how come your synchrowave looks diff than mine ? im guessing cuz you got the running gear. i didnt get it =T too broke

 

thats the older model syncro wave the new ones have the digital meters

 

This model was bought brand new in 2002 so you might have got yours a little after that. I have yet to use it, I gotta run to home depot and get another extension cord with adapter plugs.

 

yeah mine was that was the model right before the digital one

 

Well after about 30 minutes of playing around with it I'm already starting to get some nice beads. I am looking forward to tons of practicing and perfecting the art.

 

I'm afraid that is not, in fact, a nice bead.

just looking at some of the welding on this site, you guys could easily benefit from a grade 10 welding class.

you'd learn the difference between a crappy weld, and a good weld.

 

looks liek your starting and going,. staring and going? before you stop welding on steel you need to gradually get off the pedal and let it kinda cool or youll get a dimple/hole in it.

 

Hey people,

I have a question that I think is important to me, if you can answer them I would appriciate it alot. So here goes...

I still live with my parents, so that means that its their house and I cant damage their house and stuff like that...Anyways, one of my friends lends me his Millermatic 150 MIG welder, because I have always wanted to try welding. My dad sees it and says that I cannot have this machine in the garage, due to the fact that it could burn the house down because of the sparks and something about house insurace when it goes on fire. I tell him that this welder draws almost the same amount of power as a cloths dryer (220V 15A). This welder requires an input of 230V 20A, there is a difference but I dont think its that big difference. So basically I explain to him that there isnt much that difference and that it will be fine. He says that he does not want it because he thinks its different and that the welder is an industrial welding machine and that I can burn the garage down with the sparks and stuff. Then he says something about having a special insurance and blah blah, for having a welder that big cuz it might burn the garage...

So, my questions are:
-Is this welder considered BIG?
-Can it be used at a small 1 car garage?
-Is it safe with all the sparks and stuff?
-Would I really need a special insurace for the house?

I would still like to have a welder in the garage to do exhaust piping install, but if I dont get to create a manifold (due to the fact that its my parents house) its ok. I could probably be ok or my parents would be more leanant (sp?) having a small welder...My other question is that what kind of welder is good to weld piping (exhaust or charge pipes) that will run off a 115V outlet? or 110V? I see some of the 115V that has a output range 30-70amps and can weld to around 18-14ga metal, is that good enought for exhaust/hanger/charge piping welding?

I would like to say im sorry for making a LONG post, I just had an BIG argument with my parents and I wanted to ask your experience and your inputs about these...

Thank you...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm afraid that is not, in fact, a nice bead.

just looking at some of the welding on this site, you guys could easily benefit from a grade 10 welding class.

you'd learn the difference between a crappy weld, and a good weld.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah, i totally agree:



that looks horrible.

 

the last time i checked, sheet rock is non flammable, and we have an ingenous invention of "circut breakers" which keep idiots from overloading a circut to the point of causing an electrical fire..

Just dont weld near oily rags or gas... or rags soaked in gas, or any other flammable liquid, and keep the garage door open at least partway to vent the noxious fumes..

There are many "garage welders" me being one of them, i wired up my own commercial unit, and wired in my own 100 amp breaker from the garage to the house. No electrical problems, no fires, and i weld on a daily basis using the three common processes...

And im sure there are at LEAST 20 members here on hondatech who have a similar situation where they weld in there garage on a regular or semi-regular basis without risk of fire to the house, but it is never a bad idea to keep a fire extinguisher handy, because accidents can and do happen.

Brad

if you get your parents to read this let them read this..

Dont be paranoid! A welder can only cause a fire if you weld next to Highly flammable materials! Even in the event of a small localised fire (say a paper towel, or a peice of clothing) It will be nothing beyond the capabilities of a garden hose or a foot cant put out, as long as you do not store flammable liquids in the area, because sheetrock which is installed in most home garages is not a flamable material, and the current draw of the welder in the WORST case scenario will trip the circut breaker from time to time, in which case you have to go to the breaker panel, and re-set it....

oh, and comment on the above pic, looks like a lot of undercut?

perhaps instead of just commenting saying that you need to take a welding class, you could make a more proactive comment

 

Hey Brad,

Thank you for replying so quickly, I appriciate your input on this issue. You know, its just that I think its really really hard to actually convince them that its safe (if you take caution) to use a welder, but they just dont want it in the garage. I have already explained to them about circuit breakers and such...but still the answer is "no". I think I just basically gave up on trying to win the argument about the welder, thats why I asked "hondatech members" about smaller 115V welding machine to see what is good enough to weld exhaust piping and hangers and charge pipes...I know its still welding but since this is a smaller voltage (115V vs. 230V), they might be a bit more understanding...but highly doubt it though...but I can always try....this really sucks...

I think a 230V welder is out of the question already...But I still want a welder to weld exhaust piping...so I would like to know what kind of 115V welder should I get...any recommended specs (required Amprage?, duty cycle?, type: MIG?,wire feed?)

thank you..

 

Just spent the past day reading the past 30 pages or so....wow.


http://weldingmachinesdirect.com/catalog_120.html [http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...57039]
is this thing any good at all? it says TIG but the amperage maxes out at 120. I think it can be bought for ~~ $450

LINCOLN SP135T MIG WELDER NEW NR 120V
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...23252
If not the TIG (i wish, too good to be true) above, is this the next best affordable thing out there?

 

nice...thanks for refering that 120V welder....ill go look around for some more..

thanks again

 

mig welding does make a lot of sparks. if you're not on top of what's going on it wouldn't be that hard to catch your house on fire. just make sure you don't have a bunch of junk around the garage that can catch on fire.

