Anything welding

Question, I've 'inherited' a 90 amp Lincoln welder and have been told that using a quality spool would help. I've been practicing and scrap metal and the wire is almost out but I'm not sure where to get a new spool or what to get.

I need Flux self shielding wire. I don't plan to weld more than 1/8" steel.

 

If you don't have a local welding supply house, Lowes or Home Depo carry the smaller spools. Just make sure to take the roll off the bottom of the pile.

 

Is there a chance the polarity is switched? Flux core vs solid core with gas require the power leads to be switched.

 

Polarity is correct, it welds great, just sucks that once a session I have to change the tip out when it jams in the nozzle. I'll start with changing speed and stick out and go from there.

@mjp2 Prefer not to run sheilding gas as I like flux core, and running it on 115v I like the extra penetration that flux core gives.

 

Okay.

Have you ever used solid core with gas? I can remember the first time I was able to use the gas. Flux core was dead to me.

No more hot BB's going all over the place and so much quieter. My 1st welding machine was a 120 volt unit. The difference in penetration was negligible. The only advantage flux core has is you can weld outside and the wind wont affect you weld as much as with gas.

I won't use flux core in my shop. The BB's travel too far and I have a great fear of starting a fire. Those bastards are hot much longer than flux core BB's...and there is a lot more of them. I can weld wearing sandals. You can't do that with flux core

 

Any brand you recommend? I've been recommended Blue Demon.

$28 Blue Demon E71TGS X .030” X 2 LB MIG/GMAW Gasless Flux Core Carbon Steel Welding Wire, All Position, Easy Slag Removal, Formulated to Provide Porosity-Free, X-Ray Quality Welds

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F429RFI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

But I like what I'm reading on Inetub wire:

$20 INETUB BA71TGS .030" on 2-Pound Spool Carbon Steel Gasless Flux Cored Welding Wire

https://www.amazon.com/BA71TGS-030-...=1514494825&sr=1-7&keywords=Gasless+Flux+Core

 

I know HD and Lowes carry Lincoln. use that.

 

You would weld with Sandals!!

I have been running hard wire or Dual Shield for to long to think about outside

Hard wire Run .023 and CO2 does better then self shielded

Do you know just what your doing when you burn back

always the same position

Your not over running the duty cycle and the machine stops feeding and output which would cause a burn back ??

Wire twisted on the spool that it seems to always happen could be every so many turns

 

Well, I do have heated floors in my shop

 

Nothing in the Code requires it AFAIK and I can't imagine it ever will. It's already hard enough for color blind people to distinguish red and green so I think dictating new requirements based on color will be rare. There can be guidelines and there's an industry standards, though.

 

You might want to reduce the tension on your feed roller also. That way when you do get a jam at the tip the wire won't birdnest. I was told a long time ago that too many people set wire tension way too high.

 

I learned on stick and gas solid core. Flux core doesn't bother me. I cover up when I weld because skin cancer seems like it would suck!

I'm usually welding on my wheeler so flux core works better and I can blast through dirt/some grime, rust and limited paint if need be.

 

It's all over the map when it comes to welding position. I'm either under the truck, welding overhead, vertical, odd angles or sometimes flat on the floor/workbench, it all burns back on me at some point.

Not a duty cycle issue.

 

Gotcha. The little more i looked into it, its more of an industry thing to make it easier for inspectors and the such to know just by looks and not having to feel/size it out themselves.

 

I would bet your just bending the gun hard enough to put enough pressure on the wire to stop it causing your burn back.

Your wire tension being tight just causing your bird nest .

Welding on out of position almost all the time I have this happen quite often as the wire cools it just comes loose

Most people think the cure for feed problems is to crank the wire tension as tight as possible.

It can`t hurt to change the liner either.

 

Just like the way this one looked. Was trying to trace the puddle a little closer and liked the way these turned out. Gonna keep trying to get better

 

Cursive e?
Back a forth?

 

Very nice!
Your welding technique is very close to mine. I don't like a lot of welding meterial on my welds.

 

That had to be straight, move, pause, move.
I like it because it is quick and uses no extra, unneeded wire.