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The results say a lot.... each machine will perform differently with different consumables. Same as a firearm and brand of ammunition, a Remington 30.06 may shoot a minute of angle using federal ammunition at 150 grains where as a browning 30.06 may shoot a minute of angle using a Hornady 165 grain. Its all about matching personalities, Complementing strengths and weaknesses just like a marriage. I enjoyed the demonstration, and believe it gave a good amount of information for a person to run their own test on their specific equipment and know what results to expect. We all help each other learn by sharing what we did as individuals that didn't work, hopefully saving someone else a bunch of time finding the same results. I think this video will save many some time when trying to decide( with out the sales person boasting about a product) where to start.
@Mandel Adams what a great comment! Thank you! I'm having a lot of fun with this. Whenever I do something where there is a "test" involved i always start to get a bit consumed because I'm just like the viewer...i want to know how this is all going to shake out. I'm finding what I "think" will be the test winner is not always the case and that is making it fun because I'm also learning and hopefully passing on this knowledge to others as you pointed out. I'm going to do a couple more tests using some other brands and who knows how this will end but I'm having a blast watching it unfold. Thank you for your support.
I've got a really cheap flux core welder and the best wire (so far) is INE from Italy. Is it available in the US? if so, I'd like to see you test it on both welders just like you did today.
now that we know how that wire works in the expensive machine, what settings would you need to change/adjust to make each wire run perfect or as close to perfect like does the vapor wire need more amps or voltage does the vulcan wire need less etc be interesting to see which wires need what settings
@ThePoolman2007 great question! In my next series of testing I can play around with this and I'm sure we can come up with some data. Thanks for the suggestion!
@Antonio Claudio Michael thanks buddy! I do have a quick question for you after watching your electronics video where you tested mics, are you still happy with your rode mic? I'm trying to find something that sounds good inside my helmet without highlighting my heavy breathing.
Can you do a head-to-head test with the Chicago Electric flux 125 and the titanium easy weld 125 to compare the AC and DC welding with the Lincoln wire
@That Guy great suggestion. I looked up what you mentioned. Is it the Easy-Flux 125? Let me know and I'll get with the purchasing agent (me) and see if we can put something together. I like that idea.
@@BrandonLund Awesome man! And yes it is the easy flux 125. Let your agent know that he should probably just purchase the welder Harbor Freight and save the receipt LOL
Nice! I have the smaller 140 and i absolutely love it! Hobart makes nice stuff. For a while some of the Hobart units were shipped with Miller guns on them during the time the 2 companies merged.
It could just be your filler metal. If it's silverware it might be made of 316 (which is food grade). I think 316 can be substituted with 309L but I'm not positive of that. 309L is a good all around wire to use especially if your not sure of the metal your welding and it can be used to join dissimilar metals. SS flux core wire in general is very hard to use on thin metal.
thanx for sharing bro; I'm in the film industry and I know creating theses videos is no easy task. I'm a rookie welder at best, I'm picking up tip just watching you move around the gun and your set up
@Mark Brown thanks man! I'll be honest, I enjoy the video aspects much more then the welding aspects. I'm not great at editing but I absolutely love it. I just keep learning as I go.
Hay there Brandon My favourite wire to run as a flux core with my 2200 is the Esab Ultra 7100 Dual Shield flux core. yes you have to use 75/25 gas, but this wire is so very smooth. I use both 035 and 045. I buy it in 10 lb spools I don't know if you can get it in 2 lb spools. Try some .
I have a Lincoln SP-100 and it requires .035 flux when used, only NR-211MP in 10lb roll. So now the question: is a 220v welding rig better for flux than 120v?
@James KI5OEB it all depends what you are planning to do actually. 220 volt just gives you the ability to use more amperage which equates to being able to weld thicker material. You can weld 1/4" using self shielded wire on 120 volts and even thicker if you make multiple passes. 220 volt machines allow you to use bigger diameter wire to weld thicker materials in one pass so it you plan to do ocasional 1/4" with your 120 volt machine you should be all set. If you plan to weld 1/4" and up more frequently you would probably want to go with 220 volts.
@@BrandonLund my Hobart 205 AC stick is in my garage for the thick stuff, but frankly my 100 amp unit does good with a three passes I don’t get any use from the 7014 or 7018AC. I just make 1/8” projects mostly anyway. Headache racks and welding cart and many odds and ends projects.
Brandon I agree that there's must be a difference because of the price, what makes your test and video the more helpful is the fact that you put it together. I mean, Harbor Freight and Lincoln wire, for those who want to start welding and initially can't afford the expensive one. Thank you.
Glad you did this video. Question, I noticed you switch up dragging towards you vs away from you. Is that just a comfort thing or something more to it?
Another good video. Have you ever done a side by side test of shielding gases? I ran an argon /co2 mix vs pure co2 and decided the straight co2 is good enough for structural work, as opposed to body work.
