PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I disagree; vertical down fillets taught me how to control the puddle better than horizontal **** welds.
I want to learn how to weld
- Thread starter v1ru5879
- Start date
I disagree; vertical down fillets taught me how to control the puddle better than horizontal **** welds.
Got some thicker material to play with today. I have to say the thicker stuff is easier for me. The thin stuff seems to be more setting related as to not burn through. I think I'll get myself a metal gauge to help with my settings.
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BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Got some thicker material to play with today. I have to say the thicker stuff is easier for me. The thin stuff seems to be more setting related as to not burn through. I think I'll get myself a metal gauge to help with my settings.
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Doesn’t look bad for a beginner I am glad you are learning
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Definitely need more practice but I am enjoying the learning process. Once I am able to dial in the machine for the material I feel that I will progress much faster. I am determined to get the thin stuff down best now. Just need better understanding of the settings and how to adjust on the fly
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BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Oh yeah without a doubt you will get better over time.
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ekimneirbo
Well-known member
When you weld thin metal you need to use smaller wire. That means changing your liner, tip, and drive rolls to accomodate .023 wire.
sberry
Banned
That looks really good. On thicker with no edge prep leave a gap.
ekimneirbo
Well-known member
Yes, and most of them have realized the problems caused by flux and switched to shielding gas. Stick welders still use flux but they don't have to feed the rods through anything. How many welding shops even have a flux cored machine on their premises? Perhaps an indication that gas welding is a better way to go even in a home shop. People used to do a lot of things a hundred years ago that they no longer do today. My son bought a home and the people who moved out left an old rotary dial telephone behind. My grandson looked at it and asked"How does it work"? Things do change over time, and usually work better.
sberry
Banned
As for settings,, remember that the wire speed IS the heat or curgent setting.
It is ironic, but I was simply responding to a response, that anyone can MIG weld and that buying and using a flux welder, is just a waste of time and effort.
Most of our world of metal has been created with rudimentary flux stick welders over the many decades many of those beautiful welds are still around and look great because they were created by welders with skill.
It would be interesting to see if someone attends welding school today (as many here suggested), if the first thing the instructor does is hand the students a MIG gun and tell them to start welding.
Hopefully not.
What are the problems caused by flux? I by no means have any welding experience or knowledge. I really am just trying to learn a new skill. It didn't make sense for me to buy a high end welder as I am not trying to make a living off it, just simply trying to learn a new skill. I see it coming in handy around the house for small projects. Definitely not trying to build a car frame or anything. But who knows as I learn more I may want to invest more into this hobby. I really am curious as to what problems are caused by flux
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ssdave
Banned
flux core wire welding makes ugly welds, and if you do multi-pass, can cause inclusions (can also cause inclusions on single pass, with poor technique).
It spatters and fumes as you weld.
Like anything else, it's just something you have to learn how to manage, to use the tool effectively.
Gas welders, especially beginners, benefit from one less variable they have to control and work with, but the trade-off is learning to work with the gas, the setup and adjusting, etc. Trades one thing for another.
For beginners, flux core wire is a cheap, easy way to get started. It's the glue-gun of welders; just plug it in and use it. Not the best, but the cheapest and easiest.
You're newbie welds will not look as pretty, as using more expensive welding methods.
If that is important, then you should up-buy from the get-go, even though those welds will likely not be perfect, as well.
Otherwise, the model you are interested in starting out with, should be just fine, IMO.
If you decide you want/need more later, upgrade to something better. If you are not into it, leave the unit set.
Either way, you are only out 200 bucks.
Update pictures on my practice. Changed to the Lincoln wire and it made a big difference! Earlier picture to most current. Quite happy with the most current. Attached a piece of angle to the scrap tube
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BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Update pictures on my practice. Changed to the Lincoln wire and it made a big difference! Earlier picture to most current. Quite happy with the most current. Attached a piece of angle to the scrap tube
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Doesn’t look bad at all man for a beginner you’re doing fine. Believe me you will get better as time goes on and yes the wire is important too I learned that starting out too.
