Finaly got me a welder...

okay guys, I finaly got me a welder. Before I get flamed for buying an inexpensive one I got the harbor freights 115v 90amp MIG-100 welder. I just didn't have and probably wouldn't have had the 500 bucks to dump on a good one. I still trying to get the feel for it but I shaved the door handle off a door I had in my basement lastnight to my old truck. works like a champ when I got the right wire to feed thru it. it came with freak'n .8mm wire in it. so I wes burning right thru the door. wen to the store and got some .030 wire and it works like a champ. Still getting some splatter but I think that aperator error cuz the more I did it the better I was getting the welds.

My question, I am going to start shaving the inner tail lights on my cavie and the door handles and a few odd holes here and there aswell. My question, what is the best way to get a good smooth bend in the 22ga steel I got here to create my tail light fillers? and is 22ga good to use for it? If not, then what should I be using? would I be better to go for something a little thicker? perhaps 20ga or maybe even 18ga? Or would this just be over kill?

Also, as far as priming the stuff that I do to the car, Would I be okay to use the rattle can spray primer to stop runs and then just sand it off before painting or should I just go ahead and hook up the compressor and get my some epocy primer and do it up that way. Let me know guys. Thanks.

I think that using 20 gauge is a litle thin for making fillers with, we only use 18, but some may tell you different. As far as getting a good roll, english wheels are the best but depending on your curve you have to make sometimes you can get it good with hand bending on something like a anvil or something witha curve adn some dollies, just depends on how good your are at working the metal

okay, so I now know that I need to use 18ga steel for my shaving projects. another question. My welder has two settings High and low. the high setting is 80amps and the low setting is 60amps. atleast so I think. what is the best setting for doing the shaving. I have been noticing that my welds are sorta blobing up on the surface of the metal and not penetrating well. but if I hold the welder there to long I just burn away the metal. any pointers as to what I might be doing wrong. I have been welding with the setting to low. Again, This is my first time ever welding. and I am just practicing on scrap metal in my basement right now. so any input I can get from you guys would be great. Thanks.

Are you using flux cored wire? If so it has to get real hot to penetrate and gets brittle when it cools. This will cause the welds to crack down the road. If you dont have a gas bottle, get one. Better to spend the money now so you dont have to re-do it once its painted. For the other ? rattle can primer is too porous and will allow moisture to get to the metal. This will cause rust to form under the primer. Ues a good etching primer to bond to the metal before any filler is used. Then hit it with epoxy sealer. Good luck with the project.

I am using the flux cored wire. so I don't have to use the gas. I am not sure my welder supports using gas at all. is it still possable to use gas anyways?

and I guess on the question as to the heat I should probably set my welder to high so it gets as hot as posable. I will try that out this evening when I get home.

are you saying I should use a base primer before I putty the door and then used epoxy primer after that? Primer/putty/epoxy primer? I asuped you would putty, epoxy primer and then use regular primer?

i would use the high setting with a slower wire feed just so you get a good penetration. Flux core is probably the worst shit to shave with because of the porosity and of because of how hot it gets. you could prolly convert it to mig but i bet you would need a new gun setup and gas setup which is a few hundo.

Get a better welder, it'll be ALOT easier.
If someone offered me a fluxcore, I'd file it in the trashcan. What you are trying to do is like milling with a drill press. I guess you could pull it off, but why try.

I see. so basicly it CAN be done with this welder however its not the optimum for completing the project at its best result. I will use this welder to learn on and start saving up for a good gas mig. Its funny yalla re saying that I should upgrade to a MIG welder. this welder however is called a MIG welder. what is the difference between the difference between my MIG and the MIG yall are talking about? is it just the gas feature? or is it something different?

mig aka gmaw aka gas metal arc welding
flux core aka fcaw aka flux core arc welding

mig uses gas for shielding where as flux core is self shielding. Flux core is basically like a combo of stick welding and mig its like an infinate stick welder.

you can do your shaving work with it but its prolly just as shitty as using jbweld.