Mig Welding..

[dbdartman]

F960, all I know is the owner of the welder said I was running 200+ amps (I was just a little busy at the time ). Yes, there is porosity in the weld. We were running low on argon, didn't feel like swapping bottles. There's even more porosity on the other tube. I wouldn't worry about it much without the gussets there. With the gussets, I'm quite sure those welds will handle the near 600 ft/lbs of torque the engine upstream makes. Fill rod was something like 7/32" or 1/8" diameter, I think (pretty darned thick), & I went through 2 complete rods, plus about 4" of a 3rd. And, finally, I assure you, it was TIG welded. I learned back in the late 70's/early 80's the art of welding hot, welding fast, & cooling the puddle with the fill on 16g & 18g stainless sheet. BTW, that's an aftermarket Dana 60 rear with 1/4" or 5/16" thick axle tubes. I welded 1.25"-1.5" on the spring seats, then went to the other side, then took a 3 minute break to let things cool some.

Oh, I spent a short time at a gig welding U-haul trailer components (decks mostly, for their open car carriers). We were using divorced MIG welders (Aircio & Miller DC units) with output gauges. If the gauges were to be believed, I was typically welding those deck components at 275-300 amps. That required leathers, a hat, & ear protection! That job only lasted a couple months as i couldn't stand milking the jobs to keep the other (lazy) weldors happy.

Thanx for the critique. I'll always be the first to admit I know enough to get myself into trouble!

 

[digicamnut]

The adds say that with flux wire you can weld up to 1/2" material with the pro mig 180. Just wondering how it works in the real world?

Anyone got ideas on this one?

 

[bobodu]

Anyone got ideas on this one?

With proper prep,lots of wire and time it could be done...just like you COULD build a house with sewing pins. I hate marketing hype.

 

[toy]

I have been looking at a Hobart 210 iron man mig and the other day I saw an add for a Hobart 210 handler. I haven't seen the handler but it is lower in price. Is the iron man 210 that much better machine than the handler or are they about the same?

 

[yomax4]

What ever you buy,,,Look at the actual out put of the unit. I believe the Miller 210 and the Hobart 210 ( Both Owned by ITW corp) Only have an out put of 160 amps. Just dont be fooled by the name. The Thermal Arc 210 is 250 amps for the same price and has a 5yr warrranty.

FYI Thanks.
MM.

 

[toy]

What ever you buy,,,Look at the actual out put of the unit. I believe the Miller 210 and the Hobart 210 ( Both Owned by ITW corp) Only have an out put of 160 amps. Just dont be fooled by the name. The Thermal Arc 210 is 250 amps for the same price and has a 5yr warrranty.

FYI Thanks.
MM.

Is Thermal Arc and Thermal Dynamics the same co.? If so I have read only positive things about thermal dynamics plasma cutters, mostly cutmaster 38. I have a small fluxcored wire welder[century brand] but have been thinking of getting a larger mig with a brand name and also a plasma cutter but haven't decided which to get first. I would like to buy american made if possible and I believe thermal dynamics is usa made. I already have an ac/dc lincoln stick welder and like it a lot for thicker stuff. The plasma cutter I beleive might be my next buy, I talked to the welding supply co. locally and he seemed to push the cutmaster 38 but said that he could get the cutmaster 51 for me in a couple of days but he was asking about $500 more for the 51 than what cyberweld is asking has anyone had any dealings with cyberweld and if so what is your impression of them? If I buy locally I would have local support but if I buy cyberweld I don't know about their support. I am totally green when it comes to plasma cutters and don't know if local support would be that important. If you have a problem locally you can look face to face with the support or repair people but with cyberweld I'm concerned with calling them only to get a machine and after you figure out which number to push you get someone that halfway speaks English or speaks so low that you can't hear them. I bet that I'm not the only one that has wrestled with these concerns,and that is why decision making is hard. Thanks for any advice I will continue my research and maybe by the time I make a decision maybe I might be able to get both at the same time. Any one that has a thermal dynameics plasma cutter how do you like it and what size is it? Thanks again Toy

 

[wushaw]

Look at Indian oxygen supply for the TD 52. last I looked they were going for @1400.00.

Thermal arc and Thermal dynamics are not the same but are controlled by one big company Thermaldyne.

I read somewhere the Thermal Arc is made in Italy.
I looked at the TA 215 at Northertool a few weeks ago and it looked like a decent machine, I was suprised to see it was a 250amp unit. My only concern is parts and stuff if and when needed.

 

[Sully2]

Anyone got ideas on this one?

It WILL...but it WONT do it in a single pass! You'll make pass over pass to get a 1/2" thick piece welded..and even at that its doubtful the weld will be as strong as you want on something that thick because the typical 120V wire fed welder doesnt put out enough real VOLTAGE at the weld puddle

 

[Sully2]

I have been looking at a Hobart 210 iron man mig and the other day I saw an add for a Hobart 210 handler. I haven't seen the handler but it is lower in price. Is the iron man 210 that much better machine than the handler or are they about the same?

