
if it not red , blue, or hobart and 220 volts, dont buy it. trust me,
wel lyou dont have to trust me but at least think about it

 

[Walkers]

I believe any of them will give you a spark if you touch the wire to the work without squerzing the trigger. Once you squeeze the switch the wire starts to feed and the juice flows at whatever setting you are set on.

The little spark is just residual power from the capacitor bank.

 

[gearhead1]

Any MIG I‘ve ever used does not turn on the electric current until the trigger is depressed. When the trigger is not depressed, I get a tiny spark on my Miller but very tiny such that I don’t need a welding helmet. It does not continue to spark, it appears that a capacitor or something it’s just discharging. It’ll discharge once and that’s it. It’s barely noticeable. Once you turn on the trigger, it lets the gas flow (if you have gas), turns on the electric, and turns on the rollers for the wire.

I do not have a PrimeWeld MIG welder, but I bought their TIG and it has been super! They feature a 3 year warranty, 7 days a week support, and well written manuals. I have no affiliation with PrimeWeld, and I’m not getting paid to say it but they are well built machines. They’re made overseas, but the company must have a quality control program in place. My TIG225X has been flawless.

I agree that the big names are quality units, but I can’t shell out that kind of money for occasional use. Otherwise, I’d have went with a Miller for the TIG. I think paying a little more gives the backing of a company that will honor the return of a defective unit. I appreciate the support of a real company behind the equipment.

I’d consider shopping around a bit. I’d also consider going to a MIG with gas. Flux core is ok, but the shielding gas really ups the ante IMHO. If you go with a more reputable company that has a presence here, it’ll be easier to get it covered under warranty if there is an issue.

‘PrimeWeld

MIG160 Portable Flux Core MIG Welder

The PrimeWeld MIG160 Flux Core MIG Welder is lightweight and does not require a shielding gas for an accurate, reliable weld. Order online today.

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MIG180 180-Amp MIG Welder With Spool Gun

The MIG180 mig welder includes upgraded Tweco 100 Style torch and American style connection. Order online today from PrimeWeld to get free shipping.

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Eastwood

Eastwood 90 Amp MIG and Flux Welder - EASY Welding

A versatile machine for hobbyists and novice welders, Eastwood’s MIG 90 runs on 120V power and welds up to 1/8-in steel, perfect for bodywork and light sheet fab.

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Everlast
A lot of people speak highly of the Everlast machines.

Cyclone 140E - MIG Welders | Everlast Generators

For well over a decade, Everlast has been of the leading edge of the effort to pioneer the rise of reliable and affordable inverter MIG welders. The success that the old i-MIG inverter series enjoyed is a thing of legend. In fact, when we first introduced the inverter based i-MIG 140E, the...

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Longevity

MIGWELD 100 MIG Welder

100 Amp 120V Flux-Cored MIG Welder The Longevity MIGWELD 100 welder delivers industrial quality and performance at an affordable price. MIGWELD 100 is perfect for the beginner and the professional. MIGWELD 100 will easily connect to your existing 120v wall outlet and can be set up easily in...

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Longevity Migweld 100 MIG Welder with Transformer Technology 880130 - The Home Depot

Complete your cooking jobs perfectly with the assistance of this uniquely designed Longevity Migweld Welder with Transformer Technology.

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Hobart
$373 on sale

Hobart Handler 125 MIG Welder 500573

Hobart® Handler® 125 MIG Welder 500573The Hobart® Handler® 125 is a 130 amp MIG welder that operates on 120 volt input power and comes ready to weld .030 flux-cored welding wire. It has a built-in gas solenoid for using MIG shielding gases, like Argon/CO2 mixes. A gas regulator and hose is...

store.cyberweld.com

Campbell Hausfield
Somebody is making them overseas for Campbell Hausfield but at least the company has a presence here. Plus, depending on the retailer, you could take it back to the retailer if you had a problem.

Campbell Hausfeld MIG/Flux Core Welder 120 Amp Output Wire Feed with Accessories DW313000 - The Home Depot

Complete your cooking jobs perfectly with the assistance of this uniquely designed Campbell Hausfeld MIG Flux Core Welder Output Wire Feed with Accessories.

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[jhelrey]

I had the Easy Flux 125 from HF. Pulling the trigger energizes the wire as well as feeds.

