welder question

[MadReferee]

See the thread I started a little earlier on the same subject. I've been wondering the same thing about whether I can get by with a 160 amp mig doing multipe passes for 3/8 or more. I too didn't want to get stuck with a machine and then wish I had 200 amps DC.

I did plenty of 3/8" and 1/2" welding for several years with MM175 mig. I condsidered the machine as marginal in overall performance with thicker material but it worked just fine using multiple passes with .030 wire. Joint prep and patience was the key to good results. I eventually got tired of the multiple passes and upgraded to a MM251. I still do multiple passes but not as often.

 

[Sully2]

...
But, if I say MIG - then people immediately think of a wire feed welder. The substitution and use of flux core wire with a MIG machine is as simple as loading the wire into the machine and then not opening the valve on the gas bottle.

EXACTLY! And when Im "verbalizing" to someone ( and NOT typing it on a BB posting) I always say that I have an XX MIG welder than Im using flux cored wire with. ( Lots easier to SAY than to TYPE....

 

[horseman1]

"The substitution and use of flux core wire with a MIG machine is as simple as loading the wire into the machine and then not opening the valve on the gas bottle."

And changing the polarity

 

[thingy]

Depends on what fcaw wire your using,thingy

 

[horseman1]

Is there no easy answer to the madness?

 

[thingy]

Probably not,,but there is plenty of madness to the easy answers[just made that up,on the spot],I'm good,,,thingy

 

[ovrszd]

I came in the house tonight after a day of tinkering in the shop and stumbled onto this thread. You guys need to spend more time in the shop and less time on this forum. You can weld a battleship with a 150 amp welder if you have patience. Go weld something.

 

[thingy]

You're right,lets go,,[where we going now?],,all,battleship,,good good,,,thingy

 

[swines]

"The substitution and use of flux core wire with a MIG machine is as simple as loading the wire into the machine and then not opening the valve on the gas bottle."

And changing the polarity

You know, at some point, this isn't a tutuorial on welding with every parameter covered. My suggestion is to buy several welding books and do your own research. By the way, Thingy is correct, the polarity for flux core wire is wire dependent. So..your point is...? Or, would you like to expand on your comment further? Please, continue the tutorial. I love people who snipe comment with no additional information provided.

 

[Sully2]

You know, at some point, this isn't a tutuorial on welding with every parameter covered. My suggestion is to buy several welding books and do your own research. By the way, Thingy is correct, the polarity for flux core wire is wire dependent. So..your point is...? Or, would you like to expand on your comment further? Please, continue the tutorial. I love people who snipe comment with no additional information provided.

My HH140 manual doesnt say its wire dependant (flux core to fluxcore) All it says is that with fluxcore you do it one way...solid wire and gas you change polarity another way..???

 

[thingy]

Sully,I ain't real up to date on flux core,[or anything else for that matter],,but I believe most fcaw wires use dcep,,some of the inner shield wire,[used without gas],,are meant to be run on dcen,,but believe most fcaw wire is meant to run on dcep like mig,,,,,for instance,,E60T-7,is meant to be run on dcen,without gas,,,and E60T-8,is meant to be run on dcep[one book says this],without gas,,E70T-1,you use dcep with co2 gas,,do I got all that in my head,,,no way,,,,but I got a book I looked that up in.
Do rember the few times I've used flux core it was duel shield using dcep,,,but wires are always changing.
You could probably look this up on wire manufactors web page.thingy....edit here,,just looked in a newer book,,,,basicly it says any wire that has a last digit/number -7 and higher,[-8,-10,-11],are meant to be run on dcen,,,that would be the aws number on spool, those all are self shielding,,,but,,there are other selfshielding wires that are supposed to be run on dcep,,[exx-6,,exx-4,exx-3 for examples],,so it just depends on what kinda wire you run in it,,,thingy again

 

[horseman1]

It wasnt any kind of sniping. I dont do that. I was just adding some humor to the "tutorial" way the thread was going. How there is never a complete "simple" and 100% accurate answer to a question. Notice the smiley face character? The statement I made was purposely wrong too (I think). Although flux core is usually reverse polarity from gas.

Regards,

Kurt

 

[Sully2]

Thingy: Could be??...I sure cant say. All I know is the manual for my little HH140 says to run flux core on DCEN...?? doesnt say anything about "different" flux cores..??

EDIT: I went and looked at the wire spool..and the "recommended" wire for my little box ( and what was installed for me) says .."E71T-11" on the spool. So you may be 100% right thingy...!!!

 

[horseman1]

To prove I'm not a sniper, I'll add my opinion to the original question .

I have 175A mig from Hobart and am very pleased with it. I normally use it inside the barn in GMAW mode rather than FCAW. For 1/4 and above I reach for the AC/DC stick welder instead. I have welded 3/8 with the Hobart, but the preheat required in some circumstances and the extra joint prep required and the multiple passes makes the stick easier for me. Its a personal decision, since good joint prep is required for all types of welding. Besides, the Hobart seems to work better when its not running flat out. Appearently, the new HH 187 runs a little better at the top end than mine. The type of welder you get is a personal decision with some facts thrown in . This is just my experience.

Regards,

Kurt

 

[thingy]

Sully,maybe 100 percent right? I'm ALWAYS 100 percent right!!!,,,well,,,,
What brand machine is that you got again? Maybe they was just making the directions simple,,for simple people?[calm down now],,,,
What brand wire is it,hobart or lincoln?,,go to their websites and see,,,,
Yeah,,take 7018 stick rod for an example,,the books show it can be used on ac or dc,,,let me tell you a fact,,it runs mucho better on dcep,,,,so,,,but the people who make the wire and the people who make the machines,are two different sets,,[even though they maybe from the same company sometimes],,,you gotta make the wire to a standard,,[american welding society],if you want to sell it,,,the machines,,,are different,,,,,,no lie,,100 percent sure of this,,[well],,thingy

 

[thingy]

E-71T-11,,,,, E stands for electode,,,7,stands for 70,000 psi per square inch,,min.,,,,1,stands for all postions,,,,T stands for flux cored wire,,,,-11,,means,selfshielded,operate on dcen,.
This is a general purpose wire,,for single and multipass welding in all postions....sounds like a good choice,,if you don't wanta use co2,,,thingy

 

[thingy]

Sully,now,suppose you had E-70T-4 flux core wire,,that would mean ,,electrode,,70,000 psi min yield,,,,0,stands for,flat and horizontal only,T is for tubular[flux core],,run it on dcep,self shielded,,[and the list goes on],,,thingy

 

[Sully2]

E-71T-11,,,,, E stands for electode,,,7,stands for 70,000 psi per square inch,,min.,,,,1,stands for all postions,,,,T stands for flux cored wire,,,,-11,,means,selfshielded,operate on dcen,.
This is a general purpose wire,,for single and multipass welding in all postions....sounds like a good choice,,if you don't wanta use co2,,,thingy

Duhhhh!!!!. Its Hobart wire. Ive got a Hobart 140 setup.

 

[thingy]

Well than you could probably double check on hobarts wire web site,,,but lincoln also uses the same numbers,[aws numbering system],,but in anycase you are doing it right and your directions were right,,just wanted to show you how to check it out if you changed wires for some reason,,,thingy

 

[midlf]

But, if I say MIG - then people immediately think of a wire feed welder. The substitution and use of flux core wire with a MIG machine is as simple as loading the wire into the machine and then not opening the valve on the gas bottle.

And reversing the polarity.

edit - oops I've gotta read ahead, this was stated in post 23.