I bought that same Harbor Freight welder from a coworker for $30.00 He only used it one time! Definitely lighter than my Hobart 140. I typically run Lincoln or Hobart flux core. Vulcan in a pinch.. Blue Demon flux core for stainless.
@Eeyore it's a pretty decent welder and you got a smoking deal! I'm going to have to pick up some blue demon wire. I was told the blue demon and the Hobart are the same wires. I was also told the Matheson and Lincoln were were the same but the tests proved that to be false.
I just purchased the TransSteel but the shipping company is taking their sweet ass time. What rollers do I need to purchase for flux core? Can you run dual shield?
@jdeluisa If I remember correctly you should get a set of .035 included but I could be wrong. HERE is an awesome resource that has been a huge help for me understanding all the machines functions. He has a 3 part series on this machine. I highly recommend you check it out if your not already familiar with it th-cam.com/video/L5n-Kgs0Vu4/w-d-xo.html
Hi Brandon. Great test again. Do you have different rollers for the welder to transport flux-core or normal welding wire. It seems that flux- core is softer and needs ribbings on the roller. But amazing results so I hope you can show more on this item.
I'm actually glad that the Vulcan wire did better than before because it coincided with what the viewers were experiencing also. I was actually quite surprised.
It would be nice to see a bit more of the spectrum of wires available. I like Lincoln but it isn't available here and online it is one of the most expensive. I have used Amazon's Red Devil with good results as well as Hobart's line. There are several others I have used as well. I have never sat down with all of the varieties at once and ran them so it would be very interesting to see the results. I don't use automotive store wires because I always find them to be extremely high priced for what they sell. They also locally have a very limited selection at any given time. Nice project. You ought to do the same with the machines to see what real world differences the entry level all the way to the gold plated priced machines display.
Awesome video ! Just as I thought! Lincoln wire was going to come out on top . But definitely the machine makes a difference! The wire quality also makes a difference Great job !!!
One of my favorite welders due to the size and stuff is my titanium 125 from harbor freight. I blew through the wire that it comes with and switched to the Lincoln wire from Home Depot and it blows it away. That Lincoln flux core is killer.
@Michael T. That's awesome! I'm trying to setup a test between your welder you mentioned and the HF welder in the video. I'm really curious to see the difference between your DC welder and the AC version.
@@BrandonLund the difference is night and day. I have had both and the titanium is so much better. More compact, more options, more portable, better designed, much smoother operation, cleaner welds… the list goes on. I have a Lincoln power mig 210mp and a Lincoln square wave tig 200 and I still use my titanium quite often simply because it’s lunch box sized, requires no gas, and can run off 120v.
@Michael T you sound a lot like me! You grab what works regardless what the box says. Some of my cheapo welders are my go to just because they work as they should and setup is usually super easy and hassle free. Sometimes I spend more time adjusting voltage and wire speed to get it perfect when I can simply turn the knob from #3 to #4 to get more heat. I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks like this lol.
Brandon, Love the channel, you make it easy to understand what you are doing. Keep it up, I do have a question for you. I like the welding/fabrication table but I wonder how much would be sacrificed if I used quarter inch steel instead of the three eighths you used? That extra eighth of an inch makes the table top 95 lbs and with quarter inch it is a manageable 64 lbs. Alot easier for one person to lift and move. What are your thoughts?
@salceti Thank you for your support! I'm not sure how well the 1/4" top would work if you were to use fixture clamps on it. I know that after a while the 1/4" plate will eventually start to warp from repeated welding. I'm not trying to discourage you but I don't think you would be happy with anything less than 3/8.
@@BrandonLund Thanks, that was what I thought but wanted your opinion. So I guess I will figure a way to make the 3/8" steel work, before I get to deep I need to get my hands on a Mag Drill to do it right. I am currently negotiatng some handy man work to get the money to buy the drill, LOL. Thanks for your channel again.
@salceti anytime man! another option that I have seen people do is they use the 1/4" plate and drill the holes like normal but when they weld they lay a scrap piece of 3/8 plate on top then weld on top of that. It prevents the 1/4" plate from warping. The more I think about it, I think the fixture clamps would work with 1/4" plate. You can also rent a mag drill too from your local tool rental.
@@BrandonLund are you saying that the fixture would work as well with 1/4 inch plate for tack welding an assembly but then remove the tacked assembly and add another layer of plate on top of the fixture table to do the final welding?
A lot of the prefab tables come in 1/4" thickness so I don't think you will have a problem using your fixture clamps on a table that's 1/4" thick. I don't think you would have a problem tacking everything together either on the 1/4" top but then when it's time to fully weld everything you could slide a scap piece of 3/8" 12"x12" (or whatever size piece works for you) under it to prevent too much heat from transferring to your 1/4" top.
