Harbor Freight Titanium Flux 125 Review

This is a review of the Harbor Freight, Titanium Flux 125 welder. It is a flux core welder that is a small step up in price, but a massive step up in performance compared to the Chicago Electric 90 and 125A flux core welders that have AC output.
As requested by several viewers, I have set up a Patreon account. Any support is appreciated, but absolutely not required.
/ bigtb1717

[@kraut5011]

I was a welder for 40 years and this little machine is almost like welding with a gas shielding (MIG) wire welder. Very little splatter. I love it!

[@ericmaass3459]

Al would you recommend this welder to a newbie such as myself ? I have a bunch of small welding projects around the house and don't want to spend a fortune on equipment that seldom gets use .

[@kraut5011]

@@ericmaass3459 Yes I would. I was/am very impressed. I haven't compared the small one to any other Harbor Freight machine but I sure like it. As a welder I always had the use of much higher amp machines. I like this little welding machine.

[@kraut5011]

@@ericmaass3459 Yes I would. I cannot comment on how long they well they are made because I haven't had mine very long. But I sure like it.

[@ericmaass3459]

@@kraut5011 Thanks for your response and your input . I know it wont be the same quality as my old Miller , but for the light , little projects around the house , im sure will do just fine . I see they run some pretty good sales from time to time . Looks like i missed out on the $159 coupon . I can wait till it comes back on sale .

[@Bart12349]

Al, I can't get it to spark. I ran the wire through and nothing.What should I do?

[@jimd280]

Thanks for a review WITHOUT the unboxing BS. Informative and straight to the important stuff like features. 👍

[@zalezluciano2899]

This is what I've been looking for a review with actual weld results. Thanks!

[@JohnAnderson4242]

This was the best review of this welder I have seen, and some of the best welding & video I have seen. Super to the point, subject narrow. Thanks!

[@robertharter5128]

Thanks for the video. I have had this little welder for the home garage for a couple months now and have not been disappointed. Still need a mig for automotive sheet metal work, but has been much more stable (adjustability) than the old 90A/125A. As long as you don't expect it to perform the same as a $2500 Miller then this should make anyone happy! Cheers!

[@cameronwebb3959]

Thanks for the info I have been wanting to upgrade my 90 version with this and you answered all my questions.

[@robertmackenzie1775]

Thank you for the information, it helps a lot. I been going back and forth wondering what one to settle on. Thanks for the video!

[@chuckkillawood8229]

Finally commonsense review, your points are well expressed, and presentation was spot on, picking mine up this weekend.

[@nolefishatgmail]

Just the review I was looking for, changed my mind from buying the Chicago Electric welder. I will spend the extra and by this one. Thanks again!

[@Specialized61]

Great video! I just unboxed mine yesterday and started cutting two old water heaters for my first attempt at making a bbq pit. I have not used it yet but will do probably tomorrow. I’m a total amateur at welding but this video gives great info and confidence.

[@JohnnyJr396]

Specialized61 I’m totally new myself.. how did it work for you?

[@GeneralChangFromDanang]

@@JohnnyJr396 He's still playing with it ^_^

[@joteamster]

Great review! Answered my question about choosing between the Titanium flux 125 welder or the Century FC90. I’m off to Harbor Freight!Thanks

[@davehoward2791]

Great review! I got my Titanium 125 for $149 a few months ago during H-F's Black Friday sale. I've used it quite a bit on 1/8" & 3/16 and it's proven to be quite the workhorse. Adding a 10ga 25' extension cord improved mobility quite a bit, and I replaced the ground clamp with a 400A brass one from H-F for $11 (with coupon of course) for a better connection. I'm 100% pleased with this welder, it's done everything I wanted it to do with zero hiccups.

[@patf03]

I've got a 50 foot 14 gauge retractable cord can i.plug it into that?

[@davehoward2791]

Give it a try and see. Should work fine.

[@jeffreysnethen9586]

been welding since I was 15, also a 2 year Welding degree, I have quite a few different welders, bought this one & have already made $1000 plus with it doing small mobile repairs.

[@larmishing]

I’m 15 and trying to learn and get into welding. would you recommend it? I don’t wanna get a mig or tig cause I don’t want to have to worry about the gas and stuff. thanks.

[@DIYMyWay]

Thanks for a great review! Concise. No nonsense. All useful information and no BS. I think I’ll go get one. Oh wait, I just did today! 🙂

[@danreynolds8028]

Excellent job. To the point with no BS or crappy music. Liked and Subbed!

