Cheap welders?

.030.
I don't think you can go smaller in FC.

I have also .035 & .040, but I think running the heat way up with .040 stainless wire cuts the duty cycle down too far.

The Titanium Flux 125 is not  typical 'Horrid Fate Garbage'  but it does need some tweaks, like a better ground clamp.

Also try to plug it in directly to a receptacle.
I have a 100' 10Ga. Yellow Jacket extension cord, but if you put it on 14/16 Ga. of any length it wont be happy.

My takeaway?
Good deal for the price as long as you respect it's limitations.

I certainly dont expect too much for anything in the price range Im thinking of.

Id like to buy a used Mig but the only thing people sell around here are ancient stick welders and I already have one of those.

Im looking at the HF Mig 170 now. Because the main reason Im looking at new welders is to do body panels, it seems worth it. No point in being limited to FC forever when for a little more I can Mig.

Ive got enough plywood laying around to sink a small boat so I can make a wind blind.

Even a big piece of cardboard will get you out the breeze.

It's unfortunate, Sam, that people are asking way too much for tired old stuff.
I bought my Matco 110 MIG for $100 at a moving sale nearly 40 years ago.

When I'm dead & gone I hope someone is appreciative enough to treat my tools well.
And that whoever it is makes good use of them.

I felt I had to buy FCAW because my MIG was too limiting!  

Haha, the grass is always greener and everyone else has better tools, I guess.

I was looking at these hitbox welders that apparently do stick, mig and tig for 200 bucks plus gas and a few other things. Mixed reviews but it sounds like they work as long as you dont get sent a defective unit.

However, in the spirit of thrift and ingenuity, I just got done practicing "texas tig" which is Arc welding with a filler rod and I think this might be the ticket for a while. I was able to fill in the holes in the exhaust pipe Ive been practicing on using 2 6011 Rods, one as electrode and one as filler. With more practice and maybe a different combination of metals I think I can do some sheet metal repair.
The exhaust pipe is paper thin, I dont know what gauge, Id guess 20ish. I hit it with a flap wheel and the welds seem to have taken pretty well.

At one point I was looking at TIG machines and IIRC you could take a stick machine and add the TIG parts.
If I had a stick welder I would look more into this.
If you do a Google search I am sure you can find something on it.
Dave ----

Well, if you do get one be sure to let us know how it goes.

I've had an Amico Power 220 DC TIG on my eBay wishlist for over a year.
It's only $300, but without high frequency start (any AC at all) I have a hard time justifying it.

If I get another TIG I want to be able to weld aluminum, and have a good pedal.
$200 sounds like the price of a good pedal to me.

ArdWrknTrk wrote

The titanium is WELL worth the extra $50-60.
I've used them both.

I'll have to post some pics of the railing I made, when I can get a new phone.

I don't have the receipt but its been too long ago to return it. Still in the box though. But you guys are making me want to get the titanium and see if I can sell off the other.

I'm sure if it's NIB and you have the receipt you could sell it for what you bought it for.

I know the managers at my two local stores. (White Plains & Orange)
If the box wasn't beat up they would let me trade up.
I also go to the Bridgeport and Bronx stores, but not enough to know the staff.

You are not to far from my folks I was born and raised in Orange County.

I used to love Sunday rides up there, until it got popular and idiots ticked the police off.

Orange county is still getting built up as NYC's urban sprawl increases.

I hope your parents are ok with it.

Ill put it up on CL and also stop by HF tomorrow and see if they will let me trade up. I definitely don't have the reciept.

Got the new welder in, lots of interest in the old one but I've been too busy/sick to connect with someone to part with it.

I cannot believe how small and light this thing is. Absolutely amazing.

Looking forward to an honest review.
I'm willing to weigh in with opinion, and what little advice I can offer...

I went over to Ossining yesterday to give my buddy Theo a hand.

Welded some feet on his big Generac, braced his favorite Jackson wheelbarrow and welded a new hitch on his rusty trailer.
The little Titanium 125 did fine on 100' of 10Ga. Yellowjacket extension cord.









Definitely had no problem burning the edge off the new hitch.
Penetration is good even on 'D' when working overhead.



Definitely not my finest work, but seems very solid.

It does look very solid.  Seems the machine is working well.  

I never thought I'd say "I feel spoiled by my $150 Horrid Fate flux welder"

But there it is!   😄

I'm struggling with the Lincoln Weld-pak *125* HD today.
It is not going my way.

While I admit I don't have my 'nice' gloves and auto-darkening helmet, I'd definitely be doing better with the bright green lunchbox.

*edit detail*

That's a pretty significant statement!  Wow.  A Harbor Freight works better than a Lincoln.  

For me.

In my situation...

I'm not knocking the red box.

Just a comparative data point, that I felt I should share.

Gary Lewis wrote

That's a pretty significant statement!  Wow.  A Harbor Freight works better than a Lincoln.  

I think it is a testament to how much HF is stepping up their quality and performance. Not to mention on the hand tools there is a lifetime warranty. I put that to the test the other day on a low profile ratchet. Was super easy swap in store.