Mig welder

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Tadams

Tadams

Tadams
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I purchased a Lincoln flux core welder but am unable to do a very good job on my floor pans. An experienced welder told me if I had a mig welder it would be much easier. I have no experience at welding.
He said I had the wrong tool for the job.
Looking for recommendation on an inexpensive mig welder I can use for this one job.
 
Does your Lincoln have the hook up for gas? I also use a little Lincoln and found the flux core leaves quiet a bit of splatter/mess (The welds are solid though) and it works well on dirty metal. For cleaned up panels/floor welds I used solid core wire with gas. Gives a much cleaner weld. That said, I am still newish to welding so someone with more experience will surely provide better info.
Pat
 
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Both Lincoln and Miller make excellent MIG welders in 110 volt that will work well for almost all auto restore work. I have Miller 175 and it is excellent. If you check with your Lincoln dealer maybe you can trade up to MIG unit or maybe add a conversion to yours.
 
What is the model number of the welder? You should be able to weld with it as is.

If you want to convert it to a mig welder, Lincoln has a kit that comes with a liner and regulator for the gas. You'll have to get a bottle and a different type of wire. You'll probably spend another couple of hundred bucks to convert it over.

I'm not a good welder but here's what I can tell you. Check YouTube videos on flux core welding and get some scrap steel and practice. It's really not that hard to do. Weld it up and grind it down flat. Make sure your metal is clean before you weld it.
 
3406pk said:
Both Lincoln and Miller make excellent MIG welders in 110 volt that will work well for almost all auto restore work. I have Miller 175 and it is excellent. If you check with your Lincoln dealer maybe you can trade up to MIG unit or maybe add a conversion to yours.
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Agreed,

OP My wife got me this one a few years back. Used it to repair the floors, welded in the subframe connectors I fabbed any lots of other little projects. Gonna hit the body work with it next. Uses both flux and solid wire w/gas.

Great little inexpensive welder!

Pat

20171022_101306_resized.jpg
 
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If you are really only going to do the pans, I'd probably work through with what you have. As said, it WILL weld them, just not the prettiest job. I knew I would have a lot more to do on mine so got a Hobart 140. No regrets. Have used it on many other things besides the Duster. If you get a MIG and really don't need it for anything else, it shouldn't be too difficult to sell and recoup most of your money. Or just pay someone to do the pans...
 
Eastwood has many instructional videos on their website that can assist you in improving your welding techiques.

[Meant-to-be-helpful-hint: Before starting on the real thing, like your floor plans, get some scrap materials and practice first; saves messing up the expensive bits.]
 
Tadams said:
I purchased a Lincoln flux core welder but am unable to do a very good job on my floor pans. An experienced welder told me if I had a mig welder it would be much easier. I have no experience at welding.
He said I had the wrong tool for the job.
Looking for recommendation on an inexpensive mig welder I can use for this one job.
Click to expand...
most of Lincoln's flux cores are convertible to migs for cheaper than buying a new mig.
 
Tadams said:
He said I had the wrong tool for the job.
Click to expand...

You should be able to do just fine with a flux core welder, although it is a bit messy with the splatter.

I bought this one off of Craig's List for a 100 bucks and the guy had the gas kit with it. If your welder has the option to add the gas kit, I would do so. Much cleaner and easier to use, IMO.

welder.jpg
 
As a trained welder and I own a welding shop; Flux core is not good for sheet metal and I recommend a 75%/25% gas mixture and a E-70s wire 0.23"

If all you have is flux a couple of things.
1) Practice on other metal of simular thickness.
2) CLEAN! CLEAN! CLEAN! no paint or grease or rust. Flux core on that thin of metal is tough enough let alone with that stuff preventing a good mixture of metals.
3) look at you-tube- there are plenty of videos explaining to a new welder how to make it work. Even videos on welding floors and body panels with flux core.
4) And last but not least- use proper safety gear- safety glasses, helmets gloves and full length cotton shirt if leather is not available.
There is no reason to burn or due damage to your body.

Good luck, get some education and have fun- pm me if you have specific questions and I will try to help the best I can.
Joe
 
Syleng1 said:
As a trained welder and I own a welding shop; Flux core is not good for sheet metal and I recommend a 75%/25% gas mixture and a E-70s wire 0.23"

If all you have is flux a couple of things.
1) Practice on other metal of simular thickness.
2) CLEAN! CLEAN! CLEAN! no paint or grease or rust. Flux core on that thin of metal is tough enough let alone with that stuff preventing a good mixture of metals.
3) look at you-tube- there are plenty of videos explaining to a new welder how to make it work. Even videos on welding floors and body panels with flux core.
4) And last but not least- use proper safety gear- safety glasses, helmets gloves and full length cotton shirt if leather is not available.
There is no reason to burn or due damage to your body.