[@Romans--bo7br]

Great Review.... Thank you. This review definitely swayed me to pick up the Titanium 125, which I will be picking up later today when I get to town. The Only "negative" for me about it is... that as you pointed out, it will only accept the standard One or Two pound (4 inch) wire spool... would love to see a redesign of this unit so it would take the 10 or 11 pound / 8 inch spools... which are about $30.+ cheaper than buying the equivalent weight in smaller spools.

[@DrSweetshaft]

Of course that would make the welder bigger and heavier. I like it the way it is.

[@larryguevara3350]

I've had four off and on .always seem to come across a deal on a used one . Going to hang on to this one . Great little welder.

[@mitchbussell8107]

Your welds are awesome , you are a great welder , enjoyed the video

[@BulliKid]

Great review. Mine has been working great once I got the hang of welding a bit.

[@pf5658]

Great detailed video. I’m here because I’ve always wanted to try welding and now I have a place to do so I plan on buying a machine. This looks like a definite front runner. Thanks for making the video.

[@bigtb1717]

Cool. Let me know if you have any questions.

[@pf5658]

@@bigtb1717 Ok sir. Thank you and very much appreciated.

[@Romans--bo7br]

UPDATE from a year ago. I did actually by this unit about ten (10) months ago, now..... absolutely love it! Excellent for my home shop and small projects 1/4" and thinner, though I have experimented with some 5/16ths thick mild steel, and it handled it much better than I thought it would, with decently strong penetration, but I wouldn't trust it at that thickness for any heavy load bearing surfaces. Very stable, good penetration, strong welds up to, and including 1/4" steel..... just don't expect to accomplish Structural strength steel projects with high load bearing capacity with it, and you'll be very happy with it.

[@AXNJXN1]

Excellent welds IMO. Your welding is great and this little machine is a win for HF. I have this one and the Stick 225, both of which are EXCELLENT machines all things considered. Sometimes at HF, you walk away with wins, and these two machines are clearly wins in my book for the hobbyist and general low risk-range mechanical work.

[@hygravity]

Great review, to the point and informative.

[@travnat1]

I've been using it the last 2 days, love it. Normally a stick welder guy with some TIG experience, but I may never go back to stick welding for anything under 1/4".

[@bigtb1717]

I know what you mean. I still run a mix of everything, depending on the situation and what I feel like at the time. But a smooth running flux core machine like this really makes quick, easy work of many welding projects.

[@rileyneufeld7001]

I think this is the best flux welder you can get for the price. Good track record from what I've found online. Thanks for the welding content sir! Subscribed. Oh and some reviews of new the amico welders would be nice. Home depot sells them now! And you can get 2/4 year warranty for pretty cheap through them. I'm interested in their 160-180 amp stick welders.

[@bigtb1717]

I have reviewed a few Amico welders on my channel. Certainly not all of them because they seem to have put their name on about 100 designs over the years. Most of them are extremely similar with slightly different appearance. Home Depot has sold them on their website for a long time. They also sell Lotos and other Chinese brands online. I won't rule out reviewing Amico welders going forward, but I don't have any Amico reviews currently in the works.

[@ubrenmufasa2001]

Great review! Plan to get one for myself

[@jake-mv5oi]

Thanks for the review. Got one of these on order from the black friday sale for $150. Can't wait to give it a try. Need something portable & 120v for trail repairs when I go offroading. Those welds look almost as good as my miller 210 mig.

[@luciankristov6436]

I run this welder on a lot of projects. I'm very happy with it.

[@AlteredCarbons]

do you run gas with this system ?

[@formeitwastuesday.1515]

@@AlteredCarbons this only fluxcore. No gas

[@bunyanforgings7849]

With different front and back end panels, it is the same as the Princess Auto, Powerfist 125 flux core welder. Probably the same machine. I found works quite well. I am likewise curious as to long it will last. Here's hoping. Great review, sir.

[@graftedin3]

I did not hear the wire you used in your test, I was not pleased with the wire that came with it and bought Lincoln electric , both .030 and .035. Very happy with the welder. Thanks for a good review Tommy

[@bigtb1717]

I don't remember if I used the included wire or if it even came with any. I normally use 0.035" Lincoln NR211 MP. I mostly pick it up locally at the big box hardware stores. Runs great.