I have the HH210 myself. If you have SEEN the HH140 and or the HH187..then you have SEEN the HH210. Look almost 100% identical from the outside....that is until you pick it up.... My HH140 weighs about 48 lbs...the HH210 weighs about 75..

The comparison between thr two give the IM210 the advantage IF..IF you are running WIDE OPEN all the time. A tad more top end voltage and a little better duty cycle...BUT Im the type that if I really need MAX output ALL THE TIME...Id buy the IM 250 instead

 

[Sully2]

Is Thermal Arc and Thermal Dynamics the same co.? If so I have read only positive things about thermal dynamics plasma cutters, mostly cutmaster 38. I have a small fluxcored wire welder[century brand] but have been thinking of getting a larger mig with a brand name and also a plasma cutter but haven't decided which to get first. I would like to buy american made if possible and I believe thermal dynamics is usa made. I already have an ac/dc lincoln stick welder and like it a lot for thicker stuff. The plasma cutter I beleive might be my next buy, I talked to the welding supply co. locally and he seemed to push the cutmaster 38 but said that he could get the cutmaster 51 for me in a couple of days but he was asking about $500 more for the 51 than what cyberweld is asking has anyone had any dealings with cyberweld and if so what is your impression of them? If I buy locally I would have local support but if I buy cyberweld I don't know about their support. I am totally green when it comes to plasma cutters and don't know if local support would be that important. If you have a problem locally you can look face to face with the support or repair people but with cyberweld I'm concerned with calling them only to get a machine and after you figure out which number to push you get someone that halfway speaks English or speaks so low that you can't hear them. I bet that I'm not the only one that has wrestled with these concerns,and that is why decision making is hard. Thanks for any advice I will continue my research and maybe by the time I make a decision maybe I might be able to get both at the same time. Any one that has a thermal dynameics plasma cutter how do you like it and what size is it? Thanks again Toy

Ive bought from Cyberweld and have nothing but good things to say about them

 

[toy]

Ive bought from Cyberweld and have nothing but good things to say about them

Have you ever had any problems with any thing that you have bought from them that has needed repairs? If so how did it go? The local dealer that I talked to quoted his price and I never tried to negotiate down his price any maybe telling him what cyberweld or the other [Indian site]was asking might get him to come down some. If you get one over the internet and then need repairs on it I wonder if the local welding shops would give me any static on doing the repairs or are they required to do repairs as a dealer of that brand plasma cutter or mig. I bought my oxygen accetylene torches used and when I go to get my tanks filled up I feel kinda out of place there but maybe that is because I haven't had to do thatvery often. There was a thread a while back that talked about dealing with getting their tanks refilled and it seemed that others had the same types of feelings maybe when I get more acquanted with this supply place maybe I will feel more at ease. Thanks again for any replies that help me in decision making.

 

[Sully2]

Have you ever had any problems with any thing that you have bought from them that has needed repairs? If so how did it go? The local dealer that I talked to quoted his price and I never tried to negotiate down his price any maybe telling him what cyberweld or the other [Indian site]was asking might get him to come down some. If you get one over the internet and then need repairs on it I wonder if the local welding shops would give me any static on doing the repairs or are they required to do repairs as a dealer of that brand plasma cutter or mig. I bought my oxygen accetylene torches used and when I go to get my tanks filled up I feel kinda out of place there but maybe that is because I haven't had to do thatvery often. There was a thread a while back that talked about dealing with getting their tanks refilled and it seemed that others had the same types of feelings maybe when I get more acquanted with this supply place maybe I will feel more at ease. Thanks again for any replies that help me in decision making.

Nope! Never had anything that had to be fixed under warranty at all. But warrabnty work is just that..warranty work..and IF..IF I needed warranty work done and the "local" shop REFUSED...Id be right on the phone to the parent company finding out WHY....but then again thats one reason I stick with Hobart / miller because those guys are top notch in all sorts of "assistance".

My HH140 I bought local because he was willing to beat everyones price on it..good for him I say. My HH210 he didnt even know they existed ( I bought it within about 10 days of them even being released) but I go back to buy many other itr=ems off of him and when I decide to go MIG..I'll get my tank and refills off the local guy.

I NEVER "feel uneasy" about paying someone to do a "service" for me...whether its paint my house or fix a flat tire out on the interstate...I pay..they preform the needed function.

 

[Skerby]

i bought a handler 187 @ ruralking on a 10% off day... it came w/ running gear so it was a good deal even today... my brother bought a millermatic 180 i think? from brwelder.com they were the best price and great delivery a few years ago, perhaps still today.. good luck. if you buy 110v, get a used one so you don't take a bath when you realize you need a bigger (220v) welder..

