MadManish
Member
- Posts
- 87
- Location
- Downham Market, Norfolk
Just wondering how low could an arc welder go?? And would it be suitable for the stuff I have mentioned?
Mig welder amps
- Thread starter MadManish
- Start date
This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
jamesmartin
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 91,879
- Location
- louth lincs
not imo
MadManish
Member
- Posts
- 87
- Location
- Downham Market, Norfolk
Sorry about that. Would a tig welder be better also what would I need to look out for with a tig??
Last edited:
Thor1950
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 39,238
- Location
- Land of the midnight sun
No. Tig is not the best for chassis repair on old rusty dirty chassis. With tig a controlled environment is best, not in a driveway laying on your back. The consumables for tig are expensive
MadManish
Member
- Posts
- 87
- Location
- Downham Market, Norfolk
I'm rather good at lead welding with an oxygen torch so I'm guessing it's not to different. Thanks for the words of encouragement mate
- Posts
- 3,275
- Location
- Rushden, Northants, UK
The problem with using an arc welder on sheet metal is getting a good enough arc on poor metal. You either have to turn the voltage right up to get the thing to strike and keep running, which then is too much for the size of material, or you end up with 'chicken sh*t' welds.
MIG is a much higher operating voltage to start with and easier to keep the arc running at lower currents.
MIG needs gas preferably, but many claim good results with gasless rods.
TIG is really for small detail work, I've never seen TIG on anything of any size and has is a pre-requisite there too.
The first thing you need is weldable metal. Rusty metal with rust holes throughout isn't going to give to a good weld, you need to cut back to good clean metal that can be welded to.
Most mistakes are made at the preparation stages, not enough prep and too eager to get in and weld.
Peter
MIG is a much higher operating voltage to start with and easier to keep the arc running at lower currents.
MIG needs gas preferably, but many claim good results with gasless rods.
TIG is really for small detail work, I've never seen TIG on anything of any size and has is a pre-requisite there too.
The first thing you need is weldable metal. Rusty metal with rust holes throughout isn't going to give to a good weld, you need to cut back to good clean metal that can be welded to.
Most mistakes are made at the preparation stages, not enough prep and too eager to get in and weld.
Peter
Last edited:
MadManish
Member
- Posts
- 87
- Location
- Downham Market, Norfolk
Thanks peter mig it shall be than. Anybody recommend one?? I was thinking a sealey mightymig 150 or a Clarke 150te
If you are any good you will be able to weld anything from 0.5mm m/s sheet with MMA (stick)
MIG is OK to fart on but you can get s good looking weld that isn't stuck to anything
If you are any good you can TIG weld baking foil. My party piece was to join two foils together from cigarette packs! It is also used for sticking together the 3/4" thick pile cap covers on nuclear power plants!
I was good back then, but old age is creeping up rapidly
Basically, if the work pieces are clean and prepped, it is possible to weld almost anything.
MIG is OK to fart on but you can get s good looking weld that isn't stuck to anything
If you are any good you can TIG weld baking foil. My party piece was to join two foils together from cigarette packs! It is also used for sticking together the 3/4" thick pile cap covers on nuclear power plants!
I was good back then, but old age is creeping up rapidly
Basically, if the work pieces are clean and prepped, it is possible to weld almost anything.
Dr_evil
Banned
- Posts
- 29,535
- Location
- Perched on the naughty step
TIG still isn't a viable method outdoors though Argon is too expensive for windy weather
Argon is too expensive for windy weather
MadManish
Member
- Posts
- 87
- Location
- Downham Market, Norfolk
Now I'm more confused than I was to start with :rolly:
Now I'm thinking of getting an mma
Now I'm thinking of getting an mma
Agreed!TIG still isn't a viable method outdoors though
jamesmartin
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 91,879
- Location
- louth lincs
dont ,why do you think migs so popular in every garage ,because its the most suitable and easiest to use
Dr_evil
Banned
- Posts
- 29,535
- Location
- Perched on the naughty step
If you can learn to stick weld on something thin you can mig weld........
Stick welding is far better for outdoor use too, hence I use it! Plus the duty cycle is unbeatable, 100% at 150A on stick is plenty or 180A on about the same but I give it a few mins every now and then to cool off
Stick welding is far better for outdoor use too, hence I use it! Plus the duty cycle is unbeatable, 100% at 150A on stick is plenty or 180A on about the same but I give it a few mins every now and then to cool off
How thick are the rods to weld at 150 amps?
I only use 100 absolute max but that may be where I'm going wrong, I find that lots of amps just melts the work so I spend more time at lower amps to get it nice and hot.
I'm not a welder so don't know if I'm doing it right
I only use 100 absolute max but that may be where I'm going wrong, I find that lots of amps just melts the work so I spend more time at lower amps to get it nice and hot.
I'm not a welder so don't know if I'm doing it right
Dr_evil
Banned
- Posts
- 29,535
- Location
- Perched on the naughty step
I use 1/8th at that heat but I've got some 3/8th rods somewhere which I cant burn at home
Also got some 3/16th ones which I can burn here
Also got some 3/16th ones which I can burn here
I use 1/8th at that heat but I've got some 3/8th rods somewhere which I cant burn at home
Also got some 3/16th ones which I can burn here
I just use thin ones at <40a, medium at 80a and thick at 100a
Don't know what size they are, think the thin are about 1.6mm
Dr_evil
Banned
- Posts
- 29,535
- Location
- Perched on the naughty step
3.2mm is 1/8th
for 1.6 I run 35A up to 60A depending on what I'm doing
for 1.6 I run 35A up to 60A depending on what I'm doing
40 max for mine on thin stuff, tried to weld an exhaust together though and failed, had to use the mig.
Got a TIG but don't know how to use it and no gas for it
