Pee Wee Welders

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I've recently started working with lighter metal, and have started using my little HH 135.  I'm not really a wire guy.  So this is like a big adventureIn the past I've always just known that the small welders have limitations.Today I decided to use the little machine on 11ga.  Normally I'd use stick on this thickness.The little Hobart hit the wall, she gave all she could give.  FOR THIS TYPE OF JOINT I would not even dream of attempting to use this machine on anything thicker.Granted this type of joint presents problems.  It's deep, and hard to fill properly.  And since it's a horizontal joint, it's hard to keep heat in it without spilling the metal.  A nice slow fillerup and keep on truckin' weld is sorta difficult (for me anyway)FIRST PIC................Machine set at #3 voltage, wire speed 50.  #3 at lower wire speeds didn't give me any love at all, absolutely too cold.  Cranking up the speed to this setting gave a little more heat, but the metal started to pile up when traveling slow enough to keep heat in the puddle.  She's maxed out at #3PICS 2 AND 3.............Machine set at #4 voltage (the highest setting on the machine), and wire speed set at 20.  Hotter flatter welds.I'm by no means disappointed in the little Hobart.  It's a fine machine for what it's designed for...........light gauge metal.In more capable hands the machine might perform better, but this was all I could get out of her using flux core wire.I'm not particularly well known for perfectionist joint prep.  This metal was cup brushed prior to welding.  It's what goes on in my little world.  (And in most of the real world)This convinces me that the little pocket migs shouldn't be used on anything thick, and certainly not on jobs requiring a healthy margin of safety when working with thicker materials. Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Good show Samm. I think it's good that you show what that little machine can do. Small migs are great for many things, but thick metal just isn't one of them..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Not all that bad. Flux Core runs hotter than solid wire; you should see heat marks on the back side of the joint. What size wire, 0.030 or 0.035? Remember to tack the joint at least every foot or less to keep things in alignment.
Reply:it could do metal this thick if you actually made the effort to put on a proper bevel. and gap the root properly.  I don't know what real world you come from. But in mine proper prep is king over everything else. beveling a joint is the difference between cracked weld or low penetration, or passed xray and everyone happy.  If you get a good 45 bevel with a small land and after the first pass keep up the interpass temperature it will weld out nice. Not the most convenient method by any rate, but doable in a multi pass.
Reply:A grinder with the right disk instead of just a wire brush is the way.
Reply:Looks like the little Hobart laid a pretty nice bead.
Reply:Originally Posted by Metarinkait could do metal this thick if you actually made the effort to put on a proper bevel. and gap the root properly.  I don't know what real world you come from. But in mine proper prep is king over everything else. beveling a joint is the difference between cracked weld or low penetration, or passed xray and everyone happy.  If you get a good 45 bevel with a small land and after the first pass keep up the interpass temperature it will weld out nice. Not the most convenient method by any rate, but doable in a multi pass.
Reply:Yeh I think you're in stick country on that project.