Harbor Freight 80 Amp Inverter Arc / Stick Welder

Review of Harbor Freights 80 AMP Arc Inverter DC Stick Welder. It’s the cheapest stick welder Harbor Freight has. and Big surprise Harbor Freight is having a sale this weekend!!

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and if you really care for the details here is what they have on there site:

This inverter arc welder has three specialized inverter functions for more power and versatility. The Hot Start feature gets you started on welds quickly and prevents electrode sticking. Other features include a thermal overload protection with indicator light and an easy-carry shoulder strap to transport it to the job.

- Hot Start lets you start welds easily
- ARC Force monitors the voltage and provides additional current when needed
-Anti-stick technology allows the user to easily separate the electrodes from the workpiece
-Power Switch lights up to tell you the power is on
-Thermal overload protection with indicator light
- 5.5 ft. welding cable with dual-angle electrode holder
-5 ft. ground cable with clamp
-High welding current stability for consistent output
- DC current out provides stable output for good penetration

[raymondjurado]

Picking this up for the materials and consumables you showed here. Thanks. All I needed to know.

[fredhinck]

Bought one of these years ago, was totally blown away how well it worked. At max power, someone with experience can easily weld 1/4 inch thick material. Far better than any previous 110 volt ac buzz box. Might add, my main welder is a Dynasty 200 dx.

[scottfoster]

Honest and straight forward. These being DC makes this a great portable off a Genny quick patch to get back to the shop use. Be interesting to v groove some 1/4 inch plate with different rods then cut to see penetration waves.

[jayrhough]

Great video. I’m thinking about picking one up this weekend.

[eugene]

Good review, thanks. Helpful info on the rods. I recently bought a little Yeswelder stick welder. I was surprised, it's a capable little machine.

[gillihansmobilewelding]

The "hot start" is just a starting capacitor that releases a quick burst. The capacitor drains pretty much immediately so you have to give it a few seconds to charge up again, or just strike it like you mean it.😄

[Aukbok]

Uploaded a video and wrote a review on HFT about it the same day! Legend

[bernardsalazar]

@1:15. Did you mean ground in the + and electrode in the - plug? The video shows the opposite of what was said in the narration.

[everettware]

Can you review the ironton 80 amp stick from northern tools? I just picked one up and it’s very impressive. I ran 1lb of 7018 3/32 and never hit the duty cycle between cooling and cleaning my work piece.

[jsantaite]

Disclaimer: I never welded a thing in my life. Having said that, I own a pressure washing business, and I want to do some work on my own trailer and do a little fabricating. My question is, will this welder be ok to use on standard utility trailers that have square tubing? Thank You.

[tednielsen]

When I was in school we used the stick straight out (like Harry Potter) on overhead welds.

[jamesmuller]

I'm taking classes stick welding, can a machine like this one be goo's to practice at home, you know 1/4 coupons, I know is only rated for thinner but to practice ?

[rogueinvestor]

I've never welded anything before. I just started learning to weld. The first project I choose is to fix a blender blade shaft that I snapped by mistake. It's a 6mm stainless steel rod. I plan to weld a 6mm stainless steel bolt to extend the shaft so I can put the blades back on. Do you think this welder can take on that task?

[somethinburnin]

These welders really like Lincoln Fleetweld 12" long rods, you can find at Home Depot. Usually 6013, but online I found as big as 3/32 7014.

[ElGranRojo]

I wanna get one for my nephew to practice on hopefully he sticks to it (no pun intended)

[AdonisMediaProductions]

cool vide, thanks for posting. Would you think this is powerful enough to weld up an exhaust manifold for leaks?

[ocfrankj]

Can you do a vid on your round welding platform there? I like it

[israelg]

Which harbor freight welder is best for thin material?? Like sheet metal on a car ?

[derekbryant]

It'll burn 7014 real nice also I have this machine I'm a mobile guy I bought it to do some work in a confined space where I couldn't get a bigger machine on thin stock with a TIG rig I also upgraded my welding leads to number two leads and it preforms much better with this size cable no2 is the biggest cable that will fit into the connectors thickest material that I have welded with it using 3/32 e7014 is 3/16th I have also welded stainless steel 316 using 308 electrode also a 3/32 electrode on 1/8 material for being a little machine it's got a punch too many people under rate this machine because of the electrode size limitations but the key to being able to use this machine is being good at fit up the better you are at fabricating with joints and positioning the gaps for weld up the better the results will be for short run repairs this machine is good I've had mine for about a year

[nickbohman]

Will this machine be any different than welding on a bigger 220 machine? I want to learn to stick weld and this seems like a good option as long as I stay with thin metal