Anyone use a gasless welder?
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Anyone use a gasless welder? Craftsman makes 2, a wire feed gasless for $200 and an adjustable wire feed that can be used with or without gas for $300.
I would be using it for exhaust only. The welds dont have to be pretty under the car so do i really need the gas? If I could get away with a 200 dollar welder from Sears to do my own xhaust stuff would be great. What do you guys think?
I would be using it for exhaust only. The welds dont have to be pretty under the car so do i really need the gas? If I could get away with a 200 dollar welder from Sears to do my own xhaust stuff would be great. What do you guys think?
Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? I've never used flux core, but I hear it is very difficult to weld, unless the metal surface is absolutely clean and bare.
Welding new pipe to new pipe might not be so hard. However, any old stuff with road grime etc. might be tough ...
If you decide to go that route, let us know how it works out ...
Welding new pipe to new pipe might not be so hard. However, any old stuff with road grime etc. might be tough ...
If you decide to go that route, let us know how it works out ...
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From: South Elgin, IL
Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? I have a MIG welder that I use without gas (flux core) all the time and it just takes practice. The surfaces should be clean whether you are using gas or flux. The welds aren't pretty but I really don't care, as long as they are solid welds. If you want to weld with stainless or aluminum wire, you will have to use gas.
Does the cheaper model have adjustable wire speed? I would consider that a necessity since wire speed is crucial to a good weld. Also consider the heat ranges. Exhaust work requires a lower range than 1/4" steel, for example, and ties back into wire speed.
Does the cheaper model have adjustable wire speed? I would consider that a necessity since wire speed is crucial to a good weld. Also consider the heat ranges. Exhaust work requires a lower range than 1/4" steel, for example, and ties back into wire speed.
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From: Live Oak, FL - in the woods where the creatures lurk.
Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? If you ever think you might want to do some other type of welding, I would get a gas setup. The absolutely smoothest steel welding w/MIG is a combo of gas AND core flux wire.
Stuff goes on like butter and makes a very, very smooth weld w/minimum spatter. The gas does add cost, though. If it's a question of what will work, just core flux wire will work fine for thin metal.
For that matter, stick welding will work just fine, and you can reach where the mig can't. Any fast-freeze rod will weld downhill good enough for exhaust pipe, if you have to weld in place.
Reading your post
o they make a MIG w/non adjustable wire speed? I don't understand that.
Stuff goes on like butter and makes a very, very smooth weld w/minimum spatter. The gas does add cost, though. If it's a question of what will work, just core flux wire will work fine for thin metal.
For that matter, stick welding will work just fine, and you can reach where the mig can't. Any fast-freeze rod will weld downhill good enough for exhaust pipe, if you have to weld in place.
Reading your post
o they make a MIG w/non adjustable wire speed? I don't understand that. 
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Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? Man, I've been using my Lincoln Flux Core Mig welder for a while and that thing is awesome. Just take it wherever and plug it in to regular 120v outlet and start welding.
It actually puts down a real nice bead but, there is alot of little splatter. The splatter cleans up easy though with a wire brush or chipping hammer.
One recommendation though is to get a nice welding helmet. The little handheld job that comes with most of those gasless welder kits...SUCKS!
You don't want to burn up your eyes.
If you want to weld stainless or aluminum you'll need to convert to a gas setup though so take that into consideration. I think I'm going to get a AC/DC tig/stick setup to weld stainless and aluminum with so I can keep the gasless welder for portability.
It's nice being able to weld up things and not depend or pay someone else.
John
It actually puts down a real nice bead but, there is alot of little splatter. The splatter cleans up easy though with a wire brush or chipping hammer.
One recommendation though is to get a nice welding helmet. The little handheld job that comes with most of those gasless welder kits...SUCKS!
You don't want to burn up your eyes. If you want to weld stainless or aluminum you'll need to convert to a gas setup though so take that into consideration. I think I'm going to get a AC/DC tig/stick setup to weld stainless and aluminum with so I can keep the gasless welder for portability.
It's nice being able to weld up things and not depend or pay someone else.
John
Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? I would go for a Mig w/gas set-up. the welds are so much better, hardly any splatter. Flux core can be used but its a pain. I used migs almost all day and i can tell ya practice makes perfect. 
Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? I really like my MIG, but the flux wire does work,
like the man said it will splatter, but it works.
The gas does a nice job and it is my prefered method.
Decent mask is a must. If you get a MIG and decide to
use the flux wire, you just reverse the polarity, load
the wire and go. It's great for mobile stuff (neighorbors
lawn mower). My tank is too big to lug around, but you can
get small tanks from a welding supply that are not very
expensive.
like the man said it will splatter, but it works.
The gas does a nice job and it is my prefered method.
Decent mask is a must. If you get a MIG and decide to
use the flux wire, you just reverse the polarity, load
the wire and go. It's great for mobile stuff (neighorbors
lawn mower). My tank is too big to lug around, but you can
get small tanks from a welding supply that are not very
expensive.
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Adkoonerstrator
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Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? One other thing. The metal should be clean with any welding technique but, it doesn't have to be spotless from my experience with my flux core wire feeder. That thing will start an arc on some pretty crappy looking surfaces. That's one of the things the flux helps do when it vaporizes is to keep surface contaminants outta the weld. That's the reason there is so much spatter with the flux core because when the flux vaporizes it is like a miniature explosion that blows stuff away from the weld. 
One thing that I would say. If you get a flux core machine don't mess it up by converting it to use gas. IMO, the flux core machines are great for there portability although the lack of gas limits the materials you can work with. If you want to weld with gas get a machine that is made for that purpose. If you ever want to weld stainless and aluminum get the gas machine.
I think I may end up selling my flux core setup and getting a AC/DC tig/stick welder. That one machine will weld just about anything you'd want. Hobart makes one that looks kinda nice and is a decent price. Here is a link.
<a href="http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/Tigmate.html" target="_blank"><font color="red">Hobart Tigmate<!--color--></font></a>
I think what machine you go with all depends on what you want to do with it.
John
One thing that I would say. If you get a flux core machine don't mess it up by converting it to use gas. IMO, the flux core machines are great for there portability although the lack of gas limits the materials you can work with. If you want to weld with gas get a machine that is made for that purpose. If you ever want to weld stainless and aluminum get the gas machine.
I think I may end up selling my flux core setup and getting a AC/DC tig/stick welder. That one machine will weld just about anything you'd want. Hobart makes one that looks kinda nice and is a decent price. Here is a link.
<a href="http://www.hobartwelders.com/products/Tigmate.html" target="_blank"><font color="red">Hobart Tigmate<!--color--></font></a>
I think what machine you go with all depends on what you want to do with it.
John
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From: sandwich, il
Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? i welded tig,mig,stick,and gas and i have had good luck with flux core. yes it is true that you will get a lot of splatter. there is a anti-splatter spray that get sprayed on the surrounding area of being welded. when you are done welding take a paint scraper or something similar and scrape away. the splatter will come right off. if you have your own garage; wire it up for 3 phase and go to a used swap or auction and get a 300-500 dollar welder that can take both gas or flux. preferabaly a miller or lincoln. thats what i did. i love it. i'm such a welding geek. some of them welders get pricy. i have used some that are around 20,000 and liquid cooled with water and antifreeze. those craftsmen are pretty good though if you are going for smaller projects like exhaust. they just dont draw enough power for bigger steel jobs. well good luck!
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Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? Wow, thanks for all the info!
The one for $200 is gasless only and I do not think the wire feed is adjustable.
The one for $300 can be used with or without gas. This one does have adjustable feed.
They both come with a shield and some gloves.
Like I said this would be for xhaust only at the moment. And I would be using new aluminized piping. The car never sees rain so it wouldnt really get that rusty anyway. If you think about it a few trips to the xhaust shop for some small stuff adds up. I think a $200 or $300 welder would pay for itself in time. Now I am leaning toward the $200 gasless w/out wire feed. If I ever want to upgrade I will probably just sell it and get a better one in a year or two with gas and all the good stuff. Right now i dont want to spend 700-1000 for welding equipment, but in a year or two I probably would.
What do you think? Any more input? For just welding aluminized exhaust piping, would i really need the adjustable feed?
The one for $200 is gasless only and I do not think the wire feed is adjustable.
The one for $300 can be used with or without gas. This one does have adjustable feed.
They both come with a shield and some gloves.
Like I said this would be for xhaust only at the moment. And I would be using new aluminized piping. The car never sees rain so it wouldnt really get that rusty anyway. If you think about it a few trips to the xhaust shop for some small stuff adds up. I think a $200 or $300 welder would pay for itself in time. Now I am leaning toward the $200 gasless w/out wire feed. If I ever want to upgrade I will probably just sell it and get a better one in a year or two with gas and all the good stuff. Right now i dont want to spend 700-1000 for welding equipment, but in a year or two I probably would.
What do you think? Any more input? For just welding aluminized exhaust piping, would i really need the adjustable feed?
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Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? Do you have any online links to these machines? I want to look at the non adjustable one before I say get it.
Mine has an adjustable wire feed and it is a nice feature to have.
Don't say you'll only be welding exhaust because you will find other things once you have it. :p
John
Mine has an adjustable wire feed and it is a nice feature to have.
Don't say you'll only be welding exhaust because you will find other things once you have it. :p
John
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From: Live Oak, FL - in the woods where the creatures lurk.
Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? I agree. I couldn't imagine not being able to adjust current/wire feed. If you have current adjustment, but no wire feed rate adjustment, it will probably work ok on a low-amp system (good enough for exhaust pipe).
Sooner or later you will want to be able to weld thicker materials, maybe. If not, the lower priced units will probably serve you fine. If you have no interest in doing other types of welding, why spend the money.
I realize this is out of the scope of what you're looking for,but,
If wishes were reality, I would want a system w/water cooled /gas TIG, and stick capability, AC/DC, pulse control.
e.g., TIG welding stainless I always used straight polarity. Some things you weld reverse polarity.
Sooner or later you will want to be able to weld thicker materials, maybe. If not, the lower priced units will probably serve you fine. If you have no interest in doing other types of welding, why spend the money.
I realize this is out of the scope of what you're looking for,but,
If wishes were reality, I would want a system w/water cooled /gas TIG, and stick capability, AC/DC, pulse control.
e.g., TIG welding stainless I always used straight polarity. Some things you weld reverse polarity.
Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? Another question about these welders ...
Explain "duty cycle" in regular terms.
I know some of the 110V units have a very short duty cycle. For example is that 30 minutes of welding 1/8" steel? I just pulled those number from nowhere, BTW ...
Also, if you go to eBay and search on "MIG welder", there are hundreds of them for sale, NIB.
Explain "duty cycle" in regular terms.
I know some of the 110V units have a very short duty cycle. For example is that 30 minutes of welding 1/8" steel? I just pulled those number from nowhere, BTW ...
Also, if you go to eBay and search on "MIG welder", there are hundreds of them for sale, NIB.
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Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? Here are the ones I am considering. They carry these at the local Sears hardware around the corner.
Gasless welder $199
MIG welder for $299
Gasless welder $199
MIG welder for $299
Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? Duty Cycle is the amount of time you can weld before the contactor turns the welder off, so it doesent burn up.
I'm used to stick welding and burn rods all day long.
Again, as an example, a 100A machine welding 1/8" steel plate. How long is the duty cycle?
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Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? Hey Mitch
I've welded all day(8 hour job) with mine and never shut it off. That was welding 11 guage square tubing and some heavy guage expanded metal. It was on the second and third amperage setting for this welding(there are four settings). By the end of the day I was wore out from concentrating on making nice beads but, the welder didn't break a sweat.
My welder has a 20% duty cycle which means that out of every ten minutes you can weld for 2 minutes and the unit should cool down for the rest. That is what the duty cycle means. I think those ratings are for worst case scenarios though like say if you were welding in a very hot area and the back of the welder was up against something where the fan couldn't draw in any air.
I've exceeded the duty cycle plenty of times and have never shut my machine off. Most of the welding I've done is on the third amperage setting also. I've only welded a little bit on the fourth setting which is good for ~.25" steel.
I had never welded before I got this machine but, I love to weld now because it's so easy.
John
I've welded all day(8 hour job) with mine and never shut it off. That was welding 11 guage square tubing and some heavy guage expanded metal. It was on the second and third amperage setting for this welding(there are four settings). By the end of the day I was wore out from concentrating on making nice beads but, the welder didn't break a sweat.
My welder has a 20% duty cycle which means that out of every ten minutes you can weld for 2 minutes and the unit should cool down for the rest. That is what the duty cycle means. I think those ratings are for worst case scenarios though like say if you were welding in a very hot area and the back of the welder was up against something where the fan couldn't draw in any air.
I've exceeded the duty cycle plenty of times and have never shut my machine off. Most of the welding I've done is on the third amperage setting also. I've only welded a little bit on the fourth setting which is good for ~.25" steel.
I had never welded before I got this machine but, I love to weld now because it's so easy.
John
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Re: Anyone use a gasless welder? Hey RED QUASAR
This is the flux core wire feed I have.
<a href="http://www.eastwoodcompany.com/aspfiles/itemdy01.asp?UID=2003050214442315&T1=19039& ;Dep_Key1=WelDg&I1.x=72&I1.y=39" target="_blank"><font color="red">Lincoln Weld Pak 100<!--color--></font></a>
It may cost just a little more but, is a very nice beginning machine.
If you have a Lowes or Home Depot around(who doesn't ) you can check them out. I think I got mine for $330 from Lowes.
If you want to weld stainless or aluminum you can get a gas conversion kit and aluminum conversion kit for it at a later date.
It is a nice welder but, make sure you get a better shield. That handheld one they show with the kit will leave your eyes feeling blurry after welding.
I bought a $100 auto dimming helmet from a local welding supply store that works great and is adjustable(9-13 settings) for different types of welding/cutting.
John
This is the flux core wire feed I have.
<a href="http://www.eastwoodcompany.com/aspfiles/itemdy01.asp?UID=2003050214442315&T1=19039& ;Dep_Key1=WelDg&I1.x=72&I1.y=39" target="_blank"><font color="red">Lincoln Weld Pak 100<!--color--></font></a>
It may cost just a little more but, is a very nice beginning machine.
If you have a Lowes or Home Depot around(who doesn't
) you can check them out. I think I got mine for $330 from Lowes. If you want to weld stainless or aluminum you can get a gas conversion kit and aluminum conversion kit for it at a later date.
It is a nice welder but, make sure you get a better shield. That handheld one they show with the kit will leave your eyes feeling blurry after welding.
I bought a $100 auto dimming helmet from a local welding supply store that works great and is adjustable(9-13 settings) for different types of welding/cutting. John
