Your mixed gas is for solid wire only ,you can use CO 2 for your flux core .no spatter no smoke
Floor Pan Repair
- Thread starter KY Longhunter
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- #62
I'm using .30 Solid Wire with a 75/25 Argon Mix.
Just curious, why did you think I was using a flux core wire?
From my pictures?
I have had a heck of time trying to find the right amp settings / wire speed. Welder seems very HOT.
The chart on the inside of the Lincoln welder seems off.
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- #63
Passenger Side finally in...
more progress...My welding still has much to be desired but hey they look a lot better than when I started.
more progress...My welding still has much to be desired but hey they look a lot better than when I started.
Coolerman
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Your making progress! 
My first welds were pathetic. (Hell compared to some guys here they still are!) Just keep practising. Keep some notes of your settings. It helps to dial the settings back in if they get moved.
Some lessons I learned the hard way:
Make sure the wire feed roller is tight enough to feed properly without slipping.
Before I learned that lesson, I could not figure out why my arc kept going out then starting back.
Make sure you match the tip size to the wire size. An inconsistent arc can result if the tip is too large or worn.
Don't forget to turn the gas on. Silly as that sounds it happens to me a lot.
Don't forget to reverse the welding polarity when welding with flux core vs solid wire and gas. (If yours has that option.)
Clean the ground clamp contact pads every now and then.
My first welds were pathetic. (Hell compared to some guys here they still are!) Just keep practising. Keep some notes of your settings. It helps to dial the settings back in if they get moved.
Some lessons I learned the hard way:
Make sure the wire feed roller is tight enough to feed properly without slipping.
Before I learned that lesson, I could not figure out why my arc kept going out then starting back.
Make sure you match the tip size to the wire size. An inconsistent arc can result if the tip is too large or worn.
Don't forget to turn the gas on. Silly as that sounds it happens to me a lot.
Don't forget to reverse the welding polarity when welding with flux core vs solid wire and gas. (If yours has that option.)
Clean the ground clamp contact pads every now and then.
I am taking a body class now... Rather than trying to make stitch welds or continuous welds, just keep tacking it over and over again. Also get some copper pipe and pound it flat. Use that on the back of 2 pieces you want to weld and it will drastically improve the quality of the weld.
takes longer but i agree it works better to do small tacks, plus you don't warp the crap out of everything .
lincoln , miller , esab or hobart are pretty much the only welders to buy .
esab is by far my favorite welder but they are wicked expensive ,i own a lincoln im to poor for a esab .
The .023 solid wire works much better for me on sheetmetal... way more control.
I was just letting you know basicly not to use Co2 on solid wire sorry if it came out wrong . It is hard to get .030 to burn right on sheet smaller than 16 ga.023 ,025 is your best bet for lower heat is also good at high heat just go through more wire.Your welds look good,my uncle (god rest his sole)always told me Kid your not out to win a beutty contest but it better not f....n break.Remember Rome wasnt built in a day it will all come together.
If you use the flat copper pipe on the back side of the weld, it will draw the heat away from the sheet metal and prevent it from warping.
2fpower
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what is the trick to hold the copper pipe on the bottom while you are welding? I am assuming that you are working in the tub, and don't have a extra 8 foot long arm that is double jointed...
Neodymium magnets
2fpower
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Oh, so when did copper become magnetic?
Coolerman
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The magnets work through the copper not on the copper.
I just clamp them to the back of whatever I'm welding on. In this case a front fender.
I just clamp them to the back of whatever I'm welding on. In this case a front fender.
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- #74
Very cool, great suggestions. Unfortunately Im done with the floor pans ;p but have plenty more welds to make on the firewall and rear tub.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
2F, I am so glad you asked that question!!!
You reminded me that I left my "copper magnet" on the inside of one of my doors. I was welding up the holes the p.o. drilled, then mangled with wood screws in order to mount... yep, diamond plate door panels!
I made it from a hard drive magnet and an easy-to-bend strip of sheet metal with a copper pipe union (thicker than the pipe) smashed over it. I used a rivet to attach it to one of the existing holes in the magnet holder.
It works great because it's very low-profile, so you can fit it in tight spots, and pivot, or bend the steel into just about any angle you need in order to press the copper flat against the work.
Here it is in all its glory:
2F, I am so glad you asked that question!!!
You reminded me that I left my "copper magnet" on the inside of one of my