Bought a welder.

[brillo_76]

I wouldn't trust a 110v welder for 1/4" or even 3/16". My lincoln 140 barely gets the job done with 1/8" using solid wire. I might get a little more penetration with flux core but haven't tried. Tig welding has taught me in order to tack pieces without using a ton of wire, you need well above the typical amperage to get good penetration and a small effective tack. The 110v barely has enough juice to tack thin sheet together. It might have enough juice to glue together 3/16 but not enough to get as deep of a weld as a 220v welder.

Correct. Not enough amps there. It's hard to properly weld 1/8 on 110. You can do it bat it's harder. 1/4 would take at least 3 passes to weld it but would be as good as welds as a 240v welder can do. I am running a Lincoln mp210 myself.

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[Jakeepoo3]

I have a Lincoln flux core welder that I’ve been using quite a bit, it might weld rusty metal a little better than mig but for me I like to really clean everything as much as possible first, I don’t get very good welds on dirty or rusty metal with mig or flux

I’d like to upgrade to a millermatic or that Lincoln that Brillo wants, but the flux core has done pretty well for me so far including doing frame repair

I love my Millermatic! It'll do any process except high frequency AC

 

[G_Raw]

using a Lincoln 180 gas shielded has done well for me. It is definitely a pricey setup when compared to the original flux core's that started this thread. I do trust my set up on 1/4" plate. I can run my setup on flux wire but wouldn't trust it past the 3/16th mark.

I guess my reasoning for chiming in with folks is there is a difference between having a welder and having a welder that will do what you want. If you are mostly going to do 1/8" and occasionally 3/16" then maybe a flux is for you. I'd use a small flux to repair gates and such at home. If you plan to use it to build your 4runner for off-road use and will need to repair frames/ plate bumpers/ sliders/ armor/ cut and tub, etc you are looking at 3/16-1/4" metal for most of that. Buying a flux for this purpose will leave you kicking yourself and out the money you spent for it when you could have got a better setup that better suited your needs up front.

That's not to say a fiscally sound approach is to get a cheaper flux core and practice and as you get better and feel you'd actually use a welder for projects then upgrade. At that point decide if you'll sale the flux to offset the cost of the new welder vs keep the flux as they are lighter and more maneuverable and can handle most repairs around home ( ie. gates and fences and such).


Thats my two cents that no one asked for.


Also want in on a plasma cutter...

 

[binqker]

I bought myself one of the HF Titanium 170! The reason is, I'm not going to find around shops to weld my stuff on my truck and get charged up the arse! lol. I'm DIY type of guy, so far I have welded my front bumper and sliders.!
Make sure you use 75% argon 25% Co2. You will get better results than flux core.

 

[brillo_76]

using a Lincoln 180 gas shielded has done well for me. It is definitely a pricey setup when compared to the original flux core's that started this thread. I do trust my set up on 1/4" plate. I can run my setup on flux wire but wouldn't trust it past the 3/16th mark.



I guess my reasoning for chiming in with folks is there is a difference between having a welder and having a welder that will do what you want. If you are mostly going to do 1/8" and occasionally 3/16" then maybe a flux is for you. I'd use a small flux to repair gates and such at home. If you plan to use it to build your 4runner for off-road use and will need to repair frames/ plate bumpers/ sliders/ armor/ cut and tub, etc you are looking at 3/16-1/4" metal for most of that. Buying a flux for this purpose will leave you kicking yourself and out the money you spent for it when you could have got a better setup that better suited your needs up front.



That's not to say a fiscally sound approach is to get a cheaper flux core and practice and as you get better and feel you'd actually use a welder for projects then upgrade. At that point decide if you'll sale the flux to offset the cost of the new welder vs keep the flux as they are lighter and more maneuverable and can handle most repairs around home ( ie. gates and fences and such).





Thats my two cents that no one asked for.





Also want in on a plasma cutter...

Plasma cutters are very handy. I have one for cutting my frame plates etc..

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[brillo_76]

I bought myself one of the HF Titanium 170! The reason is, I'm not going to find around shops to weld my stuff on my truck and get charged up the arse! lol. I'm DIY type of guy, so far I have welded my front bumper and sliders.!

Make sure you use 75% argon 25% Co2. You will get better results than flux core.

