1st Gen Lunchtable Thread - General Discussion

It was super annoying having to setup a spark barrier just to weld for 15 mins. Im setup now so that I just put some cinder blocks on my wood workbench with a piece of steel plate on top. Can tig weld for hours without needing to worry. All grinding/cutting is done outside, unless its just a quick swipe with a flap wheel to break an edge, that usually doesn't put off any more sparks than a dremel tool.

 

Maybe that's how I can convince myself to spend the money on TIG ,...the SAFETY CARD!

 

You don't have an issue where when you weld outside your shielding gas is blown away? I'd practice in the driveway and have trouble getting the shielding gas to do its job because it's always breezy.

 

You live on a coast line where its always windy

 

Gotta turn the gas up or get some blankets up to block the wind some

 

Just build a wall

 

but only if you can make your neighbor pay for it

 

I always ran quality flux core wire or 7018 stick electrodes outside. Aside from the gas issue, mig welding at 90-115 amps is pretty worthless, it was hard for my machine to even maintain an arc lol . Flux core at 90-115 amps burns much hotter. Thus resulting in the process being far less of a headache, even if I had to spend some quality time with a wire wheel equipped grinder to pretty up my welds.

 

Yeah that’s true. Only good cover is the backyard, but I don’t have 240v service out there.

Actually I might be able to convert one of the AC hookups.

 

My old Lincoln didn’t have a regulator. It with either gas or no gas.

My current Miller regulator is being a lil bitch. Gas is either off, or Hurricane Katrina.

 

Turn it up too far and its cooling your puddle prematurely. 15-25 cfm no more for mig.

 

He just gotta talk hoa into it

 

This is bordering on tw rules violation so let's just end it right there lol

 

Yeah so in other news. I just got a welder now im gunna go become better then tyler in a matter of weeks vs years

 

My Millermatic 180 230v is setup to do 30-180 Amps according to the label.

My old Lincoln 120v did 90A max, I always ran gas on that machine I never really used flux core.

 

Last week I returned the Harbor Freight flux core I bought last month. After reading more reviews and advice on the matter I decided I'm going to get a decent mig welder instead after I take my welding class in July.

 

I got mine for a good deal. Welder, two full tanks, 3 guages and a pxy act torch for 400$.
Though the welder had a big spool of flux core in it Rn sp don’t really need gas
Now just to practice on some scrap steel i have at the shop.

 

I think my miller 130 does like 90a max

 

Go for a used Lincoln or Hobart. The Hobart Handler 140 is a really nice machine I considered buying before the Miller. I didn’t get it because I wanted a 240v machine.

Hobart 500559 Handler 140 MIG Welder 115V

$760 Hobart Handler 140 MIG Welder 115V (500559 ) - Durable, Portable Wire Feed Welder Machine - Flux Core Welding Machine with Dual-Gauge Regulator - MIG Welding Machine Welds Up To 1/4 in. Mild Steel

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009X43F38/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_KwUdDb4EH0SBN

 

It’s 120v, that’s all you’re gonna get. That’s why I got rid of my Lincoln welder. It wasn’t capable of welding 3/16ths steel that my bumper is made of.

Yes, it probably could however I’m aiming for good metal penetration here so that’s why I bought my current Miller which can do up to 5/16ths steel.