How to transition to MIG?

coxhaus · Mar 10, 2020

California said:
I've stuck with flux-core because I weld at an open-front barn stall with drafts (old photo when a neighbor visited) but I'm ready to see if I can make prettier welds.

What size flux-core do you use? Does it weld like a welding rod?
I only welded once with flux-core and it was at a buddies house with his Lincoln 135C. We built ice chests and rod holders on a trailer hitch. I used C25 first but when we hit the trailer hitch the penetration was not good enough so I switched over to flux-core. Flux-core had better penetration but it was not good enough for me. I re-welded mine at my house with 220v. My buddy still uses his. The flux-core from what I remember welded like a small welding rod. I thought a stick welder welded better but I never did a side by side test and I don't remember the flux-core wire size. We tripped the breaker about 4 or 5 times. There was a lot of waiting or beer drinking depends on your perspective. When I said the stick welder was better I guess it could of been using the 110v welder was the issue. Maybe using a 220v MIG with flux-core would have been better. I do like dual shield welding real well.

I did this about 10 years ago. I was stringing 100 feet of new 6 gauge wire in my shop with 2 50 amp plugs which was not finished. We wanted to go beach fishing so we welded at my buddies house.

California · Mar 10, 2020

coxhaus said:
What size flux-core do you use? Does it weld like a welding rod?

Somebody with broader experience should answer this for you.

I started with a 230a AC stick welder. Aside from unsightly splatter I'm satisfied with its penetration and quality of the welds.

Then I got a HF AC 110v 'Mig100' flux welder for lighter stuff. I never did get good with it. This sample illustrates sufficient but not as good as I wanted.

I replaced that welder with a 110v Century DC 130 and used flux-core with that one too. (example - not for highway use!!!).

Then I found a fantastic deal on a HF Mig-180 plus a modern Grizzly stick/tig welder (pic) for less than I had paid for any of the older welders. I've only practiced with the HF, using flux core. As for .030 vs .035 I think .030 is sufficient for what I do, and I would go to stick for heavier work. But then anything I weld is old, rusty, and doesn't clean up to flawless so I'm relying on the stick's more certain penetration to assure a solid weld. "Flux welds like a welding rod?" Seems to me flux is more fussy to get dialed in, and less certain that it penetrated as intended. But a pro might answer this differently.

I did one project with the Grizzly and stick due to tight space, adding an 'old man step' to get on the little tractor. Much less splatter compared to the 230AC stick that I've used for most everything over 15 years.

But someone with far more experience should be answering your question.

coxhaus · Mar 10, 2020

You did fine as I am no pro either. I once welded or tried to weld with a friends small HF welder. The drive roll pulsed and it was impossible to run a good bead. And I tried to adjust the drive system but it was a no go.

yomax4 · Mar 10, 2020

Flux Core. Gasless I presume. 2 kinds. 1= 71TGS. smokey spattery crap. 2= 71T-11. Tolerable if options are few. So last night I ended up in Chicago due to multiple unsubstantiated fire drills. As luck would have it I was getting fuel at a strip mall gas station next to a flower store that was closing up for good. A gal was trying to get an 80cf N2 tank into the back of her car. I went over and asked if I could help and she said she had closed the store and had everything out except for this WWII projectile looking tank. I told her what it was and she asked if I wanted it. It said Michigan Arc and had a new hydro date. Hmmm. As I drove away I was counting in my head. I now have 13 welding tanks. What do ya do?

dragoneggs · Mar 10, 2020

the old grind said:
I found this page a few days ago. Hope it helps.

View attachment 644738

Interesting, now I know how much I really weld per year! Not so much. :ashamed:

coxhaus said:
What I remember is it costs about the same to fill a 125 or an 80 bottle. So I bought the 125 bottle. They are getting heavier as I get older. But I am getting more creative on having to move them.

Did the same... bought the 125 knowing it was more capacity than I really needed but the LWS had a better price on it vs. the 80 so it was sort of a no brainer.

coxhaus · Mar 11, 2020

dragoneggs said:
Interesting, now I know how much I really weld per year! Not so much. :ashamed:

Yea, I weld in spurts. I usually don't weld when it's real cold or real hot. I just put a new bottom on a friend's shredder. It took about 3 hours of gas and about 2 hours of beer. When I was in MIG class I only welded at class. They let me come in and weld as much as I wanted so I was there almost 4 days a week. I am retired with nothing to do so I was getting my money's worth at school. Plus all the supplies were paid for and I got to use a new Lincoln 350 MIG welder.

dragoneggs · Mar 11, 2020

I can weld for several hours but gas used could be measured in minutes if not seconds. So much is in the prep and set up. The actual welding time in a hobby shop is quite low compared to the hours spent making whatever.

California · Mar 11, 2020

dragoneggs said:
I can weld for several hours but gas used could be measured in minutes if not seconds. So much is in the prep and set up. The actual welding time in a hobby shop is quite low compared to the hours spent making whatever.

Then add the time to try various settings on scrap to get dialed in. After fabrication and setup then actual production 'hours' is only minutes. I could never earn a living at my production pace. :laughing:

But really, getting something repaired and back in service in hours instead of taking it to town to get welded, makes it all worthwhile. Plus its interesting.

coxhaus · Mar 11, 2020

My friend and I spent a day bending and cutting steel for the shredder before we welded back in November on a warm day and then welded it the next day. Well maybe 2 days of welding. I think my Victor flow regulator blew out and I had to take it in to the welding shop so they could rebuild it. Luckily there was a Micro brewery next door while we waited for the regulator to be rebuilt.

PS
My friend called the tractor place for a welder to fix his shredder and they told him it would cost more to fix it than to buy a new one. I think he said they get $80 an hour for welding.

I guess you should add in we had to go buy angle iron to rebuild the flange around the bottom of the shredder. I had some sheet metal.