Pretty good comparison videos. I agree with the Vulcan being up in the top. I personally found that my everlast likes to run blue demon slightly better than Vulcan tho
I had a problem with my welder with BOC wire, small runs about 50mm long we’re nice but soon as I went longer than that the welds started making a mess. I thought it was welder, so I changed wire to CIG The results were amazing. The welds didn’t vary at all with lengths of welds.
@Christopher Salisbury Thanks man! I'm going to try it! I've "heard" that the Blue Demon and the Hobart are the same wire made in the same factory....I don't know if it's true but we will find out really soon. I was also "told" the Lincoln and the Matheson were the same made in the same factory and we all know how that test turned out. It should be interesting but I've heard the Blue Demon is good stuff.
Brandon, its a relatively common wood shop practice to turn on dust collectors and other shop machines when current demand of certain machines are sensed. Table Saws, Thickness Planers, etc. "Etc" can be a welder! If you need any help with this let me know. I'm a retired Electronics Engineering Tech. Grandpa Chris
@C DRIVE I got a little chuckle out of the "Grandpa Chris". I'm a grandpa too :). You have peaked my curiosity. Is it possible to make this automatic but still be budget friendly? If so not only would I be interested but thousands that watch this channel probably would be too.
Please do this, I am curious to see if I would be able to duplicate this on my channel. I am just now learning how to mess with anything electric, besides the basics, I just let others handle this. I have a tv that needs a new compacitor, I need to figure out what one to use. We found it on a TH-cam channel once, but I can't find the video to know which compacitor to use.
@@BrandonLund In a comment I left at one of your other videos I told you that I wanted to adopt you as the perfect Grandson. My 27 year old grandson has never shown any interest in either my electronics or wood / metal shop. So my offer is still open! ;-) Automating current sensing isn't going to break the bank. After I posted my comment I searched through eBay's offerings of current sensing relays and my eyes glazed over from all the offerings. I limited my search criteria to medium loads at 1 - 30A max because we won't be sensing the current at the welder's output. We will be monitoring the input current at the 120VAC or 240VAC line side. Sadly, eBay has become increasingly Chinese import listings. While I've learned to begrudgingly accept America's demise as a manufacturing giant, I'm not willing to cut out American based suppliers of those items. So I headed over to Amazon and found the same model. I know it's not coming direct from China because it's supposed to be delivered (12- July) tomorrow. www.amazon.com/dp/B07WF1HGHG?psc=1&smid=AYAQCA6J7ASI3&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp This model will provide a contacts closure when current demand is sensed. These contacts are rated for 240V AC or DC @ 500mA max. The Contacts are rated as infinite cycling so I'm more than certain that they're employing a none mechanical solid state Thyristor because no electro-mechanical device could claim that. Give me a few days to test it and design a practical circuit to handle the type of constant "Run" - "Stop" duty that welding requires. It's very different than firing up a dust collector for a table saw. I will do my best to keep the circuitry simple, inexpensive and with commonly procured components.
Just curious, Brandon. Would it not have been better to keep your expensive machine on AC (if possible) to make a true comparison since the Harbor Freight welder only did AC? Thanks, Jim
Great tip Jim. I don't think it's capable of switching from DC mode AC. I checked on line briefly and couldn't find anything. I'm pretty sure it's a DC only machine but that was an excellent point you made 👍
@@BrandonLund I converted my Harbor Freight 125 to DC and I love it. DCEN and the splatter is much less and the penetration if really good. Very much a learning process. I am in the middle of a project of building a lawn areator. It is FUN!!! DC is much better and that is why I thought of comparing with AC on your wire evaluation. Have a great day!!! Enjoy your videos.
@@BrandonLund I can send you some photos of what I did and if you search TH-cam there are lots of videos on how to do it. I did my own way as I have been an electronic tech for 45 years (retired) and now learning a new skill!!!
@ Samuel they do and that's why I wanted to leave the settings fixed if possible that way its an out of the box test because all wires given the same thickness should theoretically run decent on a set voltage.
I have noticed Lincoln wire does well in cheap machines like the harbir freight units as well as exspensive machines like esab, vulcan, feronious, Lincoln welders, Hobart, and more @brandon lund
@Antonio Claudio Michael I agree! Now that I know Lincoln (for now until I test more wires) seems to be the best so far for flux core I'll probably try to do the same for solid wire and see how that shakes out. I'm having a lot of fun doing these tests because I'm also learning as I go.
every wire works best with different settings some need more volts than others cause they are not made the same way so fine tune the settings for each wire seperatelly and then check the results again and show us the settings each wire prefers
@tylor dupont with enough time and practice I can make pretty much any wire run as good as the next especially in a high end machine. Im trying to remove that factor. All electrodes are designed to run within a specific range because its manufactured or supposed to be manufactured to specifications. Running the wire at a constant removes those variables and you are left with testing the quality. Wires that have less quality control will not run as well as one that do which is why a GS wire and an 11 wire can and will run drastically different because they are held to different standards.
