Here’s a little known tip; to increase the “duty cycle” of your little stick welder.... Get yourself a little high output (cfm) “muffin fan” and mount it “strategically” to the welders metal housing. The goal; is to increase the “exhaust” air flow, which will improve cooling. Which will in turn, increase the duty cycle. You can either replace the existing fan with a more powerful one (the easiest way) or you could add one somewhere, and wire it (in parallel) to the existing terminals of the factory fan. The whole idea, is to reduce the cooling time! I have been an L.A.City, Certified Welder (all positions, unlimited thickness, stick/wire) for the last 40 years. I always add fans to my little 110/220 welding machines, to increase the factory duty cycle. It works great, and I’ve never had any problems with any of the machines that I have done this to... I was taught this trick, 15 years ago, by a guy who is also a welder, and a mechanical genius! Good Luck! “And Keep Up The Good Work!”
This is why youtube was invented.. this is a great idea and i totally understand how and why it works. However i never thought to do it. I love when great minds comment.
Happy birthday Scott , thank you for the year of fantastic videos and here’s to many more years . Nate you’re great videographer and partner to Scott thank you so much for supporting him!
You can find excellent old machines on CL for pretty cheap. I got an older miller tig/stick 80% dual voltage for $500, with several adapters for different outlets, 75' of heavy duty leads, pro stinger ground and torch, foot pedal, plus the guy threw in several boxes of stainless rod, 60' of 1/8 wall 2x2 tube, 80% of a sheet of 1/4" carbon plate, several pairs of welding gloves, full leathers, chipping hammer, a brand new dewalt grinder that he got at a conference, boxes of hard rock zip and flap discs, and then some. Don't be afraid to check CL and when you go to buy, have the guy do some test welds if you don't know how to weld. You never know what kind of deal you're going to walk away with.
@@bbrown9763 how do you find deals like this? I literally check CL everyday ( mostly on down time at work) and all I find is either very used asking full price or totally worn out junk that just need a" little work" and a few hundred bucks in parts.
Never Sleight it wasn’t listed on CL as “buy my old welder and I’ll give you a bunch of stuff for free.” I found a welder on CL that I thought would work for my needs, so I went to go see it. The guy was changing jobs, moving on in his career and I just happened to find him at the right time. We talked for a while, I was brand new to welding, so he was like, “Well, you’re going to need some rod, here; you’re going to need gloves and leather, here; you’re going to need a grinder, I have five because I keep getting them at conferences I’m going to do you can have this one. I was just in the right place at the right time with the right guy. I imagine situations like that are pretty rare, but they do happen.
I just bought one of these a few months ago because your previous videos gave me the confidence to start welding and learning on my own. I appreciate that and thank you
I learned Arc and Tig at a trade school years ago, but I never got a welder for my home, so I haven't used the skill since then. This looks like a good way to get back into welding as a hobby.
I learned to weld when I was 9 years old in my dads trailer shop! He built car haulers for the auto industry! 7 to 11 cars! They built the sections in jigs! I was watching a guy whose name Was Poncho, nice guy and one day he said come over her! So I did and he asked me if I wanted to try it! I wasn’t passing that up! They used Marquette welders with 7018 5/32 rod on this particular section I think it was one of the track sections on a deck! I hung out with him for that enter shift! Watching and learning! Every time I was at the shop he would let me practice with scrap steel! I wouldn’t trade those times for anything!
We have used the ruclips.net/user/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
I shall be eternally grateful to you for this video. I watched it soon after you made it [and apparently forgot to like it] but, more importantly, at 74 years old I bought a small Lincoln GFAC 140 {never having struck an arc in my life} and used RUclips to give me the basics. I have had uncountable instances that I needed to weld a small project, but never could do it myself. Now, thanks to your inspiration, I use it frequently with most adequate results. Many thanks, Scott, and keep up the good work!
I've welded on and off throughout my life. Mostly just farm and ranch maintenance with an old AEA200, I've been considering picking up the same machine for convenience sake. Thanks for the advice! And keep it coming
I learned in high school shop class in the late 80s too. Took a decade to afford my own but its been a useful skill that's helped me many times. Thanks mr. Casey dale county Alabama.
Happy birthday, Scott! 62 and still young!... I'm right behind ya at 54, seems like sometimes we can run circles around the young bucks, other times, not so much! Keep on doing what ya doing, my friend!
Bought it today because of the sales. Have never weld in my life so this is very exciting. Thanks for the review it help newbie like me to appreciate the new toy.
As always great videos. Thank you. I picked up a similar welder for my son a month back and was also surprised with how well it worked. One thing to check: the metal frame (case) on our welder measures about 50 volts. I also checked a third type and found that case to be hot also. The manufacturer doesn’t insulate the internal heat sink. You might want to check yours.