[@graftedin3]

Thanks the Lincoln is good wire

[@spencerbrotherson9061]

I just got one of these about a week or so ago so don't ask me how it's going to hold up over time, but my initial impression is that it's the closest thing to MIG welding that you can get for cheap without a gas tank and regulator. Seriously, for regular steels (I don't know about stainless, and I don't even know if flux core wire for aluminum exists) this thing puts down almost as pretty a bead as I can get from a decent MIG rig if you're willing to play with the settings a little. I'd rather have a TIG welder for the better precision and lack of spatter to deal with, but for the simplicity (again, no gas to deal with) and price this thing is punching way above its weight class. I'm a weekend warrior at this point in my life so I don't know if it'd hold up to every day use, but so far I'm impressed.

[@dangerranger2227]

Great content & very well explained 👍

[@fredstone-be6go]

A- 1 video Good presentation !! Helpful tips & info Thanks BIG TB !!

[@curtbrown9702]

A very good machine. It suprised the hell out of me. You WILL like it.

[@trulyhappy8855]

Excellent video friend

[@russellafowler7403]

Thanks for your opion.

[@dc5duben96]

great explantion video thanks!

[@chriss2295]

Great presentation

[@BetterToDIY]

One of the better reviews I've seen on this welder

[@hardeogangar8081]

thanks for this review..can you kindly do a full review of the husky 225 stick welder from homedepot.. it looks like a new welder on the market .. thanks you..

[@pawisede226fl]

After retiring at 65 T started to teach myself how to weld .First welder was an old lincoln buss box stick welder ,next one Harbor freight 90 amp .Next welder was a Everlast dc stick ,sold the buss box .2 weeks ago I bought this Titanium 125 .Love it . At 159.. bucks you just can"t beat it for small weld repairs ant art work .I always buy the extended warranty and I never get any BS when I take one back to the store and walk out with a brand new one ,try that at a big box store .

[@OKBAOK]

At 9:20 you did a good job on the weld nice and clean a Pro work :) also is a good machine thanks for the review :)

[@lookingformykeys]

Great review thanks.

[@BlackDynamite901]

Ive put nearly 50lb of wire thru this thing. Only thing I've had to replace was the sleeve. And I believe that only happened because I sat it on ground with the kid open. Solid machine. Love it.

[@bigtb1717]

It's nice to hear a report of one holding up well. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!

[@robertblackshear8963]

I bought one of these from a pawn shop for 120$ a handle was added by the previous owner. This thing runs better than lincoln flux core machines. It gets really hot.

[@ChristopherSalisburySalz]

I own one of these and really love it!

[@jimmywilson1388]

I just got finished watching the testing on the Chicago electric welder. I’m glad I got the Titanium flux over that piece of crap… lol Everybody I’ve watched that bought the Titanium 125 say if theirs broke today they would go buy a new one tomorrow.. lol It’s a cool little welder to be so little.

[@RandyB1973]

LOL, I didnt even notice that switch to feed the wire til after you mentioned it :)

[@lennymcmillion]

Same! It took like 5 minutes to get the wire out of the nozzle the first time I used mine.... Then I found the switch and it took 5 seconds haha

[@watupchief5889]

Very well done video and awesome quality welds and answered all my questions for this exact welder and the difference in the penetration on the various metal thickness awesome just one question what wire did you use??

[@bigtb1717]

I used Lincoln NR 2011 MP wire.

[@watupchief5889]

bigtb1717 thanks for the help man 👍🏽

[@bbowling4979]

Thanks for doing this review. Very straight forward with no BS. I'm considering this welder as my first flux core 110V welder. Do you think it would be able to handle 1/4" material? Also it has been 10 months or so now since this review. Do you still like it and do you still use it? How is it holding up?

[@bigtb1717]

Generally, on 1/4" you will get penetration, but you won't end up with a very large weld size with a single pass. For some applications it would probably be okay, and if you get a multi-pass capable wire (such as Lincoln NR 211MP) and do multiple passes you should be fine.

[@bigtb1717]

Oh, and I gave the welder away not long after the review. As far as I know it's still working fine, but I can't say for sure.

[@bbowling4979]

@@bigtb1717 Thanks for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated.

[@qfdforme]

Good review, thanks. Take a look at Mike Festiva video on this welder and his tutorial on how to weld with this Easy Flux welder. He would a shorter stick out and a higher angle when dragging.

