Ask your WELDING questions here.

[David R]

Originally Posted by GSWayne

Will it hurt a welder to operate into a short circuit? I was thinking of using my ThermalArc ProWave 185TSW to test the current handling capability of some wire. I was planning on running DC current around 30 to 50 amps.

I have an Arcmaster 185. I DON'T THINK it will hurt it, I short it when I stick the rod to my work. Its not for long.

Perhaps you could put it in stick mode and use the foot pedal watching the amp meter on the machine.

David :)

[Poolside]

Originally Posted by Old_Lion

Those are a little bit of a pile, in stock trim that is. The top jaw starts to 'rotate back' into the top handle, deforming the handle metal. When that happens the 'over-center' locking mechanism stops working.

Run a bead all the way around the top handle, where the top jaw slots in. If the jaw has already 'pushed back into the handle', relocate to its original position before welding.

Even after all that, they're still a bit of a pile. They are excellent to experiment with though.

[GSWayne]

Originally Posted by David R

I have an Arcmaster 185. I DON'T THINK it will hurt it, I short it when I stick the rod to my work. Its not for long.

Perhaps you could put it in stick mode and use the foot pedal watching the amp meter on the machine.

David :)

I did the test. Ran 40 A for 5 minutes and then 50 A for 5 minutes. Unit didn't seem to mind. Per your suggestion ran DC in stick mode.

[Old_Lion]

So I bought this Harbor Freight welder



90 amp MIG Flux Core Welder.

I look at the box and it states:
"Input Voltage 120 Volt 24 Amps"

Wait a minute!
I have 12 gauge wire leading to the outlet.

AWG 12 is rated for 20 amps. {Resistance Ohms 5.4/km (E=IxR)}

Do I have to rewire it with AWG 10/3?

George



Ref:http://www.builditsolar.com/Tools/wiretable2.htm

Manual: http://images.harborfreight.com/manuals/94000-94999/94056.pdf

[David R]

If you have 12 ga wire you are off to a good start. I would not be too worried yet. Run the machine and see. 24 amps are needed if you run it full tilt. Plugging it in right below the power panel makes for a short run from the breaker to the outlet which helps.

Look at the duty cycle at 90 welding amps. Its probably 10 or 20% on a 10 minute cycle.

This is good. Most 110 Volt Mig welders claim 120 to 140 welding amps. They cannot do it with out a 30 amp outlet which they do not make.

IN MY OPINION any 110 volt mig welder will put out about 90 amps AT reasonable MIG welding voltage. Do the math and figure efficiency in and you will see.

Old Lion, Every day you own a new welder with out using it is a sin.

Enjoy
David

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by Old_Lion

So I bought this Harbor Freight welder



90 amp MIG Flux Core Welder.

I look at the box and it states:
"Input Voltage 120 Volt 24 Amps"

Wait a minute!
I have 12 gauge wire leading to the outlet.

AWG 12 is rated for 20 amps. {Resistance Ohms 5.4/km (E=IxR)}

Do I have to rewire it with AWG 10/3?

George



Ref:http://www.builditsolar.com/Tools/wiretable2.htm

Manual: http://images.harborfreight.com/manuals/94000-94999/94056.pdf

I have the same one, and have done a lot of welding on a GFI 20 amp circuit. I don't think it will be a problem.

Jim

[gsweave]

Nice machine George.




burn burn burn

[nuggets]

Originally Posted by Old_Lion

So I bought this Harbor Freight welder



90 amp MIG Flux Core Welder.

My buddy has one of those. Great little machine. Makes lots of spatter though.

At the price they sell it for, it is practically a hot glue gun for steel.

Don't listen to me though, I only have a 120v 70 amp ac stick welder.

[Old_Lion]

Originally Posted by nuggets

it is practically a hot glue gun for steel.

I like the hot glue gun analogy.

at www.weldingtipsandtricks.com

I subscribed to a sequence of some daily emails entitled

"Big Fat MIG Welding Myths"
----------------------------------------------------
Here is a partial copy of one of those.

Quote:
"""
Big Fat Mig Welding Myth #5

110v mig welders are toy welders and are not good for anything.

110v mig welders are not toys unless you get a really cheap and poorly made welder.

If you buy a good one like a Lincoln, Miller, or Hobart, they are pretty handy.
Sometimes even cheaper ones from Northern Tool or Harbor Freight work ok...but not always.

They typically use .023--.025” wire and that works great for thin sheet metal body panels.
But what about thicker stuff?

That’s what flux core is for.

Swap over to
Hobart fabshield 21b and you will be surprised at the results on
thicker metals.

Tips to get the most from your 110v mig are:
decrease wire stick out,
clean the metal with a grinder,
use flux core on thicker metal, use a 20 amp breaker,
preheat with a propane torch and weld uphill.

And by the way... if you need to weld a trailer hitch,
dont try to use a 115v mig.

""""
End Quote

George

[Old_Lion]

Occasionally I come across a product called "Nozzle Gel"
http://www.amazon.com/Hobart-770074-Welding-Accessory-Nozzle/dp/B0017Z5J1W

Product Description by Manufacturer:
"Prevents adhesion of weld spatter to MIG nozzle and weld surface."



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLvhnlW5Hg8

http://www.newmetalworker.com/Reviews/lncnzlgelrvu.html


http://tinyurl.com/4z5y9gn

Snake Oil?
A search delivers various pro and con posts in a number of forums/threads .

Some of those posts I deem to be from folks
who have heard the bells toll but do not know where the church is.

George

[domains]

Anyone ever try HTS2000 on motor mounts?

I tried on my boat rivets and works wonders but gravity dippers

For boat rivets I should of tried there older generation brazing rods that melt at lower temps it warped bottom alittle. I even made a new boat drain with this stuff and had to hammer a socket threw it because it warped and it held up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-cv3R4fWZc

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by nuggets

My buddy has one of those. Great little machine. Makes lots of spatter though.

At the price they sell it for, it is practically a hot glue gun for steel.

Don't listen to me though, I only have a 120v 70 amp ac stick welder.

IMHO the key to reducing that is to buy NON-HF wire. I have Miller, and it helps a lot.

Jim

[KTM640Dakar]

Lincoln Super Arc L-56 wire is the best.

[David R]

Nozzel gel? I use it daily when mig welding.

Get the nozzel hot and dip into the gel. Let it drip off, advance the wire and trim the wire. Weld away. Spatter does not stick to the nozzle.

PAM works as De spatter and smells pretty good while you are welding. You can spray the nozzel with pam too.

They make a spray de spatter that works fine and you can spray the nozzle with it too. Both the spray and gel work. It depends on the job I am doing.

I THINK the best flux core wire is NR211-MP You may not be able to find it in the size for the machine.

Smaller wire costs more, but for that machine its better.

YES I agree, Lincoln is the best wire.

David

Hearing bells toll.....

[Strong Bad]

Originally Posted by david r

nozzel gel? I use it daily when mig welding.

Get the nozzel hot and dip into the gel. Let it drip off, advance the wire and trim the wire. Weld away. Spatter does not stick to the nozzle.

Pam works as de spatter and smells pretty good while you are welding. You can spray the nozzel with pam too.

They make a spray de spatter that works fine and you can spray the nozzle with it too. Both the spray and gel work. It depends on the job i am doing.

Hearing bells toll.....

+10