Chinese welders

[gmorg]

Anybody know what polarity the Harbor Freight or Tractor Supply wire feed welders use? Thanks

[HoosierClod]

The polarity should be reversible. I have an older 120volt Snap-On welder and when I went from flux core to solid wire, I had to reverse the polarity. It's as simple as switching a couple wires inside the welder.

[gmorg]

It's a friends welder,I took covers off it & saw shrink wrap on the cables with some kind of connection. I'll have to ask him if he wants me to take it apart & reconnect.

[redcatkrawler]

Flux core is run on reverse polarity. Hard wire is run on straight polarity. If it is only able to run Flux core, reverse polarity. If it can run both types of wire, it should be able to be switched inside the welder.

[vwmopar]

From what I know you can only weld sideways with a Chinese welder.

[gmorg]

Isn't electrode NEG. straight polarity which is what Gas less wire calls for?

[redcatkrawler]

Welding with gasless fluxcore wire. Ground is positive, electrode is negative. Hard wire with gas is opposite. As far as my previous post I may be wrong as far as straight or reverse polarity, but yes electrode negative. Kind of confusing.

[Jonnie Fraz]

Simple multi meter should be able to give you your answer of how it is set up. Almost all of them are set for flux core wire.

This might help for settings. Most of these "Chinese" welders have a 20% duty cycle, so if you have a big project it will be an exercise in frustration.