Fifelaker
Bronze Member
He is so sporting he can break a ballpeen hammer with a piece of cheese. I have used his miller on several occasions and it welds close to my old Lincoln in all aspects.
120v MIG weld on a 3/8" thick (bevel 60deg)
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timster2
Platinum Member
All this discussion about 115 volt welders got me wanting to go out and do some welding. I am somewhat of a tool collector and have three wire feed welders a twenty year old HF 120 a Millermatic 130 and a lincoln 180c. I use the HF for tacking things together and fitting things up using fluxcore, saves C25. The Millermatic I got about two years ago and never really set it up as the other two welders get most of the MIG work.
I loaded the Miller up with a new roll of fluxcore and found out that the wire feed motor is running a bit too fast and I cannot adjust the wire feed speed. After taking it apart and doing some research for fixes I ordered some parts and will have to wait to see what it can do. I had hoped to put the Miller into service and sideline the HF machine but now that will have to wait a bit.
I was hoping to do some testing and contrast between the Miller and the HF and contribute to the discussion but for now I will have to keep reading and wait a bit.
I loaded the Miller up with a new roll of fluxcore and found out that the wire feed motor is running a bit too fast and I cannot adjust the wire feed speed. After taking it apart and doing some research for fixes I ordered some parts and will have to wait to see what it can do. I had hoped to put the Miller into service and sideline the HF machine but now that will have to wait a bit.
I was hoping to do some testing and contrast between the Miller and the HF and contribute to the discussion but for now I will have to keep reading and wait a bit.
roadhunter
Elite Member
Had a few minutes to go in the basement and do a little welding tonight. I was running a Hobart 125 with .035 flux core wire maxed on power. In the other corner we had a Everlast 200 hooked to 110v power (120 amps, then 110 amps) pushing a Miller SP32 suitcse welder with .035 flux core wite. Had a few pieces of 1/4"x1-1/2" flast stock. Did a quick complete bevel on the grinder (eyeballed to appx 60 degrees), root opening was appx 1/16 or less and varied slightly. Keep in mind this whole thing took less than 30 minutes.
1 pass with the Hobart 125 and it was almost completely filled in the center. I had to touch up the ends. Upon bending as expected the start and ends were not good but the middle held together nicely. I have no doubt that with a little more than 2 minutes of setup and practice that it is possible for a skilled welder to get complete penetration in 1/4" material with this machine, which would lead me to beleive it is probably possible to weld 3/8" material with 2 or more passes on this machine. I will also plan on taking it and timing how long it will run on a 20 amp circuit sometime this weekend. It did not overheat on this task.
First try with the new Everlast 200 (Arrived on Friday) plugged into 110 volts set on 120 amps and about half way through the weld I blew through. I knew it was getting hot and I sped up but it was too late. It was also slightly underfilled the face but showed good penetration on the back side. Second try the machine was turned down to 110 amps and everything was looking good until the end where I blew through again. The weld was completely filled and about 1/16" tall. I think I am getting close to the right setup and with some more time adjusting and practicing there is no doubt in my mind that it is possible to pass a 3/8 bend test with this setup doing multiple passes.
Also ran a little 1/8 7018 on the Maxstar 150 hooked to 110v power (20 amps circuit) and set on 120 amps. No doubt in my mind that a skilled welder could pass a 3/8" bend test with that machine.
Anyhow for some reason it seems that the inverter arc welders hooked to 110v power had more power than the Hobart wire feeder. The Everlast 200 and Miller SP32 setup was really quite impressive for a machine on 110v power. I'll post a few pics tomorrow at work and plan on doing a slightly modified bend test with some 3/8 material this weekend. I'm still getting used to the Everlast 200 but really like it so far. Also really nice that it will push my suitcase welder which the Maxstar 150 won't do. I've already noticed how much better the Everlast is at running 6010 as well.
1 pass with the Hobart 125 and it was almost completely filled in the center. I had to touch up the ends. Upon bending as expected the start and ends were not good but the middle held together nicely. I have no doubt that with a little more than 2 minutes of setup and practice that it is possible for a skilled welder to get complete penetration in 1/4" material with this machine, which would lead me to beleive it is probably possible to weld 3/8" material with 2 or more passes on this machine. I will also plan on taking it and timing how long it will run on a 20 amp circuit sometime this weekend. It did not overheat on this task.
First try with the new Everlast 200 (Arrived on Friday) plugged into 110 volts set on 120 amps and about half way through the weld I blew through. I knew it was getting hot and I sped up but it was too late. It was also slightly underfilled the face but showed good penetration on the back side. Second try the machine was turned down to 110 amps and everything was looking good until the end where I blew through again. The weld was completely filled and about 1/16" tall. I think I am getting close to the right setup and with some more time adjusting and practicing there is no doubt in my mind that it is possible to pass a 3/8 bend test with this setup doing multiple passes.
