Knucklehead97 Posted June 12, 2015 Posted June 12, 2015 A buddy of mine is selling a CH 110 flux core welder for 100$ and it comes with some wire. I could probably talk him down to $80. Is this a good deal? I've never welded before but its what I wanted to go to trade school for. The reason I'm interested in this welder is cause it's flux core so I could use it outside. I don't have a garage, so. My brother in law knows how to weld so if I got this he could teach me. It wouldn't be for nothing thick. Just small projects on the Jeep sometimes. Opinions?
dasbulliwagen Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 It might be a good starting point for you but as soon as you get into school and use some real welders you won't like the flux core anymore. I saved and bought a Hobart 140 and a CO2/Argon tank and love it. I would consider my Hobart setup a bare minimum for someone who wants decent project welding on a regular basis.
Knucklehead97 Posted June 13, 2015 Author Posted June 13, 2015 If I had somewhere enclosed to put a full size MIG welder then I would save up and get one. Just don't have anywhere to work lol. Figured with this welder I could practice and have most of the technique behind MIG welding downpat before I get into school. And possibly fix up my exhaust and other small things. Definitely wouldn't be an every week welder. I'm guessing that 3/16" would be about the limit for this welder?
banshee Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Use it, get good with it, then later resell it and get your money back? Just a thought
Knucklehead97 Posted June 13, 2015 Author Posted June 13, 2015 Thats a possibility right there. My brother in law said he would go in with me and pay half cause he wants a welder to play with. Pretty sure I'll be getting it, now. Do you think it would be strong enough to put spring perches on an axle?
Knucklehead97 Posted June 13, 2015 Author Posted June 13, 2015 Dang it the guy sold it before I got back to him. Sucks. But, I will be looking for a used flux core unit like that now. Didn't realize they could sell so cheap. I'll jump on the next one!
64 Cheyenne Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Do you think it would be strong enough to put spring perches on an axle? No. You can use it to tack it in the correct position, then have welded by a 220V welder for proper penetration.
banshee Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Have to disagree the Ubolts do the work, the weld keeps it from rotating
Megadan Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 IMHO, get a welder that has gas hookups. You can run flux core on it, and later if you decide to run gas you just hook up the tank, regulator, and line(s) and tadaa.If you want a welder that can do stuff like spring perches you will want to get at least a 175-190amp unit. A basic rule of thumb for steel with welders is the amperage is the capability of steel thickness. A 200amp welder can weld 0.200", or in rounded terms, can handle 1/4" thick metal with no real muss or fuss.There are some tricks to get better penetration from less power, including using flux core wire with gas. The flux core wire, being hollow it acts like a thinner wire than it's actual diameter, and when used with shielding gas will give a much deeper penetration, but at the cost of a narrower weld. Common technique for guys that weld big beams making multiple passes.
Megadan Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Have to disagree the Ubolts do the work, the weld keeps it from rotating The welds are also under high lateral and angular torsional load. In english, it keeps the axle centered and takes side loads when the axle is not level relative to the body. The U-bolts are there to keep the spring clamped to the perch, the perch is supposed to take the majority of stress loads, hence why they are so thick.
Knucklehead97 Posted June 13, 2015 Author Posted June 13, 2015 For the spring perches, will definitely use a bigger welder, then. I just got a better job so I may save up for a good MIG welder to use as a Flux core until I get a enclosed spot. I learned a lot from this thread, though. Thanks for all the replies, guys :D
Pete M Posted June 14, 2015 Posted June 14, 2015 You can use it to tack it in the correct position, then have welded by a 220V welder for proper penetration. that's what I did to build the bumpers and suspension my truck. :thumbsup: carved up the steel with a grinder and tacked everything together with my dinky 110 welder (a $65 harbor freight stick). then I paid a few bucks to have a pro burn it all proper. :D having the l'il welder allowed me to have more control of the build process and save a ton of money over buying other peoples' bumpers (which I wouldn't have been completely happy with anyway).
Jeep Driver Posted June 14, 2015 Posted June 14, 2015 I've done plenty of welding outside with a shielded mig. Don't do it on a windy day or block the wind.
