I have two small pieces of aluminum to join. I have been considering options like soldering (with Alumiweld), stick (with E4043) or TIG. I know that aluminum TIG is normally pulsed to allow for surface cleaning. My multi-process welder has TIG DC- without pulse. Do you think I could do this small al...

Marlon, I have an XMT304 as well. The manual is not much help. There are lots of options for MIG with the XMT. The XMT is a CV machine that can connect to many types of wire feeders. I don't currently use MIG on my XMT. The LN25 has been recommended as the best MIG attachment for my application, aut...

I have a CC/CV multiprocess welder. For CC (constant current SMAW or Stick) there are two settings. 1) With foot pedal and 2) Without foot pedal. I don't have a foot pedal, even for TIG welding. I use scratch start or lift start for TIG or GTAW. My understanding is that on my welder CC-Foot Pedal on...

I was at the welding store and saw a display of aluminum welding rod called Aluminator from MG Welding Products. I thought I would give this a try. It behaved about like Hobart 4043. It seemed that the arc had a more pink color for Aluminator. Aluminator recommends preheating to achieve flatter weld...

MIG or TIG would probably be better for 1/16" but like you, I don't have a MIG or TIG. For such a weld I usually use 1/16" or 3/32" E6013 and weld in stages. For example, weld a 1" section then move about 2" ahead and weld another 1" section. Then clean the welds and ad...

I accomplished this twice. I was really surprised that I could do it from one side in flat position. I imagined enlarging the hole with huge blobs of molten metal falling on the floor. The instructor inspected the weld and it met the project requirement. I used a Lincoln 350 Pro which, in my hands, ...

i need advice with one of the projects in my SMAW welding class. The objective is to cut a 1.5" diameter hole in 1/4" plate and then close it with E6010 from one side. I have not seen this demonstrated or described. The closest thing in our textbook is using brazing rod. I was thinking of ...

I may have answered my question. I was reviewing the stick-welding videos and found that "Shielded Metal Arc Welding Rods - Types of Welding Rods and where to use them" had a brief view of doing the whip and pause with 6010. It was a fillet rather than a butt joint.

Here are some welding projects. I made a welding cart out of scrap angle from a twin-tub stand and some 1/8" sheet. My Miller XMT304 is sitting on it now. http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp215/141kenrico/th_weldingcart.jpg?t=1314885000 This is a material cart made from some scrap angle from ...

This place has pipe and structural test coupons for sale. http://www.trieng.com/Pricing.htm There are probably others as well.

Everyone talks about the "whip and pause" technique for getting full root penetration on a 1G (flat gap) weld. Some books call it step and pause. As I gather, the technique is to hold the rod in the root gap until a "keyhole" forms then move it back up the face of the applied fil...

I need to weld alot of 1/2in low carbon steel to some equally thick mild steel. Whats the best SMAW machine for the money? My budget is 250. If this is a one-time use, you may wish to consider renting. Red-D-Arc, a partner of AirGas, rents welders. The XMT304 or ES300i that they rent would probably...

I sold my 50yr old Lincoln 180AC buzz box which has served me well and bought a used Miller XMT 304. I'm amazed at how light it is in comparison. My service is 220/50/1ph so I'll be limited to around 225 amps. In addition to gaining DC and more amps, I plan to to add DC TIG. Maybe I'll add a suitcas...

Otto is right. The diffusion of the gases caused by the molecular motion and the "desire" to become completely mixed (called entropy) assures that the gases remain mixed.

Thanks everyone. I did a little home project building a lumber rack out of old bed frames using my Lincoln AC180. Most of the welds were 1 to 2 inches in length. I used the recommendation to cut the electrodes in half to make them easier to control. This helped out quite a bit. I also used the 'pool...

From my perspective the weak point will be the attachment of the axles. Without a suspension wheels passing over uneven ground will transfer a lot of stress to the single point axles. I recommend a "U" shaped fork with a single attachment point above the center line of the wheel. That howe...

I used your idea and made one of my own. Back caps are broken a lot at our welding school because students hang the torch by the back cap. I deviated a bit and used available materials for the magnets. I used the magnets that attach to business cards and a heavy base plate. Our TIG torches are scrat...

I am learning to weld on a Lincoln-Electric Invertec 350P but I am also practicing on an AC machine. Arc starting on the Invertec machine appears to be much easier than with an AC only machine. On the Invertec I can quickly scratch or "pogo-stick" off the surface to a distance of around 1/...

Steve, I've been a member of the EAA since around 1980. I often go to the Oshkosh Fly In. I have stopped by the Oshkosh welding booths to try my hand at oxy/fuel welding of tubing. I started taking welding classes for two reasons. My father-in-law gave me a Power-Kraft 180 that intimidated me and I ...

I was an Air Force pilot. Now, I'm a recreational pilot. I hold a commercial MEL/SEL Inst. I don't own an airplane but I have been intrigued by the LSA category. I am also retired from industry so I theoretically could have the time for a building project.

A rectifier converts AC to DC. Usually this is done with diodes. A full-wave rectifier uses four diodes. The most common everyday use is in an automobile battery charger. An inverter also converts AC to DC and uses diodes as well as transistorized electromechanical switches. I don't know why but the...

I was given a Power-Kraft 180 AC welder sold by Mongomery Wards that came from my wife's family farm. The welder came with the operators manual which was printed in 1961. The welder also came with a set of electrodes (Sears) that looked to include the equivalent of E6011, drag rod, hard-surfacing an...