Very basic welding questions (total newbe)

admin

I picked up an old Hobart 120 to start my welding experience with.  My welds are crap, but I'm having a ton of fun!  It came with some flux core so I'm just playing around for the moment.  Questions:My vice is mounted to a wooden bench.  I put the scrap in the vice to hold it while I practice.  Can I balance the MIG gun by placing my gloved hands on the vice or other metalic objects that are connected to the part I'm welding?I'm using some scrap exhaust pipe to play with.  I have followed the settings listed on the inside panel and manual for wire feed and voltage.  The wire will feed out and arc fine then stop arcing and push the gun away from the part, then arc again, and so on...  This is making it hard for me to keep a steady hand (hence question #1).  Is this typical for beginner problems or am I missing something? I filled a hole and it seemed that once the puddle was started it was smoother.The welder also came with a large solid core spool for steel.  It looks like the wire has some corrosion on it.  How will this affect my welds once I move to actually doing something rather than just practicing?It also came with a twin headed regulator, but no flow gage.  I'll be at the local Praxaire store tomorrow to get a gas bottle.  My goal is to be doing 1/8" Stainless sheet parts: Fire Extinguisher brackets for street and track cars.  Should I buy a flow meter tomorrow as well or can I get away with out one as a novice?I have no idea about the gas usage I will be encountering.  The total length of welds I am planning will be under 6" per part.  What size bottle would you recommend so I don't have to go to the store every weekend if I'm making about 25 parts/month in Stainless? Rent/Buy?When I picked up the welder the gent tested it on scrap for me with Flux Core wire.  I got home and looked at the polarity and it was the reverse of what the manual said.  I swapped the wires as directed in the manual.  He said it didn't matter... Your opinion?Thanks for your time and advice!  Having a ball so far  Best regards,MichaelHobart Handler 120 (old and small, but just fine for the moment)Here's my other passion:Track: '82 Euro SC - A work in progress... or should I say in pieces...: See the carnage HERE Porsche PagesDaily: '00 VW Bug 1.8T K04 etc etc, Ex '03 European Car 1.8T Shootout: VW Pageswww: RHO DesignWhen asked how he could go so fast, J.M. Fangio replied, "Less brakes, more gas..."
Reply:Can I balance the MIG gun by placing my gloved hands on the vice or other metalic objects that are connected to the part I'm welding?
Reply:#1-- Yes you can. The electrical path of least resistance will be from wire to steel. It would have no reason to go through you if you are not part of the circuit. However, it will get hot, as Zap said.#2---Is it a rapid on-off-on-off, like machine gun quick or more of an off and then the wire just goes past the steel till you let off?.. The steel could be dirty or coated and you dont get a good contact. Try cleaning the steel with sandpaper or something and then clamp your work lead directly to the steel. You may lose ground if you are clamped to the vise.#3---If it is rust then you might be able to just wipe the worst of it off and be ok. Clamp a piece of scotchbrite pad to the wire where it goes in the back of the machine with a clothespin and that will clean the wire well enough....probably.#4---Not sure what you mean by "twin headed". If it has two gauges then it is a flow meter and you should be fine.If you will be doing stainless, there is a certain gas you need to get and you may need an adapter for that gauge to fit that bottle. Take it with you to your LWS(local welding supplier) and find someone that has a clue and ask.#6--Zap got it, it does matter. Flux core is positive ground, negative stinger most times...hope that helped........continue to have fun.........
Reply:1.  You won't get Zapped.  Grab the work. Wear gloves.2. If your polarity is wrong, start over.  - electrode for cored wire.  3.  Don't waste your time with the rusty wire. Peel off ALL the contaminated wire or Pitch it.4 & 5.  The regulator is a flow regulator with an actual flow meter.  Read the left guage is should be in CFH or LPH.  Cubic feet per hour.  You need about 15, give or take.   Tanks come in Cubic Feet.  A small one is 80 cubic feet.  That would be 80/15 or 5 hours of welding time.  You figure what size to buy.6.  Polarity.  Cored wire, - electrode.  Bare wire with gas ( the way to go) + electrode.Have a blastDavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Thanks a lot guys!  Still having lots of fun   Turns out I have an Oxy gage with an adapter on it.  Took it to the local PraxAir/miller dealer and he helped me out a lot.  I figure I'll burn through the flux core for practice and start the gas when I feel I've got a decent technique.Thanks a bunch!-MichaelHobart Handler 120 (old and small, but just fine for the moment)Here's my other passion:Track: '82 Euro SC - A work in progress... or should I say in pieces...: See the carnage HERE Porsche PagesDaily: '00 VW Bug 1.8T K04 etc etc, Ex '03 European Car 1.8T Shootout: VW Pageswww: RHO DesignWhen asked how he could go so fast, J.M. Fangio replied, "Less brakes, more gas..."
Reply:Once you "master" fluxcore.. Gas will be so easy.. You will never go back.. ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.