hey guys. i ran to homedepot and picked up their $250 flux welder. ive done some research on this but im fairly new on this subject. anything links or great info i need to help me with my new project. 3" Mildsteel downpipe and a 2" and 2.5 aluminum charge pipe. will i need special wire for the mild steel and then the aluminum? thanks guys

 

?

 

If it's just a flux-cored welder have fun with the aluminum. You need shielding gas for aluminum (read: MIG, preferbly TIG for thinner materials).

 

do i REALLY need the shielding gas?
What do u mean read mig and tig, is this a book or a post,etc?

 

you need to just return that welder and pay someone to make the welds for you.

you cant weld aluminum with that.

 

I totally agree...

An arc welder is made for welding submarine hulls and skyscrapers...not turbo piping

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 8mpg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I totally agree...

An arc welder is made for welding submarine hulls and skyscrapers...not turbo piping</TD></TR></TABLE>

what the hell are you talking about? First off, he didnt buy a stick welder, he bought a mig that has no attachments for running a gas setup, so its only using flux core wire. Also, stick welding can be used to do a lot more things than industrial type welding. Please get your facts straight

 

no stick is pretty useless in all auto applications i can think of.

 

its not stick its flux wire and YES there ARE NOT any attachments for gas.
OK so if i cant do my aluminum pipe then i can still do my Down pipe and catback (mildsteel)
paid a little over 300 for it. muffler shop wanted 25bux per weld. i probably have about 15-20 welds

 

i know its not arc.

but seriously you should still return it and get something like a gassed hobart 140...



i would actually even take an oxy setup over that one.
but then again i can weld pretty well with oxy.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mrrugsr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">then i can still do my Down pipe and catback (mildsteel)
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Yes you can.

 

LOL

sorry, Im retareded and didnt read it right


Flux core will definately work but be prepared to do some metal cleaning. To me the biggest drawback of a flux core is the sputter when you weld. I would definately look into a gas conversion if the machine is capable of it and you want to keep it. Its almost impossible to weld alum without some major sheilding gas

 

or a spool gun.

 

i can always return it and get a gased one for the same amount. think i should?
more possiblities?
what gases would i need then

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dfoxengr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but seriously you should still return it and get something like a gassed hobart 140...


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youll need 75/25 argon co2 mix. talk to a welding supply store, lots of times the bigger ones beat prices, even on the internet and will give you a deal if you get the machine and gas from them..

 

welding place huh, ill have to find one around here

 

http://www.yellowpages.com

 

DUR
thanks man

 

You might want to check out eBay too. I got a pretty good deal (I think) on a Hobart Handler 140 from Toolking. It's a factory refurb but it looked pretty new to me. Also, I think it had the same warranty as a new one. However, I don't expect a it to be breaking on me anytime soon as Hobart is a respectable name. Anyway, it was $401 shipped and that included the regulator and gas hose. I just need a bottle now. I tested it out today for the first time on some .065 square steel tube and I must say that welding without shielding gas is pretty ***.

 

is that gas expensive?

 

gas on my 40cu ft is $15 a fill from Airgas

 

but hes gotta buy a cylinder...so tack on another $80

If you can return it and get one capable of gas...do it, even if you dont use gas for now. Trying to weld aluminium though is almost a waste of time. you need the super helium shelding gas which is expensive and a different spool gun and wire to weld it. The aluminium wire is like limp spaghetti and isnt going to flow out of as steel wire piece.

 

My buddy's dad just bought a small (waist high) tank that was 75 Argon 25 CO2 for $50. He bought the tank and had it filled for $50, didn't rent it.

I used a Harbor Freight fluxcore welder on my mildsteel downpipe and intercooler piping. Make sure the wire feed isn't too fast because you will get a lot of splatter.

Welding Al w/ a fluxcore is damned near impossible.

I don't know much about welding, but my friend's dad said that TIG is best for Al, and that you should use 100% Ar.

I'd take back the one you have and get a gas welder. You also have to pick up the appropriate wires for Mild Steel and Aluminum.

 

I am not sure I would waste my money on a mig if you plan on making charge piping and exhaust .... I did and now i have a miller 251 that collects dust .. go with the linc 185 i picked it over the mill 180 I got it a lil cheaper with more options

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by autosport7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am not sure I would waste my money on a mig if you plan on making charge piping and exhaust .... I did and now i have a miller 251 that collects dust .. go with the linc 185 i picked it over the mill 180 I got it a lil cheaper with more options</TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree. If you're going to use it once and then never again I'd get the cheapest thing that'll do the job. How many aluminum bends do you have? I had a local guy do 3 or 4 welds for only $20, but he was an older guy and he did the welds in his shop w/ no AC in the middle of a summer day for me, so I gave him $40.