Welders find Harbor Freight flux core dispensers unreliable
14 posts across 2 communities in the last 30 days; 86% from r/Welding.
“I recently picked up a Titanium 125 amp flux-core welder from HF to try to teach myself how to weld to expand some automotive projects. And no matter what I do, I cannot even get it to begin to make something resembling a weld. I grind my workpiece down to clean metal on both…”
“So im interested in getting into welding I live in the rust belt and love cars so naturally I’ll need to pick up welding or I’ll be junking a lot of cars over my life I’d want a flux core welder since i don’t have to deal with gas Any advice or info I should know?”
“I’m in the same spot. I have a flux core welder. I don’t have a MiG welder. I am however, a welder. Should be…interesting to say the least [re: How would you go about repairing this on a 2013 Honda Accord?]”
Multiple welders mention issues with Harbor Freight flux core dispensers, including one using it to temporarily repair exhaust and another experiencing general reliability problems. This suggests a need for more dependable dispensing equipment.
SOURCES (44)
“So im interested in getting into welding I live in the rust belt and love cars so naturally I’ll need to pick up welding or I’ll be junking a lot of cars over my life I’d want a flux core welder since i don’t have…”
“I’m in the same spot. I have a flux core welder. I don’t have a MiG welder. I am however, a welder. Should be…interesting to say the least [re: How would you go about repairing this on a 2013 Honda Accord?]”
“Hello all, i am new to welding and just want to get started, just got a cheap harbor freight welder (berger 135) and have a coleman powermate 6875 ive used around the place, just wondering if anyone had issues with damaging the welder on this kind of set up? Not going to go crazy on welding just a little practice on mild steel, or if anyone has better suggestions. And as a note the area i am welding in i would have to have a 100ft extension cord to reach submitted by /u/saadmaan12343”
“Have welded before this, still having no clue what I was doing. There is so much info out there it is hard to figure out what to do to improve. So, to start, this is flux core 0.030 out of a Hynade MTG165SG. It's what I already had so started on that. Steel is 1/8in thick cleaned best I could and went to it. Moved voltage and current around a little but stayed around machine reccomendation at 90 current 18.5 voltage, most were done with those settings. Tried different things, the pic with th”
“HF welders are 30% off this week so please don’t recommend any others. Looking to pickup either the Titanium 170 or Vulcan 215. Is the Vulcan worth the extra $? Will be doing autobody mainly but also some occasional thicker metal for table frames and other projects, probably not anything thicker than 1/4” tho I’m new to welding and this will be my first machine. Please only recommend one or the other, unless you think multiprocess is worth it for me submitted by /u/03bugeye-wagon [li”
Don't worry i'm not gonna weld a frame with a under 300$ welder
“You don't want to lay beads with sheetmetal. If you put that much heat into it at once you'll probably warp the panel. Turn the welder up and do quick tack welds as far apart as you can get them. Wait for them to cool or blow air on them, then do another round of spaced out tack welds. Repeat until the seam is full.”
“Body is not the frame. If ur welding frames ur gonna need more equipment than that. Like factory equipment, which is why lots of those parts have in big capital letters DO NOT WELD cuz it messes with the heat treatment and weakens it. Seriously dont mess around with that”
“I used to weld C notches in bagged mini trucks with a flux core. The welds turned out great once I learned the technique. This was almost 20 years ago and one of the trucks I know for sure is still driving around with no issues.”
“And I picked a more expensive flux core wire, because it can do overlapping beads so I can do like tacks over top of each other because most flux core wire is 1 pass”
“Yeah i wasn't worried about warping i was a seeing if I could lay a bead on thin steel and i would definitely be stitching on my truck slowly af because flux core”
“I don't think I'll be doing structural components yet but i'm pretty confident for sheet metal and body work submitted by /u/NumerousSetting8135 [link] [comments]”
“I’m not a welder just a hobbyist who enjoys it. But looking for some advice here,Not sure what’s going on, machine settings are 100hz, 30% balance, 150 amps. And gas is set to 15 cfh. Piece was wire brushed and cleaned with acetone. My arc goes just completely way off to the side in the wrong direction and this piece just starts to get porosity immediately? I’ve cleaned my tungsten and just done a straight line on a practice piece. The other side of this piece was just done prior to doing this s”
“I have a a 90 amp flux welder that the "shroud" around the wire came undone and I want to repair it. I think I can just epoxy it using hi-temp heat resistant epoxy, but I'd like to make sure. Any ideas? submitted by /u/Zombie13a [link] [comments]”
“I recently picked up a Titanium 125 amp flux-core welder from HF to try to teach myself how to weld to expand some automotive projects. And no matter what I do, I cannot even get it to begin to make something resembling a weld. I grind my workpiece down to clean metal on both sides, and sand down the grounding clamp to make good contact. I cut off approximately 1/2" of wire on the torch to start things off. I try increasing the feed rate, decreasing the feed rate, increasing the voltage, de”
“I personally don’t know much about welding are these as bad as I think they are (I’d didn’t weld it just a cart I use for work) submitted by /u/Prize-Educator4141 [link] [comments]”
“I have no Idea what im doing, father in law gave me a yeswelder flux135pro and I'm playing arround with scrap metal. Any tips? submitted by /u/Illustrious-Top9330 [link] [comments]”
“I'm trying to find a store but theres a lot out there an i'm just trying to find the place that sells the best bang for its buck submitted by /u/Substantial_Cake359 [link] [comments]”
“Welding isn't that difficult. I feel like that will trap water and make for more rust in years to come. Also looks bad as all that metal stands well proud of the original sheet metal.”
