Welding advice

[greenman]

I am figuring out my frame now and need advice on what welder I should get? I am going to build with circular tubing and I wasn't sure what amp and voltage would be enough. Should I buy or rent and where from?

 

[firemanjim]

I bought a cheap harbor freight mig, been using it for years........ And years...... How much do you want to spend, how far do you want to get into welding?

 

[greenman]

For now I only really need to build a frame, so I really only need it for this build

 

[firemanjim]

Harbor Freight it is then! LOL

 

[Yamaha440SSKart]

also look into flux-core wire sizes, your nozzle size, get some good nozzle gel, small gauge is good for sheet metal cause it'll melt quicker where a larger gauge will be good for penetration(no dirty thought lol)

 

[firemanjim]

With most chap mig welders, you are gonna run a .035" flux core wire. It's the only size I use.
EDIT but I run Lincoln or Washington wire.....

 

[Poboy kartman]

With most chap welders, you are

but I run Lincoln or Washington wire.....

Is that $5 and $1 wire?????

 

[firemanjim]

Is that $5 and $1 wire?????

Gee how did you figure that out...... ?

 

[Poboy kartman]

Never heard of Washington wire.....I prefer Lincoln wire coupled with Miller beer......

 

[firemanjim]

Washington wire is the wire I was talking about in that one thread we had about the wire subject..... It's actually Lincoln wire, sold under the Washington name brand...... From what the welding supply guy told me. It welds just like it. And I get a 2# roll for $14 versus a 1# roll of Lincoln, at home depot..... Which runs me about $12....... That's simple math right there.......

 

[Poboy kartman]

Washington wire is the wire I was talking about in that one thread we had about the wire subject..... It's actually Lincoln wire, sold under the Washington name brand...... From what the welding supply guy told me. It welds just like it. And I get a 2# roll for $14 versus a 1# roll of Lincoln, at home depot..... Which runs me about $12....... That's simple math right there.......

Easy for you to say.....but I'm confused....so you get 2 Washingtons for $14.....but only 1 Lincoln for $12.....

But 2 Washingtons are only worth $2....and one Lincoln is worth $5....so isn't the Lincoln a better deal...???

Never mind....just slap me....I'm being silly......

 

[machinist@large]

Time to take your meds Doug....

 

[Yamaha440SSKart]

$150 for a 200cf argon bottle?

 

[n3480h]

Perhaps a clarification of terms will help. Mig (Metal Inert Gas) requires gas, usually 75% CO2 with 25% Argon). However, a wire welder can be used without gas, if you use a flux core wire. Most Mig welders can do both, but there are a lot of "just" wire welders which do not use gas. Doesn't necessarily mean they are inferior, just different - and generally a LOT cheaper to buy.

Flux core wire will not weld as cleanly as Mig, and the weld is not as pretty, but it can penetrate well and may weld a little bit heavier gage steel. For the purpose of welding up a kart or two, flux core wire welding will do the job. Clean your steel down to fresh metal in the weld area so that paint or rust does not contaminate the weld. A contaminated weld may look ok, but it will have porosity and it will not be strong. You will also need a steel wire brush to clean up the area after welding and before painting. Buy good QUALITY wire, not the cheap stuff, and get the size that matches the gun tip. By all means, also buy an auto darkening helmet. It will make life so much easier. Practice welding some scrap together before welding on the kart.

 

[Yamaha440SSKart]

Perhaps a clarification of terms will help. Mig (Metal Inert Gas) requires gas, usually 75% CO2 with 25% Argon). However, a wire welder can be used without gas, if you use a flux core wire. Most Mig welders can do both, but there are a lot of "just" wire welders which do not use gas. Doesn't necessarily mean they are inferior, just different - and generally a LOT cheaper to buy.

Flux core wire will not weld as cleanly as Mig, and the weld is not as pretty, but it can penetrate well and may weld a little bit heavier gage steel. For the purpose of welding up a kart or two, flux core wire welding will do the job. Clean your steel down to fresh metal in the weld area so that paint or rust does not contaminate the weld. A contaminated weld may look ok, but it will have porosity and it will not be strong. You will also need a steel wire brush to clean up the area after welding and before painting. Buy good QUALITY wire, not the cheap stuff, and get the size that matches the gun tip. By all means, also buy an auto darkening helmet. It will make life so much easier. Practice welding some scrap together before welding on the kart.

I could not agree more, best thing in my opinion, cheap grinder with a wire wheel lol

 

[n3480h]

Yes, a cheap grinder or even a wire wheel mounted in a drill will certainly speed up the cleaning. Either can be used with a shanked grinding disk to grind off rust and paint before welding. Also handy is a side cutter pliers or regular "welding pliers" to cut wire to the proper stickout from the tip before starting to weld. Of course, a decent pair of welding gloves will save much pain from the hot parts and sparks. Also strongly recommend decent leather boots: hot slag and sparks will burn through your sneakers before you can get them off. Cotton clothing- synthetics will melt to your skin and that is NOT fun to deal with.

For you new welders: NEVER look at the arc without a proper welding helmet in place. You'll think it's no big deal . . . until tomorrow, when you can't open your eyes and they feel like you've packed sand under your eyelids.

 

[Yamaha440SSKart]

yup most definitely lol, sneakers definitely not the best lol, still got a black spot on my foot from months ago lol, get some good gloves definitely lol, tig gloves are great, but your hand will get hot though, depends on how much heat you can take lol, auto darkening most definitely, I know you can get great ones off of ebay, I got one with a 6" x 3" viewing area for $125, has different darkening settings, sensitivity, and a grind setting, all you need in one, also would recommend a neck cloth, spark go everywhere lol, and definitely get some ventilation from time to time, lol got majorly sick from welding some exhaust piping in a garage with all doors closed using flux-core= not a good time

 

[n3480h]

Was the exhaust pipe galvanized? Big no no. If welding galvanized, I burn off the zinc with a torch, wire brush the steel, then weld - BUT - I do all of that outdoors, positioned so that the breeze will carry off the fumes. Fumes from welding galvanized can be deadly. You also don't want to clean parts with brake cleaner before welding because that can generate phosgene gas. Phosgene can cause your body to go to room temperature and stay there. If you need to degrease parts before welding, use mineral spirits or denatured alcohol, and dry the parts before welding.

Just trying to prevent an unfortunate incident.

 

[Yamaha440SSKart]

not sure lol, just factory metal lol, probably stainless lol

 

[Poboy kartman]

Next time turn the ignition off first.....