Nice overhead, I still can't do that decently yet. Gotta practice alot more.

 

thanks brother

 

I have my welder wired up to a 240volt source. It is a Chicago Electric 170amp flux core with a place on the back to hook up gas and use as a mig. Everything I have welded with it so far seems to get good penetration with the welder. If you are not careful with it, it will burn through whatever you are welding.

I welded up a bumper and some rock sliders with it and so far so good. Sold the bumper not too long ago for 250 bucks. Only had about 100 in it between metal, weld wire and paint.

 

I have one too. One of the full rectifier bridge's diodes burnt up so it's basically worthless now. It's not a terrible unit, but it is definitely a starter welder. The 6' leads are almost impossible to work with. My Longevity has 10' leads and Hobarts have 12' which was awesome at my last job welding with the big Ironman Hobart. I laid down some nice welds with the HF one, but I would be skeptical about using it for axle related welds.

 

hobarts where its at. lol my 140 is awesome for a 110 unit. i was playing with a lincoln 180 at work hooked up to some gas and my welds came out pretty decent, im actualy better with welding gaps than with the pieces sitting flush

 

I can't wait to be able to participate here soon. I'm signing up for a intro welding class tomorrow. I'd love to take more comprehensive classes, but there's nothing nearby, and it'd interfere with cnc classes anyway. I'm mostly a self learner anyway, and this is the kickstart I need.

 

as a begginer my self the best advice i can give you is to buy a machine for ou to practice on unless you have accsess to a welder else where

 

I've filled in more gaps in pieces than I care to admit about lol. I wish my last job would let me buy their Hobart Ironman, that thing would throw down.

 

millers have been the best mig welder I've welded with

 

do you not run gas with your fluxcore?

 

No... thats why its flux core and not solid MIG wire.

 

at my job we run 75/25 in flux

 

Agreed. I know I'll need much more practice than a few hours a week in class can possibly offer. A big part of the reason I'm taking the class is to figure out what I want to buy, and I plan on buying as soon as I feel like I know what I'm getting.

 

It can be run both ways self shielded and dual shielded depends on the wire and application

 

Well, kind of. There is self shielded wire that 99% of you guys would call "flux core" and then there is dual shielded wire that has a fluxing agent but, requires the use of a shielding gas as well. The wire that comes in cheap starter kit welders is self shielded wire. Typically, dual shielded wire is used when welding thick (3/4"+) material. The reason for this is that, although the standard solid wire can weld thicker material, you must be in spray transfer to do so and you cannot weld out of position in spray. If you do not spray transfer with solid mig at those thicknesses, you will get cold lap. Generally, dual shielded wire is sold in thicker sizes (.045+) because of the nature of it's uses. The flux core wire that is your box store welders does not need gas, nor will you benefit from it. Actually, you will create more fumes than necessary and have a colder weld. Hope that clears it up for everyone.