Hi Scott, I can relate to your comment when you stated the you can weld but dont consider yourself a welder. I too learned to weld in high school. My Grandfather bought me a used Lincoln 180 amp AC welder back in 1978. We worked together and built a log splitter and double barrel wood stove out of 1/8" wall pipe - still use both of them to this day. I in turn taught my oldest son to weld using the Lincoln. He unlike,me is a professional welder and is the lead welder at a local business that makes wood chippers, large skidsteer/ 3 pt hitch mounted snowblowers. Not bad for not yet being 23 years old. My Grandfather would be proud of him. Thank you for the awesome channel, I thoroughly enjoy each and every video. Happy birthday
I have the Titanium 125 AC/DC flux-core and love it Welded a receiver hitch and anti-sway bar mount on my camper and the thing laid down smooth, deep beads. Really nice tool for $175.
One old dude to another- great video! I'm pushing 60, and hadn't welded since shop class in 1977. Fast forward 42 years and after a career in the military (and currently working as a military contractor) I'm ready to learn to weld again. A trip to Harbor Freight 2 months ago for my birthday and $149 later I have the Titanium 125 amp flux core DC welder. It's a great little welder up to about 1/4" plate, and most importantly, I'M LEARNING! Lots of good videos here on YT, and next year I want to get the Titanium Unlimited 200 multi-process welder so I can re-learn stick welding, as well as learning MIG & TIG. Thanks for the video, and you get a Like and a sub from this old fart. 👍
I realize this post was 3 years ago but I wanted to share with ya that it gave me a smile. i'm currently in the military. 40 later this year and am just looking into learning to weld. Cheers. And thanks for your service.
I'm 69 and purchased an earlier version of the Titanium two years ago. (Replaced the poor parts you mentioned before I even started using it.) Other than it only having one scale and lower maximum Amps, exactly the same. I practiced on scrap and now am welding projects as often as I can. This welder is very easy to store and I've never hit the duty cycle limit. It's perfect for backyard shop use.
Just finished small stainless welding job in the restaurant. My first ever welding and it's on stainless; quite a nerve racking and my heart was pounding like crazy. Anyway, I made $1k on the HF welder that was on-sale 2 wk ago. I'm a HF royalist and forever grateful for helping me work toward my retirement.
I just got this welder on sale at HF. I never welded before. I got on youtube , watched a few videos, this one first. I practiced on a piece of steel bed rail then I successfully welded a beautiful (IMO) repair joint on my rear control arm mount on my car. Thanks a million.
What I remember from shop class, almost 50 years ago, is that percent duty cycle on a welder is how many minutes out of ten, you can run it. So a 20% duty cycle means weld for 2 minutes, then let it cool for 8 minutes. 40% means weld for 4 minutes, then let it cool for 6. When running short beads kind of guess how much time is spent welding vs how much to reposition your work, etc. That will get you a start on ratio of welding to resting for your welder. *The over-heat safety circuit is **_only_** used as a last resort.*
That is correct. it's how many minutes out of 10 is what the due to cycle is. 2 minutes of continuous high power use requires 8 minutes to cool down is a 20% duty cycle.
I've been working at a factory and farming where we've used small portable welders more often. I find that they are excellent! You can weld in mild rain and wind. Most of the time you're working with steel up to 6mm thickness, which this will easily take care of. It will do thicker as well with as you've said some breaks. I've not worked with this specific model, but rather Fronius, Esab and Kemppi. The pro-brands holds up easily 20-30 years in bad conditions. Portable mig welders are also great, but better for bigger projects. There you also need to take more into consideration the factor of clean metal, wind and rain. I guess a flux wire will take help out greatly with those factors if you don't mind more grinding.
That was a great explanation on "Duty Cycle" I remember taking a class 30 years ago where an electrical engineer that was teaching the class explained it for me exactly the same way.
Just added this welder to my inventory today. So far, I like it and I'm happy to have a stick machine back in my life. I need to upgrade my electrical system in the garage to get it to run better though. 15 amps is just barely enough to get 3/32 6011 to run well.
i so love your videos i just got the harbor freight titanium unlimited 200 first time welding for me at 44 lol but i know all the lingo and info on welding watched like every video and read like all the info i can find on the net but when i saw you with this welder i said now i feel good that i got the 200 thank you for all the videos you do you are a master in my eyes i wish you a long blessed life 1 luv A.i nyc
Another "old man" here, haven't welded since shop class over 40 years ago. Started thinking about welding while working to restore my old tractors.This might be a good starter machine for me.Thanks for the Information.
The Lincoln 210mp is also a great machine for home use, uses 110v or 220v. It can do stick, mig, and tig welding, and is very user friendly. Only thing is it's a bit more expensive than that harbor freight welder. Mine was around 2200 dollars Canadian at prax air.
I learned on the Titanium Flux Core 125. Fantastic little 110v welder. Does everything I need it to. I really think Harbor Freight has a good thing going with these little inverter welders.