@@BrandonLund i have worked in the automotive industry for 12 years and a metal fab company for 3 years, and i have checked with several companies on their welding wire, and they all give a different spec range, and usually is indicated on the packaging if in the box or on a very small sticker on the shrink wrap! also from my experience most flux core wire likes to be ran at 16.5V to 18V and wire speed is different for every company too, but each company should advise you or their setting range on their website or over the phone
Long story but back when Chucke2009 had a channel he featured their battery powered unit and raved about its German technology. I did a bunch of research and they came out on top for I wanted
Sorry I missed a couple videos due to Brain farts and a 100 year old I pad that crashes more then Doans pills ever made , I bet myself a nickel it would be the Lincoln wire , thanks and stay safe TANK
Ran flux core using Lincoln welder for years. HD and Loews 1lb spools. Tried this, Kiswel USA, and never going back. if you like Lincoln wire I would strongly recommend Kiswel. No affiliation to the company. I just buy it on Amazon.
If anybody is considering the HF 110v flux core machines, do yourself a favor and spend the extra few bucks on the titanium 125. The dc output is much smoother and it only weighs like 15#.
Thats awesome Keith! I love doing tests like this. For those using something different it might help them get better results and for the ones using it already it just confirms it without them having to experiment. In my opinion the hf welder does a pretty good job
No but replacement parts aren't cheap on this machine and the nozzle protects the threads and gas ports from weld spatter. Plus I wanted the setup to be the same on both weld tests.
I don't use a nozzle either. I can see right what I'm doing and get right in most tight spots. While my machine is equipped to mig, I don't ever bother.
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Nice setup on the remote for all fans and the fume extractor @8:01 @Brandon Lund
Thanks Antonio it makes it way easier trying to juggle everything (when I remember to turn it on)
@@BrandonLund right remembering is the hardest part lol 😆
The results say a lot.... each machine will perform differently with different consumables. Same as a firearm and brand of ammunition, a Remington 30.06 may shoot a minute of angle using federal ammunition at 150 grains where as a browning 30.06 may shoot a minute of angle using a Hornady 165 grain. Its all about matching personalities, Complementing strengths and weaknesses just like a marriage. I enjoyed the demonstration, and believe it gave a good amount of information for a person to run their own test on their specific equipment and know what results to expect. We all help each other learn by sharing what we did as individuals that didn't work, hopefully saving someone else a bunch of time finding the same results. I think this video will save many some time when trying to decide( with out the sales person boasting about a product) where to start.
@Mandel Adams what a great comment! Thank you! I'm having a lot of fun with this. Whenever I do something where there is a "test" involved i always start to get a bit consumed because I'm just like the viewer...i want to know how this is all going to shake out. I'm finding what I "think" will be the test winner is not always the case and that is making it fun because I'm also learning and hopefully passing on this knowledge to others as you pointed out. I'm going to do a couple more tests using some other brands and who knows how this will end but I'm having a blast watching it unfold. Thank you for your support.
I've got a really cheap flux core welder and the best wire (so far) is INE from Italy. Is it available in the US? if so, I'd like to see you test it on both welders just like you did today.
@Neddy L it is and I'm going to be ordering some. I've had a couple mention this and I've never tried it so it should be interesting.
now that we know how that wire works in the expensive machine, what settings would you need to change/adjust to make each wire run perfect or as close to perfect like does the vapor wire need more amps or voltage does the vulcan wire need less etc be interesting to see which wires need what settings
@ThePoolman2007 great question! In my next series of testing I can play around with this and I'm sure we can come up with some data. Thanks for the suggestion!
Love the information, enjoyed the comparison tests
Thank you!
I'm curious to see how Blue Demon wire works on both machines.
@Bryant Fry me too! We are going to find out really soon :)
My everlast machine loves blue demon 👍🏼
Great video @Brandon Lund
@Antonio Claudio Michael thanks buddy! I do have a quick question for you after watching your electronics video where you tested mics, are you still happy with your rode mic? I'm trying to find something that sounds good inside my helmet without highlighting my heavy breathing.
Can you do a head-to-head test with the Chicago Electric flux 125 and the titanium easy weld 125 to compare the AC and DC welding with the Lincoln wire
@That Guy great suggestion. I looked up what you mentioned. Is it the Easy-Flux 125? Let me know and I'll get with the purchasing agent (me) and see if we can put something together. I like that idea.
@@BrandonLund Awesome man! And yes it is the easy flux 125. Let your agent know that he should probably just purchase the welder Harbor Freight and save the receipt LOL
Hahaha will do ;)
Just ordered a Hobart. it does all process welding. Thank you for this Brandon!
Which model Hobart did you get? I love mine!
