floor pans

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If you are married you don't have to ask. Actually my daughter and her husband are moving out this weekend and my son is moving out Tuesday. The neighbor I ask for a lesson to help me get started is busy with family as well.
 
He is single, but has plans. He has Monday off, and I have to work.
 
It is a new unit. Would polarity be an issue. I tend to feel it is just a new experience for me. Just someone show me and make sure the machine is set up properly and I should be good to go. Thanks for the advise.
 
Tadams said:
It is a new unit. Would polarity be an issue. I tend to feel it is just a new experience for me. Just someone show me and make sure the machine is set up properly and I should be good to go. Thanks for the advise.
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I'm going to have to go use Dad's flux core machine just so I can give decent advice. Been running MIG too long to be a lot of help. Polarity is usually changed for aluminum and sometimes stainless.
 
I never ran my Hobart 140 on Flux wire so not sure how different it is. Other than being a bit messier, should be similar. I have run out of gas and know what that does...I think I found the right manual for that welder. Doesn't look like any polarity change on it since it can't run gas. Something you could check is wire feed. First does it feed out nice in open air? Next hold the tip on a board and feed it. Should have enough force to push back. If not you need to adjust wire feed. If all that is good and metal clean, you may just be going too fast. I checked my floor pan thickness and it was closest to 20ga. That welder is supposed to do 18ga to 1/8in. So should actually be slightly hot for this job at lowest setting. By the way, I am no expert. Had done some stick many years earlier,but I bought a mig welder because I needed to fix my Duster.First job on the car was floor pans..lol. but before I did that I got a bunch of scrap metal and built a cart for my welder.
 
Thanks. The wire feeds well. I moved the car outside for ventilation
It is just I have never used a welder before, but I'll get it.
 
Tadams said:
Thanks. The wire feeds well. I moved the car outside for ventilation
It is just I have never used a welder before, but I'll get it.
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I'm trying to learn without gas too. My problem is, even with a cheap HF auto darkening helmet, I can't see what the hell is going on. By the time I can sort of see the puddle, I've already blown through anything thinner. Very frustrating.
I'm working with a Lincoln Pro Core 125 (flux core only) I got on clearance NIB for $150. Nice welder for about the price of a HF unit.
 
The helmet I purchased from Lowe's when I picked up the welder
I can see with it really well.
My problem I'm sure is I have simply never used a welder
I can't get a puddle at all.
I'm certain once I have the proper temperature and wire speed, and whatever else, I'll be okay.
Thanks for your thoughts and good luck with your project.
 
Okay, off work today and thought I would try this again. Results are better, but not good enough. Adjustments temperature and wire speed. Finally can see the puddle that I couldn't see before. Thunderstorms are in the area so I guess I'm finished for today. I did better on flat surface thanks in joining pcs together.
What do you guys think. Getting closer?

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Thanks, I'm using the wire that came with the Lincoln unit. I think my problem is I have never welded before.
Trying to learn so I can do the floor pans.
 
Thanks, do you think if I increase the wire speed it would be to my advantage. It is at 3 1/2 now. Looks like it will be another week before I can try again. We have rain and thunder storms through Monday and I am working Monday through Wednesday next week.
Thanks for your input.
 
That seam weld looks good maybe a little more heat and try a circle puddle. Short welds with more heat or you will blow a hole.
 
I did have 1 hole, but understand to keep moving. Wish I had more time to practice and get this part complete so I could do some work on the body. Can hardly wait to see a new coat of paint on her
 
Tommy....a trick I learned about a butt weld seam like you're doing, is to beat a piece of copper water pipe flat to use as a backer where you are welding. The copper helps keep the welding wire from just running thru the seam, and it doesn't stick to the copper. The hard part is figuring out how to hold it in place and weld at the same time.
 
i
JDMopar said:
Tommy....a trick I learned about a butt weld seam like you're doing, is to beat a piece of copper water pipe flat to use as a backer where you are welding. The copper helps keep the welding wire from just running thru the seam, and it doesn't stick to the copper. The hard part is figuring out how to hold it in place and weld at the same time.
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got some small pieces of copper sheet at a local metal salvage. I hold them in place with magnets. you could split a piece of tube lengthwise and flatten it...
 
Good idea
I have to work till Thursday and I'll give it a try. Thanks for the advice
 
hi, as someone who is also relatively new to welding here is my advice.

1) some very helpful videos on youtube
2) dont jump into lap welding or butt welding, i found a good first step and confidence builder to do spot and plug welds. to accomplish this i simply drilled some 1/4 holes, clamped 2 pieces of metal together (one without holes) and started welding away. i found this to be the easiest way for me to see and follow the puddle when first starting out,

my machine is a millermatic 211, running on 110v, 25% gas and .030 wire. i messed with cheap welders and found they are just not worth the hassle, doesn't mean they cant get the job done, just not for me.

good luck
 
Thanks for the advice. I have watched a lot of u tube videos and I think they can help quite a bit. They can also make it look to easy for a total novice like me. I am making progress and will try again on Thursday my next day off. I thought when I retired I would have a lot of free time to finish this project. Work 4 days this week and then only 2 days a week. I know I could say no, but a good friend made me an offer if I would help him open a new store.
Thanks so much for your advice and good luck with your project.
 
I can't wait until I retire and have the choice of whether to work or not. I'm happy for you, that you have that choice now. I like my job, but I absolutely abhor and despise the company I'm having to work for after we got bought out. 2/3/17, I turn 59 1/2.....and it's one day at a time after that! :D
 
I finally went down and used the cheap HF flux core machine my dad had. He couldn't get his to work but he had never use a wire machine before. The main problem was the pinch roller on the wire feed was not tight enough and it would not feed at a consistent speed. Once I tightened that up all I had to do was play with the wire speed a bit. A shot of your machine settings could be helpful. For the 3/16 metal I was playing on I was on High with wire speed at 5 1/2. Don't move too fast and work the puddle. For the thin stuff you will probably be on low setting and wire speed 3 ish or so and may have to stitch weld. In other words just a little spot at a time.
 
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