I Ironworked for 20 years. Certified welder through apprenticeship for SMAW. Worked rebar mostly, and got out after wrecking my back. I picked up one of these a Titanium welders, but the multi process machine. Over the years, I’ve picked up on MiG, but really want to teach myself TiG. I’ve been really impressed with the little green machine.
Just got one and I’m very impressed with the quality and duty cycle, I’ve had a miller thunderbolt, two Hobarts(140 & 210mvp) and two other titanium welders(120 and 200unlimited). This stick welder 225 is my favorite of them all and welds 3/8” steel easy, don’t be fooled cuz its harbor freight, you have 90days to put it through its paces and return it if you don’t like it, that’s the advantage with HFT. God bless fellow welders!
Ag.class was the best thing about school. We learned alot Electrical wiring, wood working, welding, cutting torch. All about power tools. It has been something that has served me very well. It gave a boy with no father the confidence to try anything, and learn much more. Served me well for a lifetime. Best teacher ever Jimmy MacMillan
I have a Lincoln MIG and Lincon AC buzz box and I bought one of the Titanium flux MIG welders for $160. That thing is KILLER! I told my friend who had a welding shop and he pointed to his work truck where I saw one of the same Titanium welders in his truck for exactly what you described- quick jobs near a 100v outlet or a job that a bigger generator can handle. (67 year old lifetime wood worker who took up welding a decade ago because rehabbing a couple of gates was going to run $3600!!! Bought a welder and a big metal bandsaw and all the accessories for less than half of the project cost. The results were EXCELLENT. Went on to do several more projects. LOVE welding.)
I also had my first welding lessons in Ag class, though in Canada we called is "shop" class. Never followed that particular path, but now, 30+ years later, in Japan, I'm thinking of buying my first welder. Great intro to them on EC!
i have a couple friends with hf welders and they seem to work ok. i think for your purposes its a good deal. i have been welding for over 50 yrs and still have a buzz box i bought 40 yrs ago; its a tank and you can't hurt it. these new solid state machines have really made welders affordable and portable. the duty cycle you mentioned is based on the percentage of run time (arc time) in 10 minutes and as you would expect it gets less and less as you increase amps.
Interesting little video. I am enjoying everything here, but really looking forward to the blacksmithing part of this house project. (long time supporter)
@@Theninjadeathhawk My friend told me the constant pressure underwater and hundreds of times decompressing on the way up or in the chamber takes its toll.
Happy Birthday Scott!! Nice video thanks! I was taught to use a 10 minute interval to calculate duty cycle. 60% I can weld for 6 minutes out of 10 for a specified setting. Be well. ; -)
You nailed it again. You don't need the most expensive welder to do a job. If you are a occasional welder this is for you. Or if you want a throw away welder for jobsite welding this will work for you.
@@andrikmartinez1214 dont get stick for auto body work imo, or cars in general. You cant get a mig gun in every groove or hole, but lots of mig machines also run stick.
Have always been glad that you are realistic when it comes to tools and equipment ! Sometimes you don't need the most expensive or top of the line, sometimes you do! By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ! 😊 Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍
Thank you so much for this review. I've been looking to get into light welding for projects around the house, but don't have the means to go out and grab a Lincoln.
👍👍👍👍My ahp was inexpensive, accessories were junk ......but economically, for a small home shop it got me tig welding. Even stick welds nicer than my buzz box. Improved accessories over time, but still less invested than big name machine. I'm content.
happy birthday Scott👍 harbor freight stuff is good for getting a job done and getting paid, but I haven't had a single corded tool last 100 hours of use. no muss warranty but getting there and back takes a day away. i look forward to your next reveiw on this.
This guy is like the father I never had in some ways. Learning shit that might take me forever to learn and moving through multiple trades to even understand. Binge watching during the coronavirus outbreak.
I appreciate you were willing to introduce folks to an affordable machine to allow someone one to try out welding. Without talking down about it, the company that sells It or the country in which it’s made like some other youtubers who can’t seem to resist racist innuendo and speaking authoritatively from a position of relative ignorance. World needs more sensible and compassionate and experienced people like you. Thank you. 🙏🏻👍🏻
Just picked up the same one as in the video today after much thought. It was an open box deal so i got like 70 bucks off the price! Some frinds and i will be usingbit as our first welder to learn.
That’s interesting. I don’t usually jump on anything from Harbor Freight but since I’m going to be learning on a few pergola brackets in the future maybe this thing will cut it. Excited to get into metal at this price point as well. Thanks for the review!
