Well I'm hooked on MIG now

[LoneGunman]

The MIG welders I have had in the past were either a POS with no gas capability or they were decent machines but I never had a tank and always used flux wire. Got my tank filled today and swapped the flux stuff out, I can't believe what I have been missing, I LOVE this little machine (Lincoln 135) now that I have gas. I do need to get a 240v machine though, the one I have now was free so I couldnt be picky.

I'm still keeping my Lincoln AC/DC 225 stick machine, still need a lot of practice, and I'm on the lookout for a TIG machine.

I also would like to learn OA welding, I have the equipment but not the knowledge and practice. Why would someone use OA welding when they have MIG and Stick capabilites?

 

[terabyte]

The MIG welders I have had in the past were either a POS with no gas capability or they were decent machines but I never had a tank and always used flux wire. Got my tank filled today and swapped the flux stuff out, I can't believe what I have been missing, I LOVE this little machine (Lincoln 135) now that I have gas. I do need to get a 240v machine though, the one I have now was free so I couldnt be picky.

I'm still keeping my Lincoln AC/DC 225 stick machine, still need a lot of practice, and I'm on the lookout for a TIG machine.

I also would like to learn OA welding, I have the equipment but not the knowledge and practice. Why would someone use OA welding when they have MIG and Stick capabilites?

I VERY highly recommend you get the OA setup and practice. It will teach you how to run a puddle better than anything else. This is practice that will transfer over to TIG welding. You will also learn when to dip in the filler rod and develop that muscle memory. I don't have an OA setup cause I have Mig, Tig and Plasma but OA is very versatile since you can also use it to shrink metal when doing body work, cut, etc.

I mostly use my SP175 and I too love that machine. I used it for a few hours last night

 

[LoneGunman]

I have an OA set up, in fact I have two, (got family in the pawnshop business) one medium size I guess youd call it and one of the small ones that are very portable. I'll probably get plasma before I get a TIG set up, I'd use the plasma a lot more. Right now I'm cutting a 6" circle in 3/16th, it's a pain in the **** to use a grinder and I think that it's too thin for OA, if not it's far beyond my current capabilities.

 

[nissan_crawler]

The MIG welders I have had in the past were either a POS with no gas capability or they were decent machines but I never had a tank and always used flux wire. Got my tank filled today and swapped the flux stuff out, I can't believe what I have been missing, I LOVE this little machine (Lincoln 135) now that I have gas. I do need to get a 240v machine though, the one I have now was free so I couldnt be picky.

I'm still keeping my Lincoln AC/DC 225 stick machine, still need a lot of practice, and I'm on the lookout for a TIG machine.

I also would like to learn OA welding, I have the equipment but not the knowledge and practice. Why would someone use OA welding when they have MIG and Stick capabilites?

I go insane if I run out of gas late at night and have to run flux core.

OA is good if you're not around electricity, dealing with very thick metal that your welder won't handle, or if you need to remain "compact", since it welds and cuts. You can also braze.

I did OA welding for 2-3 years after I bought my house until I bought my hh175.

I have an OA set up, in fact I have two, (got family in the pawnshop business) one medium size I guess youd call it and one of the small ones that are very portable. I'll probably get plasma before I get a TIG set up, I'd use the plasma a lot more. Right now I'm cutting a 6" circle in 3/16th, it's a pain in the **** to use a grinder and I think that it's too thin for OA, if not it's far beyond my current capabilities.

3/16" isn't too thin at all, but it'll be dependent on your tip size.

 

[LoneGunman]

I go insane if I run out of gas late at night and have to run flux core.

OA is good if you're not around electricity, dealing with very thick metal that your welder won't handle, or if you need to remain "compact", since it welds and cuts. You can also braze.

I did OA welding for 2-3 years after I bought my house until I bought my hh175.



3/16" isn't too thin at all, but it'll be dependent on your tip size.

I didnt think you could OA weld thick metal, relistically how thick could you weld?

 

[techdog]

I know the feeling tried all kinds of welding and Mig is fun ,just bought a home welder.Tig was too nerve racking using a foot control everytime my foot fell asleep.

 

[PAToyota]

I didnt think you could OA weld thick metal, relistically how thick could you weld?

Really no limits. My great-grandfather was a welder back around the turn of the previous century when OA was all they had.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

OA heats the base metal over a much wider area. The metal is much less likely to crack along the weld. Not saying TIG or MIG is bad, just that heating the base metal is good stress relief. That is why tubular aircraft frames, made from 4130 round tubing are best OA welded, TIG makes them much more prone to crack not in the weld, but right along it, than OA welding.