Yes I perfer shield gas then Flux core. As fluc core will splatter a lot more. However Flux core works very well with rusty steel..

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[binqker]

Yes I perfer shield gas then Flux core. As fluc core will splatter a lot more. However Flux core works very well with rusty steel..

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ooh right on! never knew flux core works well with rusty steel. Maybe that is the intention to use flux core.

 

[HeleonDomnus]

You're doing pretty well. I started welding myself not so long ago. My uncle Ben suggested me to do this because it is a promising profession, he is a welder himself. He told me that Both on-site and online classes are available. I can only say based on my little experience, your welding machine is certainly very good. Maybe I'll even think about buying one for myself. I will find out the price in my city, but if the price turns out to be too high, then the advantages of this welding machine are not worth it, because in general, each welding machine will work tolerably. Therefore, there is no point in overpaying too much.

 

[patkelly4370]

I bought myself one of the HF Titanium 170! The reason is, I'm not going to find around shops to weld my stuff on my truck and get charged up the arse! lol. I'm DIY type of guy, so far I have welded my front bumper and sliders.!

Make sure you use 75% argon 25% Co2. You will get better results than flux core.

Flux cores best use is tracking something back together out in the field well enough to get it to the shop and weld it properly.

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[octanejunkie]

HF has a Vulcan 140 on clearance for $500 that comes complete with mig gun, shielding gas regulator, FC and stick with options for adding Tig Lift and aluminum spool gun.

Alternatively, I was looking at a few similarly equipped on Amazon. 1/4" is probably the thickest I'd weld but DIY/WIY bumpers are in my future so I'm looking for recommendations.

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[3bears]

well I did not just get one....but my son just bought a lincoln LE31mp.

but he did get me a helmet and gloves....so that I can learn from him. He got it cause he is going to make a rear bumper and rock sliders for his 2016 taco...and some other projects he has in mind.

Funny/sad I grew up with friends and family that could weld, so I never bothered to learn how and just left it all up to them.

 

[3bears]

i know this is an old thread....but im an old fart.....today I did my first mig weld...kind of cool. so....I always had a family member that could weld so never learned how.....but this was cool....well hot actually....made the mistake of having the metal on a plywood work bench...wrong thing...
anyway....if your going to twist wrenches and do your own work on your 4runner....learn to weld


so all that said...i need an auto dark helmet...anyone use the deckopro brand
DEKOPRO Welding Helmet Solar Powered Auto Darkening Hood with Adjustable Shade Range 4/9-13 for Mig Tig Arc Welder Mask (Blue Eagle) - - Amazon.com

or this TOOLIOM Welding Helmet Auto Darkening Solar Powered with Adjustable Shade 4/9-13 for TIG MIG ARC Flaming Skull Design Welder Mask - - Amazon.com

dont want to burn my eyes out....but working today with a non self darkening was a pain
and up here in the wilderness....anything else is near 100 bucks or more

but eyeballs are not cheap either

 

[brillo_76]

i know this is an old thread....but im an old fart.....today I did my first mig weld...kind of cool. so....I always had a family member that could weld so never learned how.....but this was cool....well hot actually....made the mistake of having the metal on a plywood work bench...wrong thing...

anyway....if your going to twist wrenches and do your own work on your 4runner....learn to weld





so all that said...i need an auto dark helmet...anyone use the deckopro brand

DEKOPRO Welding Helmet Solar Powered Auto Darkening Hood with Adjustable Shade Range 4/9-13 for Mig Tig Arc Welder Mask (Blue Eagle) - - Amazon.com



or this TOOLIOM Welding Helmet Auto Darkening Solar Powered with Adjustable Shade 4/9-13 for TIG MIG ARC Flaming Skull Design Welder Mask - - Amazon.com



dont want to burn my eyes out....but working today with a non self darkening was a pain

and up here in the wilderness....anything else is near 100 bucks or more



but eyeballs are not cheap either

I use a Lincoln helmet. Not cheap and sometimes can find them used. I picked the one with the largest viewing window that auto darkens thst has the ability to change the battery.



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[octanejunkie]

I used this one
Antra Wide Shade Range 4/5-9/9-13 Auto Darkening Welding Helmet AH6-260-0000 Engineered for TIG MIG/MAG MMA Plasma Grinding, Solar-Lithium Dual Power, 6+1 Extra Lens Covers