Anything welding

This is where - working in said environment helps tremendously

You'll get more hood time than you'll force yourself to do at home

 

Appreciate all the info; the titanium 125 you linked is actually one I had my eye on if I did decide to jump into buying my own. I already know I'm not going to do what I normally do in most other areas of my life (justify the more expensive options) because I just simply don't have the time to devote to trying to be more than a hobbyist. I won't need a welder for more than little tinkering around projects at home, so I don't anticipate needing "professional" type results, so I don't mind sticking to gas-less and messy welds.

I didn't, I didn't happen to take note before I gave it back, but after looking at some pictures, I'm about 85% sure its the unit you're talking about. Controls/button layout are definitely identical.

 

I'm glad you are moving towards the Titanium unit from HF. It's a very user friendly unit. I think you should consider investing in the cover gas. For a hobbyists, the small can will last years.

The investment in a CO2/Argon gas tank will make the learning curve extremely rapid.

I am glad you did experience some gasless welding with flux core.

You will see with your 1st welding using solid core wire and an inert cover gas how much more user friendly MIG welding is.

Keep an eye out for old bed frames thrown to the curbs. Free metal to practice on.

The second reason I like to steer people away from flux core welding is the fire hazard.

The hot BB's that flux core welding make, fly a long ways! Those red hots can cause things to catch on fire!

Using a cover gas and solid core wire, the flying sparks are reduced by 80%.

Most of us have small garages that are full of stuff. I want to do everything I can to reduce the fire hazard.

I've caught myself on fire lots of times. I'm ok with that. I'm not okay with burning down the house.

 

Another vote for the Titanium 125. It's a great little welder for at home projects. Throw out the wire it comes with, and get a (few, 1lbs goes FAST) good quality spool. I run Lincoln Eletric NR-211-MP (.03 or .035, gotta get new tips for the .035) in mine with great results. I learned on "proper" mig setups, so working with the little 110v flux core is different from that, but more than enough to learn on. Biggest difference IMO is that you really have to wait for the puddle to build up, but once it's there, you're good to go.

Just finished this handrail project with that welder...

 

Nice to see I can bring over my .02" tolerance to 12 gauge as well when cutting slotted items









This smaller and lighter model sits at 28" wide and only 17.75" long





All while only occupying 21" x 15"

 

This only encourages me to cut down my table.

The 5 x 5 is just too big for my hobbyist ass. (7 x 6 with the random protrusions).

Gonna start with chopping it to 2.5 x 5.

The 5 x 5 eats up 36+ square foot of my shop. I got too many other skills that require real state to let the table eat into.

 

Makes sense

Meanwhile I want a 4' x 4'

But I'd also want a Hypertherm too....who knows, maybe I'll just bite the bullet (in a few years)

 

I'm pretty sure you will reach your goal.

I just wanted a table for easing with fabrication of what I've been doing for years.

If a person is organized, the production of parts is a liscence to print money.

I have had a great time learning CNC plasma and have been able to peddle parts here and there, so I can't thank the site enough for supporting my hobby.

This place rocks!

 

This forum, not to mention friends (in and out of the forum) have been a big reason why I've pushed myself to learn as quickly as I did, and work to achieve the best cut quality possible.

And the continued support helps a ton.

Those parts I posted the other day are the beginnings of a rear swingout bumper, and it's for a friend (also a forum member).

Rather than buying a weld it kit, or even a complete one, he came to me instead to do it for him.

 

Started remaking my intercooler piping and intake. I suck at aluminum lol

 

Fitment has to be damn near perfect; I'd call it good because a lot of people normally go too slow and/or use too much filler and run cold.

And when I say a lot of people, I mean people just starting out on aluminum.

 

I dropped on of the pipes like an idiot so fitment was pretty bad on the intake lol. Had to tack it together and try to shape it back into place. Horrible haha

 

It happens!

Now I gotta ask, do you just happen to be keeping secrets from us and hiding a mandrel bender somewhere in that garage of yours

 

Lmao I wish. I have a local shop that specializes in mandrel bends that are all bent in house. They ship too.

https://www.jmdtubes.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpuWVkfvChAMVmx2tBh0DuAmTEAAYASAAEgJMqfD_BwE

 

I dunno?

Situations like this make me wonder.

The welds look fine. Actually much better than fine.

I know you pressure tested them with soapy water to make sure the weld is air tight. That's more important than the visual. Burning a hole in piston because it was running lean is gonna be a bigger mess than having a " machine weld".

We have so many pictures of beautiful welds, we start to judge ourselves much harder than we should.

No one but yourself is ever going to see those welds and say " they should have been better".

All those weld "porns" we see were usually done by a pro who only does that particular weld over and over again.

Give the same cat your 2 pieces and tell him to make them look just like yours and it isn't gonna happen.

Your welds are great!

 

When it's time to sell my table, you should buy it from me

 

I have 0 room left in my garage lol I'd have to get rid of a bunch or stuff.

 

Thanks man! And yeah I know it's like woman and beauty standards these days lol. Just being a bit critical of myself. Appreciate the encouraging words.

 

Make room, get a shed and get a storage, be me and place lots of valuables in a location you'll pay on but forget about for years to come

 

Lol some day haha