Question for our metal fabricators!!! - Lateral-g Forums

bdahlg68 · #1 01-08-2011, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOOM

I would like to know the ''KEY'' to this type of weld. Is it metal thickness,welder settings, technique,mig ,tig ?????? I have really been struggling with this and I'm at wits end. I have to do some work to my outter wheel wells and I'm not at all happy with the final result. I need to get this dialed in so any pointers would really help. I used Jasons car (WAR) as an example of the type weld I'm struggling with..... My welders are Miller 210 mig Lincoln 110 mig I do have a new Hobart Tig but I have no Idea how to use it yet......

This type of welding is driving me nuts too. I have a flux core mig and it just seems to blast through the metal even on a low setting. I gave up for the day and will probably end up replacing the part I was trying to salvage. I figure by the end of the project I'll be a novice sheet metal welder.

One thing that did help a little is making sure I try to keep a shallow angle between the MIG tip and the metal to be welded. If that angle gets too steep, it seems to just blast through the metal. Just an observation on my side but I'm a beginner.

**GregWeld** · #2 01-08-2011, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdahlg68

This type of welding is driving me nuts too. I have a flux core mig and it just seems to blast through the metal even on a low setting. I gave up for the day and will probably end up replacing the part I was trying to salvage. I figure by the end of the project I'll be a novice sheet metal welder.

One thing that did help a little is making sure I try to keep a shallow angle between the MIG tip and the metal to be welded. If that angle gets too steep, it seems to just blast through the metal. Just an observation on my side but I'm a beginner.

Dude! There is only one thing to say here - and it's not meant to hurt your feelings -- but FLUX CORE is for farmers repairing tractors in a field where carting gas out there is too much of a chore. Stop using FLUX CORE to do car repair welding unless you're just welding up a jalopy frame.

bdahlg68 · #3 01-09-2011, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Dude! There is only one thing to say here - and it's not meant to hurt your feelings -- but FLUX CORE is for farmers repairing tractors in a field where carting gas out there is too much of a chore. Stop using FLUX CORE to do car repair welding unless you're just welding up a jalopy frame.

I'm aware and I will stop once able. No worries.

redfire69 · #4 01-09-2011, 08:55 AM

I'm no expert, but flux core can weld fine for beginners. Not all of us can buy all the best tools at one time. You'll find you can weld thinner materials easier when you switch to the bottle.

wiedemab · #5 01-09-2011, 11:00 AM

Hopefully, not too much of a hi- jack....if so, please disregard.

I have also done the mig to tack, then tig to fill in with good results. As Greg said the ability to more easily grind the tig filler and hammer and dolly it helps a ton. I'm very far from great at this BTW, but I try.

Has anyone used "ez grind" mig wire before? I haven't, but am curious about it. It supposedly has properties closer to the tig weld for grinding and hammer and dolly work.

Oh and fit up, fit up, fit up is huge........i struggle sometimes to pitch a patch in the trash, but if it isn't right......do it and make one that fits right. You will be better off in the end.

**Sieg** · #6 01-09-2011, 11:33 AM

How does Lincoln's Superarc L-56 wire perform in the OP's situation?

DEIGuy38 · #7 01-09-2011, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiedemab

Has anyone used "ez grind" mig wire before? I haven't, but am curious about it. It supposedly has properties closer to the tig weld for grinding and hammer and dolly work.

I am using the ESAB ez grind. It does seem a little easier to work with than standard mig wire. I found out about it from a fabricator at a rod shop.

**DOOM** · #8 01-10-2011, 04:21 PM

Talked to Jason (WAR) yesterday and he set me straight. I was making MANY mistakes. But he has me dialed in now, so it should go a little smoother . Will see, if not he's getting a plane ticket real soon!!!

**GregWeld** · #9 01-09-2011, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdahlg68

I'm aware and I will stop once able. No worries.

Some folks aren't aware of the limits of flux core -- so I'm glad you are. I know it's an extra expense etc to go gas --- but is truly worth it. Flux core is just kind of a crude way to try to do thin materials that hot rodders have to work on.

Musclerodz · #10 01-09-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Some folks aren't aware of the limits of flux core -- so I'm glad you are. I know it's an extra expense etc to go gas --- but is truly worth it. Flux core is just kind of a crude way to try to do thin materials that hot rodders have to work on.

Bottle lease and gas is cheap. I own my bottles, but that also limits who will fill them for me.