Free Harbor Freight UNO welder

[karl]

I got this welder for free. The wire feed motor would barely spin and it would squeal, so I greased the gearbox and lubed the motor, and it fixed it. Since it is not worth buying a argon tank and regulator, I converted it to flux-core. I took out the argon line and that's about it. I need to buy a spool of wire to test it out.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

thats neat. first welder?

EDIT: and way to go fixing that motor. most people would chuck it out and get a new one.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

You've GOT to dig the free stuff... Nice work!

 

[r97]

Why bother removing the gas lines? Did you switch the polarity to DCEN?

 

[karl]

Why bother removing the gas lines? Did you switch the polarity to DCEN?

I think its only AC. I had it apart so I figured why not, it took 1 min.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Pop the lid and see if the output lead connectors are labelled for polarity. You want the "ground" clamp wired positive, and the gun negative.

 

[karl]

I opened it and I can't swap the polarity. Its hardwired ground negative. How will this affect the welder when swapped to flux-core?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

If that's true, forget it. FCAW welds will be terrible.

 

[PistonPete123]

Someone gave me the same welder, its junk, I had to shorten all the lines to the gun so it would be less stress on the feed motor, still feeds like ****, if its your first welder and you think you can't get the hang of it, its not you, its the welder. I have used cheap flux core welders that worked good but this welder is not one of them. I've never herd of switching polarity on a flux core, why would this work better?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

You need to run DCEN for flux-core, and DCEP for MIG. You may have never heard of it because you don't switch back and forth.

 

[PistonPete123]

that welder is sold as a mig, but can also be used with flux core, I will need to check the polarity sometime, when i'm watching the arc it looks like its pulling the puddle up to the tip of the gun and then spatters everywhere, it doesn't lay a nice bead.

 

[PistonPete123]

does anyone have a favorite brand for flux core wire, I found that lincoln electric was very brittle and would not feed well

 

[Doc Sprocket]

does anyone have a favorite brand for flux core wire, I found that lincoln electric was very brittle and would not feed well

Wow. I've been using Lincoln Innershield for 10 years, no problem- and much better than a few other brands I've tried. If you're having feed issues with innershield, my money points at your machine, not the wire.

Brittle how?

that welder is sold as a mig, but can also be used with flux core, I will need to check the polarity sometime, when i'm watching the arc it looks like its pulling the puddle up to the tip of the gun and then spatters everywhere, it doesn't lay a nice bead.

If the polarity is not reversible, the machine is not convertible. Explains s**t welds.

 

[karl]

Well I think I now have a SMAW welder. Cut top of machine off, put a stinger instead of a gun, take out wire feed selector, done. Ill set it up for DC+, better penetration. I have a nice Lincoln MIG welder, I wanted this one to bring to friends houses and charge for repairs then sell the welder. And piston Pete, the wire feed is terrible.

http://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welding-accessories/200-amp-electrode-holder-97892.html

There a $10 inverted arc welder.

 

[oscaryu1]

Can't do that.

 

[karl]

Can't do that.

Why? Its about 90amps, voltage?

Edit- my bro told me about CC and CV and it wont work.

 

[PistonPete123]

thats the fun of doing backyard hack and bash make your own tools out of junk, its a good thought but yeah, it needs to be constant current to use as an arc welder. to reverse the polarity, it looks like you just need to switch the leads and make a foot pedal or something as a feed triger. the triger on the gun uses the positive power from the tip to feed back to the speed selecter, and if you are making that the neg. then it won't power the motor.