Welding thread!!!!
07-02-2018, 12:16 AM
#2581
CF Veteran
You will hate a cheap flux core welder. You will regret buying it after 10 minutes of attempting to lay even a half decent weld. And you will probably hate the cheapo hood you buy too. Some people have good luck with cheap hoods but I never did.
As said above buy once cry once.
Buying the welder is just the beginning like you said there is other stuff to buy. You can get some $10 leather work gloves from Walmart. a Harbor freight hood will get you started. then there is the wire, probably a good extension cord, wire brush, tips, grinder, the list goes on
But you gotta pay to play man. If the funds aren't there for half this stuff then the funds probably aren't going to be there for the projects the welder will allow you to tackle
As said above buy once cry once.
Buying the welder is just the beginning like you said there is other stuff to buy. You can get some $10 leather work gloves from Walmart. a Harbor freight hood will get you started. then there is the wire, probably a good extension cord, wire brush, tips, grinder, the list goes on
But you gotta pay to play man. If the funds aren't there for half this stuff then the funds probably aren't going to be there for the projects the welder will allow you to tackle
08-10-2018, 05:39 PM
#2582
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Join Date: Oct 2013
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I don't know about ya'll, but I have a bunch of random crappy sockets laying around and they just sit there. I use my nicer ones most of the time, but occasionally I'll use one to beat onto a bolt or beat a seal in with. Well I found another use for them, weld them to stuff. I welded sockets to the factory jack and to the spare tire crank on the Comanche so that I can just stick a ratchet on it and go. I figure I always have tools in my jeep so why not use them for that too
08-10-2018, 10:18 PM
#2584
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
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Originally Posted by TeXJ
how do you weld to the shiney chrome? Will it?
08-10-2018, 10:23 PM
#2585
Seasoned Member
yeah, I wasn't worried about looks, more about penetration. I've welded a nut to a bolt and it kept breaking the weld. It was flux core welding.
08-10-2018, 10:39 PM
#2586
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Year: 1999
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Originally Posted by TeXJ
yeah, I wasn't worried about looks, more about penetration. I've welded a nut to a bolt and it kept breaking the weld. It was flux core welding.
08-20-2018, 08:12 PM
#2587
No, I don't lick fish.
Try turning up the settings on the welder. If it's the cheapy HF model, set the voltage to MAX and make sure you've got about 1/4" to 1/2" stick out and keep your travel speed low. I welded bolts aplenty with my HF 90 amp flux welder. Just gotta fudge with the settings until you find the sweet spot.
08-21-2018, 12:48 PM
#2588
Seasoned Member
Try turning up the settings on the welder. If it's the cheapy HF model, set the voltage to MAX and make sure you've got about 1/4" to 1/2" stick out and keep your travel speed low. I welded bolts aplenty with my HF 90 amp flux welder. Just gotta fudge with the settings until you find the sweet spot.
so I should turn up my voltage right?
08-22-2018, 06:55 AM
#2589
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
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The Hobart 140 is a decent machine, I used to own one myself. For welding thicker stuff your probably going to want to turn it all the way up. Also, make sure you have a dedicated 20 / 30 amp circuit with nothing else running off of it. (trust me it makes a difference on how the welder works). And don't use a extension cord unless its not too long and a nice thick gauge of wire.
08-22-2018, 09:29 AM
#2590
Seasoned Member
The Hobart 140 is a decent machine, I used to own one myself. For welding thicker stuff your probably going to want to turn it all the way up. Also, make sure you have a dedicated 20 / 30 amp circuit with nothing else running off of it. (trust me it makes a difference on how the welder works). And don't use a extension cord unless its not too long and a nice thick gauge of wire.
Thanks for the tips!
08-23-2018, 08:09 PM
#2591
No, I don't lick fish.
Solid advice from Jeepy. You want to check the actual amperage rating on the extension cord though, not just go by the thickness of the insulated cord. Sometimes the material just makes it appear to be a thicker gauge when in realtiy, it's just a heavy duty insulation. The amperage rating is often times molded or stamped on the plug.
08-24-2018, 09:46 AM
#2592
Seasoned Member
Yeah I checked before I bought the cord. Oh had a buddy come over the other day to use the welder...I unplugged the deep freeze...forgot to plug it back in. Had the wife call me the next day about it lol
08-27-2018, 08:04 AM
#2593
CF Veteran
i like the use of split plugs. my shop has them, as with the kitchen in my house.
if you don't know what a split plug is, it's a regular 110 volt plug, but has 220 going to the wall outlet, but split to 110 for each actual plug. so i can have 15 or 20 amps at 110 for each plug in each wall outlet.
then, i also have my 50 amp 220 welder plugs in the shop for the big welders.
if you don't know what a split plug is, it's a regular 110 volt plug, but has 220 going to the wall outlet, but split to 110 for each actual plug. so i can have 15 or 20 amps at 110 for each plug in each wall outlet.
then, i also have my 50 amp 220 welder plugs in the shop for the big welders.