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ovilla
Well-known member
Looking good! Keep at it and you’ll get those dimes stacked perfectly in no time. Also, for more tips, go to YouTube and check out weld.com. They have a ton of great instructional welding videos and tips.
inverter gas gasless mig mma is what I think wise first buy along with decent auto darkening welding mask which pretty cheap these days and helps learner see the weld better and work easier .
you can get something home usable for 3 to 400 bucks .
infinite power settings and arc control tends be useful and help a beginner get better results and not loose interest .
Taking courses not really needed unless you totally clueless or planning get more serious .
Most of it is learning the machine and materials and building up experience and that come for many hours of practice and real world work .
I pretty much self taught with bit of advise from those wiser than myself but only thing that gets you constantly good is time put in using it and half decent materials and equipment .
It useful tool even if you don't reach high standards .
you can get something home usable for 3 to 400 bucks .
infinite power settings and arc control tends be useful and help a beginner get better results and not loose interest .
Taking courses not really needed unless you totally clueless or planning get more serious .
Most of it is learning the machine and materials and building up experience and that come for many hours of practice and real world work .
I pretty much self taught with bit of advise from those wiser than myself but only thing that gets you constantly good is time put in using it and half decent materials and equipment .
It useful tool even if you don't reach high standards .
I've never seen 0.023 flux core, only solid mig wire.
Where do you get 0.023 flux core wire ?
harley jim
Well-known member
Looks like your hooked.
The welds are looking better and they will improve with time. I have a tip for you on doing thin/sheet metal, I use a copper bar to put behind my metal it gives something to help clamp to, and acts as a heat sink which will help with burn through, and weld will not stick to copper.
I use this trick to fill unwanted holes also, place the copper behind it weld the hole shut grind smooth, never know it was there.
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The welds are looking better and they will improve with time. I have a tip for you on doing thin/sheet metal, I use a copper bar to put behind my metal it gives something to help clamp to, and acts as a heat sink which will help with burn through, and weld will not stick to copper.
I use this trick to fill unwanted holes also, place the copper behind it weld the hole shut grind smooth, never know it was there.
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yep, often use aluminum to back up something thin too, keeps the weld from falling thru.
harley jim
Well-known member
Brass is fine also. Weld will not stick to it. If it gets pitted I just grind it smooth and keep going
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harley jim
Well-known member
A highway sign has other elements in it that dont work well. Copper or brass work best. Usually you can go to a recycler and get a piece for a few bucks.
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harley jim
Well-known member
A highway sign has other elements in it that dont work well. Copper or brass work best. Usually you can go to a recycler and get a piece for a few bucks.
The flux core will get the job done but if you stick with it you will get a machine with a bottle. I learned on an ancient stick welder back in the late 60s and have welded most of my life. I have a small miller 110 volt at my home shop and I can put a patch in a fender and finish it off and most people cant pick out the patch while still unpainted. I am going to get a tig machine next mainly for aluminum.
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140
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The flux core will get the job done but if you stick with it you will get a machine with a bottle. I learned on an ancient stick welder back in the late 60s and have welded most of my life. I have a small miller 110 volt at my home shop and I can put a patch in a fender and finish it off and most people cant pick out the patch while still unpainted. I am going to get a tig machine next mainly for aluminum.
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140
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PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
A highway sign has other elements in it that dont work well. Copper or brass work best. Usually you can go to a recycler and get a piece for a few bucks.
The flux core will get the job done but if you stick with it you will get a machine with a bottle. I learned on an ancient stick welder back in the late 60s and have welded most of my life. I have a small miller 110 volt at my home shop and I can put a patch in a fender and finish it off and most people cant pick out the patch while still unpainted. I am going to get a tig machine next mainly for aluminum.