 

[gearhead1]

the trigger enerize the wire

look, Im a twenty year cwi and grew up welding.
if it not red , blue, or hobart and 220 volts, dont buy it. trust me,
wel lyou dont have to trust me but at least think about it

I agree. But a lot of these people don’t know how much they’re going to use a MIG welder until they get one. I think some will use it here and there, and some like me use it an awful lot. For the occasional user I think they can get by with a cheaper machine, but I also think those machines can be very quickly outgrown.

I’d say assume you have the skill already: if you’d use it a lot, have a lot of projects in mind, you’re a general mechanical type person and you like to build stuff as what you do, then yes consider a 220V brand name machine with shielding gas. You’ll outgrow a cheaper machine quickly.

If your main hobby is not building stuff, and you’re looking to get by, you have no future project plans like building a trailer for example, then you may get by with a cheaper machine.

The last thing I’d say is understand what amperage machine you need for the thickness of metal you’re going to weld. Say you’re a farmer and you want to fix your own stuff. Some of the tractor implements have pretty thick steel, like 1/4” thick. A 90 amp flux core may be underpowered and lack duty cycle. You probably should consider a higher amperage machine.

 

[timm1]

I bought a titanium easy flux 125 from harbor freight and it works great. I am practicing with it and since I am blind person I try to go on a line where both metals meet and drag it slowly and listen to the sound.

 

[FMB4]

Reading through the owner/operator's manual PDF should answer your question.

 

[dfiler2]

I'm impressed, good for you!

 

[The Cobbler]

pretty sure that if the welder is energized without pulling the trigger, it's defective or very poorly made

 

[misterfixit]

I agree. But a lot of these people don’t know how much they’re going to use a MIG welder until they get one. I think some will use it here and there, and some like me use it an awful lot. For the occasional user I think they can get by with a cheaper machine, but I also think those machines can be very quickly outgrown.

I’d say assume you have the skill already: if you’d use it a lot, have a lot of projects in mind, you’re a general mechanical type person and you like to build stuff as what you do, then yes consider a 220V brand name machine with shielding gas. You’ll outgrow a cheaper machine quickly.

If your main hobby is not building stuff, and you’re looking to get by, you have no future project plans like building a trailer for example, then you may get by with a cheaper machine.

The last thing I’d say is understand what amperage machine you need for the thickness of metal you’re going to weld. Say you’re a farmer and you want to fix your own stuff. Some of the tractor implements have pretty thick steel, like 1/4” thick. A 90 amp flux core may be underpowered and lack duty cycle. You probably should consider a higher amperage machine.

One thing I'll add is that I have found an experienced weldor can use a crappy machine and make good welds. But for those who are just getting started, you have to understand that crappy machines make it hard to learn on. A good machine makes learning easier.

I have no idea what kind of quality the HF machines are, but I'm pretty sure the Big3 Red/Blue/Hobart (Lincoln, Miller, Hobart) don't make crappy machines. The advice to stick with one of those starting out is good.

 

[rlitman]

pretty sure that if the welder is energized without pulling the trigger, it's defective or very poorly made

Very poorly made. Many of the sub-$100 flux-core welders coming out of China had no contactor off the transformer so the tip would always be hot regardless of the trigger position, and the trigger only controlled the wire drive motor. It's a terrible design, but it does kind of work well enough to sell.

The first step up in price buys you a contactor, so it's really only an issue seen the the very bottom of the barrel. Heck, my 90A HF FCAW which didn't even have a rectifier or capacitor (it had AC output, but I've since upgraded it, as AC FCAW is worthless) still had a contactor.

And since inverters don't actually need a contactor to turn the output on and off, I couldn't imagine how the inverter the OP asked about would be missing that function, as omitting it wouldn't save any money.

 

[dave_dj1]

If it's of any help I just bought a new Hobart Ironman 240 and what a machine! I upgraded from a Hobart 185 Handler which is a 220 machine as well. The 185 served me well and I will keep it as a backup machine. I have never welded with flux core wire so I can't comment on that.
Good luck

 

[Firebrick43]

I bought a titanium easy flux 125 from harbor freight and it works great. I am practicing with it and since I am blind person I try to go on a line where both metals meet and drag it slowly and listen to the sound.

Good lord I hope nothing that you weld is going to get someone killed when it fails, mig welds can look good and sound good but have no penetration. Only looking at the puddle and destructive testing can tell you if its truly good.

 

[Tman]

I bought a titanium easy flux 125 from harbor freight and it works great. I am practicing with it and since I am blind person I try to go on a line where both metals meet and drag it slowly and listen to the sound.

Good for you! Your welds will probably be better than most folks that can see.