welding ? for ya boss...

You can definately build a mini with a 110v welder. Though you will need to spend a little more time prepping the parts to be welded. If you are using hot rolled steel, make sure to grind all of the grey slag off of the top layer where you will be welding. If the part is questionably thick or large, you can benefit by preheating the part with a torch. I have a 400 amp TIG and I will still preheat some parts.

I am not going to say that you should stick with your 110v welder, because the 220v stuff is far superior, but the 110v will work fine as long as you understand it's weaknesses and plan for them accordingly.

Oh yeah... Don't stitch weld, make sure you run a solid bead

Edited: 9/8/2007 8:12:39 AM by Maztang

thanks man. i always grind that top layer off before i weld. and i have a nice torch, i just need to get some bottles for it. i would like to get a 220 welder but it isn't in the budget right now. not only would i have to buy the welder but then i will have to wire for it too. so it will have to wait for now. the only thing i stitch weld is sheetmetal stuff. i tack weld the big stuff to keep it in place and then run a solid bead all the way across it. i have just recently heard guys talking about beveling the edges so i will start doing that too and see how that turns out. i have got a welding book that i need to study up on as well.

thanks.

ryan

It sounds to me that you are on the right track. The beveling is obviously used for thicker parts that your welder can't penetrate all the way through, so on those parts I would suggest making two passes with the welder as well as beveling.

Good Luck.

ok, now it says that i can weld up to 5/16 in a single pass via flux core. do you think i should still bevel the edges and run a double pass?

That all depends on your confidence and how stressed the part is.

i normally bevel and run 2-3 passes on anything over 1/8" but guess thats the structual welder coming out in me..

cool. thanks for the help.

what about the HOBART 140? Its 110 volt too but ive seen people do framework and bodywork with them. It says welds up to 1/4 th with flux core.

If your looking for good solid pretty beads, you won't find that with flux core. I think ima pretty good welder and I have never been able to get a flux core bead as pretty as a Mig bead. If you have stock in Dewalt grinders and alot of time on your hands then flux core should be fine. 110 gas welder will be fine for most things on a mini. But if you were building a frame, or something of that nature that experiences alot of stress then i would definatley use a 220.