Any welders or metal hobbyists here?

[smittysbar]

I have welded most of my life (on the farm and course), but I wouldn't say it's the prettiest in the world but gets the job done.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

I have welded most of my life (on the farm and course), but I wouldn't say it's the prettiest in the world but gets the job done.

I picked up welding a few years ago when I bought a 120V Lincoln running flux core from my father-in-law. Luckily one of my best friends is a very experienced welder and he's been teaching me how to run it.
If I can lay my material flat and run a straight, level bead I can come up with some pretty good looking welds. Running a bead uphill or upside down is where I get into troubles.

[Fairplay]

Inmen58 is suppose to be a welder by trade also ask him.

[bigjosh]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

I picked up welding a few years ago when I bought a 120V Lincoln running flux core from my father-in-law. Luckily one of my best friends is a very experienced welder and he's been teaching me how to run it.
If I can lay my material flat and run a straight, level bead I can come up with some pretty good looking welds. Running a bead uphill or upside down is where I get into troubles.

It is a skill trade. I weld up hill, overhead, in enclosed spaces, looking in mirrors. Practice makes perfect.i have been welding professionally with stick, pulse arc and short arc for 6 years now, just recently got my tig pipe certs .

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by bigjosh006

It is a skill trade. I weld up hill, overhead, in enclosed spaces, looking in mirrors. Practice makes perfect.i have been welding professionally with stick, pulse arc and short arc for 6 years now, just recently got my tig pipe certs .

Welder buddy is like that too. I'm just glad I've got someone like him on hand to teach me. My welds used to look like a mud daubers nest but he has straightened most of that out for me.

[Mr. Wizard]

Originally Posted by bigjosh006

It is a skill trade. I weld up hill, overhead, in enclosed spaces, looking in mirrors. Practice makes perfect.i have been welding professionally with stick, pulse arc and short arc for 6 years now, just recently got my tig pipe certs .

Interesting. We are an AWS program so I get to teach arc, mig (short, pulse and spray), tig, plasma, oxyfuel, carbon arc, and cnc plama cutting. As well as forging, sheet metal, and metal art.

Dont tell anyone but I can not believe they pay me to do this ! Oh, I do have to put up with 100 + high school kids but that is actually the fun part! Never a dull moment.

[Mr. Wizard]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

I picked up welding a few years ago when I bought a 120V Lincoln running flux core from my father-in-law. Luckily one of my best friends is a very experienced welder and he's been teaching me how to run it.
If I can lay my material flat and run a straight, level bead I can come up with some pretty good looking welds. Running a bead uphill or upside down is where I get into troubles.

Flux core is a different animal. It is useful if you learn its drawbacks. Here is a page on my website about it.
http://www.weldguru.com/flux-core.html
Long story short
- be sure you are runing it DCEN if it is gassless wire (electrode on negative)
- Use a long stickout (3/4 to 1 inch between end of contact tip and metal) this preheats the core
- You do not need the nozzle with gassless flux.
- use side to side (weaving) motion do NOT back up and weld over the slag
- voltage = weld width
- wire speed = penetration + filler
this is true on all wire welders

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wizard

Flux core is a different animal. It is useful if you learn its drawbacks. Here is a page on my website about it.
http://www.weldguru.com/flux-core.html
Long story short
- be sure you are runing it DCEN if it is gassless wire (electrode on negative)
- Use a long stickout (3/4 to 1 inch between end of contact tip and metal) this preheats the core
- You do not need the nozzle with gassless flux.
- use side to side (weaving) motion do NOT back up and weld over the slag
- voltage = weld width
- wire speed = penetration + filler
this is true on all wire welders

Very interesting. Welder buddy was telling me to get closer to my work, <1/2", but I kept creeping out because I can see my bead better with the handset a little further out. He also had me laying the bead in small lazy circles, cutting with the forward stroke and feeding the puddle with the back stroke.

[Mr. Wizard]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Very interesting. Welder buddy was telling me to get closer to my work, <1/2", but I kept creeping out because I can see my bead better with the handset a little further out. He also had me laying the bead in small lazy circles, cutting with the forward stroke and feeding the puddle with the back stroke.

Yes, thats not uncommon, because everything he was telling you is true with short circuit mig few people have experience with gasless flux core. Its a very different breed but once you master it, quite an inexpensive weld.

[Mr. Wizard]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

I have welded most of my life (on the farm and course), but I wouldn't say it's the prettiest in the world but gets the job done.

What kind of power source(s) do you use?

[smittysbar]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wizard

What kind of power source(s) do you use?

[Mr. Wizard]

Originally Posted by smittysbar

great little machine. 6011 all day !