@@BrandonLund Hobart Handler 200
Nice! I have the smaller 140 and i absolutely love it! Hobart makes nice stuff. For a while some of the Hobart units were shipped with Miller guns on them during the time the 2 companies merged.
@@BrandonLund I did stick off shore,I just finished MIG class and can't wait to do some of your diy projects!
Thanks man! 👍
How did you made your fixture table? 😊
@Warren Zausa I used some scrap metal and then built a template to get everything perfectly square th-cam.com/video/hDA4NMQY1J8/w-d-xo.html
Great comparison again Brandon
@Michael Anderson thanks man!
I have a goofy question, I use a titanium flux core welder, when I try to weld thin stainless with it I burn thru it, can you advise ?
Are you using 309 gasless wire? It take a lot of amps and it's not best suited welding on thin metal.
@@BrandonLund not shure, its what ever the welder came with. I am trying to weld stainless silverware, if that helps.
It could just be your filler metal. If it's silverware it might be made of 316 (which is food grade). I think 316 can be substituted with 309L but I'm not positive of that. 309L is a good all around wire to use especially if your not sure of the metal your welding and it can be used to join dissimilar metals. SS flux core wire in general is very hard to use on thin metal.
@@BrandonLund Ok, thank you
thanx for sharing bro; I'm in the film industry and I know creating theses videos is no easy task. I'm a rookie welder at best, I'm picking up tip just watching you move around the gun and your set up
@Mark Brown thanks man! I'll be honest, I enjoy the video aspects much more then the welding aspects. I'm not great at editing but I absolutely love it. I just keep learning as I go.
Enjoyed your video once again
Thanks ❤😘
INE is really great in Flux Core. Less splatter etc. give it a try.
@Chuck Thomas that's one of the other wires I am getting! I'm also getting some Blue Demon wire. It should be interesting!
I wonder if the ground clamp makes a difference. I’m thinking about putting a better ground clamp on my titanium flux core welder.
Absolutely. MIG likes a real good ground and is very finicky when it's not a solid connection.
Hay there Brandon My favourite wire to run as a flux core with my 2200 is the Esab Ultra 7100 Dual Shield flux core. yes you have to use 75/25 gas, but this wire is so very smooth. I use both 035 and 045. I buy it in 10 lb spools I don't know if you can get it in 2 lb spools. Try some .
I've heard the Esab wire is really good so I might just buy the 10lb and give it a go!
I agree its super smooth @Bruce D
@@BrandonLund he is right it's amazing wire
You are the best, thanks
@bufunga thanks man I appreciate it! 🙏👍
I have a Lincoln SP-100 and it requires .035 flux when used, only NR-211MP in 10lb roll. So now the question: is a 220v welding rig better for flux than 120v?
@James KI5OEB it all depends what you are planning to do actually. 220 volt just gives you the ability to use more amperage which equates to being able to weld thicker material. You can weld 1/4" using self shielded wire on 120 volts and even thicker if you make multiple passes. 220 volt machines allow you to use bigger diameter wire to weld thicker materials in one pass so it you plan to do ocasional 1/4" with your 120 volt machine you should be all set. If you plan to weld 1/4" and up more frequently you would probably want to go with 220 volts.
@@BrandonLund my Hobart 205 AC stick is in my garage for the thick stuff, but frankly my 100 amp unit does good with a three passes I don’t get any use from the 7014 or 7018AC. I just make 1/8” projects mostly anyway. Headache racks and welding cart and many odds and ends projects.
Thanks for sharing with us Brandon. Appreciate your sharing. Fred. 🙏🏻🙏🏻👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👋👋
@OLD DAWG DREAMING thanks Fred! As always I appreciate you being a loyal supporter :)
Brandon I agree that there's must be a difference because of the price, what makes your test and video the more helpful is the fact that you put it together. I mean, Harbor Freight and Lincoln wire, for those who want to start welding and initially can't afford the expensive one. Thank you.
@Pablo Lynch thanks Pablo!
Glad you did this video. Question, I noticed you switch up dragging towards you vs away from you. Is that just a comfort thing or something more to it?
Good eye Rob! I was dragging in both directions but i changed towards me to keep less of my arm out of the shot
Another good video. Have you ever done a side by side test of shielding gases? I ran an argon /co2 mix vs pure co2 and decided the straight co2 is good enough for structural work, as opposed to body work.
@Timothy Martin I've used both but never in a side by side test. I think this would be quite interesting! Thank yu for the suggestion!
I have used the Vulcan wire it does best in higher end Machines @Brandon Lund
Awesome video
@jdeluisaThanks!
I would like to see INETUB wire tested
@Rocket Stoves Rock thanks man for the suggestion! that is one the wires I'm going to test next
I bought that same Harbor Freight welder from a coworker for $30.00 He only used it one time! Definitely lighter than my Hobart 140.
