The Official Welding and Welders Thread

[IRQVET]

I saw several forums that discuss various aspects of welding, but I could not find a dedicated thread related to welding and welders; so here we go. . .

I recently sold my flux core welder I learned to weld on and decided to move up into a bigger/ better machine. I was comparing the Lincoln Power Mig 200, the Miller 212 MPV, and the Hobart 210 MPV.

It was a difficult decision, but I went with the Hobart 210 MPV and I'm extremely happy with it. I'm more of a home hobbyist and I mostly weld up Jeep stuff; but I'm very happy with the Hobart!

 

[sberry]

You should have no regrets, its a very good machine.

 

[BD1]

That will work well. Here's a site that you may like.
http://weldingweb.com/

 

[hotrodscott]

I have to borrow a Hobart Handler 135 for my projects. LOL I'm finishing up some tig classes and HOPE to get a decent tig machine soon.

 

[Ohmthis]

I will second weldingweb.com, lots of information and good dudes. Get some projects going and post them on the weding project thread.
I have a lincoln 180 mig and a lincoln precision tig 225. Love both of them, I started with a lincoln sp135 mig and a buzz box. If you think I only like red machines you'd be wrong. They were what I could afford and fit my criteria. We use all miller at work and I'm impressed by them too. I debated the precision tig and an everlast unit. I've had my tig for 5 years now and not even a hiccup.

 

[rockinacummins]

That will work well. Here's a site that you may like.
http://weldingweb.com/

Yep. I'm a member over there. Username dieselcowboy460
Lots of brilliant info and more pages of projects and inspirations than you could ever accomplish.

 

[kazlx]

You'll never regret too much machine...

 

[My Old Tools]

I bought the Miller 211 during the last Zoro 30% off sale and got the Build with Blue rebate. Great deal. Since then I have been taking welding classes at the community college and mostly practicing TIG on steel and AL. I don't regret the 211 at all, but I'll add a TIG someday.

 

[Fender1325]

I have a hobart 140. Been pleased overall, and their customer service support has been great. Now, Im definitely ready for a bigger machine. I was eyeing the lincoln 256...I like a little more machine than I need, so i dont have to push the machine to its limit

 

[Ohmthis]

I have a hobart 140. Been pleased overall, and their customer service support has been great. Now, Im definitely ready for a bigger machine. I was eyeing the lincoln 256...I like a little more machine than I need, so i dont have to push the machine to its limit

What are your plans with the new welder? A new Hobart 190 (since you like yours) may be all the machine you need. I haven't found anything my 180 hasn't been able to weld (disclaimer, I also have a 230 A tig/stick for anything really big). You may be over spending for something you'll never use. Just FYI

 

[Fender1325]

My machine is rated to do 1/4". It struggles with 1/8". The lincoln is rated for 1/2" which I'll never see, but it should be cake to do 1/8 and 1/4. I dont trust having to max a machine out.

 

[sqznby]

I had a Hobart 140 great machine but very limited on what you can do safely. Basically anything sheet metal is fine but once you get to doing trailer work or suspension work, I don't want to risk it.
I ended up getting a Hobart 190, great machine and got it on sale Tractor Supply.

Weldinweb FTW

 

[IRQVET]

Yeah I picked up a factory reconditioned unit from the Hobart Weld Shop for around $800 shipped to my door. I've owned reconditioned units in the past, I could never tell they weren't brand new, and they also yielded the best value because I'm a cheap SOB.

 

[BD1]

Yeah I picked up a factory reconditioned unit from the Hobart Weld Shop for around $800 shipped to my door. I've owned reconditioned units in the past, I could never tell they weren't brand new, and they also yielded the best value because I'm a cheap SOB.

Hey, Not cheap but '' THRIFTY ''

You gotta be a smart shopper today !

 

[sqznby]

Hahaha, I like "inexpensive" cheap just sounds, cheap

 

[bigpokie]

Can grinders, not welders, hang out in here also ? I learned on a 220 Lincoln w/ gas in college and did pretty well, but have a weld pac 100 flux core at home and can hardly dial it in right. Plus I think I need a new liner because the wire will push the end out of the box. Am I thinking right ?

 

[bigpokie]

Well I picked up a loner today and hopefully that will fix my problem.

 

[IRQVET]

Well I picked up a loner today and hopefully that will fix my problem.

Why not buy one?

 

[trackwelder]

Can grinders, not welders, hang out in here also ? I learned on a 220 Lincoln w/ gas in college and did pretty well, but have a weld pac 100 flux core at home and can hardly dial it in right. Plus I think I need a new liner because the wire will push the end out of the box. Am I thinking right ?

I use this lube and pads on all my wire welders. Makes a huge difference.
http://www.weldaid.com/products/lube-matic-overview/

 

[bigpokie]

Where do you put the pads ?

 

[trackwelder]

Right on the wire before it goes into the drive rollers

 

[56rpm]

The pads wipe down the wire just after it leaves the spool and before it enters the torch cable.

 

[BajaScout]

Where do you put the pads ?

If you said bigpokie to someone who understands Tagalog, they would laugh.

 

[MarkG]

I had a Hobart 140 great machine but very limited on what you can do safely. Basically anything sheet metal is fine but once you get to doing trailer work or suspension work, I don't want to risk it.
I ended up getting a Hobart 190, great machine and got it on sale Tractor Supply.