Good luck, get some education and have fun- pm me if you have specific questions and I will try to help the best I can.
Joe
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As a journeyman welder too, i agree with your post 100%.
Especially on the safety gear, which i see a lot of car magazines and t.v. shows omit.
This is serious stuff here people, and the proper shade of lens in the helmet is crucial too.
I recommend a shade of #10 for light welding or a #11 for heavier stuff.
The duty cycle of the welder is important as well.
If the duty cycle is say 20% that means that you can weld without stressing the machine for 2 minutes out of 10.
Practice on scrap first and remember, the cleaner it is, (the surfaces) the better your results will be!
 
I can do ok on scrap and have watched several videos. I have one pan in last year but the front pan is giving me a difficult time. I believe I need the proper settings for the welder to begin.
Thanks for your help
 
Tadams said:
I can do ok on scrap and have watched several videos. I have one pan in last year but the front pan is giving me a difficult time. I believe I need the proper settings for the welder to begin.
Thanks for your help
Click to expand...

Oh ya, I had to find the sweet spot for settings while doing my trial and error experimenting.

Pat
 
Every welder / tool on CL around here is listed at msrp....
Bad Sport said:
You should be able to do just fine with a flux core welder, although it is a bit messy with the splatter.

I bought this one off of Craig's List for a 100 bucks and the guy had the gas kit with it. If your welder has the option to add the gas kit, I would do so. Much cleaner and easier to use, IMO.

View attachment 1715194946
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Go buy a hood, deck lid or door from the oldest car or truck you can find at your local U-pull to practice on.

Actually, newer might be better as it will be thinner and more difficult to do right.
 
Most welders have a chart on the inside of the door that covers the wire spool and feed mechanism. It will show the starting point for the gauge of metal that you are going to weld. I have a Lincoln Mig 140 and have had good success for 4 years so far. I have only used flux core wire so far. Now the quality of the wire will make a big difference on your welds as well. I have used Harbor Freight wire and found it to be hard to keep a good arc and bead. It also splatters a lot. The Lincoln flux core wire is available at any Lowe's and many others. It give much smoother welds and almost no splatter when you have your feed speed and power levels set correctly. Also have a fire extinguisher and a spray bottle of water handy. You can get small fires if your work area isn't clean. Have at least a 20 ft. diameter work area free from any flammables. As mentioned before : Clean surfaces, good quality welding hood, leather welding gloves and cotton shirt and pants (no polyesters or nylons, they will ignite and melt quickly) And lastly PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE . Any one can wire weld with a little practice.
 
MoparLeo said:
Most welders have a chart on the inside of the door that covers the wire spool and feed mechanism. It will show the starting point for the gauge of metal that you are going to weld. I have a Lincoln Mig 140 and have had good success for 4 years so far. I have only used flux core wire so far. Now the quality of the wire will make a big difference on your welds as well. I have used Harbor Freight wire and found it to be hard to keep a good arc and bead. It also splatters a lot. The Lincoln flux core wire is available at any Lowe's and many others. It give much smoother welds and almost no splatter when you have your feed speed and power levels set correctly. Also have a fire extinguisher and a spray bottle of water handy. You can get small fires if your work area isn't clean. Have at least a 20 ft. diameter work area free from any flammables. As mentioned before : Clean surfaces, good quality welding hood, leather welding gloves and cotton shirt and pants (no polyesters or nylons, they will ignite and melt quickly) And lastly PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE . Any one can wire weld with a little practice.
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Great advice here..............
 
If the machine is capable of gas, look on the inside door at the instructions and make SURE the polarity is right for flux. If it's backwards for flux, all you will get is a spitfest and bubblegum. Flux polarity is one way, MIG is the opposite. You can make a good weld with flux welding if you are patient and take your time. Certainly, it's not as clean a weld, but you can do it. Nonetheless, MIG does produce a cleaner job.
 
I have lincoln 135 bought it new maybe 18-20 years ago.
Done a bunch of welding with it no issues.
Like others mentioned spend the extra its worth it.
The mig paks are a cheaper version will do the job but not last and hold up as well.
Go to your local welding supplier and talk to them.
Some things just aren't worth the little savings you get from ordering on line.
Another thing dont bother with the little gas tanks get the bigger one.
Way cheaper .
Its sucks when its a sunday morning and you run out of gas.
 
doing pans and sheet metal its almost easier to do small spot welds every 1 inch and then seam seal it. forget the bead on sheet metal with flux unless the metal is new and thick. Wanna challenge? try welding thin old exhaust pipe with anything short of small mig/gas.
 
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