Any good welders in here??

[LaDano]

I've welded over ten yrs and the best thing is to run it hot, burns trash out better and stay out of the wind with the gas. Keep it in the puddle, if you let the wire run through the crack just a hair to long it jump back, loss of continuity kills everything.

[250rAL]

I'm still learning too but I have found that a good ground is critical. Even new metal has oil and crap on it. If you wire-wheel a clean spot for the ground clamp, it helps. Also keep the ground close to your weld.

[loco250r]

If you really want a spuer weld, strong and looks good try tig welding, I have built many motorcycle frames useing tig and cromoly tubing, haven't had one break yet and its easier and proably stronger than stick, or mig and versitile.

[LAME]

http://www.adtdl.army.mil/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/tc/9-237/Ch6.htm#s5

Read up :shock:

Should sound like bacon cooking when you find the sweet spot with mig. The tip should be around 3/8-1/2 from the material...depending on what you have you gas set at. Just pay attention to how it sounds, a good weld will sound good, improper settings, speed, prep, will sound sorta angry when you are welding.

What welder did you buy?

75/25 works just fine. Most everyone I know uses that. Like said previously you want everything you are welding really clean, doesn't take much to compromise the integrity of a weld.

Biggest thing is to practice. Weld something together, then beat on it with a large , you will learn what works pretty quickly.

[LAME]

If you really want a spuer weld, strong and looks good try tig welding, I have built many motorcycle frames useing tig and cromoly tubing, haven't had one break yet and its easier and proably stronger than stick, or mig and versitile.

nnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Just go start TIG welding.

You are responsible for me ramming a stapler in my ear, from disgust.

TIG is arguably the best, and most diverse method of welding. It also takes a lot of training, skill, and initial outlay of cash to get set up with a machine. Beginner welders should start out with a stick or mig, low cost welder ~300bux new. Mess around with a flux core MIG or stick, learn correct puddling, speed, what you need to do with verticle passes...etc. THEN if so required step up to TIG. Most home users are going to usually be welding carbon steel. Appropriate spool guns, and wire can be purchased inexpensivly for welding other types of metals, if you purchase a quality MIG welder.

[Chemical442]

nnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Just go start TIG welding.

You are responsible for me ramming a stapler in my ear, from disgust.

TIG is arguably the best, and most diverse method of welding. It also takes a lot of training, skill, and initial outlay of cash to get set up with a machine. Beginner welders should start out with a stick or mig, low cost welder ~300bux new. Mess around with a flux core MIG or stick, learn correct puddling, speed, what you need to do with verticle passes...etc. THEN if so required step up to TIG. Most home users are going to usually be welding carbon steel. Appropriate spool guns, and wire can be purchased inexpensivly for welding other types of metals, if you purchase a quality MIG welder.

I would have to fully agree with what LAME said. Starting right off the bat with a TIG would be like buying your 8 year old a fully carbed and piped 250R with a big bore kit and telling him to "just push that thumb lever thing really hard."

[MudyTrikeGrl]

http://www.adtdl.army.mil/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/tc/9-237/Ch6.htm#s5

Read up :shock:

Should sound like bacon cooking when you find the sweet spot with mig. The tip should be around 3/8-1/2 from the material...depending on what you have you gas set at. Just pay attention to how it sounds, a good weld will sound good, improper settings, speed, prep, will sound sorta angry when you are welding.

What welder did you buy?

75/25 works just fine. Most everyone I know uses that. Like said previously you want everything you are welding really clean, doesn't take much to compromise the integrity of a weld.

Biggest thing is to practice. Weld something together, then beat on it with a large , you will learn what works pretty quickly.

I think I said zzzzzzzzz but bacon cooking is the most accurate sound of a proper wire fed welder I ever heard of! 8)

[als250]

Ya mig welds have to be ground to bare metal. I found that less heat the slower the wire feed or it actually hits the piece and globs up. High heat can take a faster wire speed and it sorta zzzzzzzzzzzzzz together, you'll here it when it's just right! Too much heat burns holes, not enough and it globs up never really joining the metal together. Find the right heat then play with wire speed. Those 120V jobs seem to do up to about .1875 - .250. You need 240V for the bulldozer type stuff, oops wait thats a 6 pack rack! nevermind

I think I said zzzzzzzzz but bacon cooking is a more accurate sound of a proper wire fed welder I ever heard of! 8)

Hey D.C.- forget who logged you in? That's funny!

Al

[86350X]

I got a cambell hausfield, mig 105, I like it, its small, portable and so far has done what I need, I have beat my welds with a , they are strong, but sometimes ugly, lol,,, Hey learning is learning right?

[freaksfix]

Right now all I have is a 240V stick. It wasnt too bad getting the hang of. I can weld what I need welded, but aint good enough to be teaching anyone. The best advice I can give is, just test it on a piece of scrap first. I wanna get a mig when the $$ lets me.

[Howdy]

I am a self taught welder. I learned how to stick weld and then how to mig weld. I use a Lincoln Stick welder right now and am saving for a mig welder. I am going to buy a good one when I get one.
Howdy

[als250]

Bought my mig @ Farm & Fleet. It's a Century 155GS. Was the biggest 120v. they had. Welds up to 1/4+ in a single pass. Didn't go top of line(Lincoln, Miller) because it only gets used occasionally! Works great, when you get settings right!

Al

[250rAL]

That's the same one I got. Just recently(since my last post on this thread) I got a new spool of wire that was the same as the old one except for the heat rating. It works so much better, it's hard to believe. The welds are much nicer and more consistant.

[als250]

What wire did you get? Got any #'s?

Al

[250rAL]

It's KT Industries brand,.030",ER70S6, and the heat range is 93295.