Mig gun won't arc

[Jdevon]

On my 3rd welder from HF and can't figure out what keeps going wrong. Started with the titanium 170. Ran a little flux core just to try it out. Got about an inch of weld down stopped for a second, went to weld again and it won't arc. Took it back upgraded to the unlimited 200. Welds less than half an inch and stopped arcing. Would stick weld but the tig gun won't arc. Changed it out for the omnipro 220, ran a new 240v outlet (the other 2 were all on 120v) got everything hooked up and the mig gun never arced once. Again I can stick and tig weld with no problems. Am I doing something wrong or are these welders that bad?

[G-ManBart]

On my 3rd welder from HF and can't figure out what keeps going wrong. Started with the titanium 170. Ran a little flux core just to try it out. Got about an inch of weld down stopped for a second, went to weld again and it won't arc. Took it back upgraded to the unlimited 200. Welds less than half an inch and stopped arcing. Would stick weld but the tig gun won't arc. Changed it out for the omnipro 220, ran a new 240v outlet (the other 2 were all on 120v) got everything hooked up and the mig gun never arced once. Again I can stick and tig weld with no problems. Am I doing something wrong or are these welders that bad?

I don't think anybody has any chance of answering that without a lot more information. Setup, shielding gas, process, material....all those variables and more can change how things should work.

[BD1]

Check manual for setup instructions. Are all connections tight ?? Is material clean ? Does wire feed when trigger pressed ?
Does Harbor Freight have tech support ??


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[Jdevon]

I don't think anybody has any chance of answering that without a lot more information. Setup, shielding gas, process, material....all those variables and more can change how things should work.

It's flux core no shielding gas welding on new clean 18 gauge steel. Doesn't matter what settings are used on all 3 welders it won't arc

[Jdevon]

Check manual for setup instructions. Are all connections tight ?? Is material clean ? Does wire feed when trigger pressed ?
Does Harbor Freight have tech support ??


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Yeah all connections are tight the material is brand new clean steel. All 3 would feed wire. I've called there tech support but they didn't know what a mig gun was so they were no help. Not getting any errors from the welder. At first I thought my outlet was messing something up so I ran a new 240v plug and same issues

[rexcormack]

Did you use the same mig gun on all three welders?
Or ground cable for that matter?

[Jdevon]

Did you use the same mig gun on all three welders?
Or ground cable for that matter?

No all 3 I used the new gun and ground clamp that came with the welder.

[rexcormack]

I don't own a mig so I cannot help any more.
My one suggestion would be to post photos of the front of the machine and inside the side door.

[BD1]

Did you try removing the flux and see if bare wire arcs ?


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[BD1]

Does machine have drive rolls for flux core ?


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[Jdevon]

Does machine have drive rolls for flux core ?


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Yes I've tried solid wire and it has the same problem. And yes it has different drivers for flux the wires feeds fine just not arcing

[BD1]

Yes I've tried solid wire and it has the same problem. And yes it has different drivers for flux the wires feeds fine just not arcing

Dam, time to go buy a Miller.


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[TJS]

Is there a spot timer on these. Sounds like you have it on if it has one. I had a HF TIG 205. DOA out of the box. Got my money back never again.

[G-ManBart]

It's flux core no shielding gas welding on new clean 18 gauge steel. Doesn't matter what settings are used on all 3 welders it won't arc

You said the "tig gun won't arc" at one point, and mentioned trying solid wire as well, which is why I asked. You need shielding gas to get a TIG arc started.

[1StopJeff]

My issue was user error. Once I placed the torch tip 1/16" away from the material, then pressed the pedal it worked correctly. The machine has an auto stop feature so that if the gap gets too wide or I ground out then I have to let off the pedal before restarting. I had never Tig welded before. I also got a bottle of 100% argon and I don't see any difference between 100% and the 75/25 mix I use for Mig welding. So that is the resolution for my issue.

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[Jdevon]

You said the "tig gun won't arc" at one point, and mentioned trying solid wire as well, which is why I asked. You need shielding gas to get a TIG arc started.

Yep my bad was supposed to be mig gun. The tig and stick work just fine.

[cornchip]

i would try returning for a refund plus extra for all the greif. then buy something good like miller.