120-Volt Mig welder.

[Happy Gilmore]

I'd leave the welding to you experts and hang around with Mary Ann.

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Terry

Good choice, I'd take her over Ginger any day.

Thanks for taking the time Shield Arc

 

[Arc weld]

Pushing will have a little less penetration but give a flatter bead as well. The welds shown may have been very close to perfect had they been pushed instead of pulled. Still good looking welds. Decent was meant as a compliment but I should have stated they are very acceptable welds.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I love it when things get interesting.

 

[dragoneggs]

Pushing will have a little less penetration but give a flatter bead as well. The welds shown may have been very close to perfect had they been pushed instead of pulled. Still good looking welds. Decent was meant as a compliment but I should have stated they are very acceptable welds.

Thanks again, appreciate the insight. I hope to play around some more later this week as I tackle some simple outdoor garden furniture. And I better shut up here and keep listening.

 

[Sodo]

yes interesting

 

[crazyal]

Wow, seeing that picture of that Lincoln brings back memories. That was my first wire fed welder. I bought it from Costco for $270 in the mid 90s. It came with some very basic welding accessories. The welding mask was a flat hand held model that was about as basic as you could get and some cheap gloves. I bought it to do sheet metal work on cars to replace brazing. When my stick welder broke that little weldpak was used for pretty much everything until I got into racing and replaced it with my 255xt. Did I weld steel 1/4" and thicker with it, yep. Did it hold, yes. Would I use it to weld a roll cage (.095 ERW tubing), nope. But that's just me.

 

[jaotguy]

thanks for posting ...

we need a list of what it does well , so so , not so well and what to avoid (and switch to the next unit up )
please keep in mind , most of us here have "time" on our hands and the welding schedule isn't "shop" speed ....
keep it geared to the "average Joe" and his capabilities .

 

[LD1]

Certainly looking forward to the tests on thicker plate. Them "vee groove and bend tests":thumbsup:

I try to stay out of the bickering about 120v vs 240v machines. Used both with great success before. I have always been in the "get a 240v machine if you can, but 120v will weld the thicker stuff too with proper joint and technique". Many on here are always touting to never use a 120v on 1/4" + and I have never bought into that. Sure, it cannot do it in a single pass and no root opening. But give it a gap/vee groove, and make multiple passes and it should do just fine. But again, I just try to stay away from those conversations anymore. While I believe "I" can weld thick metal just fine with 120v, I know alot of people that buy 120v machines are first-timers and dont have a clue about proper prep. And will blob a single cold pass on top of 3/8" plate and think it will hold:confused2:

So certainly looking forward to the tests.

 

[LD1]

Certainly looking forward to the tests on thicker plate. Them "vee groove and bend tests":thumbsup:

I try to stay out of the bickering about 120v vs 240v machines. Used both with great success before. I have always been in the "get a 240v machine if you can, but 120v will weld the thicker stuff too with proper joint and technique". Many on here are always touting to never use a 120v on 1/4" + and I have never bought into that. Sure, it cannot do it in a single pass and no root opening. But give it a gap/vee groove, and make multiple passes and it should do just fine. But again, I just try to stay away from those conversations anymore. While I believe "I" can weld thick metal just fine with 120v, I know alot of people that buy 120v machines are first-timers and dont have a clue about proper prep. And will blob a single cold pass on top of 3/8" plate and think it will hold:confused2:

So certainly looking forward to the tests.

 

[pmsmechanic]

So my question is "what is the real problem with 120 volt welders"? Why are they only rated for 3/16th's steel? Is it because they can't develop enough heat to do a proper job of penetrating on thicker metals?

I realize too that manufacturers have no control over how their welders are used after they leave the factory. They probably under rate them because of safety and liability concerns and frankly that makes sense to me.

Your thoughts....