Welding 3/16" & 1/4" with 120v wire-feed

[Furu]

I guess I was brought up different from you. My dad always instilled in me that if you're going to do something, do it the best you can. I'm guessing you missed this lesson as your credo seems to be that mediocre will do. If you have trouble cutting little notches in the flanges on channel without cutting into the web, I can see where your good enough attitude comes from. Nobody in their right mind wants to spend half an hour grinding for 2 minutes of welding because their welder is too small. There's a lot of farmers and hobby welders on this forum and you're giving them a bad rep. with your good enough for a farmer/hobby welder approach. I know a few farmers that are excellent craftsman and do take pride in their work. The difference between a pro and a hobbyist isn't because the pro makes his living at it. The true professional strives to be a craftsman and do the best work he can. There is no reason why the hobbyist can't strive for the same thing. :thumbsup:

Arc Weld you are exactly correct!

I really like your statement: "The difference between a pro and a hobbyist isn't because the pro makes his living at it. The true professional strives to be a craftsman and do the best work he can."

Always try to do the best you can.
Always try to improve upon your skill set so that you can do better.
As good as you, WelderMike, and SA are I bet you are very critical of your welds and always try to do the best you can and to learn from your mistakes and from anyone else that might have a better technique.
I know for a fact that SA is more than willing to help anyone that is willing to listen and learn and it seems that you two guys are much the same.

Thank you from those of us that want to improve our knowledge and our skill set. I appreciate your inputs and I believe that most of us do as well. Keep commenting.

 

[Fifelaker]

I want to know how to turn a lap or inside corner into a groove joint??? I know most joints I weld are either lap or inside corners.

 

[Shield Arc]

 

[Sodo]

weldermike, I am impressed, super looking welds! Sodo, let it go man, this thread is spiraling into the abyss.

It's true Mike those are super welds (=off topic).
Agreed, and you may be right. It would not sprial if members could stay on the subject, which is "Welding 3/16" & 1/4" with 120v wire-feed".

The abyss might be Arc (or Arcs) admitting why they can't bring himself to help members with a 120v MIG, and doesn't want to see any projects showing it's a useful machine. The Arcs are trying to shut it down, and a few other pro welders too, and newbies who only know what the Arcs write are chiming in too.

WRONG? Shield you're a funny guy.

 

[ThomasH]

As usual, Sodo, you are insulting. For every bit of "help" I have seen from you, there are 20 or 50 times that the "Arcs" have given help to folks with questions. Just because they don't want to suggest doing it the ways that you do it, you attack them. I hate to tell you, but their workmanship is much better than yours.

Enough of the personal attacks by you. I hope this thread is closed at some point soon, it isn't the least bit helpful...

 

[Sodo]

The Arcs are trying to shut it down, and a few other pro welders too, and newbies who only know what the Arcs write are chiming in too.

Sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned the newbies, that was unnecessary:ashamed:.

I realize now that I set up a challenge with the first paragraph on the first post, and the Arcs responded by lobbing the insults on the 3rd post. Then DXN1EL tried to derail it on post 4 (or was simply clueless WRT forum etiquette) and the helpfull-ness has gone.

So this thread was started WRONG, by me, I'll try to avoid that. But in this time I've figured the "Arcs gig" and I actually am embarrassed that I wasn't able to rise above it. Point taken though, other members don't want to hear it.

Maybe Arcs & pros or anyone with no significant 120v MIG experience (or desire) could "unsubscribe" and announce it too, so other members can ask questions and get some help rather than getting berated. Or maybe the Arcs could actually help. It starts out with a simple, useful project, well within the capabilities of a 120v MIG by a non-pro welder.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Ah, the old "Proof by volume." - I'm louder, therefore I'm "righter"

When looking at 120v mig on heavy metal, I think about the similarities to using a too small oxy/fuel torch tip.
With a feathered edge a puddle may be formed fairly quickly - and the joint heats up as well for further passes.
On a t-joint, it's gonna be a while before any welding takes place, and the depth of the puddle will likely be shallow.
However, with a 120v mig, the wire keeps coming out regardless of the desire to wait for some more heat.

Given the picture in the post - this must qualify as my 5 cents instead of a customary .02 worth

 

[Shield Arc]

Ah, the old "Proof by volume." - I'm louder, therefore I'm "righter"

When looking at 120v mig on heavy metal, I think about the similarities to using a too small oxy/fuel torch tip.
With a feathered edge a puddle may be formed fairly quickly - and the joint heats up as well for further passes.
On a t-joint, it's gonna be a while before any welding takes place, and the depth of the puddle will likely be shallow.
However, with a 120v mig, the wire keeps coming out regardless of the desire to wait for some more heat.

Given the picture in the post - this must qualify as my 5 cents instead of a customary .02 worth

Well Dave you're lucky, you are not a pro, or x-pro welder. So you well go far in Sodo's book!
But you are one of the most knowledgeable welders I've ever come across!

 

[doohicky]

You have to realize that alot of farmers only have a $200 welder because that's what a lincoln stick welder cost. Many many many times a mig just wont burn hot or deep enough to get the job done, yes even 220v MIG's. MIG's are a bit picky when welding crap encrusted steel, whereas a stick it don't matter. I have all 3 kinds 110 lincoln 140 pro, and older Miller 220 and a lincoln stick. To be honest I weld with tthe stick more often than not because the penetration seems to be better. There is a welder for every job, I will even use my 140 pro with innershield to weld 1/4" all day and think nothing about it.

I dont understand why so many farmers own a $200 welder and have a half million dollars in farm equipment. Claiming they use whats at hand to get the job done, and then argue it to death. Must not be a priority for them shieldarc. Let em wallow in there foolishness. You can kill a grizzly bear with a 22 as well. I wouldnt recomend making it a part of daily procedure. Sooner or later youre gonna get f'd. Buy the right equipment is what the man is saying, and those machines top out on 1/8 and i dont give a crap what anyone says. Can i get away with it if i had to....yes i can, but i wouldnt argue like chowderhead that its fine for daily practice. Same argument all the time. 40grand worth of toys and trailers laying around and a $200 welder. "That should hold for a bit, let me grind it a little more tho...looks like shlt" Same old story.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Well Dave you're lucky, you are not a pro, or x-pro welder. So you well go far in Sodo's book!
But you are one of the most knowledgeable welders I've ever come across!

Man with your experience level I consider that very high praise indeed - thanks! :cheerful:
Lots left for me to learn in this field - I'll keep after it :wave: