Need A Welder's Opinion.

[wire2]

Re: Need A Welder's Opinion.

Please tell me more about this spool gun? does it attach to a mig machine?

http://cgi.ebay.com/50-250Amp-Inver...yZ113743QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[MikDee]

Re: Need A Welder's Opinion.

True but quite a bit overstated. Take it from an iron worker who for a number of years cut down and cut up using a torch more than a few 1 million gallon storage tanks that had multiple layers of zinc and zinc chromate paints on them.

I used to stop once or twice a week on the way home to grab a gallon of milk to drink to keep from throwing up on the ride home after spending the day cutting scrap. This is back in the days when we didn’t wear respirators and just sucked up the effects. We used to make fun of the guys that had rough evening the night before.

In hindsight, we where stupid but I’m still here, so far.

Yeah, working construction for so many years myself, I've had my share of burning, & welding, galvanized pipe, tanks, & supports, especially working on or near new, & old, water towers.


Hey wire2, thanks for the link, where is the spool holder for that unit? and is that a small spool I see on the handle?, how do you work it without that getting in the way?

 

[Buttanic]

Re: Need A Welder's Opinion.

OK. Tell me what you guys think.

I went out and bought this model tonight. Lincoln Electric 3200HD welder

I was talking it over with my dad who is a master electrician, and he told me that if I went with a 230v unit I would have to run an additional wire to my garage, and that seemed like too much trouble for me since everything is underground and 100 ft. from the house. So, for my purposes I went with the 120v unit so that I shouldn't have to do anything with the wiring in my garage.

Is the welder I chose a good all around welder for what I will be using it for? Like I said earlier, I'm not going to be welding anything above 5/16" steel, so this is the one the salesman recommended.

Good choise, I think you will be more than satisfied with it. I have both a 220V DC stick welder and a 110V Lincoln MIG. Lucky if I use the stick once every 5 years, use the MIG almost monthly.

 

[Buttanic]

Re: Need A Welder's Opinion.

A detail that didn't come up but may be important to someone reading;

Tig welding aluminum requires an AC power source with high frequency.

A molten puddle of aluminum forms a surface layer of oxide instantly, it must be dispersed by the current constantly reversing, the high frequency must be on continuously to re-start the arc.

Aluminum can be welded with most MIG welders with the addition of argon. The bead is not as pretty as a TIG but HF is not absolutely necessary. I weld aluminum with my 110V Lincoln MIG with no problems but it does take more pratice than steel.

 

[Buttanic]

Re: Need A Welder's Opinion.

Let me ask you guys this. Can you weld aluminum to steel? If so .... what type of Shielded wire would I need?

Also, what type of wire is needed for cast iron welding? I'm going to build a camping grill for my dutch ovens.

The only way I know of the weld steel to aluminum is explosive welding where a sheet of aluminum is placed on a sheet of steel, an explosive powder is spread over the aluminum and detonated. The force of the explosion welds the two together. It is called Clad and is used as the connection between the steel hull and aluminum superstructure on ships.

 

[wire2]

Re: Need A Welder's Opinion.

Hey wire2, thanks for the link, where is the spool holder for that unit? and is that a small spool I see on the handle?, how do you work it without that getting in the way?

Yes, it's the small white spool on the gun in front. It holds 1 lb of any kind/size of wire you want to weld with. Just point the nozzle at the work and pull the trigger. That turns the gas, power and wire feed on. It works well but is bulky.

A regular mig setup doesn't work well with aluminum wire being pushed through a 10-15 foot liner. It's too soft and binds easily. High end migs use both push at the feeder and pull at a compact handle.

 

[wire2]

Re: Need A Welder's Opinion.

Aluminum can be welded with most MIG welders with the addition of argon. The bead is not as pretty as a TIG but HF is not absolutely necessary. I weld aluminum with my 110V Lincoln MIG with no problems but it does take more pratice than steel.

True, HF is redundant with mig. The wire will contact the work and restart the arc.

As far as aesthetics, Lincoln has a new line of migs out this year especially for aluminum. It's processor controlled, feeds slowly until an arc starts, then speeds to fill the crater. It also slows to a stop for no hole at the end.

At first glance you would swear its mig welded steel, painted aluminum, with just a hint of black smoke on the work occasionally.

 

[wire2]

Re: Need A Welder's Opinion.

Here's a scene some of you can relate to;

I saw a young guy welding small stainless parts at a table while seated on a chair. Between tacks, he would lay the tig torch on his lap.
One time, when the tungsten just happened to be quite close to his crotch, he repositioned himself in the chair and inadvertently stepped on the pedal. The high frequency and gas came on.

Up til then I was unaware how high pitched a guy can yelp.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Need A Welder's Opinion.

LOL! It was a regular occurance with the jokers I worked with at the Shoreham nuke plant in the reactor, they would zap one another in various places when least expecting it,,, lol,,, Boys, will be boys

 

[dimock44]

Re: Need A Welder's Opinion.

you can also weld aluminum with a spool gun they work very well specially the push/pull type built my new fuel tank with one.your new welder will work ok just make sure what your welding is clean.no rust.rust and slag do not burn
and no exposed skin as the sun burn is not worth it.un like occ
good luck

Just thought I would chime in. Having worked as a welder in the past I would recomend a good 110v ( Miller or Lincoln) for around the house repairs. 220v are superior, but not very easy to take to the work. I have owned most types in the past and find Miller to be pretty good. Hobarts have wire feed problems with flux core wire. I do almost all my welding repairs around the house ( metal shop, patio cover, and boat house) with a 110 v Miller. They are easy to move to the weld site and easy to learn. Flux core is messy and leaves a lot of splatter but it depends on what your working on Go to a scrap yard and get a lot scrap and practice alot. After that practice more. And no matter what you decide good luck Just my 2 cents worth