Questions about a tank for my new Mig Welder...

[IslandTractor]

Doc, I have a bush hog that has two pretty serious fractures...I hit a pretty big log and it cracked the deck on top on each side about 1/8 " wide by 6" long splits on each side at the front ...top of the bush hog deck...it is about 3/8 " thick...so I thought for this project I may need the shielding gas for deeper penetration at least that is what I have seen on a few You Tube videos....other than that ...I agree...I would rather not mess with gas but I am thinking....never know what repair may be needed and if the penetration is greater with gas...why not.....just as long as I don't blow myself up....:confused3:

#1 3/8" is right at the top limit for what can be done with a 110v MIG welder. Some would argue it is over the top.

#2 Unless you can bring that mower into a garage where you are set up with CO2, I would think that fluxcore would be just as good. I don't recall the specifics but for most welding tasks fluxcore is just as good as MIG especially with talking about repairs.

#3 you will need to to excellent prep and bevel the edges of that crack or plan on welding from both sides (or both) to get a good repair with your little welder. Possible to do with multiple passes but a challenge for a novice.

 

[k0ua]

Mainly for the big repair of the bush hog...but if you don't think I would get enough extra penetration with shielding gas then I won't even bother with it ...like Doc is suggesting...I mean for the welding I will do it is fixing rakes and rough stuff...I don't foresee being an artist and creating sculpture...LOL...Let me know what you all think...if I don't need the gas...I'd just as soon skip it...?????

In my opinion for what you are doing now, I would skip it. If you want to make prettier welds on thinner materiel's, indoors.. yes then look into it.

 

[brin]

#1 3/8" is right at the top limit for what can be done with a 110v MIG welder. Some would argue it is over the top.

#2 Unless you can bring that mower into a garage where you are set up with CO2, I would think that fluxcore would be just as good. I don't recall the specifics but for most welding tasks fluxcore is just as good as MIG especially with talking about repairs.

#3 you will need to to excellent prep and bevel the edges of that crack or plan on welding from both sides (or both) to get a good repair with your little welder. Possible to do with multiple passes but a challenge for a novice.

OK....I'll hold off on the gas and do all the prep work and give it a shot...Just so you know...I may not be a novice since I welded my son's rake....I had not even ever practiced...I had never welded ...I had just bought the welder and he was waiting with his rake ...it was a Sat and he came over thinking I already had it...as I pulled in...so I plugged it in and did burned some metal...( notice the welding speak ) and he was happy...I did not tell him that was my first weld...I stood up straight with pride and said....Any time son...LOL This has to be a pretty good welder ...the box stores , Northern Tool and Tractor supply get $350+ for them...it is not a HF special....

 

[brin]

In my opinion for what you are doing now, I would skip it. If you want to make prettier welds on thinner materiel's, indoors.. yes then look into it.

OK - Thanks James...I will skip it....I am really glad to have you guys to advise...

 

[Shield Arc]

Don't forget to drill holes at each end of those cracks before you do anything!

 

[brin]

Don't forget to drill holes at each end of those cracks before you do anything!

OK - Thanks Shield Arc..I will do that , then do I do a spot weld at each hole I drill first or just run the bead to it ? I'll take before pics and post them before I actually do the welding...

 

[Shield Arc]

What I like to do, drill a hole at each end of the crack, take the plasma or carbon arc torch, (sure you don't have either one) scarf out the crack. A grinder will work, but has a tendency to cover up the crack where a carbon arc of plasma will open up the crack. Grind a V in the crack, if you can get to the backside all the better, do the same thing on the backside. I generally start my weld on the side of the hole that was drilled, and weld to the center of the crack. Feather down the stop / crater of the weld. Start the next weld on the other hole, weld to the crater / stop of the first weld. Clean everything up and weld until the crack is full. If you can get to the back side, grind down to the weld on the first side, and weld it up. It is best if you can work from both sides, make the root / first weld on one side, then do the other side, switch back and forth, until completed.

 

[IslandTractor]

Bob, one more question. Are you sure your mower deck is 3/8"? That is really very heavy duty.

 

[k0ua]

Bob, one more question. Are you sure your mower deck is 3/8"? That is really very heavy duty.

I wondered about that, maybe he meant 3/16. Even that is thicker than some

 

[IslandTractor]

I wondered about that, maybe he meant 3/16. Even that is thicker than some

Exactly. 10 gauge is probably about or more than what most standard duty mower decks are made of. I don't think even the heavy duty mowers have more than 3/16 or 1/4".

But that is very good news for Bob as anything under 1/4" would be right in the sweet spot for a 110v MIG machine running fluxcore. No need to bevel and the repair could easily be done with one good pass or better one from each side along with the holes as Shield Arc noted.

Bob, Miller sells a very nice thickness gauge for cheap money. Pick one up, you'll need to know the actual thickness to get an accurate initial setting on the welder.

