Another welder thread

[Kevin B.]

I know this comes up a lot, and I apologize, but you can't google experience... I'm going to look at a used Lincoln Weldpak 100 tonight. It's right in my price range (they're asking $215), and from what I can see on line it's about exactly what I'm looking for. Specs on it are here, page 9: http://www.lincolnelectric.com/assets/servicenavigator-public/lincoln3/im782.pdf

It's supposed to be good for 1/4in, so I'd be looking for it to weld 3/16 well and 1/4 if I take my time. There's a kit available to convert it to gas, if I decide I need it. Is this enough welder for a hobbyist that wants to be able to weld his own sliders and maybe fab some tube bumpers?

 

[skippy]

If you run flux core in it you will get better penetration, Its harder to weld with and doesnt look near as nice but a grinder with a flapper wheel will clean it right up for a light hobbyist welder it will probably get the job done. I have never owned a 110 volt welder before so I really dont know what the limits are on one.

 

[UFAB]

Flux core with Argon shield welds very smooth with minimum spatter. Also investing in a air needle scaler is a good idea for spatter and slag.

 

[lewis]

I ran a lincoln weldpak 100 for years. The welds held up good from it and I learned to weld with it. It would be a waste of money to convert your lincoln to gas since the pentration with gas is less than with the flux core and you wouldn't be able to weld that 1/4" anymore. I got lots of scares from the splatter. I now run a millermatic 180, its 220v and runs gas. After running it I will never run that lincoln again. Huge differnece in the way the welds look, cleaner and doesn't have near the splatter to burn you. Huge difference in price though along with needing the 220v.

 

[ricsrx]

I have welded the majority of my projects with mine, i havent had any parts fall off yet ( that Im aware of any way....) it has the gas shield. the bigest problem is the duty cycle when you have a big project.

 

[Kevin B.]

Awesome, thanks for the feedback guys. If it's in good shape I'm gonna snag it.

 

[driver920]

the little lincoln is a good welder i have had mine for over a year with no problems and it will weld anything i want ............ BUT......... when you get in to thicker metals the secret is multiple passes 1/4 to 5/16 and multiple passes and pre-heat 3/8 + dont get in a hurry and practice for the hobbist it is a very good welder

 

[frieed]

I was welding up an auto rotisserie for my brother with a Lincoln 180HD, running on 220V. The rotisserie was built from 2.5" 3/16 wall square tube. After numerous welds, slice and dice, and etch, I determined that my 180 amp machine wasn't penetrating enough with gas for me to put my brother at risk so I switched to flux core which was sufficient. Maybe my welding could have been better, but still, the ratings on those machines are "very" optimistic. Wanna weld a couple tabs onto your bumper for lights? go ahead, but don't do anything that someones life depends on ( yours, or the people behind you on the road when it breaks)

 

[DOSS]

but don't do anything that someones life depends on ( yours, or the people behind you on the road when it breaks)

This is more of a risk due to poor welding skills than welding with a 110 welder.

Practice with whatever you have, learn how to actually use it and a 110 welder will take care of your hobby needs.. remember, multiple passes, you might need to do some more grinding on thicker stuff etc.. but it will do the job..

 

[Kevin B.]

Practice first, absolutely. My first project is going to be a welding cart. Then light tabs on the rear bumper. Then a mountain rack for my bed. Then a custom soft top frame. All nicely non-structural.

 

[frieed]

Careful what wire you use. Not all are designed for multiple pass...

 

[frieed]

Yes and no.
Poor skills can give you a lousy weld with a 300A machine on 1/8 in material. No amount of skill can give you a sound weld on 1" material with a 110V 100A mig machine, too big of a heat sink.

This is more of a risk due to poor welding skills than welding with a 110 welder.

 

[DOSS]

Yes and no.
Poor skills can give you a lousy weld with a 300A machine on 1/8 in material. No amount of skill can give you a sound weld on 1" material with a 110V 100A mig machine, too big of a heat sink.

When was he (or anyone) talking about welding 1" stuff. Stop trying to argue this like you know what you are talking about by throwing in off topic and outrageous crap. I think he stated rather clearly he knows it has limitations on thickness..

 

[frieed]

Merely pointing out that the unit's specifications are optimistic at best.

Yes, I understand that he was not talking about welding 1" material. I was making the point that there are limits to the machine and my opinion is that they are well below the rated value in the hands of anyone but a pro. I did not gather from the original question that he was a pro. Just trying to protect my family and yours, not start a flame war.

 

[frieed]

Kevin,

I apologize for somehow driving this thread off-course.
Please, just understand, that no welding machine can make up for the shortcomings of the welder, all welding machines have limitations, regardless of the welders skills, and if you are just beginning, as it seems from the original post, please practice until you are sure of your skill and the capabilities of your machine before you do things that your life or the life of someone else depend on.

Doss,
It seems I have offended you. If so, I apologize to you as well. It was not my intent.

 

[Kevin B.]

Not at all, Frieed, I totally understand where you're coming from and agree 100%.

 

[bobdog]

Careful what wire you use. Not all are designed for multiple pass...

Which wires would those be?

 

[frieed]

I went into a welding supply store and asked for .035 flux core and they sold me this. I didn't realize the one-pass part until later

Inweld 71T-GS
Alloy E71T-GS
AWS A5.20
ASME SFA 5.20
Description and Applications:
Chemical Composition of E71T-GS
Fe C Si Mn P S Al
Balance 0.13 0.45 0.82 0.016 0.013 1.23 Values are estimate values
Single values are maximum unless otherwise specified.
Tensile strength - 72,000 psi min.
Yield strength - 60,000 psi min.
Elongation % in 2" - 20ft lbs at 0ºF min.
Charpy V-Notch: Impact Value - 44 ft lbs. at 0ºF.
.
*Use low range for iron or nickel-based alloy’s, middle range for bronze alloys and high range for copper.
The many positive characteristics of 71T-GS make it the smart choice for the “hobbyist”
welder, as it works very well on the small 110 volt power source/feeders which have become so
popular. 71T-GS is designed for single pass welding of thin-gauge carbon steel, ranging from 3/16”
to 22 gauge.

 

[blznnp]

I went into a welding supply store and asked for .035 flux core and they sold me this. I didn't realize the one-pass part until later

Back in Washington I used that wire practically everyday at work with our 110V millers, had no problem running multiple passes. As it states with 3/16" to 22 gauge, you shouldn't need to run multiple passes at that thickness. Its probably just giving the general hobbyist a better idea on running it.

 

[Kevin B.]

I started playing today. I can tell already that this welder is way better than the Harbor Freight cheapo that I had before, I'm actually generating beads instead of spattering boogers all over the place.

First try:

It's a big lumpy thing, I don't feel like I got penetration at all with it. I took a sledgehammer to it and wasn't able to bust it apart, but I dunno if this is what I'd think of when I think of a good weld.

Second bead:

This time, I didn't change the amps or wire speed at all, but I did go faster. It doesn't look like I got any better penetration, but it does look sloppier.

Third bead:

So I changed the amps dial from 3 to 4, and turned the wire speed down. This happened. NOT MAKING PROGRESS.

Fourth bead:

Turned the wire speed back up to about 5, still on the highest amp setting, and I got this bad boy, which is a weld I think I'm happy with. Is this good penetration? I know it's not neat, but is it solid? Is this a weld I should be happy with?