VaultFan92
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What is the best type of welder to use on go kart frames? does the type of metal matter? im really new to welding and am wondering if anyone can tell me some basics?
Welders?
- Thread starter VaultFan92
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BAMBY
MINI BIKER
Arc/Stick welder (SMAW)-
medium difficulty
mostly for steel
cheapest
Flux Core Wire feed (FCAW)- MY RECOMMENDATION
ive had this for ~3yrs and think its easy to use and mastered it within a month of weekend practice.
mostly for steel
low-medium cost
MIG (GMAW)-
same difficulty as FCAW
Welds steel, aluminum, etc. (different gas mixes needed though)
co2/argon mix for steel, all argon for aluminum.
gas is costly, welder is little more than FCAW.
mig welders can be used with out gas, and with flux core wire to be a FCAW welder.
FCAW/MIG-
both feed wire out the gun, just pull the trigger and weld.
fcaw uses flux in the wire to keep the molten weld puddle clean.
mig uses inert gas (co2/ argon) that flows out the gun around the wire to keep the molten weld puddle clean.
TIG (GTAW)-
high difficulty
basically welds all metals
really expensive
if your just getting into welding, dont even consider it. it just isnt necessary.
Hope all this helps... ask ?'s if you have them.
BAMBY
medium difficulty
mostly for steel
cheapest
Flux Core Wire feed (FCAW)- MY RECOMMENDATION
ive had this for ~3yrs and think its easy to use and mastered it within a month of weekend practice.
mostly for steel
low-medium cost
MIG (GMAW)-
same difficulty as FCAW
Welds steel, aluminum, etc. (different gas mixes needed though)
co2/argon mix for steel, all argon for aluminum.
gas is costly, welder is little more than FCAW.
mig welders can be used with out gas, and with flux core wire to be a FCAW welder.
FCAW/MIG-
both feed wire out the gun, just pull the trigger and weld.
fcaw uses flux in the wire to keep the molten weld puddle clean.
mig uses inert gas (co2/ argon) that flows out the gun around the wire to keep the molten weld puddle clean.
TIG (GTAW)-
high difficulty
basically welds all metals
really expensive
if your just getting into welding, dont even consider it. it just isnt necessary.
Hope all this helps... ask ?'s if you have them.
BAMBY
jetlag
New member
www.weldingweb.com
It is a great website to learn everything you could ever want to know about welding.
This is a great welder at a great price.
$479 with free shipping
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200306073_200306073
Get a welder that can run both MIG and Fluxcore. Even if you don't use the MIG now...you never know when you might want to try it.
I started learning on a Hobart Handler 187. It is the big brother to that Hobart 140. It uses a 220v power source (same as a dryer) The 140 can be used on any outlet. If you are just wanting to build go-karts, the 140 will be fine and can easily handle 1/8" metal. Some people have pushed theirs to 1/4"... but are far more experienced.
It is a great website to learn everything you could ever want to know about welding.
This is a great welder at a great price.
$479 with free shipping
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200306073_200306073
Get a welder that can run both MIG and Fluxcore. Even if you don't use the MIG now...you never know when you might want to try it.
I started learning on a Hobart Handler 187. It is the big brother to that Hobart 140. It uses a 220v power source (same as a dryer) The 140 can be used on any outlet. If you are just wanting to build go-karts, the 140 will be fine and can easily handle 1/8" metal. Some people have pushed theirs to 1/4"... but are far more experienced.
Kaptain Krunch
Pro Junk Collector
I disagree, TIG welding isn't much harder than mig, and is easier than stick. The machines are expensive, and rods arent the cheapest either.
BAMBY
MINI BIKER
sorry Kaptain Krunch, i just figured that since you got a wire in one hand, torch in the other, and a foot pedal, it would be difficult to coordinate all these together. everyones different though, i guess... i wouldnt find it EASY to master, but maybe you and some others would.
thats not to say that with practice you could get it, but it deffinitly would take practice.
