This morning I was casually looking at stuff on Horror Fright's website and I see this little 125A DC welder is only $149.
https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welders/mig-flux-welders/easy-flux-125-amp-welder-57861.html
I found a $20 off coupon that drops it to $129.
I'm a complete welding n00b. I've never welded anything before. I just wanna weld some exhaust together and some stuff for my little utility trailer, nothing too crazy.
Thoughts?
A similar Flux-core welder was my first welder and I would say, yes! It's a good, low-cost way to dip your toes into the world of welding.
No personal experience with that exact model, a decent bit with the older black housing, Chicago Electric? version. It's a great field welder!
Just know that it's REALLY hard to do thin materials with a flux core welder like that, so use thicker stock to learn while modding your utility trailer. Something like .125-.25" thick to play with. Also know that flux core is inherently dirtier/more splatter-y than a gas mig, so you won't be looking like a rockstar, but it'll be solid.
If you do need to do thin sheetmetal, get a flange/punch tool like this one and just use it as a spot welder to fill in the hole. It's really hard to do 16 ga steel and below with a flux core mig. You really need gas to be able to control the burn better.
For $130, I'm sure it'll be excellent. I can't imagine having a house without having a welder handy...
Oh, get an auto-darkening helmet! That makes a MASSIVE difference in your ability to learn! Harbor Freight's is fine if you're not a professional..
Which is the next level up welder to look at?
My thought is that, if you find that you enjoy welding, you will outgrow that machine quickly. Of course you need to see how much welding you have to do and what materials need welding. If aluminum is on the list move up to a good MIG/TIG unit. The suggestion of a good auto darkening helmet is right on but I would go to Tractor Supply and look at the low end Hobart helmets. I had a HF one for years and could never see what I was welding, I could see the puddle but nothing else.
Now, here's my plug for Primeweld. I have a MIG180 and a plasma cutter from them, best customer service ever. They've grown and gotten a little pricier than their Amazon days but, let's face it, service costs.
I personally prefer the Lincoln "tombstone" stick welders. They require 220, but you can typically find used ones all over CL or Facebook relatively cheap. They can weld very thick metal, will teach you to control your hand speed and the metal pool, plus you don't need gas.
I think for what you have in mind it will work just fine, but may be a bit frustrating getting it set up to weld, especially on exhaust pipe. So, if possible try welding the angle iron first. Crank it up pretty high and go burn some metal. You'll have to turn it down pretty far for the exhaust pipe and you will either make big turds or burn holes in the pipe at first.
The key to welding is to not be in a hurry, create the puddle and move it along slowly so that you get good penetration.
Watch some You Tube vids on this machine before you try sticking anything together with it.
A good autodarkening helmet, get the correct wire (smaller is better for what you're going to do) - I weld all the way up to 1/4" metal with my 120V welder using .025 wire, takes a bit of learning but it works fine and I can weld thinner stuff with it too. Flux core will be thicker of course. So, helmet, wire, a good pair of gloves and you should be good to go. If possible use a 20amp circuit (it may trip a 15A) and work outside where you're not breathing fumes.
The "rule of thumb" for MIG welding steel is that for every 0.001" of thickness you will need 1 amp of current. That means a 125amp MIG will only be able to weld 1/8" steel in a single pass. Flux core means it is messy and not good for sheet metal use. The result is that a 125amp flux core machine sucks for most car things but still can't do heavy work.
I am not sure what they are actually "for" other than occupying the "impulse buy" price point where they will almost exclusively be bought by folks with little to no welding experience. Probably good for patching up lawnmower decks or knocking together some angle iron supports out in the wind? It should do 16ga exhaust work ok.
Mostly I see results like this :shudder:
Don't be that guy who thinks he can weld up a trailer with a 125 amp flux core machine.
Wire-fed welder, yes. That particular one? Maybe not. I own a few HF welders and, while they aren't bad, they require a significant amount of understanding of their quirks. If I were to pick one up as a newbie to welding I'd find myself frustrated because of unexpected outcomes which are entirely due to the machine.
Can you find a Lincoln wire box near you? Those are dead simple: Your only adjustments are taps off a transformer so you're not dialing voltage in at .1V increments and the wire speed is either "faster" or "slower."
First.... I'm not a pro, but I've been welding for a long time.
Flux core is a great beginner setup. I would strongly consider getting one that has the option to add MIG/gas later. Flux core makes it's own shield gas by putting the smoky flux in the wire. This means that as the flux burns out of the puddle, it leaves the surface of the weld looking a bit like pumice or a sponge. Ultimately, it's fine, it's just a wee bit weaker than MIG. The other thing you'll find is that flux core burns a little hotter because you have a combusting flux in addition to the arc's current. You will likely find that spot welding sheet metal is darn near impossible. There is just a split second between a weld and a hole.
I had a flux core for a long time and I quickly outgrew it. I might suggest just going ahead and diving into a MIG setup.
A metaphor: Let's say you want to learn to play guitar. You won't sound any better if you buy a $1500 Yamaha than if you buy a $50 Epiphone to learn. Welding isn't really that way. A better welder will make you a better weldor. In the case of the guitar, sure, get the $50 used Epiphone until you get good. In the case of the welder, I want something I can grow into. A 110V flux core 125A is less versatile and it will minimize what you can weld effectively.
About 12 years ago I upgraded to a 220V Mig/flux/scratch TIG/aluminum spool kit from Northern Tool. It was about $400, and it is a 225A. At the time, I think Northern was using Hobart welders for their house brand. I can dial it way down and do spot welds on sheet metal, or I can crank it up and fab a receiver hitch with 1/4" steel. Very versatile.
I would say this welder is the closest equivalent of what my Northern Tool welder is. I absolutely love it. My only complaint is the feed tension and the spool friction can be a bit finnicky, but I've learned to bullseye it.
Easy portability, no frills, just wire speed, and heat. I love it.
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