hobbies

spacecase0

earth human
Anybody here know how to to weld? Specifically anyone use one of those 125 volt entry level flux core stick welders, like from Harbor Freight? They run about a hundred bucks.

Don't really know what I want to do. Not create objects of art, more practical. Exhaust systems, maybe a railing, make a shop press from an ATV lift.

I've googled plenty. Ask a question like that on a car forum and before long you've installed your own personal atomic pile to power your welder so you can commission a new battleship in the back yard .....

Pretty sure the answer is an entry level 250/125v MIG with a wire feed, maybe a Hobart. Buy cheap buy twice. But those small machines are quite capable and I am wondering. Just don't know and figured I'd ask.
I have a harbor freight welder you talk of, have used it quite a bit, and have used much nicer ones as well.
the big disadvantage is the duty cycle, you have to take breaks often or you will melt the thing,
other thing is that the wire is live voltage anytime the machine is on and not just when you pull the trigger (if you care about that)
if you are doing small jobs and can take time doing them, nothing wrong with the harbor freight one.
 

pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
My hobby is model ships. My boys love helping me.
Here is my latest model. The minicraft 1/350 Titanic. My boys helped build her.
I added the rigging and wires.
View attachment 11421

I was just in Hobby Lobby and its amazing how many model kits are still around from when I was a kid. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the prices! I still use my X-acto knife kit in a little wooden box I've had since I was a kid. Used to build big dioramas on a big table filled with sand.
 

pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
I have a harbor freight welder you talk of, have used it quite a bit, and have used much nicer ones as well.
the big disadvantage is the duty cycle, you have to take breaks often or you will melt the thing,
other thing is that the wire is live voltage anytime the machine is on and not just when you pull the trigger (if you care about that)
if you are doing small jobs and can take time doing them, nothing wrong with the harbor freight one.

Thanks! This is the good stuff, I need a real opinion.

Do you think that machine could really do a 3/16" hunk of metal?
Is there a lot of clean up with the flux core or is it a matter or technique?

The only things I've come across recently where I could have used one would be the repair of a fairly thin iron rail. editing some exhaust pipes and turning one of those (useless) Harbor Freight ATV lifts (which my neighbor gave me because it's mostly useless) into a shop press. I'd like to be able to stick something on the end of a broken stud too. I think these might be at the limits of that entry level unit. Not too worried about duty cycle and can easily provide whatever electric is needed. I have a 200 amp panel.
 
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The shadow

The shadow knows!
It all started when I took my boys to a hobby shop and my 9 year old son found an Estes model rockets kit. Thinking it was cool he asked me to buy. It. I got the kit and a starter kit for boys his age. Soon he had the starter rocket built and his older brother helped him with the more advanced one soon I had them both do their maiden flight. They are hooked.
And I have happy memories of my dad doing the same thing with me.572645e6cc8b906c294e98ea6b19d6f1.jpg
 

spacecase0

earth human
Thanks! This is the good stuff, I need a real opinion.

Do you think that machine could really do a 3/16" hunk of metal?
Is there a lot of clean up with the flux core or is it a matter or technique?

The only things I've come across recently where I could have used one would be the repair of a fairly thin iron rail. editing some exhaust pipes and turning one of those (useless) Harbor Freight ATV lifts (which my neighbor gave me because it's mostly useless) into a shop press. I'd like to be able to stick something on the end of a broken stud too. I think these might be at the limits of that entry level unit. Not too worried about duty cycle and can easily provide whatever electric is needed. I have a 200 amp panel.
3/8" ... that is not really in the limits of any wire welder, you need a stick welder for that.
welding the exhaust pipes or any thin tubing needs the wire welder,
flux core welding is pretty clean if you don't make a mess or make a cold weld.
I have welded 1/4 inch with the wire welder, but mostly just tacks where I can leave it in one spot and let it heat up, so, seems like you need 2 welders...
 

pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
3/8" ... that is not really in the limits of any wire welder, you need a stick welder for that.
welding the exhaust pipes or any thin tubing needs the wire welder,
flux core welding is pretty clean if you don't make a mess or make a cold weld.
I have welded 1/4 inch with the wire welder, but mostly just tacks where I can leave it in one spot and let it heat up, so, seems like you need 2 welders...

