Welder problems

[youngengineer]

So im newish to welding and gonna build a gokart, what thickness of 2.5x2.5cm steel should I use, im only 7 stone . Also what amp arc welder is needed as mine is only a cheap 70amp for my first welder, is this enough? Cheers

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[davidbooth1991]

Hi mate,
25mmx25mx2.5mm / 3 mm is what Im using and that is plenty strong enough but it also depends on engine size and power where you ride and if you add a suspension. and if you go slow and get good penetration the welder should be fine. You should be able too stay on a 2.5 rod.

Dave

 

[davidbooth1991]

However the problem with having a low amperage is, yes it will fuse the joint buy after so long the machine will take to much abuse and turn off to cool down (especially if its not an inveeter).

 

[davidbooth1991]

Inverter (sorry lol)

 

[youngengineer]

Thanveryone, should be fine as its only a yard kart with a 3hp-5hp ish engne (whatever I can get)

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[andrewmacc]

The problem with those cheap 70 amp machines is that even with them being run balls to the wall, they don't produce a nice stable arc like the bigger machines will at that amperage.

Something that generally works for SMAW up to 1/8" (3mm) steel is 1 amp per .001" of material. So even 1/16" steel, which is 1.6mm (trying to keep up with the metric world, Canada mixes imperial and metric too much) requires 65 amps. You have just about topped out your machine because you'll be lucky to get the full amperage out of the dinky little thing.

So as soon as you need to be welding your motor mount on, that thing will be woefully inadequate. The 70 amp machines are one of the best paperweights money can buy. For $300 you can get a good old Lincoln AC-225 tombstone buzzbox that you can keep forever for odd jobs, even after you've got yourself a brand new 200+ amp MIG one day.

 

[davidbooth1991]

That is the problem he will have to overcome his machine will have JUST enough power but it's not an inverter so it will only weld for soon long before it overheats. And gives up really you need a sip140 ( I paid 50 for mine and its as hard as nails)

 

[youngengineer]

Will try and get one before the summer holidays, thats when im building the kart. Will make a thread with the plans soon

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[davidbooth1991]

Why don't you have a look on Gumtree there's always arc welders going cheap and the old ones keep going forever, heres mine so you know what to keep an eye out for. Remember aim for at least 140 amps if you don't want to have to buy another one when you come to chunkier stuff.

 

[youngengineer]

Thank for the help, will have a look tomorrow

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[Felineman]

First off go MIG its cheap and easy and NO nasty looking welds.

 

[OzFab]

However the problem with having a low amperage is, yes it will fuse the joint buy after so long the machine will take to much abuse and turn off to cool down (especially if its not an inveeter).

Hi mate,
25mmx25mx2.5mm / 3 mm is what Im using and that is plenty strong enough but it also depends on engine size and power where you ride and if you add a suspension. and if you go slow and get good penetration the welder should be fine. You should be able too stay on a 2.5 rod.

Dave

Inverter (sorry lol)

You do know there's an edit button in the lower right corner of your posts, so you can change your posts as opposed to making 3 in less than 10 minutes...

Youngengineer, you should get away with using 1.6mm wt, which your 70A welder should handle