BAMBY
thats not to say that with practice you could get it, but it deffinitly would take practice.
BAMBY
Adam
New member
I would say a MIG welder with an Argon/ Carbon dioxide mix (for steel) would be better, this gives a nice clean weld with no hassle. The problem with stick and FCAW is they spatter and they need to be cleaned also stick welding isn’t quite as strong
Rickracer
RM250 Race Kart Driver
If you buy a MIG, chances are you will stick with it. I started with a 140 amp MIG and after about 6 months, traded up to the 225 amp machine I've been using for almost 25 years now. If you get a flux core machine, and ever use a MIG, you'll probably be converting your FCAW machine to MIG ASAP. If you are really serious, and plan some first class projects, TIG is definitely the way to go, it can weld anything, and is really the only proper (NHRA/IHRA legal) way to weld chrome moly tubing.
lemegacool
got boost? :)
i disagree with this... a 7018 weld is VERY strong...
and stick is easier than tig (for a noob) but tig is WAY less accesible than stick (machines are more expensive...)
IHcubguy
just a member
FYI Adam,... I agree with lemegacool smaw (stick) with e7018 lo hi is one of the stronger welds, if it's done right. but if your welding on a go-kart frame it's hard because welding with 7018 3/32'' it's better to run it up hill, and tring to get that rod angle right without long arcing , it's a headache, and welding on thin metal is hard and not so pretty!
I could see if you want a show quality go-kart tig welding is the way to go, it would take forever compared to gmaw (mig) ,not to mention all the prep work involed in tig welding,
My opinion flux-core is the way to go! it will keep you from going bald everytime the rod or tungsten sticks since you say your a beginner! plus its gasless don't have to worry about running out of gas in the middle of a project! you can buy a 10lb spool of flux-core .030 steel wire for about 80 bucks and make 5 go-karts! or a 2 lb spool for about 25 bucks! And if you are worried about spatter with flux-core or mig you can buy spatter spray at any welding supply store, just spray in the area you plan to weld! and simply use a wire brush and the spatter comes right off! Just remember more heat doesnt mean alot more wire in most cases, if your welding on a frame, if your heat range is 1 thru 4 set it on 4 and wirespeed range is 1 thru 10 set it on 4 with .030 and 3-3.5 with .035 you will notice alot less spatter just go slower! might have to do some fine tuning since all welder are diffrent! some ppl. learning think with a heat setting maxed out they think the wire needs to be! if mig welding aluminum i can see the ws being around 8-9. and stainless around 5-7 since the filler burns so quick, on a wirespeed range of 1 thru 10. on say a 110 volt 130amp!
I could see if you want a show quality go-kart tig welding is the way to go, it would take forever compared to gmaw (mig) ,not to mention all the prep work involed in tig welding,
My opinion flux-core is the way to go! it will keep you from going bald everytime the rod or tungsten sticks since you say your a beginner! plus its gasless don't have to worry about running out of gas in the middle of a project! you can buy a 10lb spool of flux-core .030 steel wire for about 80 bucks and make 5 go-karts! or a 2 lb spool for about 25 bucks! And if you are worried about spatter with flux-core or mig you can buy spatter spray at any welding supply store, just spray in the area you plan to weld! and simply use a wire brush and the spatter comes right off! Just remember more heat doesnt mean alot more wire in most cases, if your welding on a frame, if your heat range is 1 thru 4 set it on 4 and wirespeed range is 1 thru 10 set it on 4 with .030 and 3-3.5 with .035 you will notice alot less spatter just go slower! might have to do some fine tuning since all welder are diffrent! some ppl. learning think with a heat setting maxed out they think the wire needs to be! if mig welding aluminum i can see the ws being around 8-9. and stainless around 5-7 since the filler burns so quick, on a wirespeed range of 1 thru 10. on say a 110 volt 130amp!
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