welding qs

[andy d]

any body out there know how to use a wire welder? itsa mig but im using a flux core wire and no argon. back when dinosaurs walked the earth i useta work in a shipyard and am familiar with stick welding. whats the deal here? do you weave the puddle? do you just run it in the groove? im trying to weld a bottom flange on the frame rail. i dont seem to be getting any penetration, the weld just lays on top. TIA

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'88 gwag,pure stock

[ClarkGriswald]

I'm no welder, but Ive done a little and have used just that setup. I did well to sort of draw little letter "U"'s across the seam. Just my gorrila welding tip's. hehe.

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88 Grand Wagoneer
D44's front\rear
Warn 20990 Lockouts
AMC 360
TF 727
NP 229 (Funky)
Custom Hacking Via S.P.A. (Standard Polish Archetecture)

[Drew M]

i dont seem to be getting any penetration, the weld just lays on top. TIA

ANS> I'm no MIG pro either, but no penetration is due to either too fast a wire speed or too low an amp setting or a combo of both.

As for the welding technique, most people use a style they like and stick w/ it. I usually use a back and forth motion perpendicular to the weld bead.

Play w/ the MIG a bit to get the hang of it. Especially make sure the metal is clean and the gap you are welding across is not too large (over 1/8"). BTW: Copper sheets make nice backing for MIG welding. MIG welds do not stick to copper and the copper facing weld side comes out smooth so no to little grinding needed http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~zeimet/ubb/smile.gif
-Drew M.

[Veepster]

If you are not getting any penetration the heat setting is too low...

is is one of the 115v units? how many power settings does it have?

as for style..it doesn't matter if you go back and forth or just pull straight through..the only difference is what the final weld looks like.

I have a flux core MIG and love it!

let me know about your unit and I will try and give you some guidance.

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Peace.............BartG

the Green Flash!
78 Chero
360 2v, 400 QT with low
almost drivable:
4" skyjacker
33x12.50 BFG KO's
Thorley headers, 3" exhaust
Infiniti power leather seats

[Veepster]

oh one more thing.....speed of wire feed.

if it is too slow you will hear it...the sound of the welding will be intermittant....

if it is too fast....you will feel it in your hand as the wire is coming out too fast and banging againest the surface

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Peace.............BartG

the Green Flash!
78 Chero
360 2v, 400 QT with low
almost drivable:
4" skyjacker
33x12.50 BFG KO's
Thorley headers, 3" exhaust
Infiniti power leather seats

[ClarkGriswald]

Wow, I never knew that about the copper thats cool. Ive used two of those small 110V welders. One of them had a few settings, but the other didnt have any. I was supposedly automatic. That one didnt work well for me, but I was spoiled at that time because the other welder in the shop was a big full sized Hobart Mig welder. When ya set em up right its like putting on toothpaste (especially with speed glass).

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88 Grand Wagoneer
D44's front\rear
Warn 20990 Lockouts
AMC 360
TF 727
NP 229 (Funky)
Custom Hacking Via S.P.A. (Standard Polish Archetecture)

[andy d]

you guys are the best. im gettin all teary eyed. no its a welding flash,just kidding. thanks all for the helps. in all seriousness,though its great to have the feed back. the weld looks like dog s**t,not like a row of dimes,but conditions are far from optimum. im getting good penetration where the metal is bright. my technique is terrible, but it'll do. the welder is borrowed from a buddy. its a 4 level 115vac,chicago electric and its pretty wellused. after i get done doing the frame rail,im gonna try to gussy up the exhaust. ive had pretty good luck patching them with this unit in the past. http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~zeimet/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~zeimet/ubb/biggrin.gif

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'88 gwag,pure stock

[ClarkGriswald]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by andy d:
the weld looks like dog s**t,not like a row of dimes,but conditions are far from optimum. ive had pretty good luck patching them with this unit in the past. http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~zeimet/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~zeimet/ubb/biggrin.gif

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
That's why they make grinders hehehe