New Eastwood mig welder

[Goat]

Bought one of these and sold my hf 90 amp one. Very happy with the Eastwood so far. Much more adjustable. http://www.eastwood.com/mig-welder-110vac-135a-output.html

 

[anickode]

Did you get a gas bottle?

Mig ain't mig without gas.

 

[Goat]

Yes I just got a bottle. Haven't connected it yet. I have been using flux core wire.

 

[kevbo22]

Thats a good buy! I have the eastwood 250, gonna be getting the 250mpi soon as well. Eastwood has good welders, you're gonna really like it!

 

[anickode]

Yes I just got a bottle. Haven't connected it yet. I have been using flux core wire.

MIG actually stands for Metal Inert Gas.

MIG = Metal inert gas
FCAW = Flux core arc weld
TIG = Tungsten inert gas
SMAW= Shielded metal arc weld

Technically MIG with a co2 or O2 blend is MAG welding (metal active gas), and the international welding community refers to it as such, but here in the good ol US of A we just stick to calling it MIG. True MIG would be a pure inert gas blend such as straight argon, argon helium, etc.

Just fyi.

 

[Randy H]

The American Welding Society calls the hard wire process GMAW. Gas Metal Arc Welding. Of course you sound like a geek going around saying Gas Metal Arc Welding. Around here you'd get a big horse laugh if you call it MAG welding.

I've got a lot of years into welding. I just call the processes what they are. Stick, TIG, Hard Wire, Flux Cored etc.

 

[Goat]

I have a tank of co2 and ordered an adaptor to hook up the Gage's. I have read that with flux core you get better penetration. Any truth to that?

 

[kevbo22]

I run 100% co2 much of the time just because my local brew shop will fill my 20lb bottle for $6. It defiantly runs hotter without a doubt. I have never used any on fluxcore though, just solid wire.

 

[Goat]

Thanks for the tip. Hope I can get it refilled here when it runs out. My neighbor gave me the tank when he moved away. Don't know the origin but might be propiatory.

 

[MTNSleder]

I have read that with flux core you get better penetration. Any truth to that?

It's true based on my welding experiences... I'm not sure why, probably because it's hotter, it's usually better penetration. Hard to make Million dollar welds though...

Migs better mostly because it's stronger..

 

[Randy H]

I have a tank of co2 and ordered an adaptor to hook up the Gage's. I have read that with flux core you get better penetration. Any truth to that?

Probably gets better penetration compared to short circuit transfer. Joint preperation is IMHO more important than penetration.

 

[anickode]

Probably gets better penetration compared to short circuit transfer. Joint preperation is IMHO more important than penetration.

Short circuit is easy to do, but hard to do well.

The AWS does not even recognize short circuit transfer as a structural welding process, while spray transfer and flux core are. It has everything to do with penetration and fusion, or rather the high potential for lack thereof. The NHRA does not allow MIG welded roll cages, for example ( at least the last time I checked)

Short circuit transfer basically piles the metal up on top of itself, focusing the heat at the surface of the puddle as opposed to the root. With proper technique and machine settings, it is possible to achieve a good weld on thicker metals,

Spray transfer runs much hotter and has enough "oomph" behind it that it pushes the puddle back from the feed point, focusing more heat on the root. Downside to spray transfer is that it requires a specific shielding gas blend to promote a more stable arc. It also requires quite a beastly machine to do it, and it's only good for flat position and horizontal fillets unless pulsed.

Flux core behaves similarly to spray transfer, pushing the molten puddle back, focusing g more heat to the root, plus the slag helps keep the weld hot longer in addition to helping draw out impurities. Typical commercial and industrial flux core processes are dual shielded, using shielding gas AND flux core wire. There are also self-shielding flux core wires making their way into the building sector as a higher speed alternative to stick welding.

---------- Post added at 08:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:19 PM ----------

Thanks for the tip. Hope I can get it refilled here when it runs out. My neighbor gave me the tank when he moved away. Don't know the origin but might be propiatory.

Welding shops usually just do a swap program. If the tank is past hydro, there will be an addition surcharge to cover that. If it's a steel co2 tank they might not even deal with you at all... Steel co2 tanks are falling to the wayside. My LWS will fill them for you till the hydro runs out, but no swaps, no new tanks, and they won't hydro them.

Co2 is an OK shielding gas for lower power machines,
but when you start getting up past about 18 volts, it causes an unstable spattery arc.

---------- Post added at 08:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:20 PM ----------

It's true based on my welding experiences... I'm not sure why, probably because it's hotter, it's usually better penetration. Hard to make Million dollar welds though...

Migs better mostly because it's stronger..

Mig is not stronger than a good flux core. Stronger than bird poop self shielding flux core run through a 90a AC output harbor freight wire feed turd factory, yes.

But according to AWS D1.1 MIG is not good enough for structural work.

Not good enough for race car roll cages either.

 

[Kansaskart]

Yeah I gotta nice older Hobart 250. Recently got the hf 170 to use outback on light projects I'm hoping I don't pull my 45 out and shoot it.