Ive been thinking about a from scratch intake for a while now and since aluminum is pricey and tricky to weld and the right equipment is serious cash. I was wondering about the flux wire mig welders for steel. the oil from the pcv valve if located behind the throttle body might have enough oil dispersion to prevent rust on the inside in r&d stage. I want to run on 110 volts if anyone has any input as far as whats not worth buying it would be appreciated.
cheapo mig welder
- Thread starter glen45
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RE: cheapo mig welder
So your going to build one out of steel????
Cause a MIG welder will not weld alluminum.If you get a decent flux core welder you can get a decent weld on steel but its not as clean as a gas weld.Most of the 110 machines can be set up to workwith gas OR flux.You just have to buy a tank and regulator to use gas.The flux wire gets a little better penetration as well, so you can weld thicker metal if you have to.
Let me know if you want some help picking out a machine.
So your going to build one out of steel????
Cause a MIG welder will not weld alluminum.If you get a decent flux core welder you can get a decent weld on steel but its not as clean as a gas weld.Most of the 110 machines can be set up to workwith gas OR flux.You just have to buy a tank and regulator to use gas.The flux wire gets a little better penetration as well, so you can weld thicker metal if you have to.
Let me know if you want some help picking out a machine.
RE: cheapo mig welder
I have a Miller Millermatic 110 welder. Its a gas 110v one, and works GREAT. I have gotten good welds on 1/4" plate with it. I also have a big Miller 220 thats for SERIOUS work, and the Bobcat225G for field work. I tried MIGing Aluminum, and like they said, it aint happenin.
I have a Miller Millermatic 110 welder. Its a gas 110v one, and works GREAT. I have gotten good welds on 1/4" plate with it. I also have a big Miller 220 thats for SERIOUS work, and the Bobcat225G for field work. I tried MIGing Aluminum, and like they said, it aint happenin.
M8SHOSCGUY
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RE: cheapo mig welder
I'm not a welding expert by any means, but I have a Chicago Electric (Harbor Freight) 160 amp, 220V MIG welder with the full Gas set up. I wouldn't mess with the flux core stuff, it's glorified stick welding and leaves lots of slag and porous welds. I never had much success with stick welding on body panels (Burns right through). Stick/Flux Core is probably marginally acceptable for heavy thick plate welding where you don't care what it looks like. Although the wire feed on my harbor freight special isn't that good (pinch roller/motor drive is kind of weak), I've had superb results on steel with 75/25% Argon/CO2 gas. The faster the wire feed for thick metal, the more stable the wire feed. I rebuilt the motor drive electronics to give the motor more torque, and it's acceptable now. I'm sure the $$ name brand MIGS (miller, lincoln etc.) have bullet proof wire feeds. With mine, I can cut out a piece of body panel and weld in an exact fit new piece using a "Butt" weld that's flush without too much effort/skill or excessive grinding. Also, you can use a MIG to make near perfect "spot" welds that fill out and grind off real nice. I've heard all kinds of bad news about trying Aluminum with 100% argon with a MIG. Problem is the wire feed and stiff aluminum wire. For Aluminum, I'm experimenting with Aluminum brazing using Oxy/Acetylene. There's a guy on the net who sells the rod/flux for this at quite reasonable prices:
www.tinmantech.com
just received the rods/flux, going to try this weekend on my hacked Gen1 manifold.
mark
I'm not a welding expert by any means, but I have a Chicago Electric (Harbor Freight) 160 amp, 220V MIG welder with the full Gas set up. I wouldn't mess with the flux core stuff, it's glorified stick welding and leaves lots of slag and porous welds. I never had much success with stick welding on body panels (Burns right through). Stick/Flux Core is probably marginally acceptable for heavy thick plate welding where you don't care what it looks like. Although the wire feed on my harbor freight special isn't that good (pinch roller/motor drive is kind of weak), I've had superb results on steel with 75/25% Argon/CO2 gas. The faster the wire feed for thick metal, the more stable the wire feed. I rebuilt the motor drive electronics to give the motor more torque, and it's acceptable now. I'm sure the $$ name brand MIGS (miller, lincoln etc.) have bullet proof wire feeds. With mine, I can cut out a piece of body panel and weld in an exact fit new piece using a "Butt" weld that's flush without too much effort/skill or excessive grinding. Also, you can use a MIG to make near perfect "spot" welds that fill out and grind off real nice. I've heard all kinds of bad news about trying Aluminum with 100% argon with a MIG. Problem is the wire feed and stiff aluminum wire. For Aluminum, I'm experimenting with Aluminum brazing using Oxy/Acetylene. There's a guy on the net who sells the rod/flux for this at quite reasonable prices:
www.tinmantech.com
just received the rods/flux, going to try this weekend on my hacked Gen1 manifold.
mark