 

[escavader]

I needed a mig on my tractor cab project,so over the winter i bought the HOBART 140.Never owned a mig before,i always used a stick for every thing.My stick hasnt been touched since i bought the 110 mig,i love it.Iuse the gas,but i did try the flux wire that came with the welder.Ihated it id rather use my stick,But like i said the gas and solid wire is awEsome.No more exhaust clamps,no more hurrying so i wont burn through.no more pop rivet patches on my older vehicles.Ialso soon found out,it didnt seem to make a difference with wire size.Iseem to able to do a good job on thick or thin with the .035 solid wire.

A gas welder is more money ,than just a flux core,but get the gas its so much nicer. You can also reverse the polarity and use it gasless[with flux core wire] Ialso like the idea that i can grab it and my genny and weld away from the shop because its only 110 volt.IN the best of both worlds i think a small mig and a stick welder are both nice to have.
ALAN

 

[Sully2]

I needed a mig on my tractor cab project,so over the winter i bought the HOBART 140.Never owned a mig before,i always used a stick for every thing.My stick hasnt been touched since i bought the 110 mig,i love it.Iuse the gas,but i did try the flux wire that came with the welder.Ihated it id rather use my stick,But like i said the gas and solid wire is awEsome.No more exhaust clamps,no more hurrying so i wont burn through.no more pop rivet patches on my older vehicles.Ialso soon found out,it didnt seem to make a difference with wire size.Iseem to able to do a good job on thick or thin with the .035 solid wire.

A gas welder is more money ,than just a flux core,but get the gas its so much nicer. You can also reverse the polarity and use it gasless[with flux core wire] Ialso like the idea that i can grab it and my genny and weld away from the shop because its only 110 volt.IN the best of both worlds i think a small mig and a stick welder are both nice to have.
ALAN

YOU got it!!

I have to use flux core presently as all my welding is outside...and the gas for MIG would just get blown away

 

[escavader]

YOU got it!!

I have to use flux core presently as all my welding is outside...and the gas for MIG would just get blown away

YES I GOT IT!!!Thanks to some good advice from my friends here on TBN Ihad the thread something like need a welder for thin stuff or something like that.The 140 is a great machine,and makes nice lookin welds!!Just came in from the shop,weld a little...read tbn...weld a little.read tbn..
ALAN

 

[gemini5362]

YOU got it!!

I have to use flux core presently as all my welding is outside...and the gas for MIG would just get blown away

How do you like using the flux core. I use gas on my mig and wondered if i should get some flux core for welding when I want to weld outside and there is some wind.

 

[Bill_C]

My first welder was a Lincoln Weld-Pak 100, or is it the SP-100, same thing.... 110 volts. Got it about 12 or 15 years ago and have used flux core on it exclusively (though I bought the gas kit, I never installed it). The flux core, though not as clean as gas, is just too convenient. I use the big spool adaptor with Lincoln 211 ? Innershield wire and it's great for most of the home/hobby type welding I do. Wanna weld up the mailbox, just run an extension cord outside. I've welded up to 1/2 plate with it, albeit with a gazillion passes, and it don't look pretty with all those passes. I made an engine hoist with it and the welds held enough to pick up the front end of a car, for example. For regular 3/16 or less, the welds look pretty darn good.

But every now and then I want to do thicker stuff, or stuff that I absolutely want more oomph, so I bought a Lincoln 225 AC/DC tombstone also. I figure between the little wire feed and the big buzz box, I can cover most every thing I would want to weld....for less than a grand invested, counting the $50 HF autodarkening hood.

 

[Stampeder]

Thought I'd add my .02 in here as well. I have a 30 year old Lincoln Tombstone 180 AC stick welder and HF CEMIG160 which I bought last year. It's on gas (no flux core here!). I also have an Smith OXY/ACE set.
I learned to weld on the buzz box using stick. It's the cheapest and best way to learn. Get a used one of Craig's list or Ebay, some scrap steel, clean it and practicel, practice, practice. Once you get the hang of it go to MIG. You'll understand the feel of the arc and puddle flow so the MIG will work great for you. Also, spend the money for an autodarkening helmet. Best invention ever made for welding.
Finally, get yourself a torch and gas bottles. You can do anything with these and a bunch of things you can't do with AC/DC or MIG. If you are on this forum that means you mess with tractors and if you do sooner or later you will need to weld, you might even find out that it becomes an interesting hobby as well.
Good luck and enjoy......

 

[Sully2]

How do you like using the flux core. I use gas on my mig and wondered if i should get some flux core for welding when I want to weld outside and there is some wind.

See "Bill C's" post....

It doesnt produce as clean a looking weld as gas ( MIG) does...but for working outside..its just too easy and too convient.