New welder

[Wainiha]

I wasn't sure where to put this.  Since I am a newbie welder I put it here.

My friend gave me a welder   It's a Lincoln Weld-Pak HD.  Small 110V but heck, it was free.  so I need a helmet(auto dark hopefully) and then will learn to weld.

I have done some reading and seen some videos.  Any tips will be appreciated.  When I get going I will post pics for critiques.

Thank you to my friend who will never see this

[lostbuckaroo]

Check out this site. There's lots if good info on there: http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[OOPS]

Should have been posted here:

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?board=102.0

It is a "child board" off the Bumpers, Cages, and Tube Benders board. You will see it right below the Bumpers, Cages, and Tube Benders board.

[Wainiha]

It can be moved.  I didn't notice that child board oops.

lostbuckaroo, thanks.

[Wainiha]

Another friend gave me a helmet.  Next time I go to town I'll get some wire.  SLOWLY getting there.

Thank you to my second friend who will never see this.

[helipilot77]

Wainiha check out weld.com
It is mostly for TIG welding but there are tons of training videos and some for MIG welding. Congratulations on the new equipment. I have had the same welder for several years. It should weld just about anything on a Toyota.

[cbeers]

Which Lincoln Welder is it?  I think there are a few versions of the weld-pak HD?

The links provided are great, though I have only really dug into weldingtipsandtricks but there are some great videos and other information.

Then, practice practice practice, which I know you already know

I have been borrowing a buddy's Weldpak 100 HD, the lightest version I think, but it can still handle quite a bit.  Been practicing on some steel blades from a swather (cuts hay) that my brother in law (also a welder by trade) gave me.  He replaces the blades each season and literally had a bucket of them.  Plenty good to play with and the serrated edges give practice on thin metal too so they are great for learning.

I have a LONG ways to go but can see the progress each time I get out there for a couple of hours. 

My buddy who owns the machine came by the other night and informed me I would be doing all of his welding from now on so I must be getting something right!

Oh, the other bit of advice, go slower than you might think.  I was moving way too fast at first and slowing down after another lesson with my BIL really helped.

Good luck, it's a lot of fun and I can't wait to do a meaningful project on the Runner now!

CB

[Wainiha]

I'm guessing the 100.  Pretty small.  I don't see any labelling for that.

Slow going being poor.  I just got some wire yesterday.  I can't afford a tank and gas, so flux wire for now.  I need some steel and I'll be ready to try it.

[cbeers]

I bet you have a unit above the one I am using.   The one I have doesn't even have the ability to run gas and I have only been practicing with flux wire.  Plenty good for what I am doing and you can get a pretty clean weld once you dial in the settings for what you're working on.

I can see how sheet metal would be a tough go until you got the hang of it.


CB

[helipilot77]

I have been using flux wire in mine too. It kind of makes a mess with spatter though. I have a bottle of CO2 I just need the adapter to thread it onto my regulator. I think I will get that figured out today and try welding with gas. I hope it makes less spatter. 

[OOPS]

When you switch over to gas, remember to change the polarity on the welder. It is in the instructions, if you do not have the instruction book, you can download one off the Lincoln web site.

[helipilot77]

thanks for the reminder. I would have forgotten to do that. I do still have the manual.

[Wainiha]

I think mine has no option for gas.  I just looked at it again.  Oh well, it was free and I have to start some where.

I think I'll go to the dump and get some free metal.  Rained out of work.  It's a good day to see if my "ghetto house" electric panel can handle the draw from the welder.

[OOPS]

Not so much the panel, but the size of the breaker and gage of the wire that you are plugging into.

I have a 110/220 plasma cutter and I ran it on a 20 amp breaker with 12 gage wire when I first got it. Had no problems and it cut like a champ.

You would know if it was set-up for gas, there would be a fitting to screw the hose to.

[Wainiha]

Problem is my panel with its 15 and 20 amp breakers, is run off another house's single 20 amp breaker.  Illegal and probably insufficient. 

Yeah, no gas fitting.  I hadn't looked prior.  I'm just happy to have something to learn with.

Thanks for the tips everyone.  Keep'em coming.

[junya92toy]

You should run bigger wire to a new sub panel

[helipilot77]

I keep tripping my 20 amp circuit breaker with my welder even with no extension cord on a outlet that is only 2 feet from the main panel, and the C.B. is only 4 years old!?!?

[junya92toy]

Then you need a bigger circuit

[cbeers]

The one I have doesn't even have the ability to run gas and I have only been practicing with flux wire.  Plenty good for what I am doing and you can get a pretty clean weld once you dial in the settings for what you're working on.
CB

I don't know what I was thinking 

I played around again Sunday and I had splatter ALL OVER the place!!!  Maybe I didn't have something set right but I too look forward to getting on a machine that runs gas to see how much cleaner it could be.  What I am doing is still good enough for practice but yeah, I could see having to clean up everything on a rig being a pain in the......

Thinner material continues to be my  biggest struggle.

Well, that and time to mess around in the garage!

CB

[ryantowry_81]

Free is a good price. If you do end up getting a bigger welder down the road for welding MIG instead of just flux core then save the little Lincoln and you could do something like this:

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f37/how-make-trail-mig-flux-core-welder-1096579/

sorry for the jeep forum link but it is a slick setup.

I have been wanting to build one for a while.

[cbeers]

Hey Wainiha, check it out, welding!
http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=96919.new#new

Been messing around off and on and have done some minor things around the house and yard and even on the Tundra.  This is my latest and they worked out perfectly for the install.

How's your welding going?  I am still looking for a bigger machine.  Almost scored a Millermatic 200 but the guy wouldn't run it for me.  "Guaranteed" he says.  Pass.  I am not dropping a bunch of cash on something I can't see work first.  So the search continues.  that's a larger machine than I really need, but seemed to be one I could use for many years and the price was good....

CB

[Wainiha]

I have only put some beads on flat plate.  Just playing around still.  I'm not ready to weld anything important yet.

I'll probably do a bed bar first then a rear bumper.  Slow going right now.  No money for tubing.

[junya92toy]

Did you change polarity for the different wire

[Wainiha]

Did you change polarity for the different wire

I don't know about that....

My small welder only has flux core and no gas shielding option.  What did you mean?

[junya92toy]

What polarity are you using

[cbeers]

Ooohhhh Wainiha.....

Scored a Lincoln SP-175t last night for $300!  Original owner, 3 spools of wire used.  Ever.  I still need to get a bottle and regulator (he kept those for his new machine), which are not cheap, but this gets me a beefier machine to start going at it. 

TONS of practice ahead first so I can learn this machine.

CB

Not mine but the same one

[Wainiha]

What polarity are you using

No idea.  I better check.  Been working the night shift and have no motivation right now.

cbeers,  nice score.

[Wainiha]

Bought a Miller 211 w/MVP.   I have a CO2 tank previously for tires, but no Argon. Only flux core for now.  Ordered helmet when it arrives it's time to learn.

[Snowtoy]

Nice machine, should give you a nice range, with just a120vlt.

[Wainiha]

Has 240V plug as well...auto set.  But again I've never welded, so I'll do some testing before I try to fab something seriously usable and safe.  Welder says max 3/8" thickness.