Are Harbor Freight Welding Rods Any Good?

Harbor Freight's Vulcan and Chicago Electric welding electrodes are cheap, but are they any good? In this video I test them out and compare the Harbor Freight rods to Lincoln Electric.

[magic]

You used the word "test", this is not a test in any way. No controls, no prep, inexperienced welder, the beads...I'll just stop there.

[dennisyoung]

The 1/16 ones appear to be *rutile-cellulose* - run good on ~ 40 amps or so. Good for small repairs when only a 110 outlet is handy.

[Nord]

On the vise u put the Lincoln weld near the vise jaws & the Vulcan weld higher up. Do another more accurate break test. Also get the beads the same. You needed a higher bead on the Vulcan to be fair, turn the amps down.

[wemcal]

I have always had problems with HF rods and Flux core... lots of splatter, and don't hold... I stopped using them 15 years ago

[shawnjackson]

Your using two different size rods the lincon rod is slightly larger turn your amps down on that 3 32nds rod and you'll get the same strength as the other....

[hubertrobinson]

Harbour Freight rods are funny to work with sometimes you get really good results that encourages you to buy more then the next purchase is total garbage I only use them now if nothing else is available

[whorider]

I recommend the vulcan rods for people/students practicing to weld. Just bang for your buck if you just running beads for practicing. Nothing structural like he mentioned in the video

[drpeppero]

I have HF 6011. 3g uphill 10 gauge steel at 80 amps no problem penetrating and welding both front and back. Downhill on the other is a no go. It won't maintain an arc. The puddle stops the arc as well. I had half a Lincoln 6011 and no issue going down hill and penetration .

[JayWillis]

I was always told the harbor freight rods were garbage, but you pretty much proved that wrong!
I'd build a trailer with them but probably use something better for the tongue and spring mounts! Lol

[BigSarnt]

The 6013 Chicago Electric rods are so forgiving. The Vulcan on the other hand (6013) we're not so forgiving. I am practicing welding so I'm definitely not doing something right. Any tips for a new guy come on and pass them down

[jackmioff]

I don't buy any power tools from hobo freight or any serious equipment a customer might see but their rods weld really damn great! Super crispy and fill in real nice

[fierrosoft]

The welds are bad. You're supposed to test a weld when the bead is consistent. I have used lincoln, hobart, and hf rods they all the same.

[gussferretti]

The 6011 vulcans run way better than lincoln

[markm]

Harbor freight welding rods and spools are garbage. It looks like a weld but has less strength than the metal around it. I’ve never even heard of a weld breaking until I used that crap, If it’s half the price you can bet its less than half as good. Never again

[avilestorres]

Those Rods are horse shit. You made me think they were alright. I when out to buy them. And when I used them they were just horse shit 🐴!