redrum123

I have been working on cars again quite a bit lately and didnt want to mig my intercooler piping so I decided I would pick up the harbor freight special Tig welder...

My welding experience : I worked at a Fab shop in my home town for about a year and a half and tig'd at school for another year...

I picked up the unit to save some money until I can afford a thermal arc unit...

My impressions on the machine was pretty good, the machine has done a great job for what I am needing it to do! the only downsides that I have had with it are that it is a scratch start and also that their is no foot control...

here are some pics

dfoxengr

and youre going to get hand cancer
EDIT:
and on your arms too.

wear some proper protection


Modified by dfoxengr at 3:47 PM 10/20/2008

redrum123

Mkay.

srmofo

my only question is "how long is going to work for?" post back up if it breaks anytime soon. Ive been eyeballing that thing for a while, but I dont have any experience with TIG so I have been holding back.

redrum123

Deffinately, I'll keep you guys updated on the quality of it!!! I bought a 1 year extended warranty with it just in case
Andrew.

RC000E

What was your TIG ability going into this. I see you said you TIG'd for a while, but what was your true ability? You don't really speak technically on the performance of the machine, so it makes me question how good you were to begin with.

No offense intended, I'm just really curious as to what the quality of these machines are. Get the pedal too!

Nick Z32

i dont think that machine even has high frequency... so no petal for you

TIGboy

HAND cancer!!!!!! LOVE IT!

Skin cancer I think you mean.

not bad for HBF!

redrum123

My welding experience compared to many of you isnt very high... I worked at a fab shop for a year and a half... I have a understanding of welding, but also have alot to learn... As for technicallity, I dont compare to some of the fabbers on here, some of the work is amazing
Andrew.

RC000E

Well, seems like it's a cheap solution to get the job done.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nick Z32 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i dont think that machine even has high frequency... so no petal for you</TD></TR></TABLE>

You don't need a high frequency start to use a pedal.

elusivEm1

lol at hand cancer but yeah..#1 rule is protection

eclypzex

post more pics of the welds... also, that haz area is [freak]ing huge, u must be putting in some massive heat into that piece... use the minimum amperage to get the job done man.. u have a 1/4" weld and a 6" haz area..

also, why you would wear a glove on the hand thats behind the arc and not the one the light is shining at is beyond me.. wear a long sleve and TWO gloves please.. its really not worth it to be a little more comfy for a few min than to have hand cancer for the rest of your life. be safe

keep it tight...wait that came out wrong i swear..

Discosteak

iTrader: (1)

too mush heat in that weld. thats why it has poor color and that huge haze area go down 20 amps and post more pics

Doeboy

seems decent for weekend warrior garage guys. Not for a shop though. I would purchase it if I needed a tig I wouldn't use a ton.

i drive a honda

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nick Z32 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i dont think that machine even has high frequency... so no petal for you</TD></TR></TABLE>

was'nt there a guy that rippid his harbor freight unit apart then stuck a cheapo sewing pedal into it?

heat affected zone = huge O.O

if this thing can't weld might as well heat the Fk'er up and mold the 2 pieces together!

vtec_lude

The haze is huge but the welds look cold. :S

eclypzex

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vtec_lude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The haze is huge but the welds look cold. :S</TD></TR></TABLE>

or overfilled/overheated.. thats why it has that gray color to it and its raised.. no way that weld didnt have enough heat into it.

eclypzex

all in all it looks like a good little machine that can hold its own (to a point). if you could rig a pedal so you dont have to scratch start, and lower your heat a tad, you'll be set.

everlastwelder

I agree on 100% the protection. Hand and arms. Denim jacket at least. My 13 year old has a welding jacket, gloves, helmet, etc.. A couple friends at VanLinda Iron works showed me all the scars from the caner they had removed. They ordered the jacket for me that day. Good people there.

But one did tell me pushing the filler is a lot easier with one glove off Still should not do it.

LordAphotic

yeah pushing the filler rod is easier without a glove.... but thats cause gloves are so thick.. my friend had some nice thin welding gloves that made it easy to tig.... anyone know who makes these?

i drive a honda

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LordAphotic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah pushing the filler rod is easier without a glove.... but thats cause gloves are so thick.. my friend had some nice thin welding gloves that made it easy to tig.... anyone know who makes these?</TD></TR></TABLE>

just get a pair of the mechnix gloves. use that for gtaw, then use your thick gloves for stick or FCAW or what ever you have your gloves for

JdMaddKanic

I am curious to know which machine it actually is....whats the item number on it?
Ive been eyeballin' the same things but I am scared (skered) to death that it wont work for me as I am a noob at TIG and have limited expirience. Is it the lil' red machine or the mediu sized blue one that they just started advertising for.

I'm gonna ask SANTA for one for CHRISTMAS! a.k.a THE WIFE! lol!

everlastwelder

That sounds like a good idea on the mechanics gloves since I wear long sleeve (yes, in South Florida)..

I used do quick TIG welds and skip the gloves, you could smell the skin burn though you could not see any damage.

coupeinMT

Just bought a dynasty 200. F the budget, best purchase Ive ever made. Doesnt pulse but Itll do everything else. If the HF special works for you great but if you get to a place where you want some real control and consistency, make this investment! PS I like scratch start/liftarc

everlastwelder

I had a HF small MIG unit. And it worked well for the price. No gas on it (nasty spatter), the gas makes a big difference.

Have a friend with a Hobart that is a pain in the &*@#. Probably a defective unit as I see people say they are great.

I never had the HF unit cause me a problem. But I did let it go for more power and I wanted AC/Pulsed and Argon/gas. But it was not a bad unit.

Sounds like the Dynasty 200 is nice though.