 

[CNC Dan]

watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaJZDbjMzkc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

then watch all his other videos. Best welding videos on youtube.

 

[CNC Dan]

Any MIG welder can run fluxcore, just pick up a 2lb spool of 0.035 for starters and put it on the machine just as you would MIG wire. No gas connection needed. Very simple. Easy peasy lemon squeezy as my daughter would say.

Don't forget to change polarity.

 

[IslandTractor]

Don't forget to change polarity.

Absolutely right, forgot to add that critical point.

 

[IslandTractor]

Here is a good video from Jody going over at least some of the fluxcore issues and use of a 110v mig welder on 3/16" steel. 115 volt Flux Core Welder Tips - YouTube

 

[Shield Arc]

Really need to read the manufacturer's specs first. Several Innershield wires run on DCEP. NR-305, NS-3M, NR-5, NR-5A. Couple of these wires are for really heavy structural welding, not many here will ever have a need for these wires though!

 

[brin]

Bob, one more question. Are you sure your mower deck is 3/8"? That is really very heavy duty.

I wondered about that, maybe he meant 3/16. Even that is thicker than some

Exactly. 10 gauge is probably about or more than what most standard duty mower decks are made of. I don't think even the heavy duty mowers have more than 3/16 or 1/4".

But that is very good news for Bob as anything under 1/4" would be right in the sweet spot for a 110v MIG machine running fluxcore. No need to bevel and the repair could easily be done with one good pass or better one from each side along with the holes as Shield Arc noted.

Bob, Miller sells a very nice thickness gauge for cheap money. Pick one up, you'll need to know the actual thickness to get an accurate initial setting on the welder.

Oppps, I did mean 3/16 ths. I guess I better also practice measuring twice and opening my mouth or welding once....LOL, by the way I was watching some mig welding videos on line and one showed that Dicks sporting goods sells paintball tanks of C02 and they showed it hooked up to a mig welder just like mine....it is a small tank but so what , I have a Dick's Sporting goods 15 min away...what do you guys think...?

 

[IslandTractor]

Oppps, I did mean 3/16 ths. I guess I better also practice measuring twice and opening my mouth or welding once....LOL, by the way I was watching some mig welding videos on line and one showed that Dicks sporting goods sells paintball tanks of C02 and they showed it hooked up to a mig welder just like mine....it is a small tank but so what , I have a Dick's Sporting goods 15 min away...what do you guys think...?

No, you don't need it. Flux core is better for your use. I used paintball tanks with my Miller Passport but you only get 30 minutes or so of welding from each tank. It would make sense for a pro doing commercial inside welding on location but for your purposes flux core just makes more sense. Less fussy outdoors and you don't yet have the experience to judge gas coverage outdoors. Lincoln nr211 is good. 0.030 or 0.035". Check polarity but I think DCEN is right.

 

[Shield Arc]

I've never taken a test with Lincoln's NR-211. Don't know how true it is, but I've been told it will not pass a bend test. Back in the very early 1980s was the first time I used NR-211, years later NR-211 MP came out. I was told the MP stands for multiple passes. Before the Northridge earthquake in California seems like all the manufactures of gas less flux core kept it under wraps the thickness limits of their wire. I've taken hundreds of bend tests with Hobart's Fab Shield 21-B. Never failed one, a few of them I was surprised that I did pass:shocked:! If you don't need a T-8 wire, 21-B is a great T-11 wire for general fab work.

Product Details - Hobart Brothers Performance Welding Products

 

[IslandTractor]

I've never taken a test with Lincoln's NR-211. Don't know how true it is, but I've been told it will not pass a bend test. Back in the very early 1980s was the first time I used NR-211, years later NR-211 MP came out. I was told the MP stands for multiple passes. Before the Northridge earthquake in California seems like all the manufactures of gas less flux core kept it under wraps the thickness limits of their wire. I've taken hundreds of bend tests with Hobart's Fab Shield 21-B. Never failed one, a few of them I was surprised that I did pass:shocked:! If you don't need a T-8 wire, 21-B is a great T-11 wire for general fab work.

Product Details - Hobart Brothers Performance Welding Products

I'm not quite dumb enough to argue code welds with an experienced pro but I doubt there are any meaningful differences between NR211 and other flux core wire for a repair project like fixing a mower. Proper technique and prep would be areas of concern but most any good branded wire should do the trick. I certainly understand and appreciate the higher standards of code work but imagine there are quite a few mowers with functional welds made with coat hangers so NR211 is likely to be fine. I mentioned it specifically because it is carried by Home Depot so is readily available without needing to get to a local welding supply business.

 

[Shield Arc]

You may not believe this, but I have literally run tons of NR-211, and NR-211MP. I've never taken a test with it, but never had a weld fail either, or at least to my knowledge. I might be mistaken, but in 1982 I think I used NR-211 to weld the city of Dillingham Alaska dock together.

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