I need to do what you say and just get out and start doing stuff like this! I'll be 60 in a couple of months and although I did grow up on a Farm and did do vaguely remember some welding in the ag class I didn't really follow through with it - Joined the USAF and learned how to fix computers (the big ones - the ones that take up rooms and buildings) and after I retired got a job in computer networking - so sit at my desk all day fixing computer networks a couple of years ago started doing some woodworking as a hobby, now I want to learn welding and blacksmithing too (and yes I am signed up for your course but haven't even bought an anvil yet)
The good thing is this welder is actually rated for 100% duty cycle at 100 amps and Below when hooked up to 240. I've never, never had mine shut off and I personally don't think I ever will. Anybody that doesn't believe me look at the sticker above the power cord on the back of the machine. Love your videos!
This man could talk about grades of laundry detergent and he'd make it interesting. I am interested in working with my hands, building things, but I do not have a welder and don't intend to get one, but here I am watching a 10 minute video on the subject and being engaged and entertained. Very good content and creator!
Kelly, we would enjoy meeting but our daughter has been diagnosed with cancer. I am leaving in a few days until she is stable and recovered. Raincheck for when this crisis is over?
Long ago and far away (yes, I have moved) we had a row of 8 Miller welders. I don't remember the amperage, maybe 1000A or larger. Physically they were head height and longer than high. We used them as power supplies to sublimate insulating materials for use as thin films used for developing data storage products. Pretty awesome. You triggered a memory, somehow.
I have a tiny 110 stick welder and it's really really really nice to have something i can take literally anywhere. I did my entire exhaust with one beacuse I didn't want to be borrowing anyone's tools at a shop letting me use their lift while I haven't worked there in years.
I recently bought a Hobart 160i, basically similar machine, I got it for light weight, love how it welds, & also 15LBS!!!! my back says YES! I didnt know this existed, after getting the Hobart, I got a harbor freight Titanium 125 flux core welder, also for the light weight
Great review. A 20% duty cycle sounds good to me, as long as my grinder has an 80% duty cycle.
🤣🤣
A grinder makes me the welder I’ll never be 😄
Grinder and paint make me the welder I ain't.
That machine has a 100% duty cycle at 140 amps.
You can't kill it with 1/8th rod.
I love this welder.
The HF manual actually says 100a is the 100% duty cycle point, and only at 240V. The 120V 100% rating is 45a.
Here’s a little known tip; to increase the “duty cycle” of your little stick welder....
Get yourself a little high output (cfm) “muffin fan” and mount it “strategically” to the welders metal housing. The goal; is to increase the “exhaust” air flow, which will improve cooling. Which will in turn, increase the duty cycle. You can either replace the existing fan with a more powerful one (the easiest way) or you could add one somewhere, and wire it (in parallel) to the existing terminals of the factory fan.
The whole idea, is to reduce the cooling time!
I have been an L.A.City, Certified Welder (all positions, unlimited thickness, stick/wire) for the last 40 years. I always add fans to my little 110/220 welding machines, to increase the factory duty cycle. It works great, and I’ve never had any problems with any of the machines that I have done this to...
I was taught this trick, 15 years ago, by a guy who is also a welder, and a mechanical genius!
Good Luck! “And Keep Up The Good Work!”
Hey Mark. Just got my LA city license at 27 years old, wondering if you'd be willing to chat with me. Need some advise.
nonamestest@gmail.com
I have some questions for you? Any way I can reach you?
It makes sense, duty cycle is directly related to not overheating the welder.
We need a video on how to do!
This is why youtube was invented.. this is a great idea and i totally understand how and why it works. However i never thought to do it. I love when great minds comment.
Nice to see a guy with journeyman level training not be a "buy once cry once" kind of guy. Everyone has to start somewhere
Happy birthday Scott , thank you for the year of fantastic videos and here’s to many more years . Nate you’re great videographer and partner to Scott thank you so much for supporting him!
Thanks I’m an old man who would like to learn welding without spending a lot of money thanks for the information.
You can find excellent old machines on CL for pretty cheap. I got an older miller tig/stick 80% dual voltage for $500, with several adapters for different outlets, 75' of heavy duty leads, pro stinger ground and torch, foot pedal, plus the guy threw in several boxes of stainless rod, 60' of 1/8 wall 2x2 tube, 80% of a sheet of 1/4" carbon plate, several pairs of welding gloves, full leathers, chipping hammer, a brand new dewalt grinder that he got at a conference, boxes of hard rock zip and flap discs, and then some. Don't be afraid to check CL and when you go to buy, have the guy do some test welds if you don't know how to weld. You never know what kind of deal you're going to walk away with.
@@bbrown9763 how do you find deals like this? I literally check CL everyday ( mostly on down time at work) and all I find is either very used asking full price or totally worn out junk that just need a" little work" and a few hundred bucks in parts.
Never Sleight it wasn’t listed on CL as “buy my old welder and I’ll give you a bunch of stuff for free.” I found a welder on CL that I thought would work for my needs, so I went to go see it. The guy was changing jobs, moving on in his career and I just happened to find him at the right time. We talked for a while, I was brand new to welding, so he was like, “Well, you’re going to need some rod, here; you’re going to need gloves and leather, here; you’re going to need a grinder, I have five because I keep getting them at conferences I’m going to do you can have this one. I was just in the right place at the right time with the right guy. I imagine situations like that are pretty rare, but they do happen.
