WELDING TECHNIQUES

Smokey, you hiton my next question for this thread.....What is a good start out welder mig, & then Tig for guys to pick up and practise with...

---------------------------------------------Originally posted by dragnrangerhey will a hobart 140 be sufficient for frame welding. i wanna back half my yota but i am not sure if 140 will work. what do u guys think?---------------------------------------------i wouldnt even touch a frame with a 110 welder,sorry.

i've only welded a couple times, but if i'm looking to practice a lot and get good, what kind of welder should i start off with buying? after lots of practice ill just be shaving stuff on my truck, so it'll be mostly sheetmetal, and maybe bag brackets and stuff. like i said, this is after i get good also, any tips on welding sheetmetal?

Sheetmetal=take your time. You basically want to tack the entire part until it is welded solid. Try to have another project on the go at the same time so that you can bounce back and forth and let your welds cool. If you are standing there staring at it between welds you are going to want to rush. I recently took a whole day to skin a tailgate, but I also modified a rollpan and built a crossmember at the same time. If i'm doing doors or something I'll do both at once plus another project. Bounce around, space out your tacks and distribute your heat evenly. It may take a long time, but its gonna take less time than fixing a pisswarped panel! As for an all around welder, Ive done frame work with a miller 135 (110V) , Lincoln 175 and 180 (small 220) and now I have a Miller 252. Everytime you step up, you'll wonder how you ever got by with anything smaller. If you are just using it for personal use, your best bet is a small 220 like a Lincoln or Miller 180. The 110V can be used, but you need to know what you are doing! The small 220 machines can be had for fairly cheap these days! 

I love my Miller 175! I learned a lot about it building my welding cart for. Sorry about the bad cell phone pic. 

byby far the best helmet out there. i have owned 4 helmets and this one is the best.   -> Optrel Satellilte Helmets & Accessories Details.pdfView All Optrel/Sperian Items ADJUSTABLE SHADE 5-13. The most versatile on the market. Sensitivity adjustment--factory set at red dot for most procedures--for micro plasma, plasma cutting, gas welding, and low amperage mig welding. Push button shade 4 grinding mode. Blinking LED light inside helmet indicates ADF cartridge is deactivated. Forget to reactivate and filter returns to welding mode in ten minutes. Slide sensor bar down for 60 deg. and up for 120 deg. sensing to eliminate ambient light effects, optimize low current and over head welding. Keep sensor down to prevent near by arcs from darkening your lens. Heat resistant, spherical cover lens reduces reflection to improve visibility and optics, and seals out dust, spatter and moisture. 100% solar power supply eliminates on/off switches and battery changes. Fail save shade 14 UV/IR radiation protection in unlikely event of total filter failure. 3.85" x 1.5" Viewing Area.

this is what i use avalable at harbor freight   Blue Flame Design Auto Darkening Welding Helmet  

Superior auto-darkening lens for arc, MIG and TIG welding. Large viewing lens: 3-7/8'' x 1-5/8'' 1/25,000 second switching speed (clear to dark state) Variable shade control--shades #9 to #13 High/low light sensitivity adjustment UV/IR protection Automatic power on/off with adjustable delay time High impact-resistant polyamide nylon construction Backup rechargeable battery Full face coverage with ratcheting headband Weight: 0.8 lbs.  ITEM 91214-2VGA  

$59.99   

I love my Miller Elite "29 Roadster" mask. I'd never switch back to a cheap one again... 

ok i didnt read the everypost so i dont know if this was asked..what about core flux...i started with this but went to gas and now back to flux...what does everyone think on this ...yes its more clean up but i herd this type of welding is stronger ...also i have the lincon 135 ...is this a good welder for 1/4 this is the tickest i plan to weld for now but plan on geting a miller

Edited: 7/24/2009 9:23:37 PM by SoloSpecialties

i would never use a 110 for frame work..thats just me tho. altho there isn't many frames that are over 1/8" thicknessiv'e only welded with flux once,and hated it. ive been using 75/25 since i started welding,never goin back   since were on the topic of hoods..i use a basic fixed lense. i tryed a auto dark from Miller and really didnt like it. my hood