Charles

 

[krooser]

Back in the day you made your own acetylene with an "acetyelene generator"... used carbide pellets and water to make it...REAL dangerous...my buddy used to have one in his body shop in the 60's.

Take a look at "thermite" welding... an OLD techniques from about 100 + years ago.

 

[rsanter]

I tried the flux core one time in my MIG on the thought that if I had to go portable with it it would be easier. not worth it, the flux core is junk for children

the lincolin you have is a great welder. yo do not need a bigger welder unless you plan on doing lots of thicker stuff

bob

 

[Jared]

i dont mind fluxcore most of the equipment repair guys run it or dual sheild fluxcore is nice because it penetrates more.

 

[FlameOut]

I have never welded before in my life, until my recent purchase of a Lincoln 140c. I'm starting to wonder now if I have a bad welder, or I'm doing something wrong. I really can't see much difference between my flux welds and welding with the other wire using 75/25 gas. Both look like ****. The gas must be coming out though, as I went through 3 bottles doing my floor pans in my car

 

[mmg440]

I have been welding for many years. I bought a small flux MiG for the area we are leaving. I still wanted to be able to make small repairs. Boy it's a bi different. I still like the gas A lot cleaner you can make multi pass without cleaning the slag and ****. I also figured when getting the small flux core that it could be used outside like my arc but only having a smaller power requirement would make it good for fence and equipment repair outside with the wind! My main learning curve was to move much slower then I would with a gas mig. The feed seems to need to be closer to the 90 degree angle of the materials being welded. I was used to flowing in a different way then the flux core needed. It took me back to the stick welding. I welded my last trailer with the little unit and am pleased (altho more work then a gas machine would of been) I do trust the flux core after a bit of practice. I think both do have there place. Have you ever tried a Gas Mig Outside on a windy day ? ?? Keep some of the old flux core in a dry place for when you need it for outside..

 

[mmg440]

I have never welded before in my life, until my recent purchase of a Lincoln 140c. I'm starting to wonder now if I have a bad welder, or I'm doing something wrong. I really can't see much difference between my flux welds and welding with the other wire using 75/25 gas. Both look like ****. The gas must be coming out though, as I went through 3 bottles doing my floor pans in my car

Are you changing the wire to non-flux when you goto to the gas???

When welding with the sheild gas you no longer use the flux wire or it will still work like the flux wire. You use plain wire. Also make sure you are not leaking the gas off somewere else..

 

[e-tek]

Are you changing the wire to non-flux when you goto to the gas???

When welding with the sheild gas you no longer use the flux wire or it will still work like the flux wire. You use plain wire. Also make sure you are not leaking the gas off somewere else..

tee hee hee - I hope so!!!

 

[StanBo]

Guys I have a couple rolls of flux core in my bench incase I ever run out of gas.

How does the flux core compare to stick welding? I mean that is covered in flux and when done right the slag peels itself off.

Can the same be done with proper MIG/Flux technique?

 

[mmg440]

Guys I have a couple rolls of flux core in my bench incase I ever run out of gas.

How does the flux core compare to stick welding? I mean that is covered in flux and when done right the slag peels itself off.

Can the same be done with proper MIG/Flux technique?

I would think it could. I have a small wire feed in IL to do small repairs on trailers and such. It is only a 90 amp 110 volt model from HF (can't even be converted for gas use). About as cheap as cheap gets to melt metal. It is the only wire feed I even remember using with flux wire. I have a Craftsman 240 amp Arc in MO (I have about 70 pound of older rod from a body shops old stock that I have been able to keep moisture out of and most of it still performs well) I can get a much better slag release from the arc then I have been able to get with my toy mig. However I am finding the more I practice and change my welding angle I am now getting not only better welds that I actually trusted to build a small trailer. The slag release is now acceptable were it is no longer a hassle to clean and make a second pass to build it up. So with a welder that has a duty cycle and power setting to make good welds I think it would be just like a quality arc weld were the slag almost pops it's self off.

