LAC welders

[Huw Powell]

> So any of you guys have an opinion on what kind of welder to get? I 
> know nothing about them, but I was going to get a wire fed welder. I 
> was specficly looking at the ones at Harbor Freight. <Audi content>I 
> need one to make one of those 2" square pipe crankshaft lockers so I 
> can change my timing belt.</Audi content> And just to have to play 
> with :-)

Some random comments here...

I cut my teeth on a beat up MIG (with gas) next door.  After that, I
bought the cheapest welder there is, a $200 flux-core type from Walmart,
and built my coupe's exhaust with it.  Those welds were messy, because I
used aluminized steel and of course the wire wasn't "correct" for that
weird alloy.

Since then I've done lots of random jobs, built a TV stand out of black
pipe and angle iron, some wall-mounted rackmount "things," a standalone
cart for a computer.  And more...

> I think a 110v MIG (wire feed welder) is the best all around for 
> automotive use.  I have access to almost every type of welder and 
> this is what I usually use.  The one I have never used is a flux wire
>  MIG. This is the kind that does not require a gas tank lease.  It 
> does seem more convienent, but I can't speak to the quality of the 
> welds.  I am sure someone else on this list has one...

When I pay attention and prep the joint properly, I can get very nice
results.  Not *quite* as pretty as with gas, but a whole lot less
trouble for an amateur.

> If you think you might need to repair a bull dozer plow or something 
> you would need more, but the MIG is perfect for brackets, special 
> tools, exhaust.

Recently I actually managed to weld on new lower spring brackets to an
eight foot snow plow.  These are 3/8" thick steel, and take a serious
beating in use.  With careful preparation and working slowly and
carefully, even my wussy little flux core MIG was able to do the job.

> Like you mentioned, no chipping if running gas.

Although the flux core wire does leave a little brownish powdery
residue, it comes off easily with a wire brush.

> I have seen gasless/flux cored MIG welds and they look awful.

Then they were done badly.  The toughest thing to work with, of course,
is steel that has some rust in it, everything pops and splatters and
makes for ugly results.

A well prepared, filleted joint can sometimes be welded in such a way 
that it feels like you are laying down a bead of glue, with nice 
balanced penetration and very little cleanup/grinding required.

> Penetration was lacking and that leads to poor strength at the weld 
> point.

See comment above about the snowplow work.

> After you get a MIG machine, go to your local sheet metal shop and 
> ask for some scrap metal to practice with. Get all different gauge 
> metal and start with steel first.

Absolutely.  Practice makes, well, better, if not perfect.  It has taken 
me a long time to get a "feel" for what speed to run the wire at, to get 
a decent weld under varying circumstances.

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi

http://www.humanthoughts.org/