My horrible, yet functional, brew sculpture

[datamike]

hey Mike does your welder have gas or is were those welds with flux core?

The welder itself will do either gas or flux, but I am using 75/25 argon/C02.

Michael

 

[bendavanza]

I agree with DataMike, 120V MIG is fine for up to 1/8"

 

[pompeiisneaks]

Well, I'm doing 1/4" and the manuals all indicate it works fine for 1/4" but you need to do multiple passes. I'm not sure if what I did counts... I would make a pass and then start back at the first area I worked and pass again.. I suspect w/ what I know now about the flux being on the top, maybe I am not doing the best work... But again, it seems to be holding really well, I'm smacking he crap out of the welds w/ the chickenhead and its not budging now.

 

[pompeiisneaks]

Oh btw datamike I think you may have the EXACT same welder I have... I f not its very close.. .maybe a slightly better model. Mines the lowest model they had that still did MIG and has all the regulator and hoses etc. something like 145 was the model number

 

[datamike]

Well, I'm doing 1/4" and the manuals all indicate it works fine for 1/4" but you need to do multiple passes. I'm not sure if what I did counts... I would make a pass and then start back at the first area I worked and pass again.. I suspect w/ what I know now about the flux being on the top, maybe I am not doing the best work... But again, it seems to be holding really well, I'm smacking he crap out of the welds w/ the chickenhead and its not budging now.

Hmmm, I certainly no welding expert, and have little experience with the flux core wire, but you certainly want to clean off the weld before laying another pass on top.

What brand/model of welder are you using?

Michael

 

[datamike]

Oh btw datamike I think you may have the EXACT same welder I have... I f not its very close.. .maybe a slightly better model. Mines the lowest model they had that still did MIG and has all the regulator and hoses etc. something like 145 was the model number

You've received a lot of useful advice in this thread, so I am sure with trial and error you'll get it. 1/4" probably is pushing the limit of these 120v welders, though multiple passes should get you through. I'd say the biggest difference between your setup and mine is probably flux vs. shielding gas. I've never used the flux cored on this welder, so I am not sure how it compares.

Several folks have mentioned preparation, and I wholeheartedly agree. I spent way more time degreasing the steel and wirebrushing the portions to be welded than I did actually welding.

You might also think about clamps and magnetic holddowns to make everything square.

Anyway, A++ for effort and keep going. You're learning a bunch through the whole process and I'am sure you'll end up with something completely usable for brewing.

Michael

 

[pompeiisneaks]

As I just mentioned its the same as pictured above, Lincoln Electric, with the fancy nascar logo It also supports either MIG welding or flux core wire welding. I think the model had 145 in the name... I'm not near it right now and don't have time to go look, but that should be the gist...

 

[babbott]

havent read the whole thread, but looks like your gas is not adjusted or not on at all

 

[PhlyanPan]

Is your polarity correct? I was using a flux core/mig welder one time and made welds that looked a lot like those. Turns out I had forgot to reverse the polarity when switching to mig from flux core.

Sorry if this was already mentioned, I'm at work and didn't have the time to read through all the pages.

 

[pompeiisneaks]

I followed the instructions step by step for non gas non mig welding... it said to connect the clamp to the - Post, which I did... Babott, I'm using flux cored wire w/o the gas on purpose... I haven't gone and paid for a tank filled w/ the argon co2 mix... don't know if I will for this project... maybe... so far the flux core is working or so I think

 

[polecreek]

Is your polarity correct? I was using a flux core/mig welder one time and made welds that looked a lot like those. Turns out I had forgot to reverse the polarity when switching to mig from flux core.

Sorry if this was already mentioned, I'm at work and didn't have the time to read through all the pages.

At the risk of sounding stupid, I cant see polarity a problem. Polarity refers to the direction of current flow. In a DC circuit it flows from neg. to pos. In a Ac circuit it changes 120 times a second at least here in America. How do you know the polarity of the transformer feeding your house? The rule is if the system voltage is below 8660v or a 200kva transformer it is positive all others are negative. The power company only cares about this when the parallel transformers or banking them together for three phase voltage. I am missing something so please explain.

