That old HF 80 isnt an inverter welder like these ones, doesnt work nearly as well and the weight is like double!

Check out Eastwood.


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I using a China freight titanium 45 a115 220 plasma cutter. It works very well and its price point is slightly under 1k.

I run it for a while at a time possible even 15 to 20 min straight. I have zero issues with it and will slice 1/8 at 15 amp on 120v.


Will go up to 5/8 plate on 240 45 amp. I just never deal with any steel that think.

Does require dry compressed air to blow the molten steel away.


I even melted away a lower control arm nut and my bushing wasnt smoking. This was on the 120 16 amp setting. Then I sliced the bolt off. Hit it with a 4 inch angle grinder and pushed the bolt right out that was seized

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It wouldnt suprise me if Eastwood has China make them for them and put an eastwood cover on them. Maybe they don't I honestly dont know.

I do know the China freight Daytona yellow 3 ton Jack is made in the exact same mfg plant as the snap on jacks are. Snap on tried to sue china freight over it and lost because the mfg is in China.

Only certain things are that way. I stay clear of their Jack stands as china freight 3 and 6 tons are junk.

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I wouldn't trust a 110v welder for 1/4" or even 3/16". My lincoln 140 barely gets the job done with 1/8" using solid wire. I might get a little more penetration with flux core but haven't tried. Tig welding has taught me in order to tack pieces without using a ton of wire, you need well above the typical amperage to get good penetration and a small effective tack. The 110v barely has enough juice to tack thin sheet together. It might have enough juice to glue together 3/16 but not enough to get as deep of a weld as a 220v welder.

Correct. Not enough amps there. It's hard to properly weld 1/8 on 110. You can do it bat it's harder. 1/4 would take at least 3 passes to weld it but would be as good as welds as a 240v welder can do. I am running a Lincoln mp210 myself.

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I love my Millermatic! It'll do any process except high frequency AC

using a Lincoln 180 gas shielded has done well for me. It is definitely a pricey setup when compared to the original flux core's that started this thread. I do trust my set up on 1/4" plate. I can run my setup on flux wire but wouldn't trust it past the 3/16th mark.

I guess my reasoning for chiming in with folks is there is a difference between having a welder and having a welder that will do what you want. If you are mostly going to do 1/8" and occasionally 3/16" then maybe a flux is for you. I'd use a small flux to repair gates and such at home. If you plan to use it to build your 4runner for off-road use and will need to repair frames/ plate bumpers/ sliders/ armor/ cut and tub, etc you are looking at 3/16-1/4" metal for most of that. Buying a flux for this purpose will leave you kicking yourself and out the money you spent for it when you could have got a better setup that better suited your needs up front.

That's not to say a fiscally sound approach is to get a cheaper flux core and practice and as you get better and feel you'd actually use a welder for projects then upgrade. At that point decide if you'll sale the flux to offset the cost of the new welder vs keep the flux as they are lighter and more maneuverable and can handle most repairs around home ( ie. gates and fences and such).


Thats my two cents that no one asked for.


Also want in on a plasma cutter...

I bought myself one of the HF Titanium 170! The reason is, I'm not going to find around shops to weld my stuff on my truck and get charged up the arse! lol. I'm DIY type of guy, so far I have welded my front bumper and sliders.!
Make sure you use 75% argon 25% Co2. You will get better results than flux core.

Plasma cutters are very handy. I have one for cutting my frame plates etc..

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Yes I perfer shield gas then Flux core. As fluc core will splatter a lot more. However Flux core works very well with rusty steel..;)

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ooh right on! never knew flux core works well with rusty steel. Maybe that is the intention to use flux core.

You're doing pretty well. I started welding myself not so long ago. My uncle Ben suggested me to do this because it is a promising profession, he is a welder himself. He told me that Both on-site and online classes are available. I can only say based on my little experience, your welding machine is certainly very good. Maybe I'll even think about buying one for myself. I will find out the price in my city, but if the price turns out to be too high, then the advantages of this welding machine are not worth it, because in general, each welding machine will work tolerably. Therefore, there is no point in overpaying too much.

Flux cores best use is tracking something back together out in the field well enough to get it to the shop and weld it properly.

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HF has a Vulcan 140 on clearance for $500 that comes complete with mig gun, shielding gas regulator, FC and stick with options for adding Tig Lift and aluminum spool gun.

Alternatively, I was looking at a few similarly equipped on Amazon. 1/4" is probably the thickest I'd weld but DIY/WIY bumpers are in my future so I'm looking for recommendations.

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