Also depends on what area of the country you are in.
Do it. Opens up a whole new world of fabrication.
I just bought one of these a few months ago because your previous videos gave me the confidence to start welding and learning on my own. I appreciate that and thank you
More reviews need to be like this straight and to the point great job.
Without a doubt one of the best channels on RUclips. I love how you explain things.
Please do more of these I respect your opinion more than anyone on RUclips. I too learned to weld in ag class. Most valuable classes I ever took.
I'd love to keep seeing more product reviews. Great job Scott.
I learned Arc and Tig at a trade school years ago, but I never got a welder for my home, so I haven't used the skill since then. This looks like a good way to get back into welding as a hobby.
I learned to weld when I was 9 years old in my dads trailer shop! He built car haulers for the auto industry! 7 to 11 cars! They built the sections in jigs! I was watching a guy whose name
Was Poncho, nice guy and one day he said come over her! So I did and he asked me if I wanted to try it! I wasn’t passing that up! They used Marquette welders with 7018 5/32 rod on this particular section I think it was one of the track sections on a deck! I hung out with him for that enter shift! Watching and learning! Every time I was at the shop he would let me practice with scrap steel! I wouldn’t trade those times for anything!
Sometimes you can simply use a period as the main punctuation mark. Then use an exclamation point at the end to show your enthusiasm! 😄
@@Finn-McCool Maybe their "period" key is broken? ;-)
@@Finn-McCool ha yea you are right. guess I need to learn that too!
We have used the ruclips.net/user/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
Honestly sir, this an EXCELLENT example of a review of any kind on RUclips. New sub here !
50 plus and very little welding experience. Going to buy this welder and start practicing.
Awesome , Thanks for the channel !!!
Just thinking about welding. Thank you for the suggestion.
I shall be eternally grateful to you for this video. I watched it soon after you made it [and apparently forgot to like it] but, more importantly, at 74 years old I bought a small Lincoln GFAC 140 {never having struck an arc in my life} and used RUclips to give me the basics. I have had uncountable instances that I needed to weld a small project, but never could do it myself. Now, thanks to your inspiration, I use it frequently with most adequate results. Many thanks, Scott, and keep up the good work!
I've welded on and off throughout my life. Mostly just farm and ranch maintenance with an old AEA200, I've been considering picking up the same machine for convenience sake. Thanks for the advice! And keep it coming
I learned in high school shop class in the late 80s too. Took a decade to afford my own but its been a useful skill that's helped me many times. Thanks mr. Casey dale county Alabama.
I bought this welder, my first stick, because of this video. Just wanted to say thanks for the review.
Happy birthday, Scott! 62 and still young!... I'm right behind ya at 54, seems like sometimes we can run circles around the young bucks, other times, not so much! Keep on doing what ya doing, my friend!
Bought it today because of the sales. Have never weld in my life so this is very exciting. Thanks for the review it help newbie like me to appreciate the new toy.
I bought this model a couple months ago to save some money. It works great and is so easy to move around. Big thumbs up on this review!👍
As always great videos. Thank you. I picked up a similar welder for my son a month back and was also surprised with how well it worked. One thing to check: the metal frame (case) on our welder measures about 50 volts. I also checked a third type and found that case to be hot also. The manufacturer doesn’t insulate the internal heat sink. You might want to check yours.
Hi Scott, I can relate to your comment when you stated the you can weld but dont consider yourself a welder. I too learned to weld in high school. My Grandfather bought me a used Lincoln 180 amp AC welder back in 1978. We worked together and built a log splitter and double barrel wood stove out of 1/8" wall pipe - still use both of them to this day. I in turn taught my oldest son to weld using the Lincoln. He unlike,me is a professional welder and is the lead welder at a local business that makes wood chippers, large skidsteer/ 3 pt hitch mounted snowblowers. Not bad for not yet being 23 years old. My Grandfather would be proud of him. Thank you for the awesome channel, I thoroughly enjoy each and every video. Happy birthday
I have the Titanium 125 AC/DC flux-core and love it Welded a receiver hitch and anti-sway bar mount on my camper and the thing laid down smooth, deep beads. Really nice tool for $175.
One old dude to another- great video! I'm pushing 60, and hadn't welded since shop class in 1977. Fast forward 42 years and after a career in the military (and currently working as a military contractor) I'm ready to learn to weld again. A trip to Harbor Freight 2 months ago for my birthday and $149 later I have the Titanium 125 amp flux core DC welder. It's a great little welder up to about 1/4" plate, and most importantly, I'M LEARNING! Lots of good videos here on YT, and next year I want to get the Titanium Unlimited 200 multi-process welder so I can re-learn stick welding, as well as learning MIG & TIG. Thanks for the video, and you get a Like and a sub from this old fart. 👍
I realize this post was 3 years ago but I wanted to share with ya that it gave me a smile. i'm currently in the military. 40 later this year and am just looking into learning to weld. Cheers. And thanks for your service.