 

[datamike]

Actually Phylan is correct about the polarity switch for flux cored. Inside the cover of the Lincoln welder are two terminals (+ & -) and these need to be swapped when going from gas shielding to flux core wire and vice versa.

I believe they come from the factory set for flux. Mine did.

Check the manual....

Michael

At the risk of sounding stupid, I cant see polarity a problem. Polarity refers to the direction of current flow. In a DC circuit it flows from neg. to pos. In a Ac circuit it changes 120 times a second at least here in America. How do you know the polarity of the transformer feeding your house? The rule is if the system voltage is below 8660v or a 200kva transformer it is positive all others are negative. The power company only cares about this when the parallel transformers or banking them together for three phase voltage. I am missing something so please explain.

 

[PhlyanPan]

I am missing something so please explain.

I don't know. I'm not expert for sure. But inside my welder are these 2 sets of jumpers. When I'm welding with flux core, they're jumpered a certain way (I can't remember which off the top of my head) and when I'm welding with gas, they're jumpered the other way.


Here's a quick result from a google search. From the Lincoln Electric website:

The terms "straight" and "reverse" polarity are used around the shop. They may also be expressed as "electrode-negative" and "electrode-positive" polarity. The latter terms are more descriptive and will be used throughout this article.​

...

For proper penetration, uniform bead appearance, and good welding results, the correct polarity must be used when welding with any given metallic electrode. Incorrect polarity will cause poor penetration, irregular bead shape, excessive spatter, difficulty in controlling the arc, overheating, and rapid burning of the electrode.​

EDIT: Sorry, I was a little late. What he said^

 

[polecreek]

I think the AC in must be transformed in the welder to DC output. Then it makes sense.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Actually Phylan is correct about the polarity switch for flux cored. Inside the cover of the Lincoln welder are two terminals (+ & -) and these need to be swapped when going from gas shielding to flux core wire and vice versa.

I believe they come from the factory set for flux. Mine did.

Check the manual....

Michael

I don't know. I'm not expert for sure. But inside my welder are these 2 sets of jumpers. When I'm welding with flux core, they're jumpered a certain way (I can't remember which off the top of my head) and when I'm welding with gas, they're jumpered the other way.


Here's a quick result from a google search. From the Lincoln Electric website:

The terms "straight" and "reverse" polarity are used around the shop. They may also be expressed as "electrode-negative" and "electrode-positive" polarity. The latter terms are more descriptive and will be used throughout this article.​

...

For proper penetration, uniform bead appearance, and good welding results, the correct polarity must be used when welding with any given metallic electrode. Incorrect polarity will cause poor penetration, irregular bead shape, excessive spatter, difficulty in controlling the arc, overheating, and rapid burning of the electrode.​

EDIT: Sorry, I was a little late. What he said^

Wow I hope the Thread Starter sees these posts, sounds like a big possibility.
I'm liing this thread, Lots of good welding knowledge for us who dream of owning one some day.

 

[pompeiisneaks]

I did... and I "think" I have polarity right... I looked at the manual and it showed the existing white cable attached to one post and me attaching the external clip cable to the other... so I guess I may want to double check, but I'm pretty sure I did it step by step per the manual.

 

[bendavanza]

flux core welding sucks it's more of a "I can weld anywhere" thing, and the dirty metal you were originally welding did not help either, possible weak ground, and also not welding with enough heat or the right wire feed, all can make bubbly weak welds. Sounds like Pompeii is on the right track. I'm picking up my bottle of argon/co2 mix tonight and changing my wire and polarity. I used to weld much better when I had the gas, rather than the flux I'm using with the welder I just bought, a 110v craftsman about the same specs as your lincoln. wish me luck.

 

[pompeiisneaks]

/me wishes bdavanza luck

 

[bendavanza]

Thanks I needed it I spent the morning welding my stand's base, it's all done now but took several tries. Gas is WAY better, wow. Not to steal your thunder but here's my thread. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-first-3-tier-gravity-brew-stand-104666/