Titanium Flux 125 Wire Hack

How to lower the cost of welding consumables
#welding #harborfreight #customfabrication #visegrip #fluxcore

[@jasonholloway2476]

Glad to be first to comment here...I too own a titanium 125, and your idea of respooling wire is a good example of ingenuity. I can picture some naysayers chiming in with comments similar to "shoulda bought the lincoln/miller/etc so you wouldn't have to do this." The key point here is: The Titanium Easy Flux 125 is a damn good welder FOR UNDER $200. There's Nothing made by those brands anywhere close to that price. Not everyone can pony up $900 plus, not everyone needs a pro-level welder, and an inexpensive welder is a great way for a beginner welder to see if he wants to further pursue the activity. Makes more sense to me to not spend $1k plus on all necessary things and find out you can't or don't like welding. It's a great small tool for the weekend warriors who need it for occasional small jobs.

[@ArcticFlies56]

Two suggestions. 1st add another tensioner on the big spool to make sure that the wire does not unwind by mistake. 2nd drill a small hole in the smaller spool and thread it so that you can tighten the end of the wire with a small machine screw to hold it in place until you finish adding wire to the small spool. Once the small spool is wound, unscrew the machine screw and set aside for the next time. With these two additions, the wire will be more manageable and you won’t waste any. Best regards, Richard

[@pillaryclinton6187]

I think drilling a small hole in the lid and putting a hanger on the rear of the machine might be simpler. Then just put a sleeve through the hole for easy sliding and run it the same way. That way if you want to pick the welder up and take somewhere in a pinch say for a trail fix you could take the heavy roll off the back, load a smaller spool inside and you've got your light little welder back.

[@rabie4x4]

Absolutely! Ever since I got this welder, I've been looking for a way to do this. Awesome idea!

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for the comment I'm glad I was able to help

[@melgross]

Yeah, this works. I have rewound 33 pound reels of wire to 11 pound spools that I’ve emptied after some time, and saved. I do it on my lathe. It’s also amazing how much cheaper a 33 pound spool is than an 11 pound one. You can get this stuff on eBay. Lots of sellers have new, unopened boxes of many types of wire bought from shops that went out of business. Often, you can get them at half the usual price. That makes doing it really cheap, and worth the effort to make the device I use. The lathe allows you to set a feed that winds the wire smoothly. Don’t forget that Hf says you can use .035 wire in the machine as well.

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for comment I feel like everything you said was on point I had a lot of fun doing this project and I really hope it helps everybody out there especially when you consider that a 10 lb spool cost $79 and a 1 lb spool cost $13.80

[@rukinaa]

When I had my first flux core welder (mig) it was too small to fit the big spools, I made something very similar to what you have there with a tension knob on the big spool and welded it straight on the back of my welding cart so I just fed the wire straight into the machine, never had any issues and saved a lot of money over the months of using it (enough to eventually buy a bigger welder that now fits the big spools)

[@Happydays147]

I was just thinking about this concept, when I ran across your video...awesome....brilliant

[@misterioso2735]

This is a very good idea. I just bought this welder and my first project will be this hack you made.

[@26feironworks79]

Awesome glad to hear it thanks for the comment much appreciated

[@lucky13driver]

Great video great idea! I use the same little welding machine for on sight work. Not only are you saving money with purchase price, your also saving a ton of time and trips to the store. That goes with the saying time is money.

[@jtsokiehobbyandadventures6666]

I have been using a 100amp Lincoln MIG welder for years now. Been looking at the 125amp at harbor fright. Just dont like the idea about smaller rolls. Would not be hard to make a box and feed the wire to the little mig. Still be light. Then able to use 10 pound wire.

[@jimmyschmidt14]

coo. run nuts on both ends to keep tension. doesnt take much.

[@26feironworks79]

That's so funny in that you say that I just used it this morning for a job that I have cause I was out of wire thanks for the advice

[@durchh7]

I'm just impressed you didn't friction burn your fingers! Lol

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for your comment it does not generate very much heat so I was able to do it without any incident or injury Thanks again

[@donaldmatthies6026]

I've been looking at this welder for some time, and your videos have pointed me into buying it, I'll pick it up tomorrow. Thank you for taking time to film, edit and post this video

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for that I've been using my welder for sometime now since I made my original videos and so far it has been good for me however I do know that there are some lemons out there just keep that in mind but it's a great welder and you can't go wrong thanks for the view and the comment

[@donaldmatthies6026]

@@26feironworks79 thanks for that as well. It's like anything out there, you can get 100 good ones and maybe 5 lemons, so I'll just get the extended warranty and worse case scenario I just have to take it back.

