I bought a welder today.
- Thread starter MK3Brent
- Start date
You really have to try welding with gas if you have only used flux core. It is so much better! When I am done welding I don't really even have to clean it, there is no splatter at all. The bead looks a lot better too. I have a Lincoln SP135 Plus and it has been a great welder. I used to have a Craftsman mig welder but I could never get it to throw down a good bead no matter what I tried. I found out that Century made the Craftsman welder I had and they were not making a good product. I sold it and bought the Lincoln slightly used. The Lincoln is 10X better then the old Century one. I don't know if Century is still making welders for Sears, but your looks nothing like the one I had and it was about 4 years ago when I bought it. I think Miller, Hobart and Lincoln are some of the best consumer grade welders but your welding skill is more important then the brand of welder anyway.
A tip I have for you is to get a minimum 10ga extension cord if you can't plug in directly to the outlet.
A tip I have for you is to get a minimum 10ga extension cord if you can't plug in directly to the outlet.
"You really have to try welding with gas if you have only used flux core."
this is true. flux core is great for thicker material, but for the thinner stuff, a good solid core wire is best. it spatters but you have less of a chance to burn through and there is no slag to chip.
auto dark... the only way to go.
this is true. flux core is great for thicker material, but for the thinner stuff, a good solid core wire is best. it spatters but you have less of a chance to burn through and there is no slag to chip.
auto dark... the only way to go.
Here are some pics of some welds I made.
I apologize for the blurredness, however my LCD screen for my digital camera broke.
As you can see, the welds look pretty good for the Craftsman and for a beginner.
I suppose.
MK3Brent said:
Here are some pics of some welds I made.
I apologize for the blurredness, however my LCD screen for my digital camera broke.
As you can see, the welds look pretty good for the Craftsman and for a beginner.
I suppose.
Not bad dude, not bad at all! That is a much better welder then the old one I had for sure. You are a fast learner too!
verry nice. *golf clap*
i love making custom stuf. :evil2:
no welding for my until i get a job, schools done and so is welding class. :3d_frown: the teacher was a dick but i had endless recorces.
i love making custom stuf. :evil2:
no welding for my until i get a job, schools done and so is welding class. :3d_frown: the teacher was a dick but i had endless recorces.
Thanks man, I really appreciate that.bigaaron said:
I am not man enough to post my first weld though.
Well... it's been a few months, and here's my latest weld using my craftsman welder.
So I'm still learning, I haven't hooked up the gas yet... but I can't wait to try it.
So I'm still learning, I haven't hooked up the gas yet... but I can't wait to try it.
ummm ya i c a red x for the welder
what kind is it???
and can it do tig aluminum i need the details man?????
what kind is it???
and can it do tig aluminum i need the details man?????
Hmm, it's an old thread so maybe those old links don't work anymore.
It's a craftsman MIG, not sure what model number right now.
I wouldn't recommend using this on aluminum.
It's gasless welds, and MIGs.
It's a craftsman MIG, not sure what model number right now.
I wouldn't recommend using this on aluminum.
It's gasless welds, and MIGs.
sweet job on that pipe. i got a $150 stick welder a while back for some basic welds. hard as hell to get the technique down but now its coming along great.
any tips/words of advice for me? i'm seriously thinking about getting a MIG setup in mid to late march.
any tips/words of advice for me? i'm seriously thinking about getting a MIG setup in mid to late march.
it's his technique....figure eights. I asked him myself a while ago how he achieved that kind of bead with a mig.
My MIG welds look like a stack of dimes too, just tighter grouping I use a U shaped zig zag motion..
My MIG welds look like a stack of dimes too, just tighter grouping
I use a U shaped zig zag motion..
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In your old pics, that's how my welds look - just a straight bead. How'd you get the stack of dimes look, in maybe a little more detail please for us other beginners?
When you do the zig-zag U, do you need to turn the heat up/down, wirespeed up/down?
I've never tried flux welding - just 75/25 gas here
When you do the zig-zag U, do you need to turn the heat up/down, wirespeed up/down?
I've never tried flux welding - just 75/25 gas here
I use a 2nd to highest heat setting with a lower wire speed... I can't really tell you the exact speed since I need to adjust it for thickness of metals... that picture I posted was welded to a "old" pipe that wasn't as thick as the new stuff....
It's a push technique, and more of a "looping" motion with the gun.
With the lower wire speed, it gives you time to do it and also allow for good penetration.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/BrentlyandMeghan/DSCN0628.jpg
It's a push technique, and more of a "looping" motion with the gun.
With the lower wire speed, it gives you time to do it and also allow for good penetration.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/BrentlyandMeghan/DSCN0628.jpg
looking good man. what wire are you using? is it a stainless steel specific wire or are you using a mild steel wire? if you are not using a stainless specific wire, you should be. other wise, all stainless properties in and around the weld disappear. if you use a stainless wire you can still weld both stainless and mild steels.