Specifically, if you hit a pocket or pool of brake cleaner with the intense heat of the weld, it converts the tetracloroethylene into phosgene, an intensely poisonous and easily fatal gas. You may think you'd be safe with a fan blowing fresh air in, but phosgene can be fatal with as little as 4ppm (parts per million). It can and WILL kill you quite easily if you muck about with it, so DON'T DO IT.

Don't even think about it.

 

Thanks for the tips guys.
Its about time I post up some pics... I finally fooled around a bit yesterday with the welder. (2nd time welding....ever)
Please critique my welding... I would really like to improve my welding, so ALL input will be greatly appreciated.






-Jeep450r

EDIT::::::: I apologize for the large pic sizes. They are larger than I expected

 

It appears your doing quite well...I think your biggest worry is keeping a consistent bead...if you notice youhave low areas and high areas, try to keep it all consistent throughout the length of the entire weld. You may be running too fast of a wire speed or too hot from the spatter I see...orit could just be normal for MIG welding...had to tell without me running a bead myself.

 

your doing pretty well for for your second try. i didnt get that good for a couple months. But a little spatter is normal. alot of it like in your first pic indicates too much heat I think. (correct me if i'm wrong master welding yodas)

In some parts of the bead the little rings get a sharper curve, and other parts get more rounded. That indicates speed. the sharper the "puddle curve" ( i apologive for my wonderfull welding term vocab) the faster you go, the more rounded, the slower you go. Try to keep the speed constant

There's not much more i can tell you without looking in person. But hey im sure some of the more knowledgable welder out there would be able to tell you more.

Keep up the good practice

 

I just got a welder for my birthday a few weeks ago its a 105 amp Chicago Electric (Harbor Freight brand) Flux core wire welder. I used it to to weld my exhaust up and put my muffler on, I've ben mostly practicing on old I-beams but I think those are a bit too big for that welder since it cant really seem to make strong welds on those. I've also tried welding ventilation ducts and it works ok for that. You guys think the welder just cant weld stuff that thick or am I just not doing it right? I've been using 0.35 wire, and welding flat out and it still doesnt seem to make a decent bead. Maybe it could be im not doing it right since the only stuff i've tried before was thin.

 

Im not sure if your welder is a 110v but i know 110v arnt very good for anything over 1/8in plate. and even then it really doesnt like it. Post up some pictures of some of your beads and we'll help

 

Asking someone how to mig is like asking a tattoo artist how to tatt. They can tell you how but your not going to figure it out unless you take the time and pratice your self.

Infact I been tatting for about a year all on myself and every time i get better. So just get some metal and go at it you will figure it out., Im sure when the first welder was made they had no clue the best method. So you can do it just test test and more test.

 

I have the same welder. The welder its self is crap. It perfect for tacking and small project do not expect a lot out of it. You can hit ibeams with it just make sure you on high and run a slower. It takes time to get metal that thick.

Over all its ok. But if you want to be a serious welder. I would pay the money to get a miller or another hi qulity brand welder,

 

Some important tips are to use quality equipment. People all too often try to buy cheap welders or masks and it makes the learning curve a lot harder.

 

Thanks for the tips guys. Keep them coming. I might practice some more today and try to keep a more constant bead

 

Your 3rd pic down looks the most consistent. I wouldn't expect that machine to work well any thicker than 3 /16" and that would be questionable. I do however think you are getting an idea of how it works. I would encourage about 20 more rolls of wire be burned and then see how you feel about it.

 

+1 on the welding class you do not need to pay for broken parts or the material. im currently taking a class for 2 hours a day and my project so far is a light bar. lol cant beat free