Also ran a little 1/8 7018 on the Maxstar 150 hooked to 110v power (20 amps circuit) and set on 120 amps. No doubt in my mind that a skilled welder could pass a 3/8" bend test with that machine.
Anyhow for some reason it seems that the inverter arc welders hooked to 110v power had more power than the Hobart wire feeder. The Everlast 200 and Miller SP32 setup was really quite impressive for a machine on 110v power. I'll post a few pics tomorrow at work and plan on doing a slightly modified bend test with some 3/8 material this weekend. I'm still getting used to the Everlast 200 but really like it so far. Also really nice that it will push my suitcase welder which the Maxstar 150 won't do. I've already noticed how much better the Everlast is at running 6010 as well.
Fifelaker
Bronze Member
I would have to go look at the paperwork but I believe I was running around 95 amps for my 7018 3g up 3/8" test. Heat rises so you back down a bit for the 3g up. Flat plate I will run around 100-105 amps. My stick/tig machine does not tell you what amperage you are set at just 3 ranges and a fine adjustment so I go by ear and what the puddle is doing. All with 1/8" electrode from an oven
Arc weld
Veteran Member
Lets not forget about Metal-Core which is kind of a cross between solid wire MIG and Flux-Core. Solid wire can be hotter than flux-core in spray mode but needs a big enough machine to run spray mode using 92/8 mix.
ericher69
Veteran Member
Fife laker;
Your a good man devoting a significant amount of your time and resources to appease a few that just don't get it!
I am no professional weldor.
I have used several 120V MIG's for sheet metal repair. Would I have used them for anything but? Not a chance!
My last MIG was a Lincoln SP170-T 220V that was rated for 3/8 single pass. Have I welded 3/8 successfully; I thought so...
Until I welded 3/8 to 1/2" with my 252; what a difference the PROPER machine with the PROPER amperage makes for a SOUND weld.
Yes the 252 is rated for 1/2". Am I confident that I could pass a bend test; no
Therefore I do not weld 1/2" with the 252 (or stick for that matter) if it is anything structural! I call the local welding shop and have a qualified/certified weldor perform the weld with the PROPER tools and techniques.
It's called COMMON SENSE or being REASONABLE.
Never understood the mentality- I'll save $65/hr by welding it myself the improper way and risk killing a friend, stranger or family member.
Looking forward to the results and thanks for your contribution of time effort money even if it is to appease a few.
Sent from my iPhone 5s 64Gb using TractorByNet
Your a good man devoting a significant amount of your time and resources to appease a few that just don't get it!
I am no professional weldor.
I have used several 120V MIG's for sheet metal repair. Would I have used them for anything but? Not a chance!
My last MIG was a Lincoln SP170-T 220V that was rated for 3/8 single pass. Have I welded 3/8 successfully; I thought so...
Until I welded 3/8 to 1/2" with my 252; what a difference the PROPER machine with the PROPER amperage makes for a SOUND weld.
Yes the 252 is rated for 1/2". Am I confident that I could pass a bend test; no
Therefore I do not weld 1/2" with the 252 (or stick for that matter) if it is anything structural! I call the local welding shop and have a qualified/certified weldor perform the weld with the PROPER tools and techniques.
It's called COMMON SENSE or being REASONABLE.
Never understood the mentality- I'll save $65/hr by welding it myself the improper way and risk killing a friend, stranger or family member.
Looking forward to the results and thanks for your contribution of time effort money even if it is to appease a few.
Sent from my iPhone 5s 64Gb using TractorByNet
roadhunter
Elite Member
Here are the pics form my quick experiment last night. Disclaimer, nobody was hurt or injured in the process.
This was a single pass with the 125 Hobart. I did touch up the start and stop.
This was a single pass with the 125 Hobart. I did touch up the start and stop.
roadhunter
Elite Member
These are the pics of the Everlast 200 and Miller wire feeder.
paulharvey
Veteran Member
I actually tried to step away, but just a short word. Be careful about assuming it will shut down before damage is done. Might be wise to still try to limit your full amp welding to 10-20% duty cycle regardless of machine shut down; to prevent damage to the welder.
MinnesotaDaveChalmers
Platinum Member
Good advice - I popped a diode in my old stick welder while running wide open and not paying any attention to duty cycle.
Fortunately the problem was obvious, and not expensive.
My old 120v mig would start to sputter when I ran it too long. Then after that it would do it faster the next time, and so on...
(or pop the breaker)
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