@@zacbell5190 And thank you for your service as well. Enjoy the road to welding, it’s a lot of fun. 👍😊
Thank you brother, great to the point vid. My first welder since high school. Working around the back 40 with it. Love it.
My 13 yo son is getting his first welder for Christmas this year. This video helped me make the decision. Thanks!
I'm 69 and purchased an earlier version of the Titanium two years ago. (Replaced the poor parts you mentioned before I even started using it.) Other than it only having one scale and lower maximum Amps, exactly the same. I practiced on scrap and now am welding projects as often as I can. This welder is very easy to store and I've never hit the duty cycle limit. It's perfect for backyard shop use.
Every episode is super valuable. Smart, no bs.
Interesting discussion to an 80 year old newbie such as myself.
Just finished small stainless welding job in the restaurant. My first ever welding and it's on stainless; quite a nerve racking and my heart was pounding like crazy. Anyway, I made $1k on the HF welder that was on-sale 2 wk ago. I'm a HF royalist and forever grateful for helping me work toward my retirement.
I just got this welder on sale at HF. I never welded before. I got on youtube , watched a few videos, this one first. I practiced on a piece of steel bed rail then I successfully welded a beautiful (IMO) repair joint on my rear control arm mount on my car. Thanks a million.
I recently got my first welder it’s a forney 100st so far it’s worked great
Sometimes you look for information on the internet and find EXACTLY what you need. Thank you.
What I remember from shop class, almost 50 years ago, is that percent duty cycle on a welder is how many minutes out of ten, you can run it. So a 20% duty cycle means weld for 2 minutes, then let it cool for 8 minutes. 40% means weld for 4 minutes, then let it cool for 6. When running short beads kind of guess how much time is spent welding vs how much to reposition your work, etc. That will get you a start on ratio of welding to resting for your welder. *The over-heat safety circuit is **_only_** used as a last resort.*
That is correct. it's how many minutes out of 10 is what the due to cycle is. 2 minutes of continuous high power use requires 8 minutes to cool down is a 20% duty cycle.
I've been working at a factory and farming where we've used small portable welders more often. I find that they are excellent! You can weld in mild rain and wind. Most of the time you're working with steel up to 6mm thickness, which this will easily take care of. It will do thicker as well with as you've said some breaks. I've not worked with this specific model, but rather Fronius, Esab and Kemppi. The pro-brands holds up easily 20-30 years in bad conditions. Portable mig welders are also great, but better for bigger projects. There you also need to take more into consideration the factor of clean metal, wind and rain. I guess a flux wire will take help out greatly with those factors if you don't mind more grinding.
That was a great explanation on "Duty Cycle" I remember taking a class 30 years ago where an electrical engineer that was teaching the class explained it for me exactly the same way.
Absolutely love your channel !! God bless you and your family sir !!! So informative on every level !!
Just added this welder to my inventory today. So far, I like it and I'm happy to have a stick machine back in my life. I need to upgrade my electrical system in the garage to get it to run better though. 15 amps is just barely enough to get 3/32 6011 to run well.
Fantastic video for an aspiring beginner like myself. Thank you!
I absolutely love all of your videos !! You are so so so very informative ! I love your blacksmith videos too !
I just bought one of these little toaster size welders. Fantastic for quick home projects. Spark and stick 👍
i so love your videos i just got the harbor freight titanium unlimited 200 first time welding for me at 44 lol but i know all the lingo and info on welding watched like every video and read like all the info i can find on the net but when i saw you with this welder i said now i feel good that i got the 200 thank you for all the videos you do you are a master in my eyes i wish you a long blessed life 1 luv A.i nyc
thanks for the review, picking the tools you can use from Harbor Freight vs the ones you should spend more on elsewhere can be tricky.
Happy Birthday my friend I hope today is as great a day as you are, much love.
I like your conversation style video. No nonsense just a simple conversation.
Another "old man" here, haven't welded since shop class over 40 years ago. Started thinking about welding while working to restore my old tractors.This might be a good starter machine for me.Thanks for the Information.
The Lincoln 210mp is also a great machine for home use, uses 110v or 220v. It can do stick, mig, and tig welding, and is very user friendly. Only thing is it's a bit more expensive than that harbor freight welder. Mine was around 2200 dollars Canadian at prax air.
Happy birthday Scott!
I learned on the Titanium Flux Core 125. Fantastic little 110v welder. Does everything I need it to. I really think Harbor Freight has a good thing going with these little inverter welders.
Happy Birthday!
Enjoy your success and your life!
You've earned it !!!