I was using the hf 90 amp this weekend for a little trailer
pic 1 First weld is after welding
pic 2 same weld just wire brushed off with a hand wire brush to remove slag from flux core
pic 3 the cheepo welder used. Set on high .8 mm wire and wire speed just over 9

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Category.taf?CategoryID=292&pricetype=

 

[Jared]

I have never welded before in my life, until my recent purchase of a Lincoln 140c. I'm starting to wonder now if I have a bad welder, or I'm doing something wrong. I really can't see much difference between my flux welds and welding with the other wire using 75/25 gas. Both look like ****. The gas must be coming out though, as I went through 3 bottles doing my floor pans in my car

WHen you changed to gas did you change the polarity? also what is your gas set at?

 

[skipnsb]

Some of the airplane repairers/builders (tube frame Cubs, etc.) think OA is best.

 

[tim096]

I have a hh140 and love it one of the best tools i ever bought. I use gas too

 

[cnyeco1]

I have a Miller "Cricket" flux core mig. I love it. I have built 2 cars with it and it welds better than some of the gas welders. Yeah the slag is a pain in the ***, but I got the welder for free and it was practically brand new. I would probably sell it if I was a pro car builder or welded alot. I have used the big lincolns at work for years, but I have no prob with my flux core. I do face a fan blowing behind me or beside me so the air passes over the weld and it improves the weld puddle.

I think it also depends on how good of a welder you are and what you are using it for. My dad just got a great deal on a Lincoln 180, 220 volt. Paid $400 for it still in the box.

 

[Toy2]

I would think it could. I have a small wire feed in IL to do small repairs on trailers and such. It is only a 90 amp 110 volt model from HF (can't even be converted for gas use). About as cheap as cheap gets to melt metal. It is the only wire feed I even remember using with flux wire. I have a Craftsman 240 amp Arc in MO (I have about 70 pound of older rod from a body shops old stock that I have been able to keep moisture out of and most of it still performs well) I can get a much better slag release from the arc then I have been able to get with my toy mig. However I am finding the more I practice and change my welding angle I am now getting not only better welds that I actually trusted to build a small trailer. The slag release is now acceptable were it is no longer a hassle to clean and make a second pass to build it up. So with a welder that has a duty cycle and power setting to make good welds I think it would be just like a quality arc weld were the slag almost pops it's self off.

I was using the hf 90 amp this weekend for a little trailer
pic 1 First weld is after welding
pic 2 same weld just wire brushed off with a hand wire brush to remove slag from flux core
pic 3 the cheepo welder used. Set on high .8 mm wire and wire speed just over 9

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Category.taf?CategoryID=292&pricetype=

You used the HF welder? I have the same machine and my welds look like ****......maybe its me and not the machine.......

 

[mmg440]

You used the HF welder? I have the same machine and my welds look like ****......maybe its me and not the machine.......

I got to say the first few times I used it I did not think I could get it to weld decent. It took some tries before I figured out to get it. I have found that I can get it to lay beads like that are as seen. Alto not perfect I trust them to hold solid. I have been welding since the '80's much of it was arc for many years so I think that was some of the experience that helped me figure this thing out (after all flux core is similar). Since it only has the two heat settings and high is the only one I have been using. The wire speed is adjustable but that also give limits. I found that I can get the weld hot enough by staying in one spot longer and traveling slowly. I stayed on one spot until I see the flow start and the started moving my puddle. It's not really hot enough to try a side to side motion you loose some of the fluxes ability at that point it seems due to the temp drop. I just traveled slow to keep the heat concentrated on the weld and watching the flow. I am thinking of adding a fan to this little thing so It can weld a little longer before I trigger the heat overload.

 

[Toy2]

mmg440, thanks for the info, those welds look really good to me, I will continue to learn my machine.....thanks again.....

 

[35mastr]

I have never welded before in my life, until my recent purchase of a Lincoln 140c. I'm starting to wonder now if I have a bad welder, or I'm doing something wrong. I really can't see much difference between my flux welds and welding with the other wire using 75/25 gas. Both look like ****. The gas must be coming out though, as I went through 3 bottles doing my floor pans in my car

Are you polaritys correct for running gas?

 

[mmg440]

mmg440, thanks for the info, those welds look really good to me, I will continue to learn my machine.....thanks again.....

It's about the best I think this tinker toy unit can do. It's hard to make it a weld constant with so little power.
If you can't get it to work don't get frustrated it is not the best unit to learn on. Bye the way use a good outlet and try not to use a extension cord. It needs all the power it can get and a voltage drop on the line going to it will affect your welds.

