First question about my little MIG

admin

I have just purchased a little MIG for doing small repairs.  I have no experience whatsoever with this type of welder.  I am practicing with just the flux core wire and am coming up with some pretty interesting looking welds.  ( I use the term WELDS loosely for this application )  I have two questions really.  Would my practice time be better spent if I was to use the gas or should I continue to practice without it until I have half a clue in what I'm doing.  I realize from some of what I've read here, that the gas will give you a much cleaner job.  I'm assuming the job would be cleaner if in fact I knew what I was doing to begin with.  Does the use of the gas affect the welding process differently than without its use.  #2  Should I be practicing on really thin material or 1/8 " and bigger.  So far I've only been making holes in really thin stuff.  I have some interesting looking cheese graters and spaghetti strainers for my efforts.  I thought starting small and working up was the way to go but I don't need any more kitchen utensils with holes.  Any and all advice with a little laughter will be greatly appreciated.  I'm like a dog with bone.  I refuse to give up.Hope you find this read interesting...the names and places have been changed to protect the innocent   everything else is true..ask my wife....Thanks guysGary
Reply:Garfield this is just my opinion take it for just that but not knowing anything about what size welder you have or anything I first started out with a 135 amp mig welder running flux core wire with it. I was rather dissapointed after a short while with the flux core and went to running solid wire with 75/25. It makes a world of difference, alot easier to see what you are doing. I got to where I felt pretty comfortable with the solid wire before going back to using flux core. I hardly ever run any flux core anymore as most of my welding is done inside my shop and I don't have to worry about too much breeze.Since you didn't mention what size your welder is don't have much of an idea as to what size metal you should be able to weld with it. Have fun and keep us informed on your progress.
Reply:gnewby has it down. I'll just add that flux core is not the greatest on thin sheet metal but on the other hand---little migs, c25 mix and solid wire will limit you on thicker material. So what thicker material means depends on what little mig means. Both solid wire and flux have their place.
Reply:heres my take on it,  as mentioned above thickness is important.  Try to determine what use you want from this machine.  Are you wanting to do outside things and inside things of thicker steel?  Are you more concerned about how good it looks and will be able to do it with shelter.  IF you need flexibility of going outside Id suggest stay where you are with flux.  If you are the dog you say you are you wont give up the ship.  WEhen your ready for solid wire youll be like WoW!  But give up now and going back to flux may be more difficult.  Its like they say, if you learn to drive a stick shift you can handle an auto, but start on the auto the stick wont be so easy.  It can vary person to person.  but its my thoughts.  good luckchris
Reply:The welder is only 70A which I believe is pretty small.  I only got it to do patches on mower decks and build the odd doflinky out of light materials.  You mentioned 75/25.  What does that represent?  Makeup of the wire?ThanksGary...
Reply:Sandy & TxRedneckAm I to assume that the use of solid wire is when you have the gas?  Any and all welding will be done in a shop.  At this point I wouldn't dare take it out to let someone see me burn holes.  My machine has four heat settings.  The first three can be dialed in and used with the existing 15A receptacle.  The fourth setting has to have a 20A plug installed so as to be used in a ( you guessed it ) a 20A receptacle.  Sounds like a lot of trouble to me but if I need more amperage I guess it will have to be done.  I have no idea what thickness of material I will be able to go to.  I'm assuming that 1/4" will just about be my limit.  You guys tell me....ThanksGary...
Reply:Hi Garfield the 75/25 stands for 75 percent argon and 25 percent CO2. I don't think you want to weld anything thicker than 1/8" with that welder. I don't know what the rating is for it but when you put the calculator to the 70 amps in only comes up to a smidged over 1/16".  I hate to say it but I don't think you will ever get much success out of that little of a machine. Since it is so small you would probably be better off if you stuck with the flux core wire as you can get a little better penetration. If you decide you like welding which I think you will or would if you had a bigger welder you might consider buying a bigger welder. The 135 amp Hobarts were rated at 3/16" with flux core wire and 1/8" with solid wire. The 175 amp Hobarts were rated at 1/4 ". The 135 amp machines are operated off 110 volts but require a dedicated 20 amp circuit. Extention cords must be heavy duty and prefferibly less than 30' in length. The 175-180 class of migs are operated off of 220 volts and work really well for a hobby welder.
Reply:yes solid wire needs gas.  so does some flux cores...no wait, most.  selfshielding flux core needs no gas.  but thats the most common on them smaller spools for smaller machines.  Gas is used to shield the weld from contaiments like oxygem, hydrogen, nitrogen, ect.    hope this helpschris
Reply:Howdy!   as a side note on the comment about upgrading your 15 amp "recepticle" to 20 amps.  In the 2005 NEC code, you can er, shall have a 15 OR 20 amp receptacle on a 20 amp circuit.  Their idea, is that if a problem with over heating from too much current happens, that it happens in the box that the outlet is in, which is supposed to be fire rated for a time anyway.  So you can without problems have a 20 amp circuit with a 15 amp receptacle.  What you DON'T want is a 20 amp breaker for 15 amp wire, then if there is a problem, it can happen in your wall, anywhere. 15 amp wire is 14 guage.  Most lighting circuits are 14 guage.  Sooo, to simplify.  Find a circuit with 12 guage wire, and a 20 amp fuse/breaker with a 15 OR 20 amp receptacle, and you'll be good to go! No worries!  Usually, garage circuits, bathrooms, kitchens, washer and sometimes exterior plugs are 12 guage, especially if the building is newer then 30 years or so.  Hope this helps you get that lil bit extra out of your lil welder :P  Brian Lee  Sparkeee24
Reply:Very good suggestion.  Something I really never think of since I dont wire much myself.  Heck for a while now I aint even run a plug in machine   Its good everyone gets together and gives good ideas and keeps safety first agenda.  CHRIS
Reply:You might want to also check out the Clarke 130EN at www.weldingdepot.com.  It is a 110volt machine set up for flux core and solid wire use with gas.  Weighs about 54 pounds and comes with everything except the regulator for gas use for about $275.  This is much less expensive than any Hobart, Miller, or Lincoln of comparable ratings.  Plus, it comes with a 10yr transformer/rectifier warranty and a 2yr warranty on everything else.  The mig gun also uses common Lincoln consumables such as contact tips, gas diffusers, and nozzles.  The machine uses either 4" or 8" spools of wire.  I have been having one now for a few months and am satisfied with its performance and what it is designed to do.  If you are looking for a bigger version, Clarke also has their 180EN which is 220volts and more output.  I believe they go for around $350 from welding depot.  Good luck and when in doubt go bigger if you can afford it !!!A few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter   Victor O/A
Reply:Thanks to all.  I am starting to have a better understanding in the art of hole making.One last question for now.  If I change the cord to a 20A plug and use the appropriate receptacle am I going to be able to use the lower 3 heat settings.  In the little book that came with the little welder I understood it to say only when using the highest setting ( # 4 ) do you change the plug over.  Common sense tells me that I can use the lower settings, but I would sooner hear it from you guys just to be sure.Once again THANX for the input  You have all been very helpful.Gary...
Reply:yeah, you can use all settings with the bigger amp plug.CHRIS
Reply:thats pretty much what I figuredGary...