I’m getting ready to complete the stitch welds and add gussets to my 73 bare frame.
I purchased an Eastwood MiG 135 welder to do the task.
I haven’t welded since high school auto shop 50 years ago, and had a couple of questions about welding our C3 frames.
My welder has the option to use .030 - .035 flux cored wire or solid .023 - .030 solid or stainless wire.
If I use flux cored wire I do not need to use shielding gas, which means, I don’t need to buy or rent a gas canister and purchase gas.
My questions are,
Which works best for welding our frames and,
Which provides a better, stronger weld?
Any pros and cons for either method are welcome!
Thanks again,
Greg

 

I will ask the master when he gets back from the race

 

That is some beautiful welding

 

You should see the tig

 

If you're running GMAW, use shielding gas (92/8 Argon/CO2) with solid core E70C wire (AWS 5.18).
Lars

 

Thanks Lars,
That is the same shielding gas mixture and solid core wire combination that is in the Eastwood instruction manual that came with the welder.
I think I’ll follow your suggestions.
Greg

 

There's a reason for that...
Lars
Former AWS & ASME Welding Certifier for Lockheed Martin Space Systems

 

If you have a small roll of flux core wire make a couple of test welds with it and then do the same with solid core wire and shielding gas. After which You will probably be able to tell people That you have welded with flux core once and only once. If your going to weld outside with a little breeze you might have to weld with flux core. In shipyards where they weld outside every day they use both. The wire is flux core and they are also using a shielding gas. But they are not the same flux core and gas you will be using. Check the local Craigslist etc for used argon-Co2 bottles they can be had pretty cheap. But educate yourself first, there are owned bottles and leased bottles. Argon and C02 bottles can generally be swapped when you go to have them refilled. Go talk to your local welding store they will be glad to show you the differance between the two. And be very aware that there are Co2 bottles that are used for filling soda machines and balloons etc they are not exchangable at the welding store.

 

My dad worked for the Hughes Aircraft Space Division for over 35 years and retired.
Both of my grandparents worked for and retired from Lockheed.
I spent 15 years with General Dynamics Research and Development Weapons Systems Field Test.
Fun times for sure!

 

I have puppy duty this afternoon and when Kristine gets home I’m heading over to the AirGas warehouse for some supplies.
I buy my own propane tanks because I know where they have been.
Too many of the rented tanks get used at mini drug labs.

 

The reason some welds look so great is because the welder person welds a lot or practices a lot. I use a gas mig. Big gas bottle for regular use a spare small bottle for when you run out on a weekend.
Before I do welding that needs look nice and penetrate I practice on like thickness material. Horizontal and vertical.

 

So - let me start out by saying that I am not a Welder - I'm someone who kinda knows how to weld, but I'm FAR FAR from a pro.

First off - you have a 120 Volt welder. If you plug it into a standard 15 Amp circuit - there are about 1,875 watts of electricity available. GMAW (MIG) Welders run in the 20 - 22 volt range, so if you do a little math - you have 80 - 90 amps available (assuming the welder is 100% efficient - which it isn't). That's on the light side for frame work. Typically you want 1 amp per 0.001" of metal you're working with - so 1/8" steel is typically welded with around 125 Amps. (I just did some frame welding on a 2500 pick-up for a friend, and I had my 175 Amp (220V) MIG turned all the way up, and it was still a bit on the light side).

Now as far as flux core wire vs solid wire. If you weld with solid wire - you need a Shielding Gas - period.... There are several mixes that will work fine - I typically use a 75% / 25% mix - but don't get hung up on that. Most MIG units are set up to handle the shielding gas - but that's not true of all of the inexpensive ones. You'll also need a Tank of shielding gas, and a regulator, The solid wire is significantly less expensive then the flux core wire, and typically gives better looking welds. If you use the flux core wire - you NEED to go back over the weld and remove any flux "Slag" after welding - particularly if you are going to do multiple passes. Most Pros that I know use solid core MIG wire ... I don't know if the welds made with solid core wire are actually stronger than the flux core wire, but I doubt that there is a significant difference. The most common solid core wire has a 70,000 Lb per square inch strength.

As for the wire size - it's driven by the weld current. 0.030 solid wire is what i typically use - and it works well in the 100 Amp range. If you're doing sheet metal work - you need to use the 0.023 wire. 0.035 solid wire would be appropriate when you get to 125+ Amps*you can use it lower than that - but it's not really buying you anything).

BUT the most important pieces of advice I can give you are:

1) Get the surfaces to be welded clean - wire brush / grind them, and get rid of any rust or foreign material.
2) Get yourself some scrap metal roughly the thickness of the frame - and PRACTICE on that stuff till you're pretty happy with both the welder settings and with your work.

 

I went to the AirGas warehouse this afternoon and talked with their rep.
He said if I was welding in a shop or space protected from the wind he would suggest solid wire and gas.
He suggested that I didn’t weld in my small two car garage attached to the house and since I will be welding outside on my driveway that I use flux core wire and not use shielding gas.
He told me that with the constant breezy conditions we have that attempting to use shielding gas would cause me problems.
The rep said both welding methods are great for the job I’m doing but I’ll just have more splatter and cleanup when I’m done.
I may go back tomorrow and get a canister of shielding gas and give it a try outside.
The problem is it would be an expensive experiment, $300.00 for the canister and $100.00 for the gas.

 

So let’s break this down alittle. The regulator and hose shouldn’t be more than $150 tops. If you’re finishing off welds you shouldn’t need anymore than a 40 cubic ft tank.

The bottle and fill can be confusing. If you don’t want any rental/lease fees where you “own” your tank require you to purchase a new tank to buy in with them. Most of the time you’ll never see that tank though. The tank cost is roughly $300 for a 40 CF. When you walk out of the store you will likely have a used but certified tank, I’ll get into that in a moment. The cost to fill the “tank” is roughly $50, but from then on out you’ll pay just the cost of the refill. So the price you gave is inline with that option. There are also leasing/renting options that each store/vendor has that might be appealing. Make sure you read the fine print. I encourage shopping around alittle because every vendor is different. I would imagine a local Mom and Pop would probably cut you the best deal.

Tank safety. The reason why they require you to buy a new tank to opt in on a tank you own is due to DOT laws. A bottle MUST be certified/decertified every so often. The next time you need gas or even that time the new bottle gets turned in and you pay just the $50 refill cost but the gas supplier is supposed to check the tank they issue you for certification and safety. Welding tanks have the gas compressed to 2000+ psi on a full tank. I don’t know if you have any idea how much kinetic energy that is, but if you don’t you should probably do the math so you know what is living in your garage. If a C40 bottle had a sudden pressure release (explosion), you would likely be missing a portion of your garage even though the gas itself isn’t dangerous. Bigger bottles just adds it up.

I personally bought my own tank and exchange it when I need to. I have a 40 CF tank and it lasts me as a hobby guy forever.

 

Like you, I’m just a hobbyist and I’m sure the gas would last me a long time.
I don’t mind spending the $400.00 for a tank and gas, if I can have my tank refilled when I need it and not necessarily do an exchange.
If I had to do the exchange, so be it, as long as I get a certified tank in return.
I did ask about the rental and he said over the course of 6 months you’ll be about even with money spent.
It does freak me out a little to weld inside my barely two car garage.
There is a side exit man door so I can get plenty of ventilation, but it’s the fumes going into the house and fire dangers.
If I weld outside on the driveway the issue is that we have a “Delta Breeze” that blows off the SF Bay almost everyday.
About the only still days we have is when the temps hit over 100, which isn’t very often.
According to the welding supply rep, welding outside with a breeze isn’t good conditions for welding with solid core wire and shielding gas, and I’m better off using flux core wire and deal with more slag and splatter to clean up.
There is another welding supply in my area and I’ll see what they tell me tomorrow.
My goal is doing the best job possible and if I can use solid core wire and gas I will, if not then I’ll have to use flux core.

 

Get the gas setup and rig yourself up as 3-sided temporary surround to block the wind.
You will get comfortable with welding inside your garage over time.
Also, make sure you don’t weld less than 15-30 minutes before leaving your garage for the night, or for lunch or whatever.

 

Too bad I am not closer to you I am down in the Fresno area and have an extra MIG tank for sale, empty and needs cert. I think it's a 125 size (4') tall $250-

 

That would be a nice deal, but the biggest recommended size tank to fit my welding cart is a 60cf.

 

I called around this morning and found a welding supplier who quoted me cheaper prices than AirGas.
So this afternoon I’ll be heading out for the canister and gas.
Thanks for pushing me in this direction.
I know I’ll be happier with the finished product.

 

On average I have paid $50 to $80 for a Argon Bottle used. More often than not there is more value in the Gas that's inside the Bottle. Craigslist most people know what they are selling, and I am finding out that facebook market place most people don't. An add listed as Grampa's Welding Stuff can be some good deals.