Found the perfect welder! #3

[oscaryu1]

So... what setting on the knob?

And yes, it's the HF one. It was on sale for $49.

[kibble]

I just keep mine fast and the setting all the way up. There's really no point in changing it unless the spark was really soft, which it's not. :arf:

[jr dragster Tyler]

Who knows what the settings are what's the metel thickness?

[oscaryu1]

Ehh... no idea. It's a bike frame. Thick enough to not bend when fallen, and thinner than a go kart frame.

[oscaryu1]

Gonna post up some pictures. Wanna get a-welding ASAP!

[oscaryu1]

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x191/oscaryu1/100_0784.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x191/oscaryu1/100_0785.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x191/oscaryu1/100_0786.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x191/oscaryu1/100_0787.jpg

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x191/oscaryu1/100_0788.jpg

Harbor Freight shopping :)

[Kenny_McCormic]

Read the manual for the mask? Or is it in engrish you don't understand? Im thinking you want it on fast and the dial pretty high.

[crazycart]

I have found that bike frames are cheap metal and i burn through them most of the time on even the lowest setting, just give it a try, you will learn alot more from actually doing it than coming on here IMO..

[oscaryu1]

Lowest wire feed setting, and on Low?

Ahhh... manuals... I only read them if I have no choice. Guess I have to :smartass:

[kibble]

How about you get some scrap metal and use it to practice on? It's probably the best way to learn to use your new toy. You don't wanna get to working on something using the welder for the first time and end up saying :censored: !!!

[ed1380]

the knob on the mask is for darkness

[oscaryu1]

Scrap metal.... I have some thin angle iron. Would that work?

And how do I put in the darn wire? The instructions are very unclear. From what I see, remove the wing nut, the circular nut, put the wire thing on, take the end and place it in the hole there, and keep on spinning till it comes out the other end?

[kibble]

Scrap, use anything that doesn't matter much. Yes, angle iron would be ok.

The welder should have a roller inside, just past the little tube where you insert the wire. The roller propels the wire out into the torch.

[oscaryu1]

So ignoring those hard instructions:

1) Remove wing nut and the circular nut.
2) Place the roll on, and put the loose end of the wire into... the place past the tube? I'll try and get some pics, will do right now.

[oscaryu1]

Well... pics will come later. Ran outta batteries. The C875 is a helluva power hungry beast.

[ed1380]

http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals/44000-44999/44567.PDF
page 12

unscrew teh wingnut from the roll.
unscrew teh torsion adjusting screw
place new roll or wire unto reel holder
start threading the wire where the red line is
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/RussianCommy/untitled-67.jpg
screw in all the nuts and screws
unscrew the tip on the gun
turn on welder and be carefull and press trigger for it to feed the wire to the gun handle
screw tip back on
wala

[Kenny_McCormic]

You have it right.

[kibble]

What was wrong with my instructions? Other than the fact that I didn't have a pretty picture or anything? :arf:

[Kenny_McCormic]

What was wrong with my instructions? Other than the fact that I didn't have a pretty picture or anything? :arf:

Lack of pic, your explanation was fine but your illustration sucked.

[oscaryu1]

http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals/44000-44999/44567.PDF
page 12

unscrew teh wingnut from the roll.
unscrew teh torsion adjusting screw
place new roll or wire unto reel holder
start threading the wire where the red line is
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e398/RussianCommy/untitled-67.jpg
screw in all the nuts and screws
unscrew the tip on the gun
turn on welder and be carefull and press trigger for it to feed the wire to the gun handle
screw tip back on
wala

And I can start welding?! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

[ed1380]

yup

do you need illustrations and step by step instructions for that too? :p

[oscaryu1]

COOL!

What's a torsion adjusting screw? The circular screw under the wing nut?

So pretty much, unscrew the wing nut, circular nut, and just thread the wire into the little hose there?

And then plug it in, press the trigger (nowhere near the clamp), and let it feed?

[ed1380]

yeah unscrew enough so theres room between the rollers for the wire to easily pass through.

if you want you can unscrew the tip too. it might get stuck at it

[oscaryu1]

Well the "free" wire they gave me at the very start had a bend in it, for inserting it into the hole in the plastic roll thing. Do I cut that off?

[kibble]

Logic would say: "yes...":roflol:

[oscaryu1]

:smartass:

^ Maybe not after all :D

Anywho... I have to wait will 7:00 when dad comes home:censored: :mad2:

Lucky they gave me a space mask...

Any tips before I kill myself?

[kibble]

Make sure that you open up a cylinder of oxygen and let it saturate your welding area before you start. You'll need all the oxygen you can get while you're welding. :idea2:

[Kenny_McCormic]

And I can start welding?! :eek::eek::eek::eek:

Yes you can, it really is that simple.

[ed1380]

i thought his welder was fluxcore only

[kibble]

I was kidding about the oxygen. :roflol:

[jr dragster Tyler]

yeah who needs a regulater and a solenoid valve for the welder
just open up the co2 a crack and argon and just let it fil your garage and whalla perfect 75/25 mix! I hope you know im kidding.

[Russ2251]

Any tips before I kill myself?Put me in your will.

[oscaryu1]

Darn, Daddy wants to watch a movie... guess tomorrow morning. Then the world ends.

Don't worry! I'll make sure it's 100% pure oxygen! :smartass:

[Kenny_McCormic]

yeah who needs a regulater and a solenoid valve for the welder
just open up the co2 a crack and argon and just let it fil your garage and whalla perfect 75/25 mix! I hope you know im kidding.

Actually a hose blowing into a hole in the tip shroud should work pretty good. will need a reg but no welder mods except proper wire and drilling a hole in the shroud.