[@shoa2285]

The tensioner might be scuffing up the wire as it's being wound. Which down the line might prove to have feeding problems through the mig gun liner and drive wheels.

[@luisseniceros7350]

Great job. That is a wonderful idea.

[@ricardomontes373]

You have a very nice gate there; perhaps you can show your audience the ironworks that you do. This type of work is very involved and lucrative, too. Have a nice day.

[@qfdforme]

Need more of your well made videos. It has been 7 months since your last video.

[@rileyneufeld7001]

This is a smart idea! Home depot has lincoln electric 10# spools for 75$ and if you buy 2 or more it's 63$ per spool. So if you buy 20 pounds of spool that's 126$ which is just under $6.50 per pound! That same wire in 1# spools is 12 dollars! You're cutting your cost in half doing this!

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for your comment I like how you think

[@rileyneufeld7001]

@@26feironworks79 Thanks. A website called PGN sells different types of .030 in 10# spools for $28.95 so that's even cheaper. Comes out to under 4 dollars a pound with shipping costs. Doing this cost wise is right there with stick welding.

[@ww321]

I've done that for one of my machines. I already had a 10 lb spool. On my newest one I just got I made a 10lb spool holder and feed the wire through the strap slot in the back of the welder.

[@rgeraldalexander4278]

Looks cool once you get it going...thanks for the idea.

[@26feironworks79]

Thanks for the comment I am glad you found it useful

[@rgeraldalexander4278]

@@26feironworks79 Sure thing. I've got a stainless project coming up, and I can get 10 pounds of SS wire for $75, while one pound spools are $22 and up. Probably worth the effort for $145.

[@wormkillerdan6486]

Just build a hanger to put the 10 pounder on the back of the welder, a hole with a sleeve and your done.

[@OldSkoolF]

If at first you don't succeed, Try try again!!! Excellent Idea! Subbed

[@26feironworks79]

Definitely I appreciate the comment and the view and the sub much appreciated thanks again

[@lemonpepperb2584]

Damn. I just got this yesterday and laid decent welds on some thin guage. I see how fun and easy this machine is. This type of improvising is very helpful and cost effective!!! Subscribed if this is the type of content you put out! Bravo!!!

[@mikeseitz2792]

Great,,,,Thank You!!

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for the comment and the view much appreciated

[@MSL209]

Next project rigging a 10lb spool to feed into the Titanium welder, so you don't have to transfer from 10lb to 1 lb... 😉

[@joem2745]

Could you set up a jig to run the 10 lb spool straight into the machine? I only ask because I'm good at coming up with ideas, but horrible at figuring out how to put them into effect.

[@26feironworks79]

Yes I'm not sure when I would be able to get to it but at some point I will try something thanks for the question

[@dirkloyder1258]

Can you drill a tiny hole into the spool ?? insert the wire , then start spinning ..will that work????🤫🤫🤫🤫

[@IannoneBuilding]

I knew there was a way, and I had a similar idea. But, being a Mason who enjoys welding, as more of a passion than for work, I just couldn't put the pieces together quick enough and then I come across your video just a little to late to cash in on the deal of the century! Oh, my luck. If I wasnt so good at what I do, I'd be broke and/or dead by now... lol. Happened to stop into my local Airgas store, and they had 3 10lb spools of .030 wire on clearance for 32 dollars each! Currently, I buy the HF Vulcan 2lb rolls for just under 20 dollars on sale. Even worse, the lincoln .030 at HD 1 lb rolls are right under 20 dollars, meaning I could have had 10lbs for the price of 3lbs of Vulcan or 1 and a half Lincoln. But, now I know, and atleast the money I save in the future just due to the bulk price savings will make up for this short term, but still painful missed savings! My future children thank you, as do I! Lol

[@christopherbeaulieu4942]

"Clap, clap clap". Freakin genius.

