joshuabardwell
Elite Member
If your Mig welds don't look something like this, back to the drawing board.
Now come on! That's spray transfer isn't it?
What can i weld with a Licoln Electric 115v welder?
- Thread starter Piston
- Start date
Now come on! That's spray transfer isn't it?
ericher69
Veteran Member
Arc Weld;
Of course not but that is what the OP has to work with. Many of the members here cannot justify spending 4-6K on a welder that can produce welds like SA posted. Many of us have a "smallish" MIG for most welding and a AC/DC stick for thicker stock.
Many members here will NEVER hit the duty cycle on any welder as they just don't weld enough to worry about it.
Just saying.
Scooby074
Super Member
Its more than just DC.
As SA (I think) said earlier, Small migs can equal, pretty, but cold, welds. The problem is those who only have that one machine, and either no stick as backup and/or they dont even know their welds suffer from lack of penetration. Think of that next time you see a homebuilt trailer flying down the highway!
As SA (I think) said earlier, Small migs can equal, pretty, but cold, welds. The problem is those who only have that one machine, and either no stick as backup and/or they dont even know their welds suffer from lack of penetration. Think of that next time you see a homebuilt trailer flying down the highway!
PILOON
Super Star Member
I'll make you all laugh.
My first welder was a surplus step up transformer from surplus that cost me $10.00
It was an easy to separate core and had one 110 winding. I scrapped the high side and duplicated the 110 winding (88 turns of #8 wire). For the secondary winding I used 1/4" copper tubing and calculated the # of turns to give me about 60-70 volts open circuit. I soaked all the windings with varathane varnish and proceeded to weld using vice grips (and gloves).
From the rods that I experimented with I figured that I could get some 200 amps out of that box. (yes it was wood)
Later I added ground clamp and decent rod holder. Big problem was that I had no output control so I did most welding with 1/8 rod or bigger. While penetration was no problem burn thru was but I sure learned how to control a rod.
I'll add that nothing I welded ever came apart, but some looked kinda awful. LOL.
I now have a Hobart that because of my earlier 'toy' episodes I can handle with consistent nice results.
My first welder was a surplus step up transformer from surplus that cost me $10.00
It was an easy to separate core and had one 110 winding. I scrapped the high side and duplicated the 110 winding (88 turns of #8 wire). For the secondary winding I used 1/4" copper tubing and calculated the # of turns to give me about 60-70 volts open circuit. I soaked all the windings with varathane varnish and proceeded to weld using vice grips (and gloves).
From the rods that I experimented with I figured that I could get some 200 amps out of that box. (yes it was wood)
Later I added ground clamp and decent rod holder. Big problem was that I had no output control so I did most welding with 1/8 rod or bigger. While penetration was no problem burn thru was but I sure learned how to control a rod.
I'll add that nothing I welded ever came apart, but some looked kinda awful. LOL.
I now have a Hobart that because of my earlier 'toy' episodes I can handle with consistent nice results.
Arc weld
Veteran Member
You don't have to spend $4000 to get a good 220 MIG welder. Shield Arc posted a picture of the ultimate MIG weld done with spray arc. I also suspect he was being a little sarcastic. You can do decent welds with short circuit and globular transfer and the price difference between a good 110 and 220 MIG welder isn't as much as you would think. If all you have is a 110 machine fine but if someone was buying a welder, they would be much smarter to spend a little more and get a 220 machine unless all they were ever doing was sheet metal or auto body. Cold lap is the reason Lincoln took forever to get on the MIG welding bus!
You can do decent welds with short circuit and globular transfer and the price difference between a good 110 and 220 MIG welder isn't as much as you would think. If all you have is a 110 machine fine but if someone was buying a welder, they would be much smarter to spend a little more and get a 220 machine unless all they were ever doing was sheet metal or auto body. Cold lap is the reason Lincoln took forever to get on the MIG welding bus!
Shield Arc
Super Member
You're pretty perceptive!I also suspect he was being a little sarcastic.
Arc weld
Veteran Member
If it's tough job but somebody's got to do it.:ashamed: