Improving your welding?

[muddstopper]

SoDo, I am going to throw you a bone so you have something to chew on. The maufacturers reccommend up to 3/16 thick metal when using a 110v machine. there is a reason for this. It takes AMPS to weld thick steel. 110V machines cant generate enought amps to weld thicker metal. Now you keep asking for tips on how to weld thick metal with a 110v machine so I will throw you the only ones I can think of. 1. you can weld thicker than 3/16 if you are able to run a weld bead on both sides of the metal, that should enable you to weld 3/8 thick metal. 2. you can preheat the metal, using a torch to get the metal hot before trying to weld. I might also add a #3, you can Vee the joint, making the butt thinner than 3/16 and make multiple passes. I dont really subscribe to the theory that making multiple passes without a vee will create a strong weld. It will give you a wider bead, but strike the welded piece with a hammer on the opposite side from the weld and it will break off.

 

[Shield Arc]

muddstopper there is a whole lot that can be done with gas mixes too.

 

[Cherokee140]

Cherokee140 you are more than welcome to PM me. Maybe we can exchange email addresses so we can send each other pictures. I have a whole bag of tricks that may be able to help you.

PM sent:

The only thing I have really ever welded is on my different cars, and that was the only thing I bought the welder for. Years ago they told me that was all I would ever need if that was all I was going to do....weld in patch panels, my own or store bought.

Then the kid was mowing with the brush hog....17 and there is only 1 speed....FAST. I think he hit a tree with the brush hog and broke one of the arms. Nice clean crisp break. I tried to bevel and weld no luck. Then I basically boxed it in and that worked so far....ugly as all get out, but it is holding, but I am wondering if there was a better way. That was the first time I really had issues in the 16 years I have had the welder. I had even done weld in motor mounts and they are still holding up fine....the brush hog really got me wondering....I thought I knew a little about what I was doing.

 

[muddstopper]

muddstopper there is a whole lot that can be done with gas mixes too.

Yea, but not everybody keeps a bottle of helium around. Altho I know of several that like to use plain CO2 instead of the argon/Co2 mixes

 

[Shield Arc]

Yea, but not everybody keeps a bottle of helium around.

Helium?! :confused3:

 

[muddstopper]

Trimix, more commonly used for stainless but can be used for mig mild steel when a little more heat is needed. Actually, I have only read about using the trimix for mild steel, never seen any being used for it.

 

[FredH]

I enjoy reading S.A.'s and Arcwelds comments , posting , experiences and thoughts . While I myself don't ask many questions , I do glean knowledge from what others have asked and " Try " to apply it to things I do . Key word there is TRY !! I myself , would not even consider myself a Hack when I started mig welding a few years back . But through their replies to others , I " Think " I have improved . Others I also like to follow are Mark from Everlast , ( No I don't own any of their products ) and Gary Fowler , as they to provide Great information .

I have never seen any of them " Talk Down " to members , Rather to me They have tried to Assist people . For example , Some one may ask about buying a welder and are looking at a 110/120 volt mig welder with the idea of welding them up a home built trailer to pull down the road . I see them having a issue with that for safety reasons as I would to . No experience welding and using a welder with limited capabilities = likely a failure situation .

Although I don't have the posting numbers that many do , Been a Member to this Board for quite some time , thus am no Johnny come lately .

For Me , S.A. , Arc , Gary , Mark , Keep Doing what You Guys do here at this board I enjoy reading your posts and try to learn from them as much as I can :thumbsup:

Fred H.

 

[pmsmechanic]

For Me , S.A. , Arc , Gary , Mark , Keep Doing what You Guys do here at this board I enjoy reading your posts and try to learn from them as much as I can :thumbsup:

I am with you on that. I'm fairly new here and don't have a lot of history with this forum but I enjoy what I can learn. Every once in a while when someone gets a bit growly with their posts I just tell myself that it's just that time of the month for them and . Man even I can get growly.

I have kind of a raw, dry sense of humour so I named my business "Peter's Mechanical Services" or PMS for short. I'm sure most know what those initials stand for in life so I don't need go there. And then I like to add one more and some guys can get this real bad. Poor Me Syndrome. There three different meanings for the initials pms. Have a good day guys.

 

[pmsmechanic]

For Me , S.A. , Arc , Gary , Mark , Keep Doing what You Guys do here at this board I enjoy reading your posts and try to learn from them as much as I can :thumbsup:

I am with you on that. I'm fairly new here and don't have a lot of history with this forum but I enjoy what I can learn. Every once in a while when someone gets a bit growly with their posts I just tell myself that it's just that time of the month for them and . Man even I can get growly.

I have kind of a raw, dry sense of humour so I named my business "Peter's Mechanical Services" or PMS for short. I'm sure most know what those initials stand for in life so I don't need go there. And then I like to add one more and some guys can get this real bad. Poor Me Syndrome. There, three different meanings for the initials pms. Have a good day guys.

 

[amberg]

I enjoy reading S.A.'s and Arcwelds comments , posting , experiences and thoughts . While I myself don't ask many questions , I do glean knowledge from what others have asked and " Try " to apply it to things I do . Key word there is TRY !! I myself , would not even consider myself a Hack when I started mig welding a few years back . But through their replies to others , I " Think " I have improved . Others I also like to follow are Mark from Everlast , ( No I don't own any of their products ) and Gary Fowler , as they to provide Great information .

I have never seen any of them " Talk Down " to members , Rather to me They have tried to Assist people . For example , Some one may ask about buying a welder and are looking at a 110/120 volt mig welder with the idea of welding them up a home built trailer to pull down the road . I see them having a issue with that for safety reasons as I would to . No experience welding and using a welder with limited capabilities = likely a failure situation .

