I picked up a 90 amp FLUX wire feed welder yesterday to weld thinner metal. I tried a few p***es last night on some old license plates and had to turn the power down to 1 to keep from burning through. It's the first time I've used a wire feed and its nicer than stick welding, but I need to learn a lot more. What tips and uses are best for this type of welder? THANKS!
Flux core wire feed welders, unfortunately, do not lend themselves well to thin sheet metal. Too much heat. You'd be a lot further ahead to get a MIG. Also, in any wire feed welding, the material has to be clean - rust & paint free.
I picked one up years ago, use the sh t out of it. yes a mig would be nice but if i bought all the right stuff, i wouldn't have the money to buy metel to weld together!!!
I also have a flux core welder and love it. Just practice with it . You can weld thin sheet metal. Alot of splatter and clean up, but works great...........
Buy a 4-1/2 inch angle grinder and a good supply of flap wheels. I tried the flux core wire that came with my Lincoln mig last week when I ran out of gas and needed to weld up some exhaust pipes and it turned out ugly. Strong but ugly. It has it's place, I'll probably use the wire I have for non automotive projects where a bit of slag or splatter don't matter much except for my welding pride. I've got a couple of work tables that I want to build and I'll try it on them and save the gas mix for the work on my truck or other projects.
Tack it, let it cool, tack it, let it cool, tack it, etc... Then when it's all welded up you're going to have a lot of clean up to do. Grind it, let it cool, grind it, let it cool, grind it, etc...
You'll trade a lot of clean-up time for not having a bottle. If you are planning on doing a major sheet metal project you might want to reconsider. If your doing repairs on the neighbours lawnmower then you are set... .
For welding sheet metal, you don't want to do any "p***es", it usually yields the burn through you described. Sheet metal is a different animal when it comes to welding, it is normally welded in "dots". Try reading up on this thread going on elsewhere, it has some insight on basic principles. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=417446
i have a flux core welder that i have been using for years. the power does not go low enough to weld really thin stuff or high enough to weld thick stuff. but with alot of practice and time and patience i have welded 22 gauge sheet metal but like stated befor its alot of little dots, i working on coffie cans next. but the little weld works great for weling up brakets and thing like that.
I would also suggest using a piece of copper or br*** on the back side of the weld. It keeps the backside from looking like a **** and helps a little on burn through. Does the welder you picked up have the option to run a bottle?
that's how I use mine. I've filled trim holes, welded patches and exhausts together. may not be a mig but works for my needs
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