[@bigtb1717]

Thanks, glad you liked it. And thanks for the tips. I will say that due to the angle of the camera, it's difficult to tell in the video how much drag angle I have. It sometimes looks like I'm at 90 degrees, but I'm not. I try to maintain enough angle that the arc keeps the slag pushed away from the leading edge of the puddle, but not so much that the arc is directed only into the weld pool, rather than at the base metal where it can dig in and get good penetration. If anything, I sometimes tend towards too much drag angle. Also, maybe because of the close zoom and bright arc, it might seem like I have a long stick-out, but I tend to keep under 1/2 inch or so. About 3/8" is what I shoot for with these low power flux core machines. That's just what I do. I'll check out the video to see what he says. Thanks.

[@qfdforme]

bigtb1717 I tend to want to see the welding process and I find myself pulling off too much and too much angle.

[@bobd.fletcherjr4912]

I have a Hobart Handler 190 finally quit working so I went to Harbor Freight I bought the titanium 125 flux core welder to be honest with you about it it is a very good machine for the price you guys are women just starting out Wyoming this is a very good good flux core welder I will be getting parts for my Hobart Handler 190 because I do a lot aluminum just starting out this is a very good machine for anybody Bob Elkhart

[@Nvt13]

Awesome review! I've been eyeing this welder. A newbie here, I'm looking for one I can use for hobby work. Would you recommend this for patching/replacing floors pans in old cars? Like 18G-16G metal? Also Hows the fan holding up so far? Read HF reviews about some having premature fan failure. Thank YOU!

[@bigtb1717]

I actually gave this welder away after the review, but it is still working, as far as I know. I can’t say for sure, but I bet the fan is one of the easier parts to replace, if it ever fails. Metal that thin is difficult with any welder, but I imagine this welder could do it. Just will probably take some practice.

[@JoseManuel-lj4dk]

I have one and it's great.

[@chadandrews98]

Thanks for review. Nice to know how it welds thick and thin . What size wire?(.3 etc)

[@bigtb1717]

I used 0.035" wire, Lincoln NR211 MP.

[@benkanobe7500]

Nice welds! The first one that showed you actually welding, it did not look like you were moving the wire in the puddle. Almost like you were just dragging without in movement side to side. Is that true or was that just an illusion? Thank You. I am a beginner with the 90 amp and trying to learn all I can from folks like you that can lay down a good looking weld with penetration.

[@bigtb1717]

That's true, no side to side movement. Just a straight drag. Technically, all the manuals say that flux core should use a straight drag with no side to side or back and forth manipulation. That's not to say you can never do it and get good results, but it's not recommended most of the time.

[@shermanyoung8185]

Nice review, my question is I have the T125 and the FC90 both very similar inverter welders could I run them off a 60hz- 6000watt surge/5000watts running (non inverter) generator 🤔👩‍🏭 thanks

[@bigtb1717]

5,000 running watts is on the low end. The generator might struggle a little if the welder is maxed out, but I think it would run it.

[@DXT61]

I'm torn between this one or the stick welder 225. Im a noob and just want to do it as a hobby or use in my shop for repairing things. Great video.

[@bigtb1717]

Stick welders are very versatile and the 225 stick welder would be better for thicker metal. The Flux 125 will be easier to use on thinner metal, say under 1/8" or so.

[@DXT61]

@@bigtb1717 Thanks!

[@sonyyoung1036]

Your beads on the 3/16 T joints look great. What pattern did you use for the weld? Weaving smail e'

[@bigtb1717]

With flux core I don't usually do any manipulation pattern. Just a straight drag. There will always be small movements just because I don't have the steadiest hands, but I don't normally do any patterns.

[@johnpapa8681]

I have this welder and I really like it, except the gun is short and too straight. I put a lincoln gun in mine, and now I really like it.

[@MrCoder101]

Thank you so much for this video. Helped make my decision easier. How was spatter?

[@bigtb1717]

Spatter was a bit less with this machine, just due to the smoother arc. Definitely smoother arc starts and smoother arc overall. But I did the bare minimum conversion on the Chicago Electric welder. With a capacitor and maybe even an inductor the arc on the DC conversion would probably improve, though I still can't say if it would match this Titanium 125. If you already have the 90A AC welder, a DC conversion may be worthwhile. But I absolutely would buy the Titanium Flux 125 before I'd buy and DC convert one of the others. Edit: I think I replied to the wrong comment, LOL. At least I replied to the right person.

