Couple of Welding Questions

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Hi everyoneSo I'm looking into buying a mig/fluxcore welder and I have a couple of probably dumb questions.1. If I want to get a 220v welder, how would I convert from 110 to 220?2. What kind of flux core thingy would i use to weld 4140/4130 chromoly steel?3. A mig welder is similar to a fluxcore welder in the sense that it uses a wire, but requires gas. Am I correct?4. Do those chinese/generic welder I always see on ebay work well?ex: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Rand-MIG...ht_1743wt_11635. What preparation do I need to do fluxcore arc welding? I have a fluxcore spot welder that is just "turn it on, set the speed and power, put on the clamp, and go". Do I need to heat up the metal or anything with a fluxcore arc welder?I really appreciate your help, guys -hacksign23
Reply:1. There are two "LEGS" coming into your house, each has 110V You wire both to the 220 outlet and you get 220V. You MUST know what you are doing so if you are asking this question, you will need to hire an electrician to do this for you. It can burn down your house or damage your welder if done incorrectly.2. I don't know the answer to this.3. Basically a MIG uses gas to keep the weld area free of oxygen and the flux core uses flux inside the wire to accomplish the same thing.4. Some of them will work fair but the track record in general is not so good. Get a Miller, Lincoln or Hobart to have a decent machine.5. I have never heard of a fluxcore spot welder. Preheating for true fluxcore is probably not required unless you are doing more than hobby work.This is a good place to ask your questions but make sure you fully understand the answers before investing money on anything or you may regret your decisions later.Good Luck.
Reply:You are so seriously not ready to buy ANY welder yet!  Do some research, watch a buddy who actually knows how to weld if you can and have him explain things to you.  I recommend taking a basic welding class at your local Community College to see if this is even something you really want to do after finding out what it's like to weld.  I'm not trying to scare you off but you need to be a lot better educated before dropping a small bundle on the wrong equipment for your needs.  And one more bit of advice.  If you are considering buying any of the Communist Chinese junk, better think twice.  If you are still thinking about it after that, just remember, you were warned before wasting, er, I mean spending your hard earned money on a pretty door stop, I mean welder."The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:Hey guys,I know they were dumb questions but I called up someone and they helped clarify a lot of it.My friend told me I had a spot welder because of its bubbly welds. In reality, it was a mig welder (i didn't buy it but my team uses it). When our team first got the welder, I had no idea how to use it. To be honest, I've never even used the welder.As times past, I have a more responsible position on the team so I must learn welding. And so, I have a mig welder that uses gas-less fluxcore. Its welds are very lumpy welds. The guy I called up said it was because I had switched polarities. I pretty much answered all of my questions through the guy I called and some common sense mixed with Google.Thanks everyone!
Reply:And I would love to do welding at my college, but I have absolutely no time! (i'm a high school student)
Reply:Originally Posted by hacksign23Hi everyoneSo I'm looking into buying a mig/fluxcore welder and I have a couple of probably dumb questions.1. If I want to get a 220v welder, how would I convert from 110 to 220?
Reply:Originally Posted by hacksign23And I would love to do welding at my college, but I have absolutely no time! (i'm a high school student)