Arc welder

[fokai1008]

Hows this work? Will it do any good?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40388

[Terry Skinner]

Hows this work? Will it do any good?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40388

Yes, that is exactly what we were talking about in another thread. This welding machine will do a great job IF you are careful and prep your welds correctly. You need to remember that it is YOUR ragged ass that is sitting on this thing. BUILD STRONG!!.............Terry

[elvergon]

I think you could get a buzz box for that price if you look over your city. Those will last a lifetime and you will not have any issues with them. However Harbor Freight has some tools that just suck and I´ve heard it from people who bought the inverter TIG machine. Remember, most of the times cheap is expensive. (However you could be gettin a nice machine but it´s your money the one your playing with)

[voodoo_stepchild]

Theres a lot of people that make due with this type of machine however since I am a welder I will tell you what the main problem is. #1 the duty cycle on this machine is only 15% or 6%. And this is a straight ac machine which means youre going to be burning ac rods only which basically means junk rod (6011, 6013 etc etc). The windings on the core are aluminum and not copper because its cheaper, they will also get hot much quicker and could create a failure on that end. The diodes used on the rectifier bridge are what they call a low current SCR, or silicone current rectifier. These are very cheap and are not made to last. Harbor freight basically in a nutshell makes nothing but junk. There tools are crap and I have had nothing I ever bought there last or sometimes even do the job it was intended to do. I would shy away from that and save a little money for a lincoln squirt welder or a ac/dc cracker box. A little more money but you will be much happier in the long run. Just my 2 cents worth