[@ratboy240sx]

Jw will the 125 titanium welder carry a 2lb spool or will it only fit a 1lb nice vid btw

[@26feironworks79]

Yes it will definitely fit a 2 pound spool

[@joshharroun2004]

You have more patience than me. Good idea though.

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for the view and the comment sometimes I have more time than money Or this could be the outcome of having enough caffeine to kill a small horse

[@robertblackshear8963]

Love this. You'd think all companies would give you the 10lb option on their machines. Or at least sell smaller 10lb rolls wtf. Great tip.

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

Ah. Now I see. You're winding your own smaller rolls from the larger one. I thought you were direct feeding the larger one into the welder.

[@jesusbadger2145]

That would mean he would have to have brains to have come up with something like that.

[@shermanyoung8185]

This is so awesome and a money saver too, do you think you could do a step by step video how you built this jig fixture, and the parts and materials needed to construct it thanks 👍👩‍🏭

[@26feironworks79]

Yes at some point I can I am super super busy with work so it might take a while but yes

[@shermanyoung8185]

@@26feironworks79 I understand,thanks very much, but glad to hear that you busy making money with your skills , I'm hoping to be busy like that too next summer now that I'm retired with my Titanium 125 doing little repair jobs (I love that little inverter welder it's amazing) after I get a 5000watts generator over the winter and collect a few more tools , but my daughter just ordered 2 rolls of.030 LE-NR211MP ,it was $27 for 2 1lb.spool,I imagine the larger roll has to be cheaper per lb.??ok sir thanks looking forward to more of your videos 👩‍🏭

[@shermanyoung8185]

The NR211 came from Home Depot 2 for $27 👩‍🏭

[@26feironworks79]

@@shermanyoung8185 Hey on a side note when you purchase a generator make sure you get something that's a little bit larger because I have a 6000 W generator and the titanium for some reason it trips the breaker on it I would get something in the 7000 W range just to be safe

[@WilliamNyberg]

On the other hand, couldn’t you just build a stand for the 10lb spool, set that next to the welder, and use an empty 1lb spool as a sort of guide? That way all the winding time would be eliminated.

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for the comment I think that's a really good idea I went this way so that I could maintain the lightness of the welder because that 10 pound spool is 10 extra pounds

[@WilliamNyberg]

26Fe Ironworks that makes sense, I suppose the other method would be more for a stationary setup.

[@OldScout45]

I just checked the HF site and a 2 lb. roll sells for $14.99 and a 10 lb. roll sells for 74.99. So if you are reloading 5 spools (5 x 14.99 = 74.95) you are saving 4 cents.

[@photonashville]

There are less expensive and higher quality wires than Harbor Freight wire. Blue Demon 10lb flux core for $47 on Amazon. Newer offering PGN gets high marks and is $36/10lb. Harbor Freight fools people thinking their products are always price adavantage and they are not.

[@JordanHaisley]

The HF Vulcan wire is frequently $49 for ITC members. I’m happy with it, and it’s $5/lb

[@alexanderfurman4329]

Just put the wire trough the hole and bend it, for god's sake, or better yet, put your rewinding machine behind your welder, drill a little hole in the back wall of the welder and feed their directly from the 10lb spool.

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for the comment and the view that is an excellent suggestion but one of the biggest reasons that attracted me to this welder was that it was very small and very light weight thanks again

[@anlsubbox]

Finding a way to put the 10 pound spools would be a much better idea

[@fredshipp3809]

Joseph Alcindor-You are right, your not wasting all the unusable wire on each small spool of wire you run through it. 👍It adds up over time.

[@hvymax]

Just mount the machine where your small spool bracket is and direct feed

[@26feironworks79]

Thanks for the comment my entire reasoning behind purchasing this machine was because it was small enough to take up on a ladder into pecarious places and also I was concerned about weight issues

[@hvymax]

That's what I like about it as well. But for production work you want a bigger machine that can take 30 lb spools.

[@26feironworks79]

I definitely agree I have a Miller 12VS that I use for larger diameter flux jerdiameter flux core and also dual shield it does an amazing job on heavy stuff

[@staypuffduncanlemp2542]

If you bend the wire in an L and lay across the first few wraps it’ll hold your wire better

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for the comment and the tip much appreciated

[@iRocz.]

