New 90 Amp Flux wire welder

[Thunderrig15]

I am new to the forum and this is my first post...
Just wanted to share my experience with the new welder I bought:

A few days ago I bought the new "black" 90 amp welder for $75... Immediately I noticed differences in this welder from the older "blue" 90 A models. The spool holder is better made, the wire feed mechanism has been enhanced and has a 2 sided feed wheel for either .030" wire or .035" wire. It feeds pretty steady and smooth.
The box says it's a hot tip welder, but it is only hot when the trigger is pulled.
I also noticed the manual says it's AC, but on the welder itself, it states it is a DCEN.

I used Lincoln .035" wire in it, and I was very pleased with how it worked. I would recommend this welder to anyone that wanted to weld as a hobby and just for fun. For the price I couldn't pass it up.

[Gamble]

Welcome to your new addiction. Post pics of your welds!

[California]

Welcome!

I wonder if they have sold different welders under that same product number. The first black ones were definitely AC, and I just saw a floor sample that didn't say AC or DCEN on the machine itself. You said the specs painted on the welder include DCEN? If it really is, you got one of the first ones where they finally got it right.

What do you see inside? Do the welding cables come right off the transformer (indicates AC), or is there a rectifier component between the transformer and the cables?

[Thunderrig15]

Originally Posted by California

Welcome!

I wonder if they have sold different welders under that same product number. The first black ones were definitely AC, and I just saw a floor sample that didn't say AC or DCEN on the machine itself. You said the specs painted on the welder include DCEN? If it really is, you got one of the first ones where they finally got it right.

What do you see inside? Do the welding cables come right off the transformer (indicates AC), or is there a rectifier component between the transformer and the cables?

The specs are listed inside the top lid of the welder... I will open it up tonight and give you the details on what I see and maybe post some pics of it. It def works better and a bit smoother than the blue one I owned... or may be I'm improving my skills from when I first started.. ha

[Thunderrig15]

Here are some pics of the unit...the 3rd pic is the specs listed in the owners manual.
The other pics are of the unit itself.

[Thunderrig15]

Originally Posted by Gamble

Welcome to your new addiction. Post pics of your welds!

Thanks! I will try to post some weld pics in the next few days... I know I'll get crucified tho! ha

[Galaxieman]

The black cube on the pc board is a 'contactor relay'. That is what makes it 'cold tip', despite what it says on the specifications. The relay is activated with the torch trigger pull ... sending power to the primary of the main welding transformer.

[SDPAULIE]

It is an AC output. I know of someone that had one of those and complained to HF and they replaced it with a better model mig because of false representation =)

[Bluewelders]

It looks like a cold tip AC welder .
The 170s come with a knurled drive wheel for the .030 wire size.
Does it have a knurled wirefeed wheel ?

[Thunderrig15]

Originally Posted by SDPAULIE

It is an AC output. I know of someone that had one of those and complained to HF and they replaced it with a better model mig because of false representation =)

Then that is big time false representation...as you can see what is on my unit and in the hardcopy manual. Thanks, good to know. I didn't get it at HF tho, but I'm happy with how it performs.

[SDPAULIE]

Originally Posted by Thunderrig15

Then that is big time false representation...as you can see what is on my unit and in the hardcopy manual. Thanks, good to know. I didn't get it at HF tho, but I'm happy with how it performs.

You lost your recipt duh! doesn't hurt to call tech support

[dugndeep]

Yow the new black ones come with a knurled roller,both sides are knurled,one side is for 30 and the other side is for 35.