 

[Toy2]

It's about the best I think this tinker toy unit can do. It's hard to make it a weld constant with so little power.
If you can't get it to work don't get frustrated it is not the best unit to learn on. Bye the way use a good outlet and try not to use a extension cord. It needs all the power it can get and a voltage drop on the line going to it will affect your welds.

Perfect, you nailed it, I run a 50' cord to the shed to weld.........I will move it closer to the house and try again......thanks again..

 

[John Kelly]

Why would someone use OA welding when they have MIG and Stick capabilites?

Because gas welding requires no grinding, no electricity, less chance of starting a fire, and is easier to hammer and dolly. Gas welding can be as fast as any other method when you take grinding and metal-finishing into account. There is no need to do a little bit at a time as there is with mig on thin stuff. It is pretty easy to tack pieces together using the fusion welding process, then weld 4"-8" at a time, stretch the welds, smooth, shrink to perfection. When the panel starts to warp, people sometimes freak and think they have ruined it. Mig pulls and shrinks as well, but there is a more localized effect than with gas welding. This is what makes folks think mig is better. It is not. It is just a little easier to learn.

I've spent about 35 years stick welding, mig-welding and gas welding. They each have their good points. There are people who do beautiful sheet metal work with nothing but mig, but the vast majority of top notch work I've seen is done with gas or tig.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

 

[StanBo]

Because gas welding requires no grinding, no electricity, less chance of starting a fire, and is easier to hammer and dolly. Gas welding can be as fast as any other method when you take grinding and metal-finishing into account. There is no need to do a little bit at a time as there is with mig on thin stuff. It is pretty easy to tack pieces together using the fusion welding process, then weld 4"-8" at a time, stretch the welds, smooth, shrink to perfection. When the panel starts to warp, people sometimes freak and think they have ruined it. Mig pulls and shrinks as well, but there is a more localized effect than with gas welding. This is what makes folks think mig is better. It is not. It is just a little easier to learn.

I've spent about 35 years stick welding, mig-welding and gas welding. They each have their good points. There are people who do beautiful sheet metal work with nothing but mig, but the vast majority of top notch work I've seen is done with gas or tig.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

John I would like to learn how to gas weld. I have a coworker that might hook me up with his old O/A setup. He has no room for it and I could use the tooling. I would like to get beyond considering O/A as a cutting/heating tool and add welding to it.

I am also facinated with doing things "the old way".

I was using the hf 90 amp this weekend for a little trailer

I don't think those look to bad at all. Did you feel that the welder ran out of guts while making that pass or did you start and stop?

Some of the airplane repairers/builders (tube frame Cubs, etc.) think OA is best.

Again can't wait to see how that works out.

 

[speed bump]

John I would like to learn how to gas weld. I have a coworker that might hook me up with his old O/A setup. He has no room for it and I could use the tooling. I would like to get beyond considering O/A as a cutting/heating tool and add welding to it.

I am also facinated with doing things "the old way".

O/A isn't hard at all to weld with in my opinion I like being able to control the heat and metal fill depending on where I am at and I have a good feel for how well its going in. I also like having more visibility while welding it allows better direction control.


Personally I find MIG kind of boring and have been practicing my tail off on Arc welding because I enjoy it more but still **** at it.

 

[mmg440]

...I don't think those look to bad at all. Did you feel that the welder ran out of guts while making that pass or did you start and stop?

That is one pass but it does not have the guts to go out of the puddle. If I move to fast or try and spread the weld wider it get too cold in a hurry. This is I think the very best weld the machine can do. (like building speeding down a hill to try and make it over the top of the next one), (yes I got there but not without a little coaxing.) Yes, I am satisfied with it and have built two trailers with it and trust them on the highway. However It is frustrating working with such a limited machine. Lager machines give a more sable amperage and makes it a lot easer to keep the weld consistent. I don't think it's possible with he small Chicago Electric welder to get more even flow characteristics. I got good penetration and good flow into both pieces. I a satisfied with that. High setting is only a 25% duty Cycle and high setting can be "79-90" amp current range.

Basically even though I am able to get a decent weld out of this thing. I also don't want to misrepresent it and would not expect most to be able to get a good weld without much practice with the machine. I am pretty much used to figuring out a welder with a couple passes and can get the welds I want by changing settings. NOT on this one I had to spend more then a day and changing my technique. I think in general mig also got me a little lazy instead of really watching a bead I most of the time read the weld. This unit I have to watch the puddle again. I guess good practice. I take it back it might be a good welder for a beginner.