Got a new MIG welder..few questions :)
07-31-2003, 10:50 AM
#1
Got a new MIG welder..few questions :) Ok iv'e been Arc stick welding all my life...but I decided to bite the bullet and pick up a pro-mig lincoln mig welder..It does flux core welding and mig welding..my question's are..how much better is mig welding than the flux core welding?I have been building a trailer with the flux core set-up and it work's great..but this morning I went out and got a spool of .035 mig wire 1 tank argon gas and 1 tank Co2 to see how I like it..Also I realized with the mig I can finally weld aluminum! that made my day right there 
and one last thing..what other metal's can i weld with the mig?..so far I can do aluminum and steel..what about chromoly?that would be sweet hehe. But any help would be apreaciated.thank's,
Carter
and one last thing..what other metal's can i weld with the mig?..so far I can do aluminum and steel..what about chromoly?that would be sweet hehe. But any help would be apreaciated.thank's,Carter
08-01-2003, 04:46 PM
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Re: Got a new MIG welder..few questions :) It's just like your old stick welder as far as alloy steels. You will mix your steels at the weld joint. You can weld with different wire and produce a different type of weld.
ie: If I'm welding on a set of wear plates on an excavator bucket I need a hard wire with some excellent wear properties. ... for sheet metal or a trailer that needs to flex some a softer wire with good tensile strength.
The argon thing; we've started using non-shielded wire with a Co/Ar 75/25 mix and it produces a very quality looking weld with minimum splatter on new steel. ... The shielded wire works better on old rusty ****, lots a slag and splatter and takes a few passes to float all the crap up outa the steel before a decent weld can be laid down.
I got a little 90 amp 110vac joberdo that does ok for around the house.
... Ron
ie: If I'm welding on a set of wear plates on an excavator bucket I need a hard wire with some excellent wear properties. ... for sheet metal or a trailer that needs to flex some a softer wire with good tensile strength.
The argon thing; we've started using non-shielded wire with a Co/Ar 75/25 mix and it produces a very quality looking weld with minimum splatter on new steel. ... The shielded wire works better on old rusty ****, lots a slag and splatter and takes a few passes to float all the crap up outa the steel before a decent weld can be laid down.
I got a little 90 amp 110vac joberdo that does ok for around the house.
... Ron
08-01-2003, 06:28 PM
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Re: Got a new MIG welder..few questions :) You need the gas for body panel work, thin sheet
metal needs some cooling or you'll blow through.
For anything more than about 2X the wire thickness
flux-cored is fine (as far as the mechanics).
And you need the gas if you want to work aluminum.
No flux-cored aluminum wire that I know of.
metal needs some cooling or you'll blow through.
For anything more than about 2X the wire thickness
flux-cored is fine (as far as the mechanics).
And you need the gas if you want to work aluminum.
No flux-cored aluminum wire that I know of.
08-01-2003, 08:28 PM
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Re: Got a new MIG welder..few questions :) Hey Carter,Mig and Flux-core are really the same,they penetrate the same and as far as chromoly,the few times i welded it i used a TIG-Welder (Tungsten-Inert-Gas).The machine you have is good unit for car projects and around the house. 
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08-03-2003, 01:36 PM
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Re: Got a new MIG welder..few questions :) The 75/25 is a good compromise gas for mild steel.
It will leave carbon **** on stainless and won't
work well at all for aluminum. Co2 is usable on
steel and gives higher penetration. Straight
argon gives less penetration than the mix. If you
were only going to buy one bottle, I'd say go with
the straight Argon - especially since you have the
stick welder already for anything thick, and can
use flux-cored for medium tube work just fine.
One reason people like the 4130 chrome-moly is
that mild steel filler wire works just fine (and
is "legal" if you're getting your roll cage
inspected). More exotic tubings may need some
"unobtainium" filler (although you could try and
make do with "unaffordium" in a pinch).
It will leave carbon **** on stainless and won't
work well at all for aluminum. Co2 is usable on
steel and gives higher penetration. Straight
argon gives less penetration than the mix. If you
were only going to buy one bottle, I'd say go with
the straight Argon - especially since you have the
stick welder already for anything thick, and can
use flux-cored for medium tube work just fine.
One reason people like the 4130 chrome-moly is
that mild steel filler wire works just fine (and
is "legal" if you're getting your roll cage
inspected). More exotic tubings may need some
"unobtainium" filler (although you could try and
make do with "unaffordium" in a pinch).
08-10-2003, 04:18 AM
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Re: Got a new MIG welder..few questions :) You can weld cromoly with your mig , but as far as roll cages and suspension parts etc. for them to be "LEGAL" at NHRA events they MUST be Tig'ed
08-13-2003, 09:17 AM
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Re: Got a new MIG welder..few questions :) Ok I tried a bottle of straight Argon..WOW what a difference! splatter is very minimal and puddles up nice..guess I found my new hobby hehe been going weld crazy recently lol thank's for the help guy's,
Carter
Carter
08-13-2003, 07:15 PM
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Re: Got a new MIG welder..few questions :) My neighbor went crazy with his and welded all his old hammers, saws, chain parts, old tools, bicycle parts, kitchen utencles, old lamps, you name it into 2 square frames and used them as an entrance to his driveway. I laugh like hell every time I pass by it.
08-14-2003, 02:45 PM
#13
Re: Got a new MIG welder..few questions :)
Ok I tried a bottle of straight Argon..WOW what a difference! splatter is very minimal and puddles up nice..guess I found my new hobby hehe been going weld crazy recently lol thank's for the help guy's,
Carter
Carter
Aluminum is a bit trickier. It wicks the power away and puddles very quickly. I have access to a lab at a local Com. College and I spend alot of time messing with aluminum. With aluminum, you need ot have a special "gun", one that pulls the aluminum in addition to the box pushing the filler. Aluminum is too soft to only get by with the "push" part. Aluminum also need alot of current, but pussles wiht too much power. How do you rectify that with a MIG? THe fancy newer welders have a "Pulse" or even better a "Pulse-Pulse" setting that pulses the high current without delivering so much power and heat. It makes welding thin aluminum MUCH easier. It used to be cool to weld two aluminum cans end/end. Especially tig... If you could do that you were huge. Now Ive seen it done with the Pulse/Pulse MIG. Insane. Technology comes to welding!
chris
