Welding Tips and Tricks

My currnet welder (Century 125gl Flux Core) recently took a crap...its old so im just looking at a new welder...
This is what I found for my price range http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardw ... -10163.htm its $179 at my local store... Im younger and this would be really my first welder owned...as the Century was my dads. I use a Millermatic and a lincoln mig at School but I dont have money for those..lol
Any help would be awesome!!

Hi there,

I know we all want cheap, but if you can squeeze enough dough together check this deal out. It comes from Jody himself so it cant be bad.


http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/hob ... 10mvp.html

Believe me better to spend some more. I am not rich but you will thank your self in the long run. Save up for it.

Mick

If this is your first welder, you are making an investment. You say you use a welder at School so I am guessing you might be planning to weld for a living. Have a look around for a used welder from one of the major brands (Hobart, Miller, Lincoln, Esab). Check craigslist and the classified ads on your local TV or newspaper web sites. And if you need to get a lower cost welder you can always find cheap welders cheaper which someone else has decided to upgrade.

And of course check out the welder in person before buying it.

Ken

Corey, I also say spend the extra for a quality welder. I see your not that young, your profile says 31, so if your serious and going to school for welding make the investment. You should also see if you qualify for any school discounts. The Hobart mentioned does look like a sweet machine and it looks like you can get into it complete for under $1300. Or look for a nice used 250 Miller or Lincoln mig for that same price range. They're a work horse that you'll have for many years.
Good luck, Ed K.

Thanks for the responses...Im not sure what im going to do. With race season coming up I need a welder pretty quick. I have some stuff I need to build for our new race hauler. I might have to buy this one and then start saving money.
Curious if you guys know whats wrong with my century...
The problem is that when im welding it will just quit feeding the wire...I know it has wire in it, and I know the tension is ok and all the obvious stuff...I was thinking about replacing the steel liner I dont know if they go bad or not? Its a flux core welder and im just not very smart when it comes to fixing these things! Lol
Oh and something else...the last time it quit I took all the wire out of the hose and cut off a piece of wire and ran it down in the tube to see if there was something in it...I couldnt even get the wire to go down it.
Please help!!

Repairing your current welder would definitely be cheaper than buying a new one. It sounds like you are close to finding the problem. The wire should, make that must, slide smoothly and easily through the liner. Liners can become worn, rough, dirty etc. They are a normal replacement part.

First - did you remove the contact tip before trying to feed the wire? If not, make sure the wire will pass through the tip without resistance and try a new tip. If the tip is OK, blowing out the liner with compressed air. If the wire still will not pass easily then a new liner is indicated. I can not tell you where to buy a new one but a little searching on-line probably can.

Ken

Corey,

From what you describe, it's most likely the hose liner. They can go bad after a while. Any welding supply should be able to replace it for you at a nominal cost. You could probably even do it yourself, but it can be an aggravating experience if you've never done it before.

Steve

taylorkh wrote:Repairing your current welder would definitely be cheaper than buying a new one. It sounds like you are close to finding the problem. The wire should, make that must, slide smoothly and easily through the liner. Liners can become worn, rough, dirty etc. They are a normal replacement part.

First - did you remove the contact tip before trying to feed the wire? If not, make sure the wire will pass through the tip without resistance and try a new tip. If the tip is OK, blowing out the liner with compressed air. If the wire still will not pass easily then a new liner is indicated. I can not tell you where to buy a new one but a little searching on-line probably can.

Ken

While replacing the liner I would replace the drive wheel also. When the wire isn't moving something has to give and I have found that the drive wheel is it.

Another thing to consider is trying to keep the torch lead as staright as possible................wire travels easier thru a staright line than thru a bunch of loops!!!

If I replace the liner...does it matter what kind it is as long as I get the ones made for 0.35 wire?
Once again I'm a noob!

Hi there,

You must make sure to get a liner that is the same brand as your mig or a "generic" brand, that is,one that is made specifically for the model of your mig by another company. This is because the all vary in the way they go into the gun. The place you bought the mig from should set you straight. Or seach on google.

Mick

The fitting on the end of the liner where it attaches to the welder is going to be machine specific. The other end is just an open tube. The liner will probably be longer then necessary so that you can cut it to the proper length. I have found the best way to cut the liner is with a Dremel cutoff disk. After you make the cut, be sure that there are no burrs on the inside of the liner for the wire to snag on.

Do you have a manual for the machine? If so, it will probably list the part number for the liner. Otherwise you will need to track down the manufacturer. Lincoln Electric has made or perhaps still makes some welders titled Century. Their web site lists a 100, 140, 180 and 225. If yours is in fact a 125 it might be Lincoln or it might be a knockoff. Give Lincoln a call. If it is in fact a Lincoln product the liner should be easy to obtain.

Ken

Thanks for the response!

I think it is a Lincoln Product because it says made in USA on it..it has a Tweco gun. I go to go out to the shop and mess with it tonight. The problem is that when im feeding the wire through it it will go for awhile through the hose then it will hit something in the line I guess and it starts bending the line out where it goes into the liner. I think I fixed it though, we will see tomorrow when I weld something. I will post pics of what its doing if its messed up.
Thanks guys!

I got it working and it welds really nice! Thanks for all the tips you guys are awesome!

If I'm not mistaken, Century Welders are a lower end machine made by Lincoln? We see them at places like Princess Auto here in Canada. They are exactly like Harbor Freight stores in the US.
As already suggested, your local welding supply house should be able to help with parts.

Let us know how you make out. I am also looking seriously at the Hobart 210 MVP as Jody recommends. It should do everything I need at home.
Check this link out. I don't know what model you have, bu they list a liner for a century machine!
http://www.usaweld.com/Century-MIG-Weld ... -parts.htm

Thanks for the link and info!

Racer, I was in the same position you are in. What mig welder should I buy. I shopped for months! Harbor freight? Thermal arc? Inverter? How about Hobart? One of the best advice I got was from this forum. Spend a little more cash and get a welder you'll be happy with. You're gonna hate yourself if you get a welder you're not happy with. I even saw a you tube video about a guy who bought a stick welder from HF. He said it's a piece of junk, but, it will weld. ??? Inverter technology is nice, but, it's new. Some say it will weld al. some say it won't. When I went to school to get my beginning cert., I learned stick welding. Mig was secondary. I already have a buzz box, but, can't run it. The apartment I live in doesn't have the power. So, two weeks ago, my welder finally came. Lincoln SP 140T. An industrial grade mig welder that will weld 3/8" on a single pass. Nice! I haven't regretted for a minute. Online 33% off. Great bargain. Now I have to save up for a bottle.