New to welding and to the forum

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Hi all,Like the title states  Just bought a welder, It was an impulse buy but the price was to good to pass up.Paid $350 new. (Lincoln Electric MIG Pak 180 Wire Feed Welder)I never welded before, never even stood close to one.Last year I built a garage and made sure I had lots of power in case I get some big power tools.  (Like a welder)I was playing around with the welder and I like it allot!  I knew my welds weren’t so good and after looking through this forum, it was confirmed.Just a quick ??, do you have to have gas to not get spatter all over the metal?Lincoln Electric MIG Pak 180 Wire Feed Welder- 230V; 30-180A
Reply:Welcome Nammy.Spatter is part of the process. Ideally you want to keep it to a minimum. What wire are you using? If it is fluxcore you don't need gas. If it is not, you do need gas. Dual shield, you can go both ways I believe.Then there is the type of gas. Co2 is the most common and cheapest, but lots of spatter. C25 is 75%argon/25%Co2, and less spatter. These are for short arc or "globular transfer" if you will. You can go for other gases to put you into spray arc, but your mig is not designed for it, so I would not bother.Me? I use solid wire and C10 so I can also weld Stainless steel without risking carbide precipitation, as well as the carbon steels. Most of my mig work is tacking or sheet metal.Good luck, and read the chart on the inside of the spool cover.Last edited by shovelon; 06-02-2012 at 12:23 PM.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:With solid core wire, yes, you need gas. It will not get rid of all the splatter but will help a lot.  With flux core, no gas needed..Photos help get better answers to questions around here,   Classes help to be a better welder all around...Just my 2 cents worth...From the desk of Kevin CaronTrying to be the best me I can!www.kevincaron.comAHP Alpha Tig 200x MillerMatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200
Reply:shovelon beat me by a minute....Got to learn to type faster....From the desk of Kevin CaronTrying to be the best me I can!www.kevincaron.comAHP Alpha Tig 200x MillerMatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200
Reply:Thanks for the welcomeI tried using fluxcore.  lots of splatter.I busted my digital ATV'ing so pics for now but will get one soon.I got my hands on some 1"x2" steel tubing. So my first order of business will be a welding cart. But I need to get a metal chop saw.Lincoln Electric MIG Pak 180 Wire Feed Welder- 230V; 30-180A