Welding Tips and Tricks

I tried some stick welding when I was young (20’s). I’m 60 now, so it’s been a while. Since I have implements that sometimes need attention, I figured it would be a good idea to get my hands on a small MIG welder for the first time. I realize this thing can’t weld much over 1/4 inch, and maybe if I’m lucky, 5/16 or so flux cored.

Anyway, just wanted to post a couple of shots. Using 0.025 wire for now, and 75/25 has set to about 22ish cfh. 1/8 inch steel.

See a little brown soot on the up-side of the beads. It comes off easy though. Wonder if I am holding the torch at a too high angle? Like I said, it’s just sooting a little on the far side.





Just messing around here trying to get the machine adjusted. Fun fun.


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If you use a beveled joint configuration you can easily weld thicker materials. And a multi pass weld.

Viking59 - Those brown spots are silicon that precipitates out of the weld wire - normal.

We are in the same boat, new welders at 60. Be careful the welding vortex will swallow your wallet quickly. I had a small project and went through the HF 125 and 170 welders then I found a new Lincoln 180HD (Home Depot version). Not finished yet - I was looking at CL for a welding table and not only found a table but also a Miller Multimatic 215 Multiprocess welder that had 40 minutes use on it. The original owner gave up on learning to TIG.

I built a mobile base system for my wood lathe and doing it myself saved me about $350. At least that's what I told my wife. I need about three more projects like this pay for my welding gear.

I have a couple other machines that could use decent mobile bases but I enjoy welding so much looking for other projects too.

Good Luck,

Mike

Mike

mbg wrote:Viking59 - Those brown spots are silicon that precipitates out of the weld wire - normal.

We are in the same boat, new welders at 60. Be careful the welding vortex will swallow your wallet quickly. I had a small project and went through the HF 125 and 170 welders then I found a new Lincoln 180HD (Home Depot version). Not finished yet - I was looking at CL for a welding table and not only found a table but also a Miller Multimatic 215 Multiprocess welder that had 40 minutes use on it. The original owner gave up on learning to TIG.

I built a mobile base system for my wood lathe and doing it myself saved me about $350. At least that's what I told my wife. I need about three more projects like this pay for my welding gear.

I have a couple other machines that could use decent mobile bases but I enjoy welding so much looking for other projects too.

Good Luck,

Mike

Mike

Yep. Its contagious. Already looking at a Lincoln TIG200