Thanks again, nice to hear from someone with direct experience. I'll stalk this for months until (and if) I find a deal somewhere that gets me off the fence. They're building a new Tractor Supply not far from here. Might wait until I can go in and have a look at my convenience.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
I can weld, both Tig and Mig welding, although I don't have my own welder and it's been a few years since I've done any welding, I'm sure I'm rusty at it lol...I haven't welded anything besides steel, cold rolled and hot rolled...

...
 

pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
An interest I want to indulge in. Don’t know why really but seems useful. It was helpful to hear from @spacecase0. Was trying to talk myself into the HF entry level. I always overthink stuff like this. Entry level MIG makes more sense.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
My hobby is model ships. My boys love helping me.
Here is my latest model. The minicraft 1/350 Titanic. My boys helped build her.
I added the rigging and wires.
View attachment 11421

How long did it take you to complete?...I'm assuming it's something that cannot be rushed, especially when it comes to painting and detailing...

...

...
 

The shadow

The shadow knows!
How long did it take you to complete?...I'm assuming it's something that cannot be rushed, especially when it comes to painting and detailing...

...

...
I started her back in 2018. Hull painting took 3months. The last part the wires and rigging took 3weeks. But I seen ppl take over 4-5 years to do her perfect.
 

The shadow

The shadow knows!
Of your rich you can buy the ultimate Titanic Model. The 1/200 trumpeter.
Costing over $1000.00 This model is it!
bupmedyrkmm41.jpg shopping (1).jpeg shopping.jpeg
 

pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
anybody ever try this?

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

link works despite what it says

I use it in fuel and it's great. I replaced a cracked exhaust manifold and when I went to start it managed to put my big sasquatch foot down too much and flooded it out. Since I'm going to do it's winter oil change I just thought I might dump abut 5oz in the crankcase and then unload a can of the spray through the carb.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
anybody ever try this?

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

link works despite what it says

I use it in fuel and it's great. I replaced a cracked exhaust manifold and when I went to start it managed to put my big sasquatch foot down too much and flooded it out. Since I'm going to do it's winter oil change I just thought I might dump abut 5oz in the crankcase and then unload a can of the spray through the carb.

I've seen that but haven't used it yet, and I need to get an oil change next week too...hmmm

...
 

pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
I toss a half can in each 5 gallon gas container for winter use. I drain the fuel and put in fresh with a half can in my motorcycle each winter. Toss a full can in the 'vette before winter storage. I run them a bit to make sure it's fully in the fuel system. Never ever once had a bad fuel problem and I use exclusively E10. No choice.

The spray stuff is a little different. I can see the carbon build up on the plugs and the throttle blades are a bit sticky. So I'll dump 5oz in the oil before it warms up. Fire it up and let it warm up then unload a can of the spray into the primaries while holding it @ 2K rpm. Take it out for aa 10-15 minute run where I'll top off the tank and then change the oil & filter.

Easy enough. Alternative is to not use the spray rather let it suck in a half can though a full manifold vacuum port. Spray looks like the easy button to me.

Lots of videos out there, almost all good. I feel better about doing this than dumping a bottle of water down there - the old school 'get the carbon out' trick. Maybe with something I didn't care about ........
 

pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
3/8" ... that is not really in the limits of any wire welder, you need a stick welder for that.
welding the exhaust pipes or any thin tubing needs the wire welder,
flux core welding is pretty clean if you don't make a mess or make a cold weld.
I have welded 1/4 inch with the wire welder, but mostly just tacks where I can leave it in one spot and let it heat up, so, seems like you need 2 welders...

Hey - on a paranormal note - wasn't there some lunatic that was communicating to ET through his welder ?
Isn't that part of the origins of the subterranean ET tales? Richard Shaver?
 

pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
Holley 4160 3310-4. Big goddamned gasoline fountain again. Cranky bastard and dangerous. Something unhappy on the secondary side beyond the obvious needle/seat, float etc. Must be missing something, tried to get it isolated to check for vacuum leaks but it floods down too fast. So it gets another maybe 40 bucks on a second rebuild and a new secondary float and a suspicious looking intake fitting will be replaced.

Thinking a 600 cfm 4160 or 600 cfm Quick Fuel Slayer would be better choice for that 350 than a dialed down 750.

Good. Got that out of my system in a safe place. Say stuff like that on a classic car forum and it's like tossing a string of firecrackers into a chicken coop and usually about as useful.

Now back to the ghosts or maybe figuring out a way to incorporate a welder into our remote viewing test :)
 

The shadow

The shadow knows!
We are buying paint cement and preparing the building area for the Queen Mary 2. This looks like a year long project. Maybe 2.
 
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