Wire-feed welders

Jim38344 · Posted: Fri Mar 23 12 5:53 pm Post subject: Wire-feed welders

Am I understanding correctly that for a wire-feed welder to work right, the metal has to be really clean--like no rust or paint, etc.?

I'm contemplating buying a Hobart handler 140............
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GF · Posted: Fri Mar 23 12 6:22 pm Post subject:

jim78954, I'm no expert by any means but I think all welders work better on clean metal.
Some stick rods will burn through a little but a heavy coating of anything is gonna present a problem, even just grounding it.
Don't know about wire feed but I cant think any weld and paint is gonna work well.

TrailerBuilder · Posted: Fri Mar 23 12 6:23 pm Post subject:

jim78954, The wire machine will run its best when the material your working with is clean. I always clean up rusty metal before welding. I have made some welds before on places that have been painted. I usually cleaned up my starting point and then let the heat burn away the paint as I welded. This was done on something that had no weight bearing issues, or was actually anything of great importance. Best practice though, is to make sure your material is clean and prepped. Smile

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kurtsara · Posted: Fri Mar 23 12 10:16 pm Post subject: Re: Wire-feed welders

Blazer · Posted: Sat Mar 24 12 12:47 am Post subject:

As Trailer Builder said clean steel is the only way to get a good Quality weld and what the heck if you are building something that could last a lifetime do your best and make it look the best you can. There's nothing better than getting compliments on your food and your welds too. Very Happy

And yes mig is one of many wire fed type of weld's Very Happy

Jim38344 · Posted: Sat Mar 24 12 11:10 am Post subject:

So it's basically the same as stick welding--the cleaner it is, the better the weld will be--but it can be done with some rust, etc.. Most of what I do can be cleaned up pretty good, but some, not so much.

The way I understand it, it's wirefeed when using flux-core wire and MIG when using shielding gas.

Thanks for the info.
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Blazer · Posted: Sat Mar 24 12 12:51 pm Post subject:

Mig, Fluxcore, Dualshield, Coldwirefeed tig, Subarc, are all a type of wire feed welding. Very Happy

QTEX · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2012 Posts: 84

Jim38344 · Posted: Thu Apr 05 12 12:25 pm Post subject:

Got the Handler 140 the other day. Haven't had time to mess with it much. Seems like if I ever get the wire feed speed setting figured out it will be a real fun machine.
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Bedlam BBQ · Posted: Thu Apr 05 12 1:47 pm Post subject:

tanglediver · Posted: Sat Apr 07 12 4:17 am Post subject:

MIG is just the old acronym for "metal/inert gas" welding. It is generally reserved to mean welding with bare wire and some type of shielding gas.
Wire-fed is any process using a roll of filler wire. So "mig", is one of many wire-fed processes.

The mig transfer "mode" used by most small machines, under about 250 amp rated output, operate in "short-circuit transfer". This mode of metal transfer suffers from a deplorable lack of penetration. (IMHO) Any interference with the efficient application of heat directly to the base metal will limit pentration even further. Rust, dirt, paint, oil or foreign material of any sort will diffuse the already limited amount of heat input that would otherwise aid in penetration of the base metal.
You do yourself a huge favor by cleaning the surface until it shines! Smile

Stick welding, on the other hand, can really dig through a whole bunch of junk! That is one reason why I prefer stick for most of my repair work.
Have a great Easter weekend!
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TheNorwegian · Joined: 04 Apr 2012 Posts: 18 Location: Western Washington

Even with stick it's best to practice good habbits and prep the metal till it shines when ever possible. as stated by tanglediver the larger the machine the better the penetration. For mig you definately want bare metal. Not just wire brushed, but grinder/flappy paddle disk. The wire brush will just polish the rust.
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Argentina BBQ · Newbie Joined: 21 Mar 2012 Posts: 29 Location: Argentina

MIG welding is probably the easiest welder to use.

The right thickness wire is important and make sure you have the right size tip for the wire. Get a can of anti spatter spray as well and spray the inside of the nossle.
also every time you change the wire, blow out the line with compressed air.
Make sure the wire is not rusty and the roll tension has only a slight drag.
The Argon gas mix should be a light hiss when you hold it close to your ear and pull the trigger.

Take some pics of what you are welding and post them, and we can advise you from there.