I Ironworked for 20 years. Certified welder through apprenticeship for SMAW. Worked rebar mostly, and got out after wrecking my back.
I picked up one of these a Titanium welders, but the multi process machine. Over the years, I’ve picked up on MiG, but really want to teach myself TiG. I’ve been really impressed with the little green machine.
I'm setting up scratch start Tig bro
Just got one and I’m very impressed with the quality and duty cycle, I’ve had a miller thunderbolt, two Hobarts(140 & 210mvp) and two other titanium welders(120 and 200unlimited). This stick welder 225 is my favorite of them all and welds 3/8” steel easy, don’t be fooled cuz its harbor freight, you have 90days to put it through its paces and return it if you don’t like it, that’s the advantage with HFT. God bless fellow welders!
Except for their 20% re stocking fee.
Always nice to see your videos Sir. Thank you for sharing.
Ag.class was the best thing about school. We learned alot Electrical wiring, wood working, welding, cutting torch. All about power tools. It has been something that has served me very well. It gave a boy with no father the confidence to try anything, and learn much more. Served me well for a lifetime. Best teacher ever Jimmy MacMillan
It's a shame classes like that aren't widely available, if at all. They are very needed, very little tangible production gets done with a smartphone.
@@mattberg916 You got that right! I guess shop would be a bit too dangerous for our little snow flakes these days. All confidence and no ability.
@@mattberg916
With smart phone you can learn anything. It’s up to the person to chose what they’ll do with the resources given to them.
Im in the same boat as you brother, stay solid my guy
I have a Lincoln MIG and Lincon AC buzz box and I bought one of the Titanium flux MIG welders for $160. That thing is KILLER! I told my friend who had a welding shop and he pointed to his work truck where I saw one of the same Titanium welders in his truck for exactly what you described- quick jobs near a 100v outlet or a job that a bigger generator can handle. (67 year old lifetime wood worker who took up welding a decade ago because rehabbing a couple of gates was going to run $3600!!! Bought a welder and a big metal bandsaw and all the accessories for less than half of the project cost. The results were EXCELLENT. Went on to do several more projects. LOVE welding.)
Like all of your videos, you are a good teacher!
Happy Birthday, another year older and wiser too!
Happy Birthday Scott , great review video.
Very very informative. I like it when you compared it to what type of work. For instance, myself, hobbyist/fix small things mechanic.
I just inherited both the machine you have in the video figured id start to learn on this one thanks!
I also had my first welding lessons in Ag class, though in Canada we called is "shop" class. Never followed that particular path, but now, 30+ years later, in Japan, I'm thinking of buying my first welder. Great intro to them on EC!
Anything taught in a shop is considered shop class because you’re not in the field lol
@@EPSKRCMPK I see. Great point. You nailed it. Now, about those “Ag classes...”
Perfect for welding up a scrap bin for all my botched welding projects !
i have a couple friends with hf welders and they seem to work ok. i think for your purposes its a good deal. i have been welding for over 50 yrs and still have a buzz box i bought 40 yrs ago; its a tank and you can't hurt it. these new solid state machines have really made welders affordable and portable. the duty cycle you mentioned is based on the percentage of run time (arc time) in 10 minutes and as you would expect it gets less and less as you increase amps.
Being an old man myself and just getting into welding this was helpful.
Not a bad start to my birthday!
Thanks as always Nate and Scott!
Happy Birthday!
Ha!! It's Scott's birthday today too! Have a great one!!! K
@@essentialcraftsman Happy Birthday Scott funny thing is i was at a double Birthday party last night too this month is crazy lol
Happy birthday to both of you!
Hope everyone who watches these videos has a happy birthday no matter when it is or was. 🥳
Interesting little video. I am enjoying everything here, but really looking forward to the blacksmithing part of this house project. (long time supporter)
We had welding in - I think - Jr High shop in the Soo. One of my classmates went on to become an underwater oil rig welder. Gooood money.
I usually just hold my breath for my shift
Not a long career.
@@poppaluv how so
@@Theninjadeathhawk My friend told me the constant pressure underwater and hundreds of times decompressing on the way up or in the chamber takes its toll.
@@poppaluv yeah that sounds like it, I hope he stays safe
Happy Birthday Scott!! Nice video thanks! I was taught to use a 10 minute interval to calculate duty cycle. 60% I can weld for 6 minutes out of 10 for a specified setting. Be well.
; -)
YOUNG MAN ,
U DID GREAT REVEIW ON THIS MACHINE FROM HARBOR FREIGHT ! .
MOST PEOPLE CUT OTHER MACHINE DOWN ALL THE TIME
Thanks for having an honest review. Sometimes reviewing a cheaper tool is not cool. But not everyone needs a Miller.
You nailed it again.
You don't need the most expensive welder to do a job. If you are a occasional welder this is for you. Or if you want a throw away welder for jobsite welding this will work for you.