Although I don't have the posting numbers that many do , Been a Member to this Board for quite some time , thus am no Johnny come lately .

For Me , S.A. , Arc , Gary , Mark , Keep Doing what You Guys do here at this board I enjoy reading your posts and try to learn from them as much as I can :thumbsup:

Fred H.

same here FredH

 

[Sodo]

SoDo, I am going to throw you a bone so you have something to chew on. The maufacturers reccommend up to 3/16 thick metal when using a 110v machine. there is a reason for this. It takes AMPS to weld thick steel. 110V machines cant generate enought amps to weld thicker metal. Now you keep asking for tips on how to weld thick metal with a 110v machine so I will throw you the only ones I can think of. 1. you can weld thicker than 3/16 if you are able to run a weld bead on both sides of the metal, that should enable you to weld 3/8 thick metal. 2. you can preheat the metal, using a torch to get the metal hot before trying to weld. I might also add a #3, you can Vee the joint, making the butt thinner than 3/16 and make multiple passes. I dont really subscribe to the theory that making multiple passes without a vee will create a strong weld. It will give you a wider bead, but strike the welded piece with a hammer on the opposite side from the weld and it will break off.

Mudd I can see that you understand how to use joint preparation to mitigate the lack of AMPs. Welders do it all the time. It doesn't take but a short time for a competent welder to learn this. I assure you that all the experienced welders on this forum know this intimately, and know very well how they'd any situation if ever stuck with a 110v MIG. Nobody says "you can't weld 1" thick steel with that little 225 Amp welder". All they say is "you can't do it in one pass". But with a 110v welder the general forum wisdom, even from the experienced guys is "you can't do it".

Well, you (often) can. A "110v welder and technique" is not for every welding situation but probably 95% can be done well (with regard to tractor forum projects that I've seen on this forum). More amps is definitely helpful. Sometimes if you don't have amps you can change the design to accommodate. For example add "bracing", or overbuild, which is perfectly acceptable.

Your statement is not not so far off. I think a more defensible statement, if you want to make a universal AMPS statement is "it takes AMPS to efficiently weld thick steel in a fillet weld".

Here's a 3/8" test plate vee'd at (45deg) and welded one pass with 110v. 60deg would have been better, but I was just screwing around. The 1/4" bolt is laying there just to show the size of the weld vee.

I should probably put that in the press and see what it does in bending. I will do that someday if I can remember to bring it to my shop that has the press.

I intended to re-do at 60deg before upsetting the forum but didn't have time, so this is all you get for now . I would weld another at 60-degree example if nobody else is willing. But after the weather cools down, and... if it seems like the forum needs more action . As said before there needs to be a thread "improving your 110v welding".

 

[Shield Arc]

Here's a 3/8" test plate vee'd at (45deg) and welded one pass with 110v.

Sodo are you going to go ahead and prep, and bend the coupons on your test plate? If not what have you proved?:confused3:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/302342-lincolns-nr-211mp.html?highlight=

 

[Sodo]

I'd weld and bend some if anyone is interested. It'll be a couple weeks before I can get to it though maybe somebody else can do it. Isn't there a pro on this forum who can plug a MIG into 110v and show how to do it? Why do I have to do it, I'm just a regular guy?:confused3:

Shield if you will do this I recommend to start a new thread. It will be earth-shaking I think and many will be very thankful to hear it from you instead of me.

 

[Shield Arc]

I wouldn't go to that much trouble but I'd weld and bend some if anyone is interested. I don't care about certifications just enough to do what I need.

Seems to me you don't care about quality welds either!

 

[Sodo]

I care about my stuff being strong enough to do its job (and safely) and my welding is fine. I don't care as much for test plates and certification because I've never had a need for it and never will. But you've got me curious!

 

[paulharvey]

I'd weld and bend some if anyone is interested. It'll be a couple weeks before I can get to it though maybe somebody else can do it.
.

I would like to see it. That's not said with a smirk or smart ***, I would actually like to see it. It has nothing to do with all this bickering, but I would like to see a strong simple weld done with less than ideal equipment. In one way or another nearly all of use are working with less than ideal welder, materials, environment, and/or prep.

 

[Sodo]

I would like to see it. ------ I would like to see a strong simple weld done with less than ideal equipment. In one way or another nearly all of use are working with less than ideal welder, materials, environment, and/or prep.

My opinion exactly. There is absolutely NO NEED for any bickering, or my chainsaw is bigger than yours. Just cut the danged tree!

 

[Shield Arc]

I care about my stuff being strong enough to do its job (and safely) and my welding is fine. I don't care as much for test plates and certification because I've never had a need for it and never will. But you've got me curious!

When it comes to welding, you don't have a clue with safety!

 

[downsizingnow48]

I agree with paulharvey. Let's have a proper series of tests done on 110v welds at the upper end of machine capability. That is the only way to learn and get beyond the back and forth.

 

[Sodo]

When it comes to welding, you don't have a clue with safety!

That's a brand new gas regulator too and I bet anyone can guess why.

Agreed lets see a NEW THREAD how a pro would use a MIG (on 1/4" and thicker) if he was stuck in somebody's garage with only 120v. I'm gonna hafta warn you guys if nobody else does it (in the next couple weeks) then I'm gonna show how I do it! If you're tired of seeing how I do my stuff (and my bad habits) then ask the pros directly.

Dragoneggs can you drive that 211 over to Shields and plug it into the wall and start welding some 3/8"? But LEAVE the 240v adapter at home, don't even bring it for comparison or it will blow the whole thing. Think of it like being stuck on a desert island. Things will happen fast I bet! :laughing: You wanna see that 211 sing that would do it!