Mig Welder Review

[Rspike]

Sorry if it seems like I was "picking" on you Rspike... After all you are the only person on here who has bothered to post any pics right I don't claim to be a "know it all" on the subject and I'm sorry for anyone who may have taken it this way (I just reread my own post and took it that way), but I do like to state the bad more than I do the good and I am always looking for ways to improve on my own welds... Although you learn from both the good and bad, the bad has the most effect and is why I was pointing out the things I did...

True that , I just now got to reading your post........I had to go get a fresh drink before i started. I agree with you there about being hard on ones self to get better at welding. 99% of everything we weld is 1/4" mild steel and stainless steel and up to 1" so we dont Tig too often but we have the service. Joint prep is one of my biggest pet peeves in the shop . One needs to work on penetration FIRST before mastering the nice looking bead ....... the thing is when you have proper joint prep and penetration the weld beat come out as it should. Most of the time it just amazes new welders what his bead looks like when it was done right in the first place. The one thing about welding is you never stop learning.

 

[Rspike]

Anybody see anything wrong with this fabrication ? Firewood trailer.

 

[chowdozer]

Anybody see anything wrong with this fabrication ? Firewood trailer.

Not enough heat for me. Turn it up! Oh, sorry, you have a 110 machine.

 

[TopJimmy]

: Your right about the $$ of tig ...... most would be better off having the odd job done for just a few jobs that "need" the services of Tig. There are odd jobs in my shop you just cant justify a $10,000-$30,000 machine for the few time it needs done so we hire it out. good review.

Unfortunately so true. I have been trying to justify buying a tig setup. I have expensive tastes and will not buy one untill I can get the setup I want. It would be a Dynasty 200 or 300 with all the bells and whistles. Every time I start to consider it, I realize that if I took every dollar I have paid someone to tig weld something for me and every dollar I will most likely spend the rest of my life, I would not spend as much as welder cost.

Of course it is nice to have it in the shop and ready to use when needed, plus I am sure that I would find all sorts of uses that I am not paying someone to do now.

My only chance is if I come across a steal at an auction.

Jim

 

[Rspike]

Not enough heat for me. Turn it up! Oh, sorry, you have a 110 machine.

I dont own a 110 welder chowdozer. BTW guys, this trailer was stick welded.

 

[Rspike]

Unfortunately so true. I have been trying to justify buying a tig setup. I have expensive tastes and will not buy one untill I can get the setup I want. It would be a Dynasty 200 or 300 with all the bells and whistles. Every time I start to consider it, I realize that if I took every dollar I have paid someone to tig weld something for me and every dollar I will most likely spend the rest of my life, I would not spend as much as welder cost.

Of course it is nice to have it in the shop and ready to use when needed, plus I am sure that I would find all sorts of uses that I am not paying someone to do now.

My only chance is if I come across a steal at an auction.

Jim

True there, good for you saving for what you want. Nothing wrong with over buying for your needs if tht what you like. How many of us "have to have" as many chainsaw as we do ? Nothing wrong with big boy "toys"

 

[RaisedByWolves]

That crazy ass square corner in pic 3.


Not much prep overall pic 4.



Umm, lemmie go look summore.....

 

[TopJimmy]

Those are nice looking welds for a stick. I learned on a mig and am not very good with the stick. I keep thinking about taking a class at the jr. college a few miles away. I only stick weld when I need to weld in the field.

Jim

 

[RaisedByWolves]

OK, the funky ass stress rizer that is in most of the pics, I were confused with the pic #'s at first.




Better to have that at the top or not to have it at all. Or the transition should at least have been blended somehow.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

One more thing, its a ford bed!

 

[Rspike]

One more thing, its a ford bed!

is that good or bad ?

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Wellllll, it accounts for the funky alignment.:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Rspike]

:hmm3grin2orange: Dont go away RaisedByWolves i have a follow up post.

Wellllll, it accounts for the funky alignment.:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Standing by.....

 

[Rspike]

#1 it was made for "FIRE WOOD" so we already know its going to get overloaded at some point in its life. #1 If you look at the pics the new added frame is a different size and does not match at the bottom, if its going to have a stress point it going to be here. #2 The rule for frames is vertical welds are bad so they should be over come. #3 the added "fish plate" that is added is CUT being two peices and is also a vertical weld so in reality the strapping plate / fish plate is pointless. If the weld cracks up the joint there is nothing stopping it. The following pic's are the chop and re-fabricate to build the frame as it should of been made.

 

[Rspike]

2 more.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Heh, I didnt even catch the verticle seam. I got so happy finding the obvious that I quit thinkin.


The second set of pics look very nice, was that stick?


I think youll bend the frame before the joined area gives up.



*edit, Nice jack!! I hate when PPL skimp on the jack.

 

[Rspike]

Heh, I didnt even catch the verticle seam. I got so happy finding the obvious that I quit thinkin.


The second set of pics look very nice, was that stick?


I think youll bend the frame before the joined area gives up.

The follow up cut and re-fabricate was mig. ( Millermatic 210 ) When you look across the frame to the back side you can see it was HOT. The new fish plate is 15" long vs 4.5" and the new plate is bent to form the angle. NOW she can pull some firewood.

I think youll bend the frame before the joined area gives up.

thats also the idea of the long fish plate and it being welded horizonal . less chance to get a stress crack.

 

[brncreeper]

Looks like good penetration on pic#12, I’ll take a guess you had it set about 140 amps.

 

[Rspike]

*edit, Nice jack!! I hate when PPL skimp on the jack.

rated at 3,000 lbs 4k max. Not that the trailer it self would ever need it but if it was filled with wood and need to be off the hitch then it comes into play.