Welding has always intrigued me and I have wanted to learn. I just picked this welder up at HF as an open box special for $159.
Was it worth it ? Iv wanted to learn because it would help alot with my car
@@andrikmartinez1214 dont get stick for auto body work imo, or cars in general. You cant get a mig gun in every groove or hole, but lots of mig machines also run stick.
@@BudMasta not really unless it’s a mp machine other but the over whelming majority is gmaw/fcaw and smaw/gtaw
That’s awesome. I could see that being used as a scratch start tig machine. That’s so handy that it is dual voltage
Have always been glad that you are realistic when it comes to tools and equipment !
Sometimes you don't need the most expensive or top of the line, sometimes you do!
By the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ! 😊
Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍
Thank you so much for this review. I've been looking to get into light welding for projects around the house, but don't have the means to go out and grab a Lincoln.
👍👍👍👍My ahp was inexpensive, accessories were junk ......but economically, for a small home shop it got me tig welding. Even stick welds nicer than my buzz box. Improved accessories over time, but still less invested than big name machine. I'm content.
happy birthday Scott👍 harbor freight stuff is good for getting a job done and getting paid, but I haven't had a single corded tool last 100 hours of use. no muss warranty but getting there and back takes a day away. i look forward to your next reveiw on this.
I'm old as well. Haven’t changed my socks in weeks and still wear white briefs. I find this video very informative and now I have to go take a nap. Ty
Thanks for the welder education Scott!
This guy is like the father I never had in some ways. Learning shit that might take me forever to learn and moving through multiple trades to even understand. Binge watching during the coronavirus outbreak.
22 by the way
I appreciate you were willing to introduce folks to an affordable machine to allow someone one to try out welding. Without talking down about it, the company that sells
It or the country in which it’s made like some other youtubers who can’t seem to resist racist innuendo and speaking authoritatively from a position of relative ignorance. World needs more sensible and compassionate and experienced people like you. Thank you. 🙏🏻👍🏻
Just picked up the same one as in the video today after much thought. It was an open box deal so i got like 70 bucks off the price! Some frinds and i will be usingbit as our first welder to learn.
Happy birthday Scott I hope it's an awesome one
I’ve been keeping an eye out for a Lincoln buzzbox since you video on it. I just missed buying one of Craigslist, was listed for $75!
So excelent explanation, I just got one brand new and I going to star for the first time. Congratulatio.mr
That’s interesting. I don’t usually jump on anything from Harbor Freight but since I’m going to be learning on a few pergola brackets in the future maybe this thing will cut it. Excited to get into metal at this price point as well. Thanks for the review!
I need to do what you say and just get out and start doing stuff like this! I'll be 60 in a couple of months and although I did grow up on a Farm and did do vaguely remember some welding in the ag class I didn't really follow through with it - Joined the USAF and learned how to fix computers (the big ones - the ones that take up rooms and buildings) and after I retired got a job in computer networking - so sit at my desk all day fixing computer networks a couple of years ago started doing some woodworking as a hobby, now I want to learn welding and blacksmithing too (and yes I am signed up for your course but haven't even bought an anvil yet)
The good thing is this welder is actually rated for 100% duty cycle at 100 amps and Below when hooked up to 240. I've never, never had mine shut off and I personally don't think I ever will. Anybody that doesn't believe me look at the sticker above the power cord on the back of the machine. Love your videos!
Finally, been waiting for this 50 yrs
You are a smart guy dude you remind me of my grandpa. He loves metal fabrication
The thing I love about new welders is that they are so much smaller and lighter than their older equivalents.
This man could talk about grades of laundry detergent and he'd make it interesting. I am interested in working with my hands, building things, but I do not have a welder and don't intend to get one, but here I am watching a 10 minute video on the subject and being engaged and entertained. Very good content and creator!
What a great day to be born! Happy day, Scott.
Candace.... can we come visit you guys one of these days? You are 5 miles from us!
Kelly, we would enjoy meeting but our daughter has been diagnosed with cancer. I am leaving in a few days until she is stable and recovered. Raincheck for when this crisis is over?
Would love to hear a long term review. I'm in the market and imagining others would be interested as well. Thanks.
Long ago and far away (yes, I have moved) we had a row of 8 Miller welders. I don't remember the amperage, maybe 1000A or larger. Physically they were head height and longer than high. We used them as power supplies to sublimate insulating materials for use as thin films used for developing data storage products. Pretty awesome. You triggered a memory, somehow.
I have a tiny 110 stick welder and it's really really really nice to have something i can take literally anywhere. I did my entire exhaust with one beacuse I didn't want to be borrowing anyone's tools at a shop letting me use their lift while I haven't worked there in years.
I recently bought a Hobart 160i, basically similar machine, I got it for light weight, love how it welds, & also 15LBS!!!! my back says YES! I didnt know this existed, after getting the Hobart, I got a harbor freight Titanium 125 flux core welder, also for the light weight