Any tips?

[illmatyk]

So, I just picked up my welder this morning( Lincoln 140 HD weldpak ). I haven't gotten the shielding tank just yet but anyone have some tips for a newb?

Thanks.

 

[Mickey O]

Don't burn down the house.

 

[srmofo]

No seriously, get a fire extinguisher.

Look online on how to properly set the machine up and what to look for so you know its set up right.

Some people like to make little cursive "e" ...I prefer little "m"

 

[Steevo]

I have the same welder, and it is capable of some good quality welding within its thickness range.

Three things:
1. Get a fire extinguisher
2. Get a good quality auto-darkening shield
3. Get the shielding gas and use it, the difference is night and day.

oh, and #4: remember that you have to reverse polarity between flux core wire and plain wire with gas. It's easy to forget if you switch wire.

 

[illmatyk]

Don't burn down the house.

No seriously, get a fire extinguisher.

Look online on how to properly set the machine up and what to look for so you know its set up right.

Some people like to make little cursive "e" ...I prefer little "m"

I have the same welder, and it is capable of some good quality welding within its thickness range.

Three things:
1. Get a fire extinguisher
2. Get a good quality auto-darkening shield
3. Get the shielding gas and use it, the difference is night and day.

oh, and #4: remember that you have to reverse polarity between flux core wire and plain wire with gas. It's easy to forget if you switch wire.

Thanks guys, I already have a fire extinguisher. I'll be getting an auto-darkening shield later this week. The gas, I gotta travel down the other end of the island so maybe my next day off I'll get it. I just finished setting it for fluxcore at the moment just to try it out.

 

[kald]

Be in the most comfortable position possible - from beginning to end of the bead - when welding!!

 

[raddksn]

checkout welding tips&tricks.com

 

[Oldbear]

Be in the most comfortable position possible - from beginning to end of the bead - when welding!!

Good advice - even when not welding...

 

[aka Larry]

Take a class...seriously.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

If your unit came with flux-core wire, as mine did, and you have some projects in mind that you plan on doing as learning excercises, go ahead and use up the flux-core. You will then experience an immediate improvement and reward when you switch to gas shielded. You will also know what you can do with flux core which you have to use on thicker metal. My biggest problem with welding with my Weld-Pak 100 is not being able to see my bead. Makes it hard to lay down pretty beads. Maybe someone else has solved this and will share their solution.

 

[dittle fart around]

My biggest problem with welding with my Weld-Pak 100 is not being able to see my bead. Makes it hard to lay down pretty beads. Maybe someone else has solved this and will share their solution.

My biggest problem also. Then I started wearing my glasses when welding. Like someone else said, "Difference between night and day".

 

[illmatyk]

Wow! Thanks for all the tips guys!

I wasn't able to pick up an auto-darkening helmet yesterday as the place that has them for a good deal ran out of stock, for now I have Lincoln helmet with #10 lens.

I'll be practicing here and there with the flux-core for the time being. Hopefully next payday I can pick up a tank.

Thanks again!

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

You've been given all good advise on here! My only addition is to get a quality helmet! I had the Lincoln Auto-Darkening helmet with no adjustments on it. But it was sooooo dark I couldnt actually see where I was welding. Last week I bought a Miller Pro Hobby from a Local Welding Store and It is fully adjustable. It made all the difference in the world I can actually see what Im welding now!! :?)

I'll be using it today to build a Battery Box and a Transmission Cooler Mount for my Mustang!

 

[bad_idea]

don't eat yellow snow.

 

[ZRX61]

5 gallon bucket full of water to supplement the extinguishers (I have 3 or 4)

 

[skyking]

Weld with fluxcore with a wind , gas sheild with no wind . Gas is always better looking .
Problem is that now you will start to pick up any piece of metal you see and hoard it like most of us.

 

[Crank1]

What was said earlier about reversing the polarity for flux cored is correct as per the manufacturer, but for some reason when I hooked my sp 135 up it wouldn't weld for anything with the polarity lincoln suggested so I ended up running it the same as a MIG setup. A good helmet and some metal and you should be good to go. If you can't take a class at least get a book. I bought a newer copy of the book I used in high school by someone Jeffus I think... It's helpful with many different processes. Good luck

 

[dwp99]

Clean, clean, clean your metal especially when using gas, flux core is a little more forgiving.

If you're having trouble seeing the puddle they do make cheater lenses to go behind the dark lens. With the cheater lens there is no reflection from light bouncing from the dark lens to your glasses lens.