Jobsmart Fluxcore 125?

[kidkioti]

What is the preferred distance for the length of wire to be exposed from the tip to the work piece to provide satisfactory welds. Its becoming more difficult for this Senior C to see the end of the wire because the nozzle blocks the view? Hobart offers an optional gasless flux core tip for this application. this appears to be shorter and the tip looks close to protruding from nozzle somewhat? Have a small machine shop that I could possibly construct something very similar out of brass or copper for that purpose? AS Jobsmart probably doesn't offer any adapters. BUT FIRST ... would like to present this matter to Our Forum to share your thoughts concerning this! I like the Jobsmart and think that by adapting the nozzle may be more suitable, as long as I don't touch the contact tip, that would come close to sticking out from the nozzle, to the work. Perhaps some one here has the Hobart with the gasless flux core nozzle they use. Would appreciate very much any input concerning this matter. If more information is needed let me know and I'll get it out here to you. Thank you very much for taking the time to share your thoughts about this. Looking forward to hearing from you. KK USAF 62-66

 

[shovelrider]

I have one, and use often enough. Took a little bit to get use to. It's rubber/plastic, tip sticks out about 1/4" past nozzle. Don't know if i would change anything. I only stuck the side of tip once, too many times will cause your ground to burn into. Then you have to open machine and fix that flat copper ground strap. I let the wire go about 1/4" past, clip the end of wire every time i stop. In order to get good arc.

 

[Shield Arc]

I never heard of a Jobsmart Fluxcore 125. So I had to look it up.
I would pull the nozzle off. I can see it filling up with splatter when doing overhead welding. Lincoln's K-126 fluxcore guns are the most popular guns for running fluxcore on structural jobs. All they have is a thread protector.

 

[kidkioti]

I have one, and use often enough. Took a little bit to get use to. It's rubber/plastic, tip sticks out about 1/4" past nozzle. Don't know if i would change anything. I only stuck the side of tip once, too many times will cause your ground to burn into. Then you have to open machine and fix that flat copper ground strap. I let the wire go about 1/4" past, clip the end of wire every time i stop. In order to get good arc.

Being a senile citizen newby, I need all the help & tips I can get. Glad to hear that I'm not the only one that has the Jobsmart and able to use it satisfactory. It seems that most of these Flux core wire machines are very similar?? Something I hadn't really considered all that much is if the tip sticks out beyond the nozzle shield and makes contact with your work is not part of the process. Possibly a small tapered nozzle shield designed to keep the tip protected would perhaps serve to assist those of us that have limited vision. Thanks very much for your input. Very helpful. KK USAF 62-66

 

[kidkioti]

I never heard of a Jobsmart Fluxcore 125. So I had to look it up.
I would pull the nozzle off. I can see it filling up with splatter when doing overhead welding. Lincoln's K-126 fluxcore guns are the most popular guns for running fluxcore on structural jobs. All they have is a thread protector.

Very interesting ... Thanks for sharing the photo of the Lincoln k-125 fluxcore gun. If I got this right? The k-125 gun does not have any kind of shield for the tip. All you do is feed the wire to the job while not making tip contact to the work? So actually my Jobsmart should be able to do just as well without the shield on the tip. Perhaps removing the nozzle and making a nozzle modification so the tip is exposed or as you mentioned it should work without the shield or nozzle?? I'll have to look at Jobsmart setup and see what can be done? With or without a nozzle?? KK USAF 62-66

 

[Shield Arc]

I would cut your nozzle back / shorten it. That way you protect the threads on the gun.
The contact tip never touches the base metal. With T-11 wires I use about 3/8 inch stick out. With T-8 wires the stick out can vary from 3/4 to 1 1/4 inch.

 

[rankrank1]

My first recommendation would be if you just bought this thing is to take it back for a refund. Reason: Mig welding (with gas) or fluxcore welding (without gas) are both DC only processes. I believe if you look at the output sticker on your welder you will likely see it is an AC output machine. Nothing wrong with an AC output on a stick welder as there are welding rods designed to work with AC output in stick. That said, there is not a fluxcore welding wire made designed to work with AC output in a wirefeeder as again it is a DC only process by nature. (Read directions on any wire you purchase to put in that welder it will say DC only).

Not saying it will not melt some metal together but it will never weld well. There are other cheap alternatives to be had in 115 volt wire feeders that output the proper DC type voltage but they will cost more than the $99 to $150 that this level of doorstop sells for.

