Welders, welding, and stuff

Stairgod

Two bad decisions away from buying a bulldozer
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Apr 22, 2019
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20220204_221407.jpg
Don't want to jinx myself, but welded all evening on one tungsten. 90 amps, 1/16 ER-70S6, 12 full size rods melted. I have an issue with heat control, so thinner material has been a challenge.
14 gauge 1" square tube and everything went well. I surprised myself tbh.
 

Chris In Milwaukee

Ain’t no mo’
Joined
Dec 16, 2019
Messages
3,101
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56
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North Woods, WI USA
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Don't want to jinx myself, but welded all evening on one tungsten. 90 amps, 1/16 ER-70S6, 12 full size rods melted. I have an issue with heat control, so thinner material has been a challenge.
14 gauge 1" square tube and everything went well. I surprised myself tbh.
Super star! I lose focus for a millisecond and that bastard is stuck to the workpiece.
 

Stairgod

Two bad decisions away from buying a bulldozer
Joined
Apr 22, 2019
Messages
2,439
Super star! I lose focus for a millisecond and that bastard is stuck to the workpiece.
Started watching Pacific Arc Tig on YT. Picked up some useful tips. Biggest thing I realized was that I. Was holding too tight an arc. So dipping has been reduced and puddle control increased
 
Joined
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Finally figured out my welder issue. Somehwere I’ve got a gas leak between the tank and the tip. I got fed up with it so I ditched the gas mix and swapped wire to flux core, boom immediately getting good welds. MAN IS THIS SHIT MESSY THO.

question. I’ve got UCA double shear/gussets sitting in the garage from dirt king. They’re gonna take some modifying to work on the 4runner, but structurally speaking the flux core is just as strong as mig right? I know it’s frowned upon by the “professionals”

I’m considering doing the gussets myself or leaving it with 454motorsports
 

Stairgod

Two bad decisions away from buying a bulldozer
Joined
Apr 22, 2019
Messages
2,439
Finally figured out my welder issue. Somehwere I’ve got a gas leak between the tank and the tip. I got fed up with it so I ditched the gas mix and swapped wire to flux core, boom immediately getting good welds. MAN IS THIS SHIT MESSY THO.

question. I’ve got UCA double shear/gussets sitting in the garage from dirt king. They’re gonna take some modifying to work on the 4runner, but structurally speaking the flux core is just as strong as mig right? I know it’s frowned upon by the “professionals”

I’m considering doing the gussets myself or leaving it with 454motorsports
The biggest issue is removing the flux well enough between passes on inside corners. It can be a real bitch.
Flux core is just as strong as Mig when done properly. The biggest benefit to Mig is not having to clear slag. But you should still run a wire wheel over the welds between passes to remove contaminants.
And FYI, structural welding with Mig is usually dual core, which is a flux core wire WITH shielding gas. But even that has not totally replaced stick welding in many areas of the industry.

As far as the gas leak goes, make sure the o ring where the fun goes into the machine is intact. And check the diffuser at the end of the liner. Make sure no holes are plugged. Worse case scenario replace the gun entirely. HTP has some sweet flexible neck Mig guns that aren't too expensive and they can come in very handy for out of position work.
 
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Dezert4Runner

Pineapples belong on pizza
Joined
Oct 23, 2018
Messages
1,172
I was able to get a 2” receiver (2.5” OD) frenched into the frame of the workbench. I underestimated how much my drill bits would struggle with 1/4” plate and having to drill 5/8” holes :headwall: even the step bits were struggling. It would be nice to have a legit drill press or plasma for this. I still need to do the same with the 2” OD male portion of the receiver so I can make the extension and add a small piece of plate to mount the vise to.

I tried welding uphill for the first time since taking the “Weld 100” class years ago, so the weld on the right in the first photo got a little sloppy but there's plenty of heat and some color showing through everywhere and it’ll definitely suffice. I also found out that I couldn’t get through these few welds without hitting the duty cycle on 120v :anon:

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Dezert4Runner

Pineapples belong on pizza
Joined
Oct 23, 2018
Messages
1,172
More work on the vise receiver project. Just about finished up. I need to go grab some hardware to mount the vise and drill the holes for the receiver pin but the fab work for this part of the workbench project is basically done. My welds are also getting a little more consistent as I get more time behind the hood.

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Dezert4Runner

Pineapples belong on pizza
Joined
Oct 23, 2018
Messages
1,172
75 amps is only getting good penetration on thinner material and that machine is only capable of flux core wire since there’s no gas hookups. It would be good for small projects I guess.
 

4runner DOA

Hold my beer
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75 amps is only getting good penetration on thinner material and that machine is only capable of flux core wire since there’s no gas hookups. It would be good for small projects I guess.

Might be a freebie, but I didn't want it in the garage if it was completely useless.
 
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