I typically run Lincoln or Hobart flux core. Vulcan in a pinch.. Blue Demon flux core for stainless.
@Eeyore it's a pretty decent welder and you got a smoking deal! I'm going to have to pick up some blue demon wire. I was told the blue demon and the Hobart are the same wires. I was also told the Matheson and Lincoln were were the same but the tests proved that to be false.
I just purchased the TransSteel but the shipping company is taking their sweet ass time. What rollers do I need to purchase for flux core? Can you run dual shield?
@jdeluisa If I remember correctly you should get a set of .035 included but I could be wrong. HERE is an awesome resource that has been a huge help for me understanding all the machines functions. He has a 3 part series on this machine. I highly recommend you check it out if your not already familiar with it th-cam.com/video/L5n-Kgs0Vu4/w-d-xo.html
Hi Brandon. Great test again. Do you have different rollers for the welder to transport flux-core or normal welding wire. It seems that flux- core is softer and needs ribbings on the roller.
But amazing results so I hope you can show more on this item.
Yes and yes :) Because flux core is hollow it requires less tension to feed which is the reason for the serrated drive rolls :)
Great job Brandon. Thought they might run better on the Fronius. I found the same thing going from a cheap welder to my Kemppi.
I'm actually glad that the Vulcan wire did better than before because it coincided with what the viewers were experiencing also. I was actually quite surprised.
@@BrandonLund Well worth the test then. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
It would be nice to see a bit more of the spectrum of wires available. I like Lincoln but it isn't available here and online it is one of the most expensive. I have used Amazon's Red Devil with good results as well as Hobart's line. There are several others I have used as well. I have never sat down with all of the varieties at once and ran them so it would be very interesting to see the results. I don't use automotive store wires because I always find them to be extremely high priced for what they sell. They also locally have a very limited selection at any given time. Nice project. You ought to do the same with the machines to see what real world differences the entry level all the way to the gold plated priced machines display.
Thanks man! I plan to do more real soon :)
Good test. I felt Lincoln would perform well in this test as well.
Earl It seems to run pretty consistent in whatever machine I run it in.
Awesome video ! Just as I thought! Lincoln wire was going to come out on top . But definitely the machine makes a difference! The wire quality also makes a difference Great job !!!
@Gadgets House of Build I'm impressed too! Lincoln is good stuff.
One of my favorite welders due to the size and stuff is my titanium 125 from harbor freight. I blew through the wire that it comes with and switched to the Lincoln wire from Home Depot and it blows it away. That Lincoln flux core is killer.
@Michael T. That's awesome! I'm trying to setup a test between your welder you mentioned and the HF welder in the video. I'm really curious to see the difference between your DC welder and the AC version.
@@BrandonLund the difference is night and day. I have had both and the titanium is so much better. More compact, more options, more portable, better designed, much smoother operation, cleaner welds… the list goes on. I have a Lincoln power mig 210mp and a Lincoln square wave tig 200 and I still use my titanium quite often simply because it’s lunch box sized, requires no gas, and can run off 120v.
@Michael T you sound a lot like me! You grab what works regardless what the box says. Some of my cheapo welders are my go to just because they work as they should and setup is usually super easy and hassle free. Sometimes I spend more time adjusting voltage and wire speed to get it perfect when I can simply turn the knob from #3 to #4 to get more heat. I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks like this lol.
Brandon, Love the channel, you make it easy to understand what you are doing. Keep it up, I do have a question for you. I like the welding/fabrication table but I wonder how much would be sacrificed if I used quarter inch steel instead of the three eighths you used? That extra eighth of an inch makes the table top 95 lbs and with quarter inch it is a manageable 64 lbs. Alot easier for one person to lift and move. What are your thoughts?
@salceti Thank you for your support! I'm not sure how well the 1/4" top would work if you were to use fixture clamps on it. I know that after a while the 1/4" plate will eventually start to warp from repeated welding. I'm not trying to discourage you but I don't think you would be happy with anything less than 3/8.
@@BrandonLund Thanks, that was what I thought but wanted your opinion. So I guess I will figure a way to make the 3/8" steel work, before I get to deep I need to get my hands on a Mag Drill to do it right. I am currently negotiatng some handy man work to get the money to buy the drill, LOL.
Thanks for your channel again.
@salceti anytime man! another option that I have seen people do is they use the 1/4" plate and drill the holes like normal but when they weld they lay a scrap piece of 3/8 plate on top then weld on top of that. It prevents the 1/4" plate from warping. The more I think about it, I think the fixture clamps would work with 1/4" plate. You can also rent a mag drill too from your local tool rental.
@@BrandonLund are you saying that the fixture would work as well with 1/4 inch plate for tack welding an assembly but then remove the tacked assembly and add another layer of plate on top of the fixture table to do the final welding?