If you dead set on keeping it, well what works the best on it may be totally different than what most people use on their DC output machines. My little Lincoln SP-135 mig (115 volt mig) , I simply take the gas nozzle off to run fluxcore (and of course switch the polarity). If I ambitious I have a rubber tip I slide on there too to protect gas nozzle threads, but it is not required. I have even used Teflon tape to protect the gas nozzle threads when I could not conveniently find the rubber tip.

 

[kidkioti]

My first recommendation would be if you just bought this thing is to take it back for a refund. Reason: Mig welding (with gas) or fluxcore welding (without gas) are both DC only processes. I believe if you look at the output sticker on your welder you will likely see it is an AC output machine. Nothing wrong with an AC output on a stick welder as there are welding rods designed to work with AC output in stick. That said, there is not a fluxcore welding wire made designed to work with AC output in a wirefeeder as again it is a DC only process by nature. (Read directions on any wire you purchase to put in that welder it will say DC only).

Not saying it will not melt some metal together but it will never weld well. There are other cheap alternatives to be had in 115 volt wire feeders that output the proper DC type voltage but they will cost more than the $99 to $150 that this level of doorstop sells for.

If you dead set on keeping it, well what works the best on it may be totally different than what most people use on their DC output machines. My little Lincoln SP-135 mig (115 volt mig) , I simply take the gas nozzle off to run fluxcore (and of course switch the polarity). If I ambitious I have a rubber tip I slide on there too to protect gas nozzle threads, but it is not required. I have even used Teflon tape to protect the gas nozzle threads when I could not conveniently find the rubber tip.

I'm pretty new at this welding forum. Glad that you took the time to explain & post the requirements necessary to weld with the mig & fluxcore. Read a reply to this matter a week or so ago that was posted to this Forum. It was probably yours but I was unable to find it until you reposted it. I contacted Jobsmart - They are full of selling a lot of Buffalo equipment. Not sure what part of the Buffalo I was talking to. All I was able to determine is that it is an AC output machine as well as several other fluxcore, low end welders, harbor freight, etc.

It was suggested to use fluxcore wire that is available. Which I have! OK, with that said an as you pointed out it does work somewhat. Please don't take this this the wrong way . I watched a few Harbor Freight videos using their FLUXcore to weld rather thick steel plates together. 3/16 - 1/4 - 3/8 & even 1/2" plates. Not pretty but fairly well done. Not a one pass adventure but workable.

With that said when I purchased the Jobsmart 135 I had no idea, these prototypes were designed for AC to me, what the hay, a welder is a welder. Your posting has serve to clear the AC DC issue. Also , as far as I can determine the polarity is set on the Jobsmart. Where as your lincoln SP - 135 will do what you want to.

Just purchased a new Hobart 140 and really wanted to keep the jobsmart to weld thicker plates. While setting up the HB with sold wire for doing thinner sheet metal 24 gauge or similar as the Jobsmart for me, just doesn't do sheet. Thanks for taking the time to help this SC understand what's going on. I like the picture of the tip on your SP-135 I may be able to tweek the present set up to work satisfactorily. Maybe an AC fluxcore wire may be available that we don't know about? KK USAF 62-66

 

[rankrank1]

AC has no polarity as it is alternating back and forth at the rate of 60 hertz so you can not set the polarity even if you tried. Again nothing wrong with an AC stick welder as there are stick electrodes designed to work with AC - but AC is more limited in what you can run even with stick as compared to DC.

Only on DC can you set the polarity.

As and far as welding wire whether it be mig or fluxcore the welding process itself mandates DC current. Has nothing to do with the manufacturer not offering an AC compatible wire. Buy any wire from any brand you like and I guarantee it will say DC on there.

You will like that Hobart 140. Fine little 115 volt machine that outputs the proper type DC current to mig weld or flux core weld. You can adjust the DC polarity with this machine which you will need to do between the two processes.

As for those cheapo wire feeders that output AC current well it ought to be illegal to sell those things but its not. (For the record I have nothing against cheap welders at all. There are just better choices than these things for not much more money).

 

[Shield Arc]

I watched a few Harbor Freight videos using their FLUXcore to weld rather thick steel plates together. 3/16 - 1/4 - 3/8 & even 1/2" plates. Not pretty but fairly well done. Not a one pass adventure but workable.

I've run a little flux core in my time. On thick plate, all it takes is power.