Thread: HF 90 A welder
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Old 05-16-2013, 06:02 PM
97 SL320 97 SL320 is offline
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Run away from the $ 99 welder!!! It's hard enough for a skilled welder to use these machines let alone a new person. The wire feeder isn't smooth enough to make good welds.

Get a lower end gas MIG Lincoln, Miller or Hobart ( Hobart is the consumer version of the Miller ). Esab is a good brand you might come across, they invented stick welding. Figure on spending ~ $ 600 minimum

For super smooth welding use 75% argon 25% CO2, for welding slightly rusty metal , metal slightly too thick for your machine or when you don't care so much about spatter use 100% CO2. CO2 is a reactive gas and has good dig.

Miller and Hobart have good message boards, your question has been asked many times, do a search.

As for voltage , 110 V welders have limited output but are enough for sheetmetal. If you do use a 110V welder, make sure the wiring feeding the outlet is 12 gauge and has nothing else on that line so you get maximum output. Adding a 220V outlet is no big deal so don't let that hold you back.

See the attached pic for what a good 220 V MIG welder will do in multiple positions. The welder is a C. K. Systematics ( branded Snap-On ) from the mid 80's .

TIG welding takes much skill and is too difficult for the occasional welder where MIG is point and shoot once you get the wire speed and amps set.
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HF 90 A welder-im000551.jpg  
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