[@MrCoder101]

@@bigtb1717 Great. Thanks! Waiting for Thanksgiving now for better deal

[@johnbednarz1424]

I bought one of these today's because of all the good reviews. My question is, what nozzles fit on these, I know there screw on. I'm buying more spare consumables. Harbor freight only has push on and they won't work.

[@bigtb1717]

I fairly certain the Lincoln branded, black, screw-on protectors from Home Depot and Lowe's work. They come in a two pack and aren't very expensive.

[@359Joey]

You wouldnt need a nozzle with this welder, its flux core only and doesnt accept gas,which is when you would need the nozzle.

[@musketbal]

I think the one you have is the newer version. The other one had the wire spool on the left side instead of the top.

[@bigtb1717]

Are you thinking of the Vulcan welder? Or was there actually a different version of the Titanium welder previously?

[@milesquesnel2821]

What size wire were you running and have you tried better wire than came with the machine & what wire would you say runs best in the machine.

[@bigtb1717]

I ran 0.030" wire. I used Lincoln NR211 MP wire, which I really like.

[@mskehan19]

Miles Quesnel he said 0.030 wire

[@brandonfarmer7446]

Where did you get the flux wire you used for it and what size was the flux core wire looking to get me a welder for small home projects do you think it will work good off of a generator I have a 6800 honda

[@bigtb1717]

I use Lincoln NR211 MP wire. It is available at most welding supply shops around here, as well as Lowes and Home Depot. I used 0.035" diameter. It would probably run off a 6800 generator as long as you have a 20A breaker. I don't know how sensitive it is to clean input power, but it would probably work fine.

[@dga5396]

What size braker does this welder take to work properly? Will a 20 Amp. Braker work?

[@bigtb1717]

I ran it off of a 20 amp breaker.

[@Gooniefaceboy]

Do you think this welder would work decent for spot/plug welding auto body panels?

[@bigtb1717]

I don't know that a flux core welder is ideal for body work, but I've never gotten into auto-body work, so I'm certainly no expert. I know people do use flux core for auto body work and I'm sure this welder is capable of it. I didn't do work on anything as thin as auto body panels, but I did weld some fairly thin stuff and it worked great.

[@jrdubois1122771]

Do you need any welding paste on your tip with this welder?

[@bigtb1717]

Not necessary. You could use it if you want and it might slightly reduce the spatter build-up on the nozzle, but there are no gas passages to block or anything, so it really doesn't matter.

[@bruced1429]

How would this welder compare with your Esab 215 with the same fluxcore wire?

[@bigtb1717]

It runs very nearly as well, but it doesn't have quite as much power as the ESAB does when both are plugged into 120V, and obviously it doesn't have nearly as much power as the ESAB does when the 215 is running off 240V.

[@SWATT101]

Just bought a Canadian Tire Mastercraft 125i which is the same unit. They did a 300 buck off sale with 40 bucks coupon back...works out to about the 150us you guys get on sale...I would not buy this full pop CDN at over 600 bucks at CT....oh, we get a 3 year warranty!

[@grantmasson5483]

In your opinion would this be a good welder to fill screw holes in the bed of a truck? I’m new to welding and want something inexpensive as I will not be using it a lot. Thank you for your time

[@bigtb1717]

Something like the welder in this review would be a good option if you don't want to spend a lot. Just make sure you practice on some scrap or non important metal first. Try to get something as close as possible to the thickness of the truck bed to practice on. Thin material is tougher no matter what welder you use, so practice and getting a feel for the settings and technique to use are going to be key to getting good results. And no matter what welder you use, you will burn off the paint around the area and will likely need to grind smooth and paint when you are done. So keep that in mind. It's also a good idea to look into what precautions should be taken before welding on a vehicle. I've never had an issue, but it is technically possible for sensitive electronics to be damaged from welding, so many will suggest disconnecting things like the ECM, etc. before welding on a vehicle. So keep that in mind and decide what kind of precautions you want to take.

[@grantmasson5483]

bigtb1717 thank you so much!

[@nickpanhead7209]

Hi do I need a 20amp dedicated outlet to run this welder, would you know. I have an old screw in type fuse panel in garage, and not sure if it will be blowing fuses

[@bigtb1717]

You would want a 20 amp circuit. I actually don't have the welder any more or I would test the current draw and tell you exactly how much it draws, but I would imagine you would want a 20 amp circuit to prevent blowing fuses. Some of these welders actually draw quite a bit over 20 amps, but the assumption is that you won't be welding continuously, so any delay built into the fuse or breaker will allow it to work. So it may also come down to the type of fuse (how much delay there is) and whether or not you do a lot of long welds without time for the fuse to cool down.

