Picked up a flux welder

[HippieHeadShot]

Hey guys I picked up the 90 amp flux welder today from harbor freight. They were having a great sale and I got it for only 75 dollars!

Wondering if anyone has experience with this welder and can pass along things they have learned the hard way, or tips to get solid welds as I am not very experienced using one.

Side note: I know its not the most powerful welder but I won't be using metal more then 1/16th thick, 1/4th at the most on a rare location.

Thanks,
Alec

 

[harleykart]

Horrible Freight welders are junk in my book.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Well....you're gonna have to kill me to get mine....?

It's the first and only welder I've ever had....but it gets the job done...

The first thing is to get some Miller or Lincoln wire to replace the HF crap.....

That being said....I haven't even done that yet....and I'm happy with mine....

Is it a crappy welder? Maybe.....but I have turned many a bolt with crappy Chinese sockets and wrenches....and the bolts didn't care...nor did I....

 

[2SlickNick]

I have a 125 ampflux core welder from JobSmart sold by TSC and it is fare.
It only has a High and a Low for power settings and I have got pretty good. I am however ready for a gas mig soon.

Also that guy Tman on you tube has built some awesome go karts with his HF flux core welder. Just saying.

 

[Badot]

I believe I have the same welder... it's worked perfectly for everything I've asked of it. I haven't had any problems with the HF wire either, very little spatter once you get dialed in but it can get a bit messy otherwise. Number one tip to get good welds out of the machine is practice!

Also that guy Tman on you tube has built some awesome go karts with his HF flux core welder. Just saying.

He also used to be pretty active on this site. Not sure where he went though.

 

[2SlickNick]

I believe I have the same welder... it's worked perfectly for everything I've asked of it. I haven't had any problems with the HF wire either, very little spatter once you get dialed in but it can get a bit messy otherwise. Number one tip to get good welds out of the machine is practice!



He also used to be pretty active on this site. Not sure where he went though.

True....
I think he has been busy with his web site and this new kart he is currently building.

 

[HippieHeadShot]

Yeah my buddies shop has a crazy expensive gas mig so that is amazing so I am hoping that I can dial this one in. lucky i have only used it a couple times so I'm not spoiled

 

[supermanotorious]

I relied on that welder for years and produced some very nice welds. Quality wire is a must- DO NOT use the Harbor Freight flux. On that note cheap chinese (HF) is the only supply for 2 lb rolls of wire. Once you buy name brand you'll be getting it in 1 lb rolls. Practice, practice, practice! I almost always throw down a bead on scrap material of the same thickness, before the work I'm really trying to weld. Use nozzle gel and keep the ground close to the work- this will reduce splatter.

 

[HippieHeadShot]

Use nozzle gel and keep the ground close to the work- this will reduce splatter.

What is nozzel gel?

 

[Poboy kartman]

What is nozzel gel?

Something I was wondering myself.....I mean....it makes perfect sense, it's a coating that keeps all that spattering from clogging up the wire shield....but I just don't know where to find it.....

I checked the lubricant section in the pharmacy at the local Wal-Mart....and found some 'Astro Glide' ...but ruh row Elroy...doesn't seem to be the right stuff.....

 

[Cbreiter]

Lol, in my experience flux works great for the thicker metals, but stuff like 24 gauge is a challenge. It wants to burn through. Nozzel gel works good, I'm sure harbour freight would have some, there is also "anti-spatter" spray, though I can't comment on it as I haven't used it. I have found that Lincoln flux core wire is nice, I've found it in different sizes, 1lb, 2lb, and 10lb rolls. I'm in Canada, so maybe some products are easier to come by here... But I doubt it. Flux core was all I used for years, but when I upgraded my welder, I went with one that will do gas as well, cause I do body work on my own vehicles. Bottom line, flux core works decent anywhere. Inside or outside, just makes more smoke, and more slag than a gas weld. You may go through a few more shields on your welding helmet, but they usually aren't too expensive. One other thing I had found is that 0.30 wire works better for me than the 0.35. Hope this helps someone.

 

[supermanotorious]

Home Depot has it

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln-Electric-Nozzle-Gel-KH507/100341117

 

[HippieHeadShot]

Home Depot has it

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln-Electric-Nozzle-Gel-KH507/100341117

Awesome thank you for the link!

 

[promccown]

I'm about to take a GMAW/FMAW class in June. Look up your local community college and see if you can get into one. Best way to learn IMO.

There is also Jody (jodie?) on youtube. Great advice/ tips/ tricks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KrwmK7df-s&list=PLp0pALmMwc6v2ScmEGbvNSpNKcYA8GiGA


This is for mig, but the concepts still apply for flux. Your welder is bottom barrel, so some adjustments that he explains you won't be able to do and will have to mess with your welder to figure out. You're not going to be able to adjust the wirefeed speed, which can be a bit of a hassle when trying to dial in your welder.

Have fun, if you've never welded before, it can be frustrating. Burning in some hours padding beads on some scrap steel is the best meditation you can have though...at least for me.

 

[Poboy kartman]

Wire speed is adjustable on those welders.....the biggest limiting factor for me is the amperage....it is one switch: low and high...

 

[mckutzy]

After a bit of dickering around, you'll eventually find the sweet spot. After that you won't really need to change it.
I don't change my welder any more.
I also buy Lincoln wire, which helps alot.

 

[supermanotorious]

I couldn't agree more. It was my dad's idea several years ago. Phoenix Winch had just became official and my welds looked like seagull crap. He independently signed up for welding classes at a local community college (irony since he is a professor at a state university for business related courses) then asked if I wanted to go with him. I knew my welds were bad so I agreed and that class made a world of difference. I still talk to the welding instructor this day and he mentions my company in every welding class as a success story. Get after it my friend!

I'm about to take a GMAW/FMAW class in June. Look up your local community college and see if you can get into one. Best way to learn IMO.

 

[promccown]

Wire speed is adjustable on those welders.....the biggest limiting factor for me is the amperage....it is one switch: low and high...

Ahh, I thought it was just voltage change.