Anything welding

Technically MIG only uses shielding gas without flux, a lot of people will call flux core MIG but I won't because it's easier for me to keep them separate.

MIG looks like this.

 

ok, thanks for that

 

This was after a short break. I was working from right to left.


(this metal is also way over heated since I use both sides to maximize the coupons) This center section I dont think looks right, it was too raised for my liking. I first thought it was too cold but I didnt change any settings on the machine in these 3 items, I think i was just moving too fast)


This was the last one I did, I think its the best looking one, even though it was near the end and I kinda burned through the tip but...o well


Just a close up of the other two on the far right side.

 

Do yourself a favor before picking up bad habits take some classes .

The idea is to know when you have it dialed in then duplicate the correct settings and movements .

 

Agreedd

 

sounds good, thanks

 

going to be doing some more fab work, ie. bumpers, sliders and such. I want to stay away from tig. Just a personal preference, I like mig and stick. What welder do you think would be good for this? need to weld up to 1/2 steel. thanks.

 

Do you have a 220 plug?
180 amp wire feed machine should do it. If you're just doing diy/weekend warrior type stuff a box store Lincoln or Hobart would work.

 

Yeah, I have a 220 plug... I'm going to be building bumpers for oilfield trucks and stuff like that, need to be able to weld up to 1/2".

 

My 250 amp Hobart Ironman 230 will weld 1/2" in a single pass and is a good bang for the buck. I guess it just depends on how much you want to spend.

 

That is an awesome deal as mig rigs go.

I wish I would have saved money and went that route.

 

Just went down to tractor supply, that seems pretty nice, you can use it as no-gas flux-core right?

 

Yeah you can if you want to. Just set up the polarity lugs for electrode negative.

 

Even 100% co2 is better than flux core imo. Fuck i hated flux core. I learned in it, once i started using gas it was like someone let me into heaven. But if you're wwlding outside then i guess you have no choice

 

Holy balls, that's a lot of heat.

 

Think I am just going to stick with a stick welder for now, might pick up the hobart stickmate down at tractor supply. I like the penetration I can get with stick. Also, I'm a lazy-ass and I don't want to take time to make my surfaces perfect. I am not going to be welding aluminum so, it will be fine for a while.

 

When shopping for welders your budget is the most important factor!!

Hobart is not bad for the hobby type/part time welder to use . When buying new

It does not matter what process you use although Tig is the least forgiving your prep work can be the difference between passing or failing.

 

We are welding 3/8" in school now. I was suprised to learn it required 6 passes on the horizontal with MIG. (thats AWS/CSA standard anyway). Any welder over 200amp should be fine for 1/2"

 

I think that's bullshit. At my old job we did the AWS certifications and we welded 3/8" single pass in all positions. The most I've heard of is a quintuple pass at John Deere for 1"+.

 

AWS certs might keep your resume from hitting the circular file first go round.

Want to talk paper pass your ASME section VIIII

With a open root Horizontal in school 6 passes sounds about correct

After all it is school and a leaning experience