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140
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Nice job on the handrail return, Jim.
harley jim
Well-known member
Thanks PugetDude
I just finish those for our house I did full pics on my thread and Pat was happy we finished the porch.
Front porch done!
I did a fender repair today and used my copper helpers. I'll do all of the pics on my thread but wanted v1ru5879 to see it.
Cut the stretched metal
Clamped copper in place
Grind careful dont want it too thin
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I just finish those for our house I did full pics on my thread and Pat was happy we finished the porch.
Front porch done!
I did a fender repair today and used my copper helpers. I'll do all of the pics on my thread but wanted v1ru5879 to see it.
Cut the stretched metal
Clamped copper in place
Grind careful dont want it too thin
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tonyciambrone
Well-known member
Absolutely the case for me. I very rarely put .030 in my machine personally. Most of what I use my mig machine for is thinner. But as others said .030 for Flux
Also those welds are very decent for being completely green. I for one am glad you didn't blow tons of money. Run this thing until you are proficient and at that juncture, decide what you want next. In the meantime you got money for consumables and practice metal. You could also buy a used Welding textbook online if you are motivated to really learn this stuff and go through it on your own.
As always I greatly appreciate all the positive feed back and words of encouragement. I know I'm young (32) and still have lots to learn but the encouraging feedback gives me even more confidence. I'm going to keep at this till I feel it's time to upgrade. I'm still trying to figure out a first project to test my newly acquired skills. I am very open to learning new things and I make it a point to constantly learn new skills and just general knowledge of anything and everything. I have no problem asking for help or asking questions about something I don't know. I am always willing to learn and take any and all advice I can get. I love these forums cause there is just and endless amount of knowledge of you are willing to ask and learn. Any input on a first project would be greatly appreciated. I bought a cheap chop saw and wasn't happy with the accuracy of the cuts so I returned it. I feel I can do better with a grinder with a cut off wheel. I may end up getting a portaband saw
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harley jim
Well-known member
I like the angle grinder, I do most of my work with one. It is universal as you can cut with one blade and grind with another. Try looking on pintrest for an art welding project like the nut and bolt cars or motercycle, I do horseshoe art, It is practice.
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harley jim
Well-known member
I stopped by pintrest and looked for a couple ideas.
You get the idea.
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You get the idea.
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I have used a hacksaw forever until I bought the HF bandsaw, pictured here in a simple wooden stand fabricated from scrap wood.
A hose clamp on the trigger, plugged into a power stip for on/off, and clamped in the before never-used-vise on the end of my HF bench.
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harley jim
Well-known member
I like that, I have been kicking around buying a band saw but dont want a single use tool taking up more floor space. That might work.
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sberry
Banned
You can simply do stuff other people cant do when you have the machine and become proficient with it.
sberry
Banned
You would do even better with a better machine. This is the place to stretch some. These machines return their worth so fast, they last so long a guy should be on the lookout for an upgrade right out of the chute. There is a limit to how low it can go and still work.
I am not familiar with all the import clones, Eastwood class machines, maybe Everlast but I bet 350$ for a 140 and 500 for 240, maybe a pinch less. Might get a Lincoln 180 from a box store 700 or so and you aint gotta wonder if its you or the machine.
I am not familiar with all the import clones, Eastwood class machines, maybe Everlast but I bet 350$ for a 140 and 500 for 240, maybe a pinch less. Might get a Lincoln 180 from a box store 700 or so and you aint gotta wonder if its you or the machine.
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yep,
With the bandsaw I scribe a line and put a piece of blue painter's tape on the line.
It's easier to follow that way and you can make corrections along the way and even cut a curve.
Following a line with a cut-off wheel you have to look thru the sparks as the steel dis-colors from the heat, turning the line invisable, and forget about any corrections as the wheel can only cut straight and any corrections will just blow up the wheel.
I never could warm up to using a cut-off wheel/grinder but when I did it was always outside because I didn't want that grit all over everything in my garage.
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