A lot of the prefab tables come in 1/4" thickness so I don't think you will have a problem using your fixture clamps on a table that's 1/4" thick. I don't think you would have a problem tacking everything together either on the 1/4" top but then when it's time to fully weld everything you could slide a scap piece of 3/8" 12"x12" (or whatever size piece works for you) under it to prevent too much heat from transferring to your 1/4" top.
Try running some P-3 wire I run solid it works awesome for me I have a Hobart welder.
I've heard good things about it. I'll have to give it a try!
Pretty good comparison videos. I agree with the Vulcan being up in the top. I personally found that my everlast likes to run blue demon slightly better than Vulcan tho
@Jonathan w I've heard good things about the blue demon wire but I haven't tried it YET. I'll be ordering some and doing more tests like this
I had a problem with my welder with BOC wire, small runs about 50mm long we’re nice but soon as I went longer than that the welds started making a mess. I thought it was welder, so I changed wire to CIG
The results were amazing. The welds didn’t vary at all with lengths of welds.
@BonzaBangerz isn't it amazing how one wire to the next can run so differently!
Blue Demon is a somewhat popular wire you might try.
@Christopher Salisbury Thanks man! I'm going to try it! I've "heard" that the Blue Demon and the Hobart are the same wire made in the same factory....I don't know if it's true but we will find out really soon. I was also "told" the Lincoln and the Matheson were the same made in the same factory and we all know how that test turned out. It should be interesting but I've heard the Blue Demon is good stuff.
Brandon, its a relatively common wood shop practice to turn on dust collectors and other shop machines when current demand of certain machines are sensed. Table Saws, Thickness Planers, etc. "Etc" can be a welder! If you need any help with this let me know. I'm a retired Electronics Engineering Tech.
Grandpa Chris
@C DRIVE I got a little chuckle out of the "Grandpa Chris". I'm a grandpa too :). You have peaked my curiosity. Is it possible to make this automatic but still be budget friendly? If so not only would I be interested but thousands that watch this channel probably would be too.
Please do this, I am curious to see if I would be able to duplicate this on my channel. I am just now learning how to mess with anything electric, besides the basics, I just let others handle this. I have a tv that needs a new compacitor, I need to figure out what one to use. We found it on a TH-cam channel once, but I can't find the video to know which compacitor to use.
@@BrandonLund In a comment I left at one of your other videos I told you that I wanted to adopt you as the perfect Grandson. My 27 year old grandson has never shown any interest in either my electronics or wood / metal shop. So my offer is still open! ;-)
Automating current sensing isn't going to break the bank. After I posted my comment I searched through eBay's offerings of current sensing relays and my eyes glazed over from all the offerings. I limited my search criteria to medium loads at 1 - 30A max because we won't be sensing the current at the welder's output. We will be monitoring the input current at the 120VAC or 240VAC line side. Sadly, eBay has become increasingly Chinese import listings. While I've learned to begrudgingly accept America's demise as a manufacturing giant, I'm not willing to cut out American based suppliers of those items. So I headed over to Amazon and found the same model. I know it's not coming direct from China because it's supposed to be delivered (12- July) tomorrow. www.amazon.com/dp/B07WF1HGHG?psc=1&smid=AYAQCA6J7ASI3&ref_=chk_typ_imgToDp
This model will provide a contacts closure when current demand is sensed. These contacts are rated for 240V AC or DC @ 500mA max. The Contacts are rated as infinite cycling so I'm more than certain that they're employing a none mechanical solid state Thyristor because no electro-mechanical device could claim that.
Give me a few days to test it and design a practical circuit to handle the type of constant "Run" - "Stop" duty that welding requires. It's very different than firing up a dust collector for a table saw. I will do my best to keep the circuitry simple, inexpensive and with commonly procured components.
I found the HF wire to run pretty well. That’s with a Titanium 125. I haven’t tried it with my esab. But esab wire is pretty good, if you can get it.
@Mel Gross I heard esab wire is good also but I haven't tried any. I also heard INETUB is really good. I going to order some soon and find out
Just curious, Brandon. Would it not have been better to keep your expensive machine on AC (if possible) to make a true comparison since the Harbor Freight welder only did AC? Thanks, Jim
Great tip Jim. I don't think it's capable of switching from DC mode AC. I checked on line briefly and couldn't find anything. I'm pretty sure it's a DC only machine but that was an excellent point you made 👍
@@BrandonLund I converted my Harbor Freight 125 to DC and I love it. DCEN and the splatter is much less and the penetration if really good. Very much a learning process. I am in the middle of a project of building a lawn areator. It is FUN!!! DC is much better and that is why I thought of comparing with AC on your wire evaluation. Have a great day!!! Enjoy your videos.
@Jim MacSuga thank you for your support! I'm going to have to look into that conversion and see what's involved. I like that idea!