Knucklehead97 Posted June 14, 2015 Author Posted June 14, 2015 You can use it to tack it in the correct position, then have welded by a 220V welder for proper penetration. that's what I did to build the bumpers and suspension my truck. :thumbsup: carved up the steel with a grinder and tacked everything together with my dinky 110 welder (a $65 harbor freight stick). then I paid a few bucks to have a pro burn it all proper. :D having the l'il welder allowed me to have more control of the build process and save a ton of money over buying other peoples' bumpers (which I wouldn't have been completely happy with anyway). I have a buddy with an expensive MIG welder. Probably could get a cheap stick welder and do like you did then head over to his house to finish it up. The problem with expensive MIG welders is also the amount of space they take up. I hardly can fit an extra couple power tools in my tool room lol
64 Cheyenne Posted June 14, 2015 Posted June 14, 2015 The problem with expensive MIG welders is also the amount of space they take up. I hardly can fit an extra couple power tools in my tool room lol Nope The problem with expensive MIG welders is: They make you look at everybody else's cool stuff, make you dream of all the cool stuff you can build, then take up all your time building all that cool stuff...Then you realize you need a bender...then a tube miter...then a bandsaw...then a....
Knucklehead97 Posted June 14, 2015 Author Posted June 14, 2015 The problem with expensive MIG welders is also the amount of space they take up. I hardly can fit an extra couple power tools in my tool room lol Nope The problem with expensive MIG welders is: They make you look at everybody else's cool stuff, make you dream of all the cool stuff you can build, then take up all your time building all that cool stuff...Then you realize you need a bender...then a tube miter...then a bandsaw...then a.... you said it... I want to actually be a fabricator as a proffession when I get out of school so it kills me not even being able to have a welder...
Blue XJ Posted June 15, 2015 Posted June 15, 2015 Do you think it would be strong enough to put spring perches on an axle? No. You can use it to tack it in the correct position, then have welded by a 220V welder for proper penetration.I'll have to say it is enough welder, as long as you know how to use it. I welded my perches on with a 110v fluxcore welder almost a decade ago, haven't had a single problem. And with a manual trans and a stroker motor running 35's, they take a lot of abuse.
Knucklehead97 Posted June 15, 2015 Author Posted June 15, 2015 Do you think it would be strong enough to put spring perches on an axle? No. You can use it to tack it in the correct position, then have welded by a 220V welder for proper penetration.I'll have to say it is enough welder, as long as you know how to use it. I welder my perches on with a 110v fluxcore welder almost a decade ago, haven't had a single problem. And with a manual trans and a stroker motor running 35's, they take a lot of abuse. thats good to know. Is that all you've used to weld on your truck? If I remember your build correctly I've seen some nice fabrication.
Megadan Posted June 16, 2015 Posted June 16, 2015 The problem with expensive MIG welders is also the amount of space they take up. I hardly can fit an extra couple power tools in my tool room lol Nope The problem with expensive MIG welders is: They make you look at everybody else's cool stuff, make you dream of all the cool stuff you can build, then take up all your time building all that cool stuff...Then you realize you need a bender...then a tube miter...then a bandsaw...then a.... chop saw...and a drill press....and a stationary belt grinder....and...
Blue XJ Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 Do you think it would be strong enough to put spring perches on an axle? No. You can use it to tack it in the correct position, then have welded by a 220V welder for proper penetration.I'll have to say it is enough welder, as long as you know how to use it. I welder my perches on with a 110v fluxcore welder almost a decade ago, haven't had a single problem. And with a manual trans and a stroker motor running 35's, they take a lot of abuse. thats good to know. Is that all you've used to weld on your truck? If I remember your build correctly I've seen some nice fabrication. Yep, I used a flux core Lincoln 140 for everything. It's been beat on pretty good and nothing has failed yet.
Knucklehead97 Posted June 17, 2015 Author Posted June 17, 2015 Do you think it would be strong enough to put spring perches on an axle? No. You can use it to tack it in the correct position, then have welded by a 220V welder for proper penetration.I'll have to say it is enough welder, as long as you know how to use it. I welder my perches on with a 110v fluxcore welder almost a decade ago, haven't had a single problem. And with a manual trans and a stroker motor running 35's, they take a lot of abuse. thats good to know. Is that all you've used to weld on your truck? If I remember your build correctly I've seen some nice fabrication.Yep, I used a flux core Lincoln 140 for everything. It's been beat on pretty good and nothing has failed yet. thats very good to know!
Blue XJ Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 I welded my perches, rollcage, bumpers, rock rails, sheet metal repair pieces, front suspension mounts on the frame side, frame stiffeners and I'm sure other things with it. If it's thicker metal, you can always bevel the edge and do multiple passes.
Knucklehead97 Posted June 18, 2015 Author Posted June 18, 2015 Now I really cannot wait to get into trade school for welding. Next time a welder comes up for that cheap though I'm going to get it either way. Practice never hurts.
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