Re: MIG?

[Steve Stegmann <stegmann@domain.elided>]

Willy,

Get the gas MIG.  I weld outside a lot/mostly.  The only time you have a 
problem is if it is windy.  Then you have to put up some cardboard to 
shield from the wind.  What happens is that the wind blows the shield gas 
away and oxygen attacks the weld.  With flux core it is probably worse.  
With a gas mig you can always turn up the pressure and dump more shield 
gas into the weld..

The other most important thing is cleanliness of the weld.  If you're 
welding on something like body sheetmetal, it works noticeably better if 
you sandblast or grind the weld.  ***never*** attempt to weld through 
paint and especailly rust.  Rust contains oxygen,  welding heat releases 
the oxygen right in the weld.  Guess what....  big hole.

I have a Hobart "Handler"  it is great.  Works at low power (100% duty
cycle) for sheet metal welding and can run at 120 amps (10% duty cycle)
for heavy work. Duty cycle is a function of welding current.  So if 
you're going to do dozer blades all day or put up bridges get a bigger 
one.  For auto work, the low power end is very important.

Steve

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Steven A. Stegmann
     _/_/_/    _/      _/_/_/ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use
   _/    _/   _/_/   _/    _/  of arms.  The strongest reason for the 
   _/        _/ _/   _/        people to retain the right to keep and bear
    _/_/    _/  _/    _/_/     arms is, as a last resort, to protect 
       _/  _/_/_//       _/    themselves against tyranny in government"
 _/    _/ _/    _/ _/    _/    
 _/_/_/  _/     _/ _/_/_/         Thomas Jefferson, June 1776
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