@@BrandonLund I can send you some photos of what I did and if you search TH-cam there are lots of videos on how to do it. I did my own way as I have been an electronic tech for 45 years (retired) and now learning a new skill!!!
If you want some photos, PM me on facebook
I would tend to think that the welder setting require more variations to allow for optimum quality of each individual welds.
@ Samuel they do and that's why I wanted to leave the settings fixed if possible that way its an out of the box test because all wires given the same thickness should theoretically run decent on a set voltage.
@@BrandonLund you are assuming the flux core composition is the almost the same for all the wires
That Fronius Welder will eat anything. Probably ought to feed it a Big Mac every couple of months just to keep it lubed ; ) Great vid! Thanks!!!
@Mark Ashlock thanks man! It's a pretty sweet machine for sure!
I have noticed Lincoln wire does well in cheap machines like the harbir freight units as well as exspensive machines like esab, vulcan, feronious, Lincoln welders, Hobart, and more @brandon lund
@Antonio Claudio Michael I agree! Now that I know Lincoln (for now until I test more wires) seems to be the best so far for flux core I'll probably try to do the same for solid wire and see how that shakes out. I'm having a lot of fun doing these tests because I'm also learning as I go.
Think is another couple a videos inside vs outside with or without cup welding with fluxcore wire lol
What about solid wire being run at 19cfh vs 20cfh vs 21cfh vs 22cfh vs 23 cfh....you get the picture Milk it for all its worth 🤣🤣🤣
Shamming My 10 years kid trying to learn the trade
in my world is no question a stupid question only stupid answers
every wire works best with different settings some need more volts than others cause they are not made the same way so fine tune the settings for each wire seperatelly and then check the results again and show us the settings each wire prefers
@tylor dupont with enough time and practice I can make pretty much any wire run as good as the next especially in a high end machine. Im trying to remove that factor. All electrodes are designed to run within a specific range because its manufactured or supposed to be manufactured to specifications. Running the wire at a constant removes those variables and you are left with testing the quality. Wires that have less quality control will not run as well as one that do which is why a GS wire and an 11 wire can and will run drastically different because they are held to different standards.
@@BrandonLund i have worked in the automotive industry for 12 years and a metal fab company for 3 years, and i have checked with several companies on their welding wire, and they all give a different spec range, and usually is indicated on the packaging if in the box or on a very small sticker on the shrink wrap! also from my experience most flux core wire likes to be ran at 16.5V to 18V and wire speed is different for every company too, but each company should advise you or their setting range on their website or over the phone
Why use the cup at all? I dont think its nessary just a questio
Thanks for All your videos
It's not necessary but it insulates the contact tip and it protects the nozzle threads from spatter.
I don't know much about welders but your channel is the only place I have heard of FRONIUS welders. Why did you decide to go with them?
Long story but back when Chucke2009 had a channel he featured their battery powered unit and raved about its German technology. I did a bunch of research and they came out on top for I wanted
Sorry I missed a couple videos due to Brain farts and a 100 year old I pad that crashes more then Doans pills ever made , I bet myself a nickel it would be the Lincoln wire , thanks and stay safe TANK
@Tank Soldier thanks man and I'm glad youre back!
Ran flux core using Lincoln welder for years. HD and Loews 1lb spools. Tried this, Kiswel USA, and never going back. if you like Lincoln wire I would strongly recommend Kiswel. No affiliation to the company. I just buy it on Amazon.
Great to know! Thank you I will give it a try @gmarch4618
Can’t go wrong with 8010
@Bradley Reinhold To my knowledge they don't make an 8010 in wire but I could be wrong...
If anybody is considering the HF 110v flux core machines, do yourself a favor and spend the extra few bucks on the titanium 125. The dc output is much smoother and it only weighs like 15#.
Ya know, now your going to have to do the same test with solid core wire at some point . Just sayn'.
@Howard Grant I totally agree! 👍
That's not loud at all...I personally would have no problems watching your vids with the exhaust fan running. Fwiw..
Thanks!👍
First comment!! YES!!
Right on Christopher!
That vapor wire is junk did bad on cheap machine and exspensive machine
I'm guessing they don't sell much of it.
That’s the only wire I use is that Lincoln wire with the same hazard freight welder
Thats awesome Keith! I love doing tests like this. For those using something different it might help them get better results and for the ones using it already it just confirms it without them having to experiment. In my opinion the hf welder does a pretty good job
No need to have ur nozzle on ur mig gun while running flux core
No but replacement parts aren't cheap on this machine and the nozzle protects the threads and gas ports from weld spatter. Plus I wanted the setup to be the same on both weld tests.
@@BrandonLund just cover the threads in anti splatter and save the nozzle from being ruined
I don't use a nozzle either. I can see right what I'm doing and get right in most tight spots. While my machine is equipped to mig, I don't ever bother.