Wow re spooling that wire looks more time consuming than it’s worth

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for the comment believe it or not it takes less time to respool a spool than it takes to drive to home depot or the welding store

[@steveneilertsen8138]

I think you could be a genius

[@Jsims111]

A lot of folks criticzing here can't see past their own work flow. Sure it's not cheaper if you compare it to buying harborfrieght's cheap wire. Sure I could jerry rig something on my PORTABLE welder to feed 10 pounders Sure, you don't have to bothered with this on your 800 dollar miller.

[@26feironworks79]

I'm a Miller guy through and through the entire reason I bought this welder is because it doesn't weigh anything and I could get into tight spots with it

[@robertblackshear8963]

Actually harbourfreight wire is very expensive. I bought a 10lb roll of fluxcore for 27 bucks from a local welding supply store. But his idea will save you money in 90% of cases.

[@frenchonion4595]

Just a bunch of D bag's as usual

[@ForceBuilt]

Nice video! I just bought the Flux 125. You have welded a lot with it. Would you buy it again?

[@26feironworks79]

Absolutely yes

[@rileyneufeld7001]

@@26feironworks79 Have you tried the Best Welds wire? I keep seeing it online for super cheap. Under $8 for 2lb rolls when ordered individually. If you order it in 10 roll orders you can get them for under $4 per roll on Bad@ss welding products . com

[@hvymax]

You might want to get a 2lb spool to rewind.

[@26feironworks79]

Thank you for mentioning that I will definitely keep my eye out for some

[@robertblackshear8963]

The 1 and 2lb spools are the same diameter with the 2lbs have twice the wire. You can wind a 30 roll of wire on a 10lb spool. Its amazing.

[@xtremeautosoundelectronics7044]

Care to share a drawing or the dimensions of this rig? If you dont want to make it public, please dm it to me

[@loveydovey4u]

I have this welder and its amazing! However if I was welding a bunch and needed to use 10 pound spools I probably would have picked up a Miller, Hobart or Lincoln welder...

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for the comment I definitely feel you on that I have a job coming up where I need to get up on a roof and I feel that in places that are difficult to get to this thing really shines but as far as doing any type of welding that requires laying down a lot of metal it is definitely limited however again it is a phenomenal machine for what you pay for

[@NotOnYourLife]

I thought about doing just this, but I would use the HF spools, they are 2 pound instead of 1 pound.

[@fredshipp3809]

Listening with Jack the spools are both the same size, they just have different amounts of wire on them.

[@fredshipp3809]

No that's not the way I save a lot of money and waste a lot of time. I made a setup for mine so I can put a 10# spool on it.

[@hvymax]

The time it takes to wind a few of those would pay for a bigger machine.

[@26feironworks79]

Thank you for the comment and observation this is mostly just for entertainment purposes And what you can do under different circumstances thank you again

[@ziggymoon]

But can you roll a Dubee!?

[@veemaxx]

Won't a 2 lb spool fit.

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for your comment yes a 2 lb spool will fit but I've had a hard time finding Lincoln wire in a 2 lb spool at my local Big Box store

[@jasonholloway2476]

I put in a 2lb Vulcan brand wire from Harbor freight, burns much hotter, less spatter than the wire that the Titanium 125 came with.

[@Dana-ov7fo]

Waste of time. Put a hanger on the back of the welder and run the wire into the machine. Don’t be stupid

[@26feironworks79]

Let me be perfectly clear the reason why I bought the welder was to be able to carry at long distances and be able to get into tights pieces with it why would I want to add an extra 10 pounds to it

[@hvymax]

For production work you just need a bigger machine.

[@26feironworks79]

Hey thanks for the comment again I own a Miller Bobcat 225 I own a Miller blue star I own a Miller 180 with autoset and I also have a transformer based Miller thunderbolt

[@madvtecyo546]

Awesome hha

[@trevethan82319841]

Having to make a spool of wire would be a pain in the ass. For me

[@anlsubbox]

All that to save 35 dollars i would rather pay the 35 dollars instead of doing that 10 times.

[@fredshipp3809]

Time is money.

[@bobd.fletcherjr4912]

👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎

[@26feironworks79]

Sorry my content didn't live up to your expectations