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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
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Message started by zipidachimp on 04/26/16 at 01:31:46

Title: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by zipidachimp on 04/26/16 at 01:31:46

Finally reached the conclusion that I can save time on my changes by welding on site, instead of taking stuff I need welded to a welding shop.
My place is wired for 110v, 15 amp. Breaker box is near the bikes. Welding on-site may also unleash a bit of creativity. Cheers!

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/26/16 at 01:37:17

You can hook up 220 yourself. It's not hard.
Do research on anything that you're considering buying. It's not hard to buy a turd.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by stewmills on 04/26/16 at 09:58:08

I have one from Northern Tool. It's not too bad. The welds are not as smooth as shielded gas welds and you get some spatter, but if you just need to stick some metal together that you will grind/polish which is not a weld that is life or death, I think it's a good tool. I personally don't use t for anything that could kill me if the weld fails. but that's partly because I am not a great welder.

I think mine says it welds p to 1/8", so pay attention to that when looking at these lightweight models.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by engineer on 04/26/16 at 10:31:31

I'm with Jog. Since the breaker box is nearby you can buy a breaker for 220 and run some heavy wire to a recep (or have an electrician do it, a short run is not expensive) and buy a 220v welder. I highly recommend 220v welders when possible.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/26/16 at 11:04:38

I got 25 feet of wire, came out of the breaker box,down a ways,up to a Big nail, down to the receptacle, mounted, not on the wall, but on the wire. I can weld outside. Or, leave the wire hanging, bring the slack over, weld in the shop.

I built a hook like they have in clothing stores. My walls and overhead structure are busy. Shop is small. That hook has held up for quite a few years.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by zipidachimp on 04/26/16 at 11:23:52

Fear of burning down the garage I rent for my bikes is what has held me back. I understand the benefits of 220v, as I did my first bead last night at the weld shop owners place. For what I do, I'll stick with 110v., fluxcore outside.
Any obvious turd brands?

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/26/16 at 11:45:48

If , no, SINCE , you have experience with a welder ,why not get one of those?

If you can rent a welder for a day, do it.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by stewmills on 04/26/16 at 13:50:45

The one I have is this, but just 5 or so years older model. For what it's worth, I am satisfied with it, but I have never used any other flavor to compare.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200632003_200632003

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/26/16 at 14:51:35

20332A333E3B393233372A5A0 wrote:

Well, you asked.. so, best I have after that is.
Go online, look for comparison s, and I still think you should compare 110 to 220,
Pretty rarely no different.
I did see a tig, stick 110,portable, Miller at the welding supply shop.
Hey, stop in a few Real welding supply places.. See what they sell.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by gizzo on 04/26/16 at 15:20:33

No tips on brands, but thinking you may as well get a gas/gasless mig. The gas and wire makes a much nicer weld. I only don't use gas all the time because we have to rent bottles in Australia and that's expensive, as are the disposable ones. Otherwise I'd use gas each time I weld.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by copterdoc on 04/26/16 at 16:56:16

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200656952_200656952?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Welding%20%3E%20MIG%20%2B%20Flux%20Core%20Welding&utm_campaign=Hobart%20Welding%20Products&utm_content=51525&cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=google_PLA&utm_campaign=&mkwid=sCUGeeTnk&pcrid=39155627516&devicetype=t&gclid=CLv1l8zArcwCFQwPaQodRsQB4A

Spend the extra money, get the Hobart. This is mine. 5 years or so on no issues.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/26/16 at 17:13:04

I only don't use gas all the time because we have to rent bottles in Australia and that's expensive,

Wow,, can't Own the bottles?

Can you own oxygen/acetylene bottles? I don't use acetylene, I use propane. I have a 250 gallon tank with a wet line. I can refill the twenty pound bottles, like the grill uses.
Makes heating the shop a lot easier.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by zipidachimp on 04/26/16 at 20:29:07

Craigs is showing a couple of Lincoln weldpaks (100, 125), bit pricey, will wait it out then try to bag a bargoon! Training by youtube!
Thanks guys! 8-)

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by gizzo on 04/27/16 at 00:39:27

7A656364797E4F7F4F77656922100 wrote:

Yeah it sucks. Until recently, there have only been a couple of large suppliers who we could get oxy, acetylene, co2, argon and stuff from. They charge for the gas, and to rent the bottle. If you don't use up the gas quickly enough, they charge extra for NOT using the gas as well. And it costs a lot. Last year or so, the regulations have changed and little guys can buy their own D and E size bottles. They're still expensive but at least you don't gotta rent them and pay to not use. I've been sitting on a pair of full size oxy/acetylene that fell off a truck some time ago. Swapsies for full ones through a mate's work only costs me the price of the gas. You still can't buy an acetylene bottle. So I use propane as well, unless I need Big Heat.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by WD on 04/27/16 at 21:21:55

I have two of the hobby buzz boxes. Both fluxcore only.

The late 1990s Campbell Hausfeld from Walmart is great (made in Italy).

The mid 2000s Hobart (Miller or Lincoln low end line) is a piece of junk. It will weld, but poorly. No feed control, flip the power switch and it starts feeding. Has done that since it was brand new, and the tech line folks attitude was "sucks for you".

The old CH is rated for 3/8". The Hobart is rated for 10g.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by zipidachimp on 04/27/16 at 21:56:27

craigs up here have a linc weldpak 125, good condition for $350.
If it's junk, as you think, I'll pass and keep looking. cheers!

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by engineer on 04/28/16 at 06:20:39

Most older guys who live out in the country or farmers have one or two welders. Many of these people downsize as they get older and sell off their stuff. I've been to lots of auctions and yard sales where really decent older welders are being sold. With a hundred bucks in your pocket you can often buy one but they are usually 220v.

Those sales are also a great place to pick up bench grinders, drill presses and other tools.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/28/16 at 07:29:22

I've been sitting on a pair of full size oxy/acetylene that fell off a truck some time ago.

fell off a truck

I don't know about where you are from, but around here that's code for
Stolen.....

I have a midsized Smith torch. The mixing barrel is big enough to make cutting anything I have easy enough. When I bent up a backhoe wheel I bought the rosebud tip. I beat on it for days, but I got it. The tire beads up, no tube. I was fighting a fire, ran over a stob, instant flat and I had to drive out of the fire, down to the house. Dude, ever seen a car wheel someone drove on with a flat? Try it with a 13,000pound backhoe. Went through two bottles of oxygen in just a few days.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by WD on 04/28/16 at 07:32:17

7B68716865606269686C71010 wrote:

craigs up here have a linc weldpak 125, good condition for $350.
If it's junk, as you think, I'll pass and keep looking. cheers!

That one should be fine. As should most Hobart rigs. When you go to check it out, ask the seller to demo it. If it feeds wire w/o touching the trigger, pass.

Title: Re: Any tips on buying a 110v fluxcore welder?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/28/16 at 09:01:46

Open it up. LOOK at the wire and the feed rollers.
I would have him pull the wire out and put it back in.
It may require some finagling to get it to run out to the tip.
Check out the wire feed speed control. If the rollers can't deliver a constant rate of feed at the various speeds then that is a problem. Maybe not insurmountable, but something to consider.
As WD points out, it's not supposed to be spitting wire if you aren't pulling the trigger. I don't know what all could do that, maybe just contacts in the trigger, maybe a relay in the box.
There are some good 110 volt units out there. Honestly, if I was looking, I would go talk to the guys where I buy rods and oxygen. And I would Google the unit you're looking at.
Hobart model number not dependable,
Junk,
maintenance issues
Best welder ever
Just try different search terms.