 

I use a 110v or 120v or whatever welder. I've done plenty of charge piping and exhaust piping and I only use about half power on the welder.

 

For mig or stick welding I put up a welding curtain to contain the sparks in a certain area of where I am welding. If they dont want you welding inside tell them you can take it outside and just make an extension cord

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Redlineracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">For mig or stick welding I put up a welding curtain to contain the sparks in a certain area of where I am welding. If they dont want you welding inside tell them you can take it outside and just make an extension cord</TD></TR></TABLE>

and then give them the bird.. just like the kid in your avatar! hahahha

for the bird.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sporkcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I use a 110v or 120v or whatever welder. I've done plenty of charge piping and exhaust piping and I only use about half power on the welder.</TD></TR></TABLE>

sporkcrx: Would you happen to have the specs of your welder? or a picture? I am interested to know thats why..thank you in advance...

Also, for the other people...thanks for the other inputs...I appriciate it, yeah I did think about welding outside, because we do have a car port that is outdoor and its open air. I guess my parents are concern about it being such a comerical type welder..and they are afraid of it drawing too much current, and causing fire due to sparks and the current draw and such.. Will see what happends...Thanks again!

But I do have a question regarding small 115V welders. What does a 115V welding machine determine if its good or not? Is it the Brand (miller,lincon etc.) Is it the output power (amps, voltage?) Or is it the amount of thickness/thinnest it can weld? I would like to know what makes it good or not...because I saw some at Ebay that range from 100-200 for a small welder (115V-120V 15A-20A input). Some of the welding machine says that it does not require gas, others say you can not use it with with gas, but there is capability of gas.

Oh I saw others that is a WIRE feed although its not a MIG? I thought that all wire feeds are MIG welders...and the ones that uses stick is ARC and the other expensive one is TIG. Because I saw some welding machines that says its a wire feed, but its not a MIG? im confused about this?

Sorry for the questions...im new to this welding..and finding it very interesting...MY purpose to get a welding machine is to weld things for cars...like exhaust piping, charge pipes for turbos (not making manifolds), and making other small things like strut bars, boxes, brakets...etc...


Modified by hondaboii at 4:27 AM 2/23/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by integra-modder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
http://weldingmachinesdirect.com/catalog_120.html [http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...57039]
is this thing any good at all? it says TIG but the amperage maxes out at 120. I think it can be bought for ~~ $450

LINCOLN SP135T MIG WELDER NEW NR 120V
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...23252
If not the TIG (i wish, too good to be true) above, is this the next best affordable thing out there?</TD></TR></TABLE>


anyone know?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hondaboii &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

sporkcrx: Would you happen to have the specs of your welder? or a picture? I am interested to know thats why..thank you in advance...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Here ya go, it's just a cheap remaned one from harbor freight, but has more than enough power to get the job done for piping, which is what I bought it for. I have more fun just screwing around with it than actually making stuff though Welder was like $200-$300 (some $100 off sale) and the gas and regulator and everything was about another $200.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by integra-modder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


anyone know?</TD></TR></TABLE>


Thats the one i have (135 from Lincoln) and it was the best one i could find that used the 120, although i didnt really look anywhere other then lowes.. haha

its not as powerful as i want but it does the job when i weld with 304L or 308 stainless steel wire .30 size i think it doesnt penetrate as much as id like/should but with the steel wire like .25 it does good. i always use the thing at (D) the highest setting and speed 3-3.5 and it works good. i made a manifold for my t3/t4 using the ss 304L 90's sch 40 that everyone else uses and it worked fine. so id give it a if you cant use a 220

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sporkcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Here ya go, it's just a cheap remaned one from harbor freight, but has more than enough power to get the job done for piping, which is what I bought it for. I have more fun just screwing around with it than actually making stuff though Welder was like $200-$300 (some $100 off sale) and the gas and regulator and everything was about another $200.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Wow, thanks sporkcrx...If you dont mind, can I ask you how BIG that tank is? and is that tank enough for your job? how long (how many Hours) can you use it for? And what type of gas is it? Is it a CO2/Argon mix?

Is your welding machine a MIG welder or just a wire feed? is there a difference anyways??

thank you again, and have a good day...

 

that tank is about 30 CF i think, personally i use an 80 CF one because it lasts a LOT longer and its only a few more $ to get it filled than one less that half it's size. mines about 3.5 ft tall, and ive been using it for like 4 hours maybe, and its only about 1/12th its capacity down.

for MIG you use a 75%CO2/25% argon mix.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hybridvteceg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that tank is about 30 CF i think, personally i use an 80 CF one because it lasts a LOT longer and its only a few more $ to get it filled than one less that half it's size. mines about 3.5 ft tall, and ive been using it for like 4 hours maybe, and its only about 1/12th its capacity down.

for MIG you use a 75%CO2/25% argon mix.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ok, after doing some reading and looking around this is what I learned:
-There are welding machines that is WIRE FEED, but its NOT a MIG welder.
-To be able to be a MIG welder, you need to use the C02/Argon Mix gas tank.
-FLUX CORE wire used in wire feed welders is like a replacement of a true Mig welder that uses the gas tank (this one im not so sure).
-There are welders there that has the option of becoming a MIG because it gives the gas use capabilities.

My question is now, what is the difference between Flux Core wires and using the GAS? Is the penetration not as good? or is the weld not as strong? or is it does not give a good finish?

Thanks again for the inputs, I really appriciate it...I am also sorry to be asking alot of questions its just this is my way of learning about things! Thanks again..

 

flux core basically sux, tons of splatter, the gas give a perfect environment to weld in. ans its much cleaner and better penetration.