“Hiya all! Picked up a 100amp flux core welder to learn to patch up my car, despite all the negativity i seemed to find with the mix of sheet metal and flux core. The smaller patch is my very first patch on the car and the bigger patch is my second, which i started after probably not long enough of practice. As you can see its quite inconsistent. The 2nd oatxh has me decently proud of my work but is still inconsistent. Some feel perfect, some blow through and some just sit ontop and dont peirce t”
“The only time I've seen them fail from over tightening was from using the threader to install the fittings.”
“Everyone talking about the excessive Teflon, but nobody talking about the mixed metals that are going to make it leak soon enough anyways.”
“Rehabbing ye olde work trailer, is there a reason this axle is only welded in the middle third? Have the super basic flux core from harbor freight so I’m thinking to run a longer bead unless i shouldnt.. also thinking this steel is too heavy for what I have, decent success with 1/8” material but haven’t tried anything thicker… Thanks in advance submitted by /u/FirstLast37 [link] [comments]”
“Yeah, I think I’m just going to send it. Harbor freight has a Hercules DA on sale for $79, I figure that’s a small enough investment I won’t be upset if it’s a waste of time, but high enough quality I will be able to keep it around for a while.”
“Hey all! Been doing my best ("welds" in the pic are my first to most recent) with a cheap flux unit from harbor freight. I'm looking to do some very basic, non-structural fabrication on my truck. Looking to upgrade to a slightly better unit in the hopes of having less splatter. Has to run on 110 as 220 is not an option for me, budget under $400. I'm eyeing the Arccaptain MIG200 or MIG200P looking to try gas with solid core. Full steam ahead on these or are there better options”
“Hello All. I picked up the harbor freight Chicago electric 125 flux core welder a few years back cuz it was under $100 and I have been meaning to add welding to my diy skillset. Finally getting around to using it. Watched a bunch of vids, tried a few projects and test pieces. Most is awful but good enough (lawnmower deck). But I want to do better. Here is today’s test on 16ga mild steel. Voltage is on ‘MIN’ and wire speed is 2-3. My questions - is any of this in the ballpark? Should the bottom s”
“This is really my first time welding. I will take any feedback given. 1-1/4in 1/8th thick mild steel. Titanium 125 flux core. 0.03. Wirespeed 5, heat d. Thank you! submitted by /u/ToadLoverTyler [link] [comments]”
“That isn’t a pinhole on the root photo, checked it before hand 👍🏼 submitted by /u/OkActivity3169 [link] [comments]”
“I’m looking for a cheap ish but not too useless mig. I have an old migmate 50 but it’s about 40 years old and on gasless wire atm which I find terrible. I’m used to college fed gas and jasic pro but can’t afford one of them. Are these cheap things on Amazon useless? Also is gasless wire bloody awful or is it the migmate or just me :D submitted by /u/cybermatUK [link] [comments]”
“Nothing over 3/32 but I'd be curious on larger rods. I could be lazy and toss it but i use half rods all the time. Cut off wheel the best? I was hoping for an angle cutter type tool if it exists. 6010 7018 here. Thanks submitted by /u/Monksdrunk [link] [comments]”
“I’m looking to get my own equipment. Do you recommend this brand? submitted by /u/Blue_jay_cool [link] [comments]”
“A few months ago the exhaust fell off the drinkers side of my vehicle, a week later the captains side fell off. Finally got around to sticking it back together with some bubble gum from the harbor freight flux core dispenser. I did a couple test welds on some scrap exhaust I had for my truck and jumped in, that joint was a pain and the gaps didn't help. But considering this is the start of my 3rd roll of wire (2lb rolls) I think I did ok. Hopfully it lasts a while. I think a better clamp spo”