Weldinweb FTW

I wish I would've bought bigger too-----I'm in the same boat with my 140. sqznby --- were you able to sell the 140 and get a good price or did you keep it?

 

[IRQVET]

Thats a cool welding cart idea you've got there.

 

[Rj555]

I have had a Hobart 135 for 11 years now. I've run flux core through it. I also have a Lincoln 220 stick welder. Finally have a house with a 220 volt plug in the garage.

I've been looking and thinking about buying a Miller 211 to have a wig welder with 220 volts

 

[BajaScout]

I have the Miller 211. The dual voltage option is really nice. I took a mig welding class a couple years ago and brought it to class a couple times. In some ways I liked it better that the high end machines they had as I could set it up faster. Did a couple certification welds with it too. I think for home, this is one of the better mig welders you can buy.

 

[pepi]

I would not advise using any type lubricant on filler wire, it will gum the liner up. The wire wipes that mount just before the wire enters the feed rollers work fine.. aka dry wipe:
Link;
http://netwelding.com/Wire_Solutions.htm#Dry Wipe Installed

He also sells a product called a gas saver, and it works very well. No story to tell, but it did reduce the argon usage noticeably, I will say that.

WW is one great place, however stupid questions will be made fun of, be advised.

Here is another take on a hand truck welding cart.

 

[trackwelder]

I would not advise using any type lubricant on filler wire, it will gum the liner up. The wire wipes that mount just before the wire enters the feed rollers work fine.. aka dry wipe:

I have had no problems at all with gumming of the liner. The wire we use at work is very dry from the factory and the pads and oil make a huge difference in performance. I have been using them at my own shop as well for several years and plan to do so for many years.

 

[bodydamage]

Jut a bit of advice for those of you running a 110V machine in your home shop. They are very picky about power. They need their own 20a circuit to run effectively. You can most definitely weld 3/16 or 1/4 with your home machine if you run .035 flux core, pre-bevel your joints, clean everything well and tune your wire speed. You have to have it on a dedicated circuit though, or they will spit and sputter and just generally run like ****.

 

[jrp458]

I bet I don't get a good response from this, but I just picked up a Harbor Freight 90 Amp Flux Core just help hone some welding skills. I have a little experience welding, so I figured I would join in on this thread to get some ideas a pointers.

 

[IRQVET]

I bet I don't get a good response from this, but I just picked up a Harbor Freight 90 Amp Flux Core just help hone some welding skills. I have a little experience welding, so I figured I would join in on this thread to get some ideas a pointers.

I started on a Northern Tool 125 Flux core machine, barely a step up from a HF unit, but I learned a lot playing with it in my garage.

 

[jrp458]

I started on a Northern Tool 125 Flux core machine, barely a step up from a HF unit, but I learned a lot playing with it in my garage.

That's really all I plan to do. I'll upgrade in the future to a better machine, I'm sure, but this will get me welding and playing around on little stuff.

 

[bigpokie]

Replaced the liner in my weld-pak 100. So far so good. My dumb *** picked up a spool .30 though but i am wondering if it would be better for doing sheet metal. Thats all i really do at the house anyways

 

[simpler=better]

I used a pulse mig unit once, it was incredible. Easy like using a caulking gun, stuck cast to mild steel no problem.

 

[bimmer1980]

Jut a bit of advice for those of you running a 110V machine in your home shop. They are very picky about power. They need their own 20a circuit to run effectively. You can most definitely weld 3/16 or 1/4 with your home machine if you run .035 flux core, pre-bevel your joints, clean everything well and tune your wire speed. You have to have it on a dedicated circuit though, or they will spit and sputter and just generally run like ****.

I will also add that it helps to have a grinder set up with a wire brush and to clean each joint before starting another weld. All the spatter and flux residue contribute to a crappy weld if it isn't cleaned up each time.....

To those who just bought a small welder... you have to start somewhere... My experience is that if you can produce a decent weld with a small one, a larger mig welder will be cake.... I find that my small century 110 welder is more finicky than a large welder....

 

[Nor'Easter]

I started on a Northern Tool 125 Flux core machine, barely a step up from a HF unit, but I learned a lot playing with it in my garage.

As some folks often say, learning how to weld on a lesser machine will only make you better. Then you'll be greater prepared when you step up to a bigger machine.

 

[IRQVET]

As some folks often say, learning how to weld on a lesser machine will only make you better. Then you'll be greater prepared when you step up to a bigger machine.

I'd like to think that is true, but I'm having one hell of a time dialing in my mig. I used my cousins machine (which is the exact same as my new one) and it performed flawlessly in my hand.

Granted, he uses his on 240v and .024 wire and I'm currently using mine on 110V with .030 wire. (I can't wait to run 240v out in my garage)

 

[jrp458]

Finally got a chance to play around with my Harbor Freight 90 amp. It had been a while since I welded at all, so it was pretty much like I was just starting out. Check out a couple of beads that I ran below. Any noticeable issues or recommendations?

Also, what shade do is recommended on an auto darkening helmet for flux core? I couldn't seem to quite get it dialed in where I could see the arc comfortably.