The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest HarborFreight 90 AMP Fluxcore Welder

Hi All,

I bought 90 AMP fluxcore welder from HF and I tried hard enough to weld anything, all it does is sputters all over. Since I am new to Welding I thought I am the problem, but my friend who is a certified welder and welded heavy equipments says that one is useless.

I wanted to weld sheet metal, what is you guys opinion and what is a decent affordable welder for sheet metal welding. Please advise

Ganesh

I have a $120 Flux core I bought at HF about a year ago. When I first got it I thought it was a piece of crap,(and I still do) but I didn't want to admit defeat so I kept playing with it and I have got it to work acceptable now. It does splatter a lot but I grind the welds down anyway, so that isn't a problem for me. I have welded both cab corners,both rocker/steps, hinge pillars, patch panels on my fenders, etc with little problem. The thing I don't like is I have to go over the welds a second time in some areas because of tiny pinholes in the weld when I but weld. Time consuming, but cheaper than buying a new welder. Even though I can get buy with the HF welder, if you want a good one don't look in HF. I haven't priced a good one but I am sure someone here can give you some good advice.

Thanks Alan that is exactly what I felt, it should be usable because how will company make a welder which cannot be used at all

Ganesh

Hobart, Lincoln and Miller all make good welders. As for affordability it really depends very specifically on what it will be used for. They all make cheap and they all make expensive units, just matters on what your willing to pay and what you consider acceptable work.

Jeff

I don't know how you welded cab corners with a flux welder.
I tried to weld a patch on my tailgate and all it did was burn a hole.

I have a Lincoln 100 and I have purchased the MIG kit for it.

I have a clarke (I think it is the 180 model) and am pretty happy with it so far.


Ed

smokey_truck,

Just for the record, Jim Bow speaks the truth...it isn't the welder or the fact it came from Harbor Freight, it's the process that is difficult with sheet metal.

Flux core is a tough gig on thin materials, solid wire with shielding gas (MIG) would make life much easier for you, but your bank account wouldn't be as fat.

Stuart

Thanks for suggesstion guys, looks like I should look for MIG with Shielding gas

Ganesh

Go HOBART!!!!!!!

Can you tell I'm a happy Hobart owner?

What model did you buy in Hobart? my budget allows on Hobart 140 MIG and runs on 115V

I bought the Handler 125 and later upgraded to Mig with a mig kit.... In retrospect, I should have gotten the bigger 140 unit as it is available in 240v which yields higher duty cycle......

I have been using Miller wire welders for 20 years. We have a 200 a 250 and a flux wire feeder on a Trailblazer 440. I recently bought a Hobart 140 and run .023 wire with straight co2 Because I don't want to take my toys out to the shop and I got tired of lugging a 200 with a big bottle to the house, even though I have a 50 amp plug. I am astounded how easy it is to weld thin stuff like
body panels. I haven't really read the book, but I would be hesitant to use it for anything over 1/4 inch. But for thin stuff, I think I could weld two tin cans together. I feel like I got the best deal on the 140 on Amazon.com

Here is a cab corner I welded with a 90 amp HF flux core MIG. It is very time consuming. A better welder would be much faster. CAB CORNER

i have used hobarts for years as well and have always been pleased with them. i think it's good advice to go with a 220 unit if you can at all. i had a 150 or 160 hobart handler that was 220 and used it for years. you have the flexability to weld thin body panels or thicker steel as well. i haven't used the flux core stuff a lot but i think it usually looks like it has pin holes in the weld, structurlly it's prob as good but it you wanted it to be water or air tight i don't think it's as good.
i have welded body panels 15 -20 years ago when i was in high school with a arc welder as a slow process of start and stop before it burns thru but i wouldn't do it again. but you know, whatever floats your boat. it's hard to beat a good gas shielded mig welder for body work.

I bought a Hobart/Miller 135 a few years back. Using the 75/25 gas it makes a quality weld with minimal splatter. Complete with a 10 lb. spool of wire and the bottle of gas it was $750.00, I am completely satisfied with it.

I think it is difficult to get one welder to do it all. I used a millermatic 200 for everything except real thick stuff for 20 years. After getting a Hobart 140 with .023 wire strictly for thin stuff, I wouldn't even attempt to weld patch panels with my 200 any more. The 140 is just so much easier.

CO2 works best on body parts as it cools the weld area,
Argon gets a better penetration for heaver stuff. Inner shield sorta defeats the reason for having a mig unless you are welding outside or very high amperage.

at you local welding supplier theysometimes have used equipment and all the advice you need

HF welders are crap, I have sold over 100 of them in an aution business I had, and I am a certified welding inspector and welding teacher. The midline homeowner century welders are not bad, I have one that welds SMOOTH with flux core. Lincoln, Hobart, and the others are better.

Hobart Handler 187 and big brother 210 are very nice welders for the money and will dial down for sheet metal as well as do the thick stuff. Some say these have a better arc than the Millers do, but I've only read that. I like my 187 very well.

Both are 220v machines.

I have a century 155g from cost co (ware house super store) i have had it for 10 years and works great for $399.The lincoln 110 weld paks are nice too.

I have a millermatic 175 and it works good