Welding Tips and Tricks

I am new to the forum, but not new to welding. Most of my experience has been sticks and MIG solid and flux. Have some TIG on stainless. I have a Bobcat 250, a Hobart Hefty feeder, a Miller sidekick. I have PrimeWeld TIG225X on the way. I also have Oxy- Act torches.
I I do mostly repair work and fabrication. Most of welding is steel. I do braze cast iron. I want to start using TIG more. My goal is to weld coke cans! I don't use aluminum, but having a welder that will weld it, maybe I'll try doing more.
Ben

Welcome from just up the road in Richmond-

Thanks, I have been to Richmond many times. I'm in the Moonshine Capitol area.
Just received my PrimeWeld 225 today, guess I'm going to have to learn how to use it!

Ben

Unfortunately if you run out of argon, moonshine won’t weld. And it does not suffice for purge gas either.

"Unfortunately if you run out of argon, moonshine won’t weld. And it does not suffice for purge gas either."
But it does work well in place of Acetylene.........
Ben

"Unfortunately if you run out of argon, moonshine won’t weld. And it does not suffice for purge gas either."
But it does work well in place of Acetylene.........
Ben

I have been making knives for a couple of years. Good to be back I'm thinking about a new mig.

The PrimeWeld brand is an awfully reasonable choice if you’re small-time shop or mostly hobby. 3 year warranty, fully kitted out, and you can find them for sale on Weldmonger.com (the storefront of this forum’s sponsor).

I’ve had several buddies buy their TIG box over the past few years, and a recent one buy the 185 MIG and it’s just downright decent and a steal for the money. If I didn’t have so many well-running Miller boxes I’d consider their boxes if I was to buy now.

I haven't gotten to use my 225XL yet. I bought it because I need to aluminum. I have Tig welded with DC on stainless and steel . I have used my Bobcat250 with reasonable results. But welding drink cans.....er I mean the aluminum tube in the frame of my RV requires an AC tig with the ability to make the necessary adjustments. I have to be able to do vertical, overhead, besides flat. I could do it with OX-AC torch but that puts a lot flame out in places that don't need fire.
Since Jody recommended the Primeweld, I thought I would go with it. I have two Blue machines and a small inverter DC welder I bought for brazing galvanized dust collector pipe using Sil-bronze rod and a carbon arc electrode.
Ben

That MIG185 also has a spool gun for aluminum MIG. That might be an easier option than ally TIG if you’re new to ally. Plus, if the tubing is thin, ally TIG is quite tricky. Picture thin wall stainless and that will give you an idea of how ally tube reacts once it gets some heat in it.

I have looked at a spool gun , just never have gotten one. That may be an option. I might be able to run AL in my Miller Sidekick , I have never tried it. I have done a lot of TIG but I learned to weld use OXY-Ac with steel rods, So Tig has been to me very similar except using arc instead of a flame, ( I'm talking basics ) to make my puddle move. I'm going to get some tubing the correct size and try various methods and settings before actually attempting the actual repair. This is in vary hard to work area. A tree feel on the RV and put a large gash in the side and roof. It was built with a lightweight AL tube frame and fiberglass exterior and thin plywood vinyl coated interior wall , with Styrofoam in between.
Ben

Tricky repair. If that tubing is square (usually) the actual grade of ally is probably the biggest trick. Often very mixed alloys are used and welding it straight away with 4043, 5356, etc is a nasty challenge. And god forbid you smolder that insulation. The toxicity of the fumes will drive you 5 miles away!

Good luck, you’ve got a tough one on your hands.

I was thinking about the rectangular tubing today. I think I will cut the bent piece out and use it to figure out what it takes to weld it. I have to replace it anyway, so why not practice on it. I will know what alloy the replacement piece will be. Another welder isn't an option at this point. A spoolgun is. I just have to figure out which welder I have will work the best. My Miller Sidekick has a gas valve and the Hobart Hefty also has a gas valve. The Primeweld 225 has one too, it would be the best one if it will run a spoolgun.
Ben

The PW225 won’t run a MIG setup unfortunately.