Anything welding

I sold my tanks and torches shortly after I got my Spectrum 625.

I was only using them to go on remote demo jobs. Usually someone else bid the job and never would include the cost of my tools and gas.

I knew pretty quick I wasn't going to miss them.

 

Quick question before I spend a bunch of money — just moved into a new house looks like it has 200 amp service and there is a 250v 50a plug in the garage.....



Am I good to go for a hobbyist setup?

 

You would want to know what the breaker is good for and not just the plug. The stamping on the plug just let you know that plug is good for up to 50a. Also what the wire is rated for as well (if you can tell at least) just to be safe. Ive seen people put 50amp plugs on 20a breakers which isnt to big of a deal IMO. Whats an issue is when they do it with 14-16 gauge wire....

 

How do I know what the breaker is good for? On the breaker box it says 200amps but I have no idea what the wiring to the garage is.....what am I looking for ideally?

 

In side the box you should see this type of array, what you’re looking for will either be 1 or 2, I’m not sure if it’s typical for people to have them wired to always hot or a disconnect.

 

You would be looking like in the picture 95 taco showed. A 220v breaker will be bigger and have two "linked" switches generally. If you have one labeled "range/stove" or "washer/dryer" you would be looking for a similar looking one to that. It will say on the circuit breaker what it is rated for.

As for wiring it depends. If its a newer place with romex you can base it on the sheathing color of the wiring. I believe (double check) its orange is 10 gauge, Yellow is 12 gauge White is 16 gauge. Black is usually smaller than 10 gauge (6?). Another way to check would be if yo uhave wire strippers with the sizes on them...turn the breaker off to that outlet, take the cover off, and see what size stripper fits around the individual wire and that will give you the size.

You just want to be safe overall so making sure the previous owner didnt do something silly is always a good idea and in your case shouldnt take very long at all.

 

So here is what I found. That plug is attached to a 50 amp breaker via heavy gauge wire that goes directly out to the main breaker box (only like a 18-24” run) and after pulling the cover on the plug it looks like 10g wire based on my eyeball assessment looking at a wire stripper. Good to go?

 

Just to make sure I understand you right...the outlet to breaker wire run is only 18-24"? Yeah you look fine to me...but Im not an electrician either

 

Weling machine question: I have had a Hobart 140 for about a year now and love it. I run .035 flux core exclusively, I have a problem it seems evreytime I use it I end up with the wire sticking in the contact tip mid weld and then the wire rats nest. I go through a tip almost evrey time I use the machine. I'm guessing its a technique issue either me, but would something like a tip lube help prevent this? The wire melts into a ball and jams in the tip.

 

There is no Code requirement for the outer sheath on NM (non-metallic, e.g. Romex) to be color coded. So you shouldn't trust this. It's usually right but check what's printed on the wire to know for sure.

 

If it is 10 gauge, then the breaker is too big.

 

What should the breaker be for 10g wire — 30a?

 

Yes. 6 gauge for 50 amp

 

Present I made for a coworker who knows nothing about metal working hehehe.

 

Sounds like you are either not using enough stick out, or your feed speed is too low causing the wire to melt back into the tip.

 

A Rum chastity belt! Damn unique I must say.

 

Hobart Feed issue !!

When was the liner replaced last??

Your drive roll tension is way to tight when you have a burn back the drive rolls should slip

Just which wire are you using some can be garbage

Hub brake adjusted correct ??

Guide tubes and gun seated correct not sure if the 140 Has guide tubes

A burn back can be caused by a bad liner or cocking the gun to hard which causes the wire to stop causing your bird nest (correct term) then the wire burns back

If your changing tips you are using the correct size ??

 

Didnt realize that it wasnt required. Guess it was in the early 2000s most manufactures started color coding it from the little googling I just did.

 

Good list thanks!

The liner is the factory liner, it's a year old welder that I have ran maybe 30lbs of wire through and it has always done this.

I'll play with the tension.

I am using Lincoln flux core wire and the correct size tips.

I'll look into the hub brake, I don't think it has one but I'm not sure.

Guide tube? Where is that at?

 

Thanks I'll make some adjustments to my technique.