[@nickpanhead7209]

@@bigtb1717 thank you for getting back to me. I just checked garage guess panel I have 5-15 amps fuses and 1-20amp now I would have to try to figure out what the 20 is feeding. I'll go out tmw and unscrew it and see what's dead. Thank you for your time

[@stevejokinen4606]

If you had to choose which welder do you like better 125 titanium or 90 amp century

[@bigtb1717]

I prefer the Titanium 125. The little Century is a good machine, but there are a couple small things I like better about the Titanium machine.

[@flashlawnservice]

Is it worth the upgrade if I already have the Chicago electric flux 125? Thanks!

[@bigtb1717]

If you don't use it very much and it's doing everything you need it to do, it might not be worth it. If you use it very often at all I would say it is definitely worth it. With DC output this welder just runs so much smoother and it gets much better penetration on anything over 1/8".

[@bookscienfuegos1122]

Someone figured out how to mount a bracket and runner bigger spools off the back. I'd like to learn how to do that. Great Welder.

[@bigtb1717]

If I still had the welder I would fab a bracket and make a video, but I gave the welder away after the review.

[@alexabadi7458]

Hi, does the wire advance automatically or do you have to press on the red button to make it come out ?

[@bigtb1717]

You have to pull the red trigger/button. When you do the welding power turns on to the wire and the wire starts feeding. When you release the button the wire feed stops and the arc current turns off.

[@alexabadi7458]

@@bigtb1717 Thanks :o)

[@william38022]

How is that welder holding up is it still working good for you any problems???

[@bigtb1717]

I gave the welder away after the review. As far as I know it's still working fine.

[@stinkopants]

Can you reverse polarity on these and run Direct Current Electrode Negative? Or do they run electrode negative by default?

[@bigtb1717]

They run electrode negative by default. There is no simple way to switch the polarity.

[@stinkopants]

@@bigtb1717 Perfect! That's what I wanted to know, , thanks

[@colby2150]

Can this welder run off of normal 110 house outlets?

[@bigtb1717]

Yes. Runs off standard outlets.

[@mnpatriot7692]

I just got a harbor freight today, I have no welding expirience, would you recomend this to do a gokart frame?

[@bigtb1717]

Did you get the welder from this review, or a different one? I would say that your experience level would come into play more so than what welder you use. Will this go-kart be fast, heavy and/or large? Is it the kind if thing that would cause serious injury if the frame failed? Most likely, just about any harbor freight welder could get the job done with the right frame design and the right joint design and prep. Either way, practice and get comfortable before starting a project that could affect safety. Be careful and have fun!

[@mnpatriot7692]

@@bigtb1717 no havent bought it yet, been doing countless research on welding for a year or so, its going to be just a little 212cc nothing crazy or to heavy, just wanna make sure the frame stays together, but yes I would be practicing way before I start the build,

[@bigtb1717]

The Titanium Flux 125 would be more than capable. Good luck and have fun!

[@oldscholz7395]

Could this be used for sheet metal repair on a car

[@bigtb1717]

It should work. Thin materials are always tricky with any welder, but for a flux core welder I found this one does pretty well on thin metal.

[@mpg0211]

So does this plug into a standard wall outlet? Or???

[@bigtb1717]

Yes, it will plug into a standard wall outlet. To get full output it should be on a circuit with a 20A breaker, otherwise you might find it tripping. Also, if it is on a circuit with lots of other stuff, it you may trip a breaker as well, but it is a standard, household plug.

[@mpg0211]

Picked this up the other day. Got 1 home project I need to finish then I am going to give this a try. Thanks for response.

[@AlteredCarbons]

hey Big , do you run this with gas or no ? cause i could use a basic machine like this , would really help me out

[@bigtb1717]

No, this is a self-shielded flux core only machine. It has no provisions to run shielding gas.

[@AlteredCarbons]

@@bigtb1717 nice , do you find it hard to work with out the gas ? i know there are attachments you can purchase that connects to the wire feed line that could add a gas system if need be but one without it would be nice

[@bigtb1717]

This welder has no provisions to add gas shielding. It is theoretically possible, but you would have to change a lot (including polarity), it wouldn't be as simple as bolting on an accessory. Self shielded flux core wire is designed to run without gas and runs perfectly well. It is very easy to run. I would say that the only thing that is harder as compared to gas shielded MIG is cleaning off the slag afterwards.

