Bought a welder..HELP!!

[MtNemoMopar]

I just came home from good ole Canadian Tire, with a mig welder. It will work with gas, or flux core wire. 230 volt. Be prepared to start answering questions on this for me. I've never used a duel purpose machine before. In fact, I've only had minimal mig experience. All my welding at work is with my old Lincoln stick. This will be fun.

 

[ramcharger]

It's fun as hell, lol. Got a bunch of scrap lying around to practice on? Did it come with a tank and regulator?

 

[MtNemoMopar]

regulator yes, no tank. They have a sale on, and you get a good accessory kit in this deal. I will "borrow" a tank from work. I really want to try this flux core though. At least I can weld all position with it.....I hope

 

[Badawg]

Im jealous! I have 1 on my wish list but bills and car parts keep pushing it further down the "priority" list :-D Enjoy it!!!

 

[3404speed]

For exterior bodywork, you may want to use the gas, since it won't leave flux behind.

 

[340butterduster]

regulator yes, no tank. They have a sale on, and you get a good accessory kit in this deal. I will "borrow" a tank from work. I really want to try this flux core though. At least I can weld all position with it.....I hope

"BORROW", lol, I was contemplating getting that welder also, it's a nice unit, problem I have, is I don't have 220V set-up in the shop. It'll cost me more to get the wiring done then buying the welder.

Have fun,
Giles

 

[mshred]

hey guys which welder is it at canadian tire? im thinking of getting my dad one for christmas

 

[green440duster]

I have the same welder; have owned it for about 2 1/2 years. No trouble works great. Very user frendly (metal chart in hood), used it to build my 440 duster welded the frame, Rear End, made up the Kframe to fit BB, plus floor pans, rocker panels and even wheel wells very versitile. Don't forget to read your manual or watch your DVD (Make sure your polarity is right if you switch from flux to gas etc.) it will help if your a beginner. Great investment good luck!!!

Jamie

 

[demon seed]

You know what I'd do Nemo. I'd ask around to some of the tech schools or colleges and see if any of them offer quicky night courses on migs.

Terry

 

[MtNemoMopar]

Thanks 3404speed. That I didn't know.msrhed, it is in this weeks flyer. I think I'm going to take demon seeds advice...good call cowboy. Hey Giles, do they even have electricity out your way yet?:toothy10::toothy10: If you decide to run a line out to your shop, I'll come over, and help. Where is Porters Lake green duster? I have a lot of family in N.S. Most are in Yarmouth area, some in the valley, and some around Dartmouth.

 

[kipper]

Both Miller and Lincoln have good advice on line (self help tips). I purchased charts that give wire speeds, gas pressures, etc. for different metals and thicknesses from Miller. I'm a self learner too. Good luck. Get a bunch of scrap metal and start running bead, it's the only way to learn, have fun.

 

[64Russ360]

I can help you with most welding info you may need. I work in the welding supply industry. The thing about using the flux core wire on body work is not necessarily having it leave flux behind, but more so that there is too much heat, and it is harder to control on thin material, as the smallest wire you can get is .030. With the bare wire and gas, you can get a .023 wire for the thinner material, which will help keep the heat from spreading too far. Welding with gas is also much cleaner, i.e. less spatter flying all over the place which means less clean up. You can probably take a course at the community college, but MIG is pretty much a user friendly process, so get some scrap material and start practicing. Let me know if you have any more ???'s

 

[Rob]

You're much better off going with gas than the flux core. It doesn't take much to learn, the biggest part to start with is getting the settings right. Your welds should sound like bacon frying. If it sounds like popcorn you don't have enough heat, if you're blowing holes through it, too much heat. You need about 1/16" gap between the pieces you weld and just do spot welds every few inches and slowly close it in with more spot welds. If you pull a bead you'll be on here asking how to fix warped panels :-D

 

[MtNemoMopar]

Boy, this is all great advice. Thanks guys. I'm going to play with it tommorrow, then the real questions will begin. I do a lot of stick work in my job, so I think I'll get the hang of it alright, but it's the details, and trade secrets you will provide that will really help.

 

[65s]

I have a 4 setting flux core Lincoln handy thingamajig myself. It seems to be a great all around handy welder, but doesn't work so well on sheet metal. It tends to blow holes. It splatters a lot too, but it's cheap and easy and works outside. I hope to buy a new Miller gas one, but I might keep this flux core one for odd jobs, very portable and easy to use.

 

[chryslerfat]

I have a 4 setting flux core Lincoln handy thingamajig myself. It seems to be a great all around handy welder, but doesn't work so well on sheet metal. It tends to blow holes. It splatters a lot too, but it's cheap and easy and works outside. I hope to buy a new Miller gas one, but I might keep this flux core one for odd jobs, very portable and easy to use.

You should be able to buy a gas kit for it. I bought one when I got mine years ago. It comes with a solenoid hose and regulator. Now I use mine both with flux and without.

 

[AdamR]

Grab a tank and start playing. Once you get the heat settings figured out its pretty easy.

 

[SpeedThrills]

I'm taking a welding course at my local county vo-tech next month. Ten Wednesday nights. I signed up for the September course. They cashed my check, ($100) then wrote me a letter to tell me the building is being remodeled and I'd have to wait til January. Government in action!
I want to be able to weld my own floors, subframe connectors, roll bar, etc. on my 'Sport project.
I'll be paying attention, MtNemo Mopar!

 

[MtNemoMopar]

10 nights for a hundred bucks? Sounds like a very good deal. I'm going to find a course around here too. And yes, I'll be paying attention to what this fine membership teaches me too.

 

[64Russ360]

If you have a lot of stick experience, you should be able to master this no problem. Same principle & technique of stick, you just have a continuous feed of electrode and can start & stop a lot easier with a trigger. I highly recommend getting a cheap auto darkening helmet too. When your in a tight spot or have to do any overhead, you will really be thankful you have one.
Also, don't forget to switch polarity on the machine if you are going back and forth between flux core and gas. Good luck!!

 

[scamp360]

I'm also going to buy one from C.T. can't beat that price.

 

[mshred]

is it the mastercraft one or the lincoln one?

 

[ramcharger]

An auto darkening helmet is the way to go. Once you use one you'll never go back. Of course you may already have one since you have welding experience.

 

[scamp360]

The Lincon