[oscaryu1]

I'm confuzzled :(

[Kenny_McCormic]

I'm confuzzled :(

Go weld, you will forget this confusing half joke/half idea thread.

[jr dragster Tyler]

I was kidding about filling the intire garage with argon. Just extending kibbles joke.... And because I know everyone that welds with flux core would LOVE to weld with gas.

[Kenny_McCormic]

I was kidding about filling the intire garage with argon. Just extending kibbles joke.... And because I know everyone that welds with flux core would LOVE to weld with gas.

Yea, not only does flux core sound like bacon frying it also splatters everywhere like bacon, its a small wonder I have never been burnt by slag and splatter welding without gloves.

[jr dragster Tyler]

lol man...you should realy wear glove's or you can get skin cancer.

[oscaryu1]

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG :mad::censored: :mad2: :mad: :censored: :mad2:

Soo... we prepared everything. Cleaned and swept the whole garage, powerwashed a few things, cleaned oil stains, degreased a few things... took out the welder, checked and turned off anything on that breaker...

Flicked the switch. Press the trigger.

NOTHING. Not even a peep. No light, nothing. No buzz, no wire feeding starting when the trigger is pressed, no light on the ON wire. Tested 110V port, worked fine. Breaker was not tripped...

Defect :mad2:

Dad took the side cover off. Everything looked normal and great. But even then, nothing (he's a licensed electrician, so I trust him)...

Darn. And I was so anxious :censored:

[Kenny_McCormic]

Bad switch? See if 110 is getting to the switch, see if 110 is getting after the switch. Using am multimeter is NOT difficult and these are VERY simple machines. worst case tak it back to HF and get another one.

[kibble]

Did you mean, "no light on the on switch"? If that's the case, there's gotta be an interruption in the flow somewhere.

[AutoMX]

also when u get it going, cleaning the floor and powerwashing is useless cuz if u weld near or above concrete, the burning flux will inevitably dirty up everything.

[jr dragster Tyler]

Ocar if you red the intructions about feeding the wire they say to unroll 5-6 inches of wire off the spool and cut it there so you have a fresh end with no kinks.

[oscaryu1]

Cut it, no kinks. First thing I did. Yes, correct, no light on the switch.

Power outlet works fine. Don't have a multimeter at the new house... should have bought it a few days ago when I got a new soldering iron :mad: :mad2: :censored:

Planning on refunding next thursday when I go back to Victoria.

[oscaryu1]

Update - Mask is also dead. Looked at sun. It didn't go dark or anything.

****it.

[AutoMX]

i forget if the mask had that little plastic battery tab ur supposed to pull out. put it out in the sun and let it charge up like i did with mine. still works great a year later..

as for the welder, same as with most things from HF, it either doesnt work out of the box or it works. theres only a small chance it will break down later.
if its a question of giving up or getting another HF welder, just get another. if getting a better brand welder is an option, get that but it's gonna cost you. i know most people here complain about $30 things, and the HF welder is about $100 and most entry level lincoln or other major brand welders are about $300+.

ive had quite a few defective HF purchases but i just exchanged them and had good luck afterwards. i think i only returned one thing and i dont even know what it was or why i didnt wanna keep it.

with HF's prices the #1 thing you give up is quality checking. the #2 is quality materials and good design.

PS: you did turn on the mask first right?!?

[oscaryu1]

EHhh... mine's solar powered, so I have absolutely honestly no idea.

Turn on the mask? There's a switch???

[kibble]

The mask only activates when it "sees" flashing bright light. It won't do squat if you just look at the sun. Take a piece of aluminum or a mirror and put the mask on. Flash the sun light at yourself from the reflection and you'll see the mask work. I think it would also work if you hit the flint on a lighter while wearing it.

[oscaryu1]

Thanks Kibble, it's rather dark and raining right now, so I'll wait till tomorrow to do that.

I'm leaving the mask to "charge" by the window right now.

[jr dragster Tyler]

the sun wont always do it. Just start to weld while looking away with the mask on and slowly start to turn your head till it shade.

[oscaryu1]

Yeahh... the welders defective lol...

[kibble]

Which mask did you get?

[newrider3]

Pffft... Auto darkening mask? Mine was $14.95 and does it's job.

[oscaryu1]

Ehh... and it's solar powered.

It's a plain mask, no skulls or flames. $49 on sale in the catalog, black, solar powered...

[kibble]

Ok. I hate to break this to you, but there's no battery to charge. The helmet is powered by the light given off from the welding process. Get a lighter and flick it, if your helmet is working, you'll see it get dark.

[oscaryu1]

Oh... darn lol... Well, the time has come to try.

[AutoMX]

actually no my auto darkening HF black helmet (was $30 on sale) is also solar powered but it's got a battery backup and you need to turn it on (press a little digital on button on the op left corner of the mask) to get it to work normally, and the sun test works fine. it defaults at like 70% dark when off, so when you successfully turn it on, the view through the glass gets much brighter, then when you point it fairly rapidly at a bright light (bulb, sun, etc) it flicks to 100% dark. theres also a red LED when you switch it on so you know for sure.

the "solar" charging (charging when welding using the welding spark's light) is technically not needed to operate, it does work on battery only, but you'll run out of battery at some point if you tape up or cover the solar panel above the glass. if you keep the solar cell clean so it's got full light to charge the battery, the mask will never need to be charged [in the sun or w/e] when not in use.

hope that helps.

edit: also if the light source you're testing on isn't quite bright enough, like a neon type light, the mask may flicker bright/dark but thats just cuz its on the border of bright enough. the sun should be a decent testing light.

[kibble]

You have a different one then. Mine has no other switches other than the slow/fast one or any LED's. I keep it in the garage all the time where it's dark and I've never had any problems getting it to work.