[@GeneralChangFromDanang]

And flux core can be run outdoors, an added bonus.

[@melgross]

Shino San not possible. You would have to change the gun to a MiG gun, and this gun isn’t replaceable. I suppose you could tear the machine apart and redo practically all of it, or do the smart thing and buy a MiG machine which will also allow you to use flux core.

[@larryguevara3350]

Love mine,plenty of bang for the buck.

[@atxjax1]

Would this work good for welding exhaust pipe?

[@bigtb1717]

It should work great for that.

[@franciscovaldez8354]

Excelente esta soldadora titanium 125 cuánto costará?

[@bigtb1717]

The cost is $179-$199 US dollars.

[@tyson85323]

$149 asta 12/1/19

[@wilsoncu122292]

Will this run fine on a regular household plug?

[@bigtb1717]

Yes. For best results you should be on a 20 amp circuit, or you could find yourself tripping the breaker if you run the welder maxed out. But it runs on a standard, 120V plug.

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Cullen Wilson it does, but I would make sure you are running it on a 20 or 30 amp circuit. You may trip the breaker on a 10 amp. I’ve run mine on a 20 amp circuit with a long extension cord without a problem.

[@GeneralChangFromDanang]

Can the angle of the gun be adjusted? The default angle is awful.

[@bigtb1717]

Unfortunately, no it can not be changed.

[@melgross]

You can’t change the angle of any MiG or flux core gun. That’s a TIG thing. With replaceable guns you can often buy a gun with a different angle.

[@BRENT3143945]

Can you review the amico 130 mig?

[@BRENT3143945]

$150 on ebay

[@bigtb1717]

$150 on Amazon as well. It seems to be a pretty typical, 130 amp flux core machine. I'll consider checking one out, but it might be a while. I've got a lot of stuff on my plate at the moment. Cheers.

[@bobcatt2294]

Thinking of getting the 170 which is 110/220

[@bigtb1717]

Not only is it dual voltage, it also offers the ability to run shielding gas. So you would have the option to get a C25 cylinder and run solid wire MIG.

[@bobcatt2294]

@@bigtb1717 Thank you for this video and the headsup on the 170. Would like to see a product review on the 170.

[@Andy-Andeee]

Which wire are you running/reccomend?

[@bigtb1717]

I like Lincoln NR 211 MP wire. I've always had good luck with it.

[@Chilllybob]

Thank you for the video but it only penetrated 1/16 of an inch if that.

[@bigtb1717]

It does far better than the AC output Chicago Electric welder. But it is still a 120V welder and not even the most powerful one at that. So there will definitely be limitations with this welder as compared to a more powerful one, particularly one that runs on 240V.

[@97footballplayer]

Some guys are saying it will weld 1/4". What's your thoughts?

[@97footballplayer]

Also, where did you get your welding table?

[@bigtb1717]

I've tested a lower output, DC flux core welder on 1/4" and even 3/8" material. Not ideal, but it did better than I expected. I bet this welder would be very usable on 1/4", depending on the particular project, joint configuration and joint prep.

[@bigtb1717]

The table in the video is a 2x4' Certiflat table kit from weldtables.com. Only a 3/16" thick top with re-enforcing ribs underneath, but it's more than heavy enough for my projects. I've been very happy with it. I use it as a work bench and for TIG and some MIG welding. I don't use it for stick and flux core welding because I prefer to do that welding away from all my tools/supplies, etc. For flux core/stick I have a small, lightweight folding table that I can put in the middle of the garage or out in the driveway. It works well and holds up better than I expected. It is a Nomad table from Strong Hand Tools. Harbor Freight sells a table that is very similar that many people says is very good, though I can't speak to that personally, as I haven't used it.

[@larryguevara3350]

I've welded 1/4 with mine and took the big hammer test to it .the weld held and metal bent bellow the weld. Highly recommend it.

[@travnat1]

I put some 3/8" tabs on for a hinge yesterday. Bevelled the end and left a 1/8 landing. Root pass, fill, and cap with grinding the slag off in between. Worked great.

[@BulliKid]

Used this on my channel. I need major advice. Terrible welds. Hard to see a bead through mask too

[@bigtb1717]

Does your mask have adjustable shade levels? For that welder I'd start at a shade of 10. If it seems to bright to see any detail, try turning the shade up. If the view seems too dark to see what is going on, try going down to 8 or 9 (you should't have to go that low, but you can give it a shot to see if it helps). Also make sure there aren't still clear, protective sheets to peel off those lenses. The lenses should just be hard plastic. If you pick at the edge of the inner or outer lens, is it just smooth, hard plastic, or is there a little coating of soft protective coating? Also, where about are you located? As for seeing the puddle. You want to be pointing the wire slightly towards the direction you are coming from, rather than in the direction you are going. This helps keep the flux/slag pushed back a bit and makes the puddle more visible. It takes some experience to be able to recognize the puddle all the time. The welds you were attempting were a bit difficult for the first time ever, so don't think there is anything wrong with your skill that it didn't go perfect. If you can find some scrap metal to practice on you can work to get a feel for what you are seeing and what you should expect to see. Don't get discouraged. It's not always as easy and obvious as youtube videos can sometime make it look. I'm happy to answer questions or help any way I can.

[@BulliKid]

@@bigtb1717 Thanks for the comment! Im located in Chicao IL. My neighbor gave me some scrap metal so i will practice a little more. I felt like the only time i saw a red puddle was when i was really getting a good amount of heat in the metal but at that same point i was just about burning a hole in the metal too. haha I removed all the "peal" stickers from the lenses front and back and its just the hard plastic now that protects the dimmer lens.

[@bigtb1717]

The puddle may not look red through the helmet lens. It will just be a ripply pool of metal near and around the arc. The color will be dependent on what colors the lens in your helmet actually shows. Normally it's just metal color, or maybe tinted some other color by your auto darkening lens. Also, the size, shape and visibility of the puddle will depend on the joint setup you are welding, the amperage you are welding at, how fast you are moving and the angle at which you are holding the welding gun.

[@poppagrouch4781]

You get the extra warranty an how much ?

[@bigtb1717]

No, I didn't get the extra warranty. I'm not sure how much the extra warranty costs on this machine.

[@Martyimgay]

How is the welder doing still working good?

[@bigtb1717]

As far as I know. I actually gave it away to another guy on KZbin after the review. Last I heard it was still working fine.

[@ForceBuilt]

Can you replace the wire sleeve?

[@bigtb1717]

Are you talking about the liner in the gun? It's theoretically possible to replace it. The issue would be finding a compatible replacement part. I wouldn't be surprised if there is something out there that is compatible, but I don't know off-hand.

[@ForceBuilt]

@@bigtb1717 Thanks. I just purchased one of these welders. I was just wondering how serviceable it would be if I were to have a mishap. Thanks again for the quick answer!

[@JeepTeriyaki]

I have the new Lincoln 90I FC and the Titanium 125 easy flux and on the thiner guages the Titanium heat fluctuations can cause a few burn throughs!

[@bigtb1717]

Interesting. Thanks for the input.

[@MC-hs4mf]

Already own it.

[@bigtb1717]

Cool. How is it holding up for you?

[@MC-hs4mf]

@@bigtb1717 bought it a few weeks ago with the extended warranty

[@LNRRidez]

What's the duty cycle on its time?

[@MC-hs4mf]

@@LNRRidez 90A @ 30%

[@LNRRidez]

I'm a newbie what exactly does that mean?

[@brandonhoffman6757]

I bought one of these welders and I hook it all up but it want spark. Idk what’s going on.

[@bigtb1717]

It's possible you received a defective machine. Does the fan run in the machine when you power it up? Does the wire feed out when you pull the trigger? Is the work clamp securely connected to the metal of the work piece at a bare patch of metal with no paint or rust in the way of a good connection?

[@brandonhoffman6757]

Yeah everything runs and is fine it just won’t spark. This is the second one I bought the first one I returned cuz it did the same thing so I though it was no good but this one is doing the same.

[@bigtb1717]

Not sure what to tell you to try. If you clamp the ground directly to a piece of metal, hold the gun so the contact tip is only 3/8" to 1/2" from the piece of metal and pull the trigger, it won't start an arc when the wire contacts the metal? What are your settings?

[@melgross]

bigtb1717 ah, good man. You called a work clamp. I wish people understand that that’s what it is. If someone connects the clamp to a machine that’s grounded and connected (because it’s a “ground clamp”), the live clamp will short directly to the real ground, and that should be the end to the welder, the machine you’re welding on, and if they’re too careless, the person welding. By the way, good welds.