Did you have a whole lot of spatter next to the weld? I hesitate to suggest this, since it's a flux-core only machine, but maybe the polarity is reversed? I don't know if you even have the ability to get the polarity incorrect on a flux-core only machine, but it's worth looking at, maybe they are co...

If you can clean the metal decently, mig should be just fine. If you can't clean it to well, I would probably use flux core wire. I switch to flux core if I can't get grind down to bare metal completely. Sometimes cramped locations make it difficult to grind completely. Acetone helps clean off any o...

Just a bit of an update. I was doing some more welding cramped up under a vehicle again yesterday, welding some crossmember brackets. I have to say, I'm extremely pleased with the flex neck. I honestly don't think I could have welded some of those pieces with a regular mig gun, at least not without ...

What's the diameter and wall thickness of the tube, and the thickness of the flat stock? If you have access to the back side of the flat stock, I'd drill a hole the size of your round tube, stick the tube most of the way through the flat stock, weld the outside, then weld the back side too. Or only ...

I like the mix of metal and wood. That's how I make my tables as well, majority of the structure is metal, and the actual flat table surface is wood with a metal border. I dig that look.

Nice job

A place I worked at over 30 years ago had a sand box for cast iron. I think it was (maybe) 30" on a side, and the same deep. We would empty out half of the sand, heat, weld and bury the piece. Let is sit over the weekend. It would still be warm on Monday! But we did bury it. Hope this is helpf...

I was fully expecting to see liquid metal fling off that thing all over the place

weldin mike 27 wrote:The guy is happy and is the president of a homebrewers club so hopefully I get some more keg work out of it.

Or a few samples of the finished product, so that you can farther investigate the project.

Otto Nobedder wrote:Hell, I had a helper convinced the 300-bar Helium bottles weighed less when full.

He SWORE he could tell an empty from a full one.

Steve S

that one got me for a second.

Thanks!

Reading up on it, it's possible that it's Forged steel, either forged or cast steel. I don't think it's iron.

I'll look that up, thanks!

Cast steel, unless it's special steel, has the same weldability as ordinary mild steel. That's good! Because I'll be welding mild steel to it. What I'm doing is cutting the spline end of a cast Pitman steering arm off, and making a new arm, welding the cast steel splines in the middle so that I can...

I am guessing it's cast steel, it rings when you hit it.

weldin mike 27 wrote:Remember though, that cast steel is a lot less susceptible to cracking than cast iron.

well that's good! The part will be under a fair amount of stress, so I definitely want to take any necessary precautions.

So I'm going to TIG some cast steel, fortunately I'll have scrap sections of the metal to work with, so I'll have some tests :D And fortunately the part is pretty small. About the size of a large candy bar, so it won't be to difficult to pre-heat it. I actually was thinking about pre-heating it in t...

My willys only has one turbo, but it's plenty enough to move this old dog around town :D It ain't no show stopper, but it's my baby :) http://404photography.net/wip/kubota_93.jpg http://404photography.net/wip/kubota_97.jpg http://404photography.net/wip/kubota_99.jpg http://404photography.net/wip/kub...

motor mount for my old willys jeep. Figured I'd get some TIG practice in. Not as even looking as I'd like it to be in some areas, and I definitely need to work on making the puddle consistent when I resume an existing weld run. http://404photography.net/wip/kubota_170.jpg http://404photography.net/w...

I do a fair amount of 16 gauge steel tubing for furniture. While .035 and .030 work, I find it easier with .025 wire. I keep a big spool of .025 for when I'm working on furniture. If I have .035 in the machine and I need to do a quick weld on 16 gauge tubing, I'll do it. But for starting a new proje...

jwright650 wrote:There are lots of those things built using either mig(solid) or fluxcore wire. As for being brittle, no worries with welding mild steel, it is very forgiving.

thanks! MIG it will be then

I'm going to be making a shield that wraps around an open fireplace for a friend, which includes some doors/hinges. It will probably be just mild steel, probably 1/2" square tubing and expanded metal, if we go for the simpler design. Nothing heavy. My question: is there any reason NOT to MIG we...

indeed, those are some smooth welds! I can't make my mig welds look smooth, OR like tig welds. they usually just look lumpy either way

I love it! It touches my love of re-using old stuff

If you DO have to replace the gun, you can get a different brand for alot cheaper. I have one of these flex neck guns, it fits the machine's plugs just fine, and the gun is easy to use.

http://www.usaweld.com/Flexible-Swan-Ne ... eckmig.htm

tack tack tack tack tack

patching up some holes in the firewall of my old willys jeep

that is insanely impressive, getting the smooth curves like that! I'd love to get a glimps of what the technique was for keeping the shape so perfect!