BVC One Of My First Welding Projects

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No idea if i'm doing this thread posting stuff correctly. Thats probably why I havn't loged in since 8/10. I sighned up for welding web because I wanted to purchase a welder and had NO experience with any kind of welder. I had trouble posting and reading messages but the few I did from some of the guys were helpful, they had varrying opinions of what to start out with and for the most part they were right. The advice they were right about was to spend a little more in the beginning and get the larger machine as I was on the fence weather to get something like a LIncoln 180, or 140 Mig. I ended up with a rediculous deal, I got an almost brand new 140 on Craigslist with eveything but a gas tank, for $260. Lincoln 140, auto dimming helmet, gloves etc. I already had the project going and was to the point where I either picked up welding or parted ways with what little cash I had by giving it to the welding shop down the road to weld on my trailer. I probably should have read a book or taken a class, but I'm pretty impatient so I dove right in. The biggest problem I had was power setting and wire speed, the wire came out in spurts and since I didnt know any different, I learned how to lay down a pretty clean looking bead with good penetration after realizing the power setting all the way up was good for the metal I was welding. But it seemed to a beginner that the slow wire speed would melt eveything together better. after cussing the welder and everything else in my little shop for days and weeks, I started playing with the wire speed, then Ior different  figured out that the power up and speed down just caused my wire to melt before it got to the piece of metal I was working on. Power up, wire speed up, at least for me, it was a good start. I have since learned to adjust for different thicknesses of metal, and that black steel needs to be cleaned up to get good contact and keep the weld nice and clean. I still know verry little about welding and all, like the need to reverse polarity for flux core, whats up with that? Here is the trailer all done, it has lumber racks I made that brake down and store under the dump bed, new fenders, axles, pump with remote, a load divider at mid point that swings to dump once you pull the bottom pins. There's hardly anything I didnt change or improve some how. Heres a picture, Its high gloss Caterpillar yellow Imron, and anybody that says Imrons days are behind them, This thing has Bling, keep Imron around Dupont ! As for the advice of buying the bigger machine, yes I could use more power, I was looking at the 180 Lincoln but after hearing about the 255 (with the spool gun) Thats a real nice set up but out of my range cost wise. as for the spurting wire,  there hadn't been more than 15 lbs of wire through it and the knurled  drive spool the machine came with, was worn allowing the spool to spin and the wire to skip a beet on every revolution, I described the problem to a local welding supplier and told himI had dismantled the trigger and feed hose, whatever thats called, and the wire moved easily through them. He said is was just about impossible to have a worn drive wheel but after changing it out with a new one, I really got much better o my welding.  Attached ImagesLast edited by BVC; 12-10-2011 at 02:12 AM.Reason: Im trying to attach a picture
Reply:That's a yellow trailer! Dive right in, lessons learned the hard way get forgotten last...City 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
Reply:I like the wheels! I've been thinking of putting simulators on a few of my trailers to snazz them up
Reply:Nice dump trailer. Does some one sell plans for a nice heavy duty dump trailer ?Will   Supports Autism Awareness                            My ToysBobCat 225 PLusMillermatic 130Miller Spectrum 300 CutmateEverlast Power Tig 185 Micro April is Autism Month .
Reply:Damn, you built that with no welding experience?? Bra-fuggin-vo!!! Looks amazing, and well built too.
Reply:looks great!! I too am lovin those wheels, they look pretty beast next to the diamond plate fenders. Very nice work [Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Cool!!The only thing I see that could be a problem is the size of the piston shaft..The one in my dump is huge compaired to that so I am wondering how much weight will it push without bending..???...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.
Reply:Looks really nice, from what i get out of it you welded the whole thing with a lincoln 140 110v welder? What thickness of material was used on this?Ya gotta spend money to make money!
Reply:Looks nice. Lets see some close ups of the welds. It's been said many times before on here. Trailers are not projects for beginners. That being said, determination, and stubbornness go a long way.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger