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I'm a neophyte to all this welding stuff and I've been gathering up equipment to piece together a Mig welding setup over the past several of months because I hope I can do better with it than the chicken scratches I've been doing with our dinosaur Miller 330 A/BP along with the 20 year old plus stock of welding rod that we have to go along with it.I've so far got a power supply and am now looking for a wire feeder and gun now (might have found a feeder - gotta go look at it) and already have a 75 argon/25 CO2 tank etc...While trolling the local craigslist I came across someone that was selling some .045 mig wire in unopened 33lb boxes for cheap that I figured would be just what I was looking for and with nary a thought about it picked the stuff up.After getting the wire back home was when I decided to actually do my homework and figure out what I had actually bought and right now I'm not feeling too much in the way of warm fuzzies in what I'm finding out.First to let you know, I'm not going for picture perfect welds, just something that's a bit easier to do than using decades old stick welding rods that we have. I can actually live with the results that I've been getting and if I really had to I'd continue to use the crappy sticks I've got before I go out and buy new. There's gotta be at least 100 pounds of the stuff and I'd throw them in the oven for a few if it got too annoying. Besides, they are probably a match for my skill level and I'm just welding up home projects in the 1/4 to 1/2 inch range usually and if my welds get too embarrassing I'd just cover it up with paint.Anyhow, I digress...What I bought ended up being 4 unopened 33lb boxes and 1 opened 33lb box of Lincoln 0.045 "Outershield" 712C with a product number of ED029292. It turns out also that the wire is spooled on a wire reel rather than a plastic reel and it's sealed in a clear plastic bag rather than the foiled plastic bag they now use.I believe they have to be several years old because Lincoln's website only refers to "Ultracore" 712C and the product number displayed for my size is now ED031672.From what I read I first got thinking that this was some kind of Flux core wire that didn't require a gas shield because it created it's own but it now appears that while it does have some type of core for some reason it does call for a 100% CO2 gas shield rather than the mix that I have. I also read on this forum that this type of wire should be used within 1 week of opening the package or it might need to be heated in an oven to dry it out where I might be lucky to use 1 reel every 2 or 3 years.Other than that the wire sounds like pretty good stuff, they use it making tanks and bridges. Me, I'd be using it on brackets and angle iron frames and a also a log splitter project I'd like to finish. If I were to use this stuff it appears I'll have to come up with another tank of 100% CO2 and see if I can find something like a sealed ammo can large enough to store the unused portion of the reel until it's time to use it. Not so good a deal anymore.My questions are is the stuff decent enough that I should go ahead and use it or am I better off just getting solid mild steel wire for my needs and not throw good money after bad? I think a bottle of CO2 will set me back at least $100 to $150 and I think I've found a large enough ammo can on Ebay for around $40.Can I use my 75% Argon; 25% CO2 bottle with it anyways where I'll get good enough results I won't have to worry about me having my logsplitter pass me on the highway because of a failed weld? Keep in mind I happen to also be my own inspector and if the thing doesn't crack or break when dropped from a height of 3 or so feet, it passes inspection.
Reply:i have never cobbled together a welding system.....but it seems to me your life will be easier if the welding wire is the right stuff to begin with. .045 is pretty big wirebobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welder
Reply:I'm not planning on welding sheetmetal. Size is the one thing I DID look up before I bought, and for 1/4 to 1/2 inch which I think is going to be 90% of my usage... that's the size wire recommended.
Reply:If it runs. Run it. 75/25 will work fine. Soulds like you got a batch ot 71T1 Dual Shield.
Reply:That dual shield is for heavy construction, drop it. Find a "CV" machine that is powered by 220 volts AC first. Then set up with 0.035" solid wire and 75/25 shield gas for smaller projects. jmhoCity of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny |
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发表于 2021-8-31 23:20:09