Welding thread!!!!
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
So I've been doing some research on welders and I've got my eye and my craigslist app looking for mig welders that use gas. Looking for miller, Hobart, Or Lincoln to start off.
But I'm a total rookie when it comes to the actual work. I have a couple basic questions, figure this is the thread..
I want my first real project after a bunch of practicing to be a roof rack using like 3/4-1" round tube. Something around that size. Eventually maybe build some bumpers or sliders or something. But I don't know what size welder will do the job.
Is the smaller tubing walled or is it solid? Or either? I have a 100 amp panel in the garage, so I can throw in a 220 setup pretty easily. I just don't want to get something too small that won't penetrate well.
Anyone have a link to a chart with amp to thickness?Any help is much appreciated.
Hopefully one day I can get my welds looking like one of the ones in this thread. Great work guys
But I'm a total rookie when it comes to the actual work. I have a couple basic questions, figure this is the thread..
I want my first real project after a bunch of practicing to be a roof rack using like 3/4-1" round tube. Something around that size. Eventually maybe build some bumpers or sliders or something. But I don't know what size welder will do the job.
Is the smaller tubing walled or is it solid? Or either? I have a 100 amp panel in the garage, so I can throw in a 220 setup pretty easily. I just don't want to get something too small that won't penetrate well.
Anyone have a link to a chart with amp to thickness?Any help is much appreciated.
Hopefully one day I can get my welds looking like one of the ones in this thread. Great work guys
As far as the tubing goes, you can get whatever diameter you would like, and whatever thickness you would like. Solid is known as round stock. I would not use this, due to weight. If you want to build a rack, I would go with 1" tube, with a 1/16" wall. It's all up to you, you need to figure out how large you want your tube to be, how you want your rack to look, function, etc....take your time, plan it out, and get fabbing. LOL
Go to your local steel supplier. Tell them your situation. Have them show you different pieces of tube. Get an idea of what you have available to you, and make a decision.
As always, we're here to help...
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,466
Likes: 6
From: St. Joseph, MO
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
So I've been doing some research on welders and I've got my eye and my craigslist app looking for mig welders that use gas. Looking for miller, Hobart, Or Lincoln to start off.
But I'm a total rookie when it comes to the actual work. I have a couple basic questions, figure this is the thread..
I want my first real project after a bunch of practicing to be a roof rack using like 3/4-1" round tube. Something around that size. Eventually maybe build some bumpers or sliders or something. But I don't know what size welder will do the job.
Is the smaller tubing walled or is it solid? Or either? I have a 100 amp panel in the garage, so I can throw in a 220 setup pretty easily. I just don't want to get something too small that won't penetrate well.
Anyone have a link to a chart with amp to thickness?Any help is much appreciated.
Hopefully one day I can get my welds looking like one of the ones in this thread. Great work guys
But I'm a total rookie when it comes to the actual work. I have a couple basic questions, figure this is the thread..
I want my first real project after a bunch of practicing to be a roof rack using like 3/4-1" round tube. Something around that size. Eventually maybe build some bumpers or sliders or something. But I don't know what size welder will do the job.
Is the smaller tubing walled or is it solid? Or either? I have a 100 amp panel in the garage, so I can throw in a 220 setup pretty easily. I just don't want to get something too small that won't penetrate well.
Anyone have a link to a chart with amp to thickness?Any help is much appreciated.
Hopefully one day I can get my welds looking like one of the ones in this thread. Great work guys
No, I don't lick fish.
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,169
Likes: 26
From: Northern Kentucky
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,466
Likes: 6
From: St. Joseph, MO
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
No, I don't lick fish.
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,169
Likes: 26
From: Northern Kentucky
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 892
Likes: 4
From: Lennox/Sioux Falls South Dakota
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 liter inline 6
Anybody know where to find migmate 220 V parts? i think its a foreign welder, if you could PM me that would be great so i dont have to go searching through endless pages to find the info after work haha
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 35
From: Colorado
Year: 1991 2-Door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 liter
Quick Q I have run my bottle dry (mix) I have a small bottle of straight argon that I got from someone that's full. Would it work well enough or should I just wait till I can get the bottle filled. I have a Lincoln 140.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,219
Likes: 45
From: west chester, pa
Year: 1999
Engine: 4.0
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 35
From: Colorado
Year: 1991 2-Door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 liter
Seasoned Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 317
Likes: 1
Year: 1998, 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Here is my first weld ever with my new mig on 110v. (still waiting on the parts to plug into 220) I made no attempt at "stacking dimes" or weaving or anything but I thought it looked at least alright. What do you guys think? I do have a welding guy at work that is going to give me tips in person which is nice.
couple welds later
couple welds later
Last edited by T1XJ; Apr 3, 2016 at 09:17 PM.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Looks like you're off to a good start. From the top down of your welds. The first two look a little on the cold side. The bottom one looks like it's almost near where you want it. Making the stacked dime look with a MIG isn't a strong weld. As you're not putting the heat in the root of the joint.
Also prep is key. It's always good to wire wheel any mill scale. Never weld anything that has came in contact with brake cleaner. Also welding anything galvanised (without surface removal) will create a toxic gas.
Also prep is key. It's always good to wire wheel any mill scale. Never weld anything that has came in contact with brake cleaner. Also welding anything galvanised (without surface removal) will create a toxic gas.
Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Feeding problems with Hobart 140
Picked up a Hobart 140 today since my Harbor freight refuses to feed wire consistently. Everything looks good but I'm having a weird problem with the setup. Every time I try to feed wire through it, no matter what adjustments I make, at some point it gets caught somewhere down the liner and kinks, breaking the wire. It's a fairly long way down, possibly in the handle. I'd like to figure out what this is before I waste any more wire. The instructions said to slide the contact tip over the wire so there is no contact tip on it and I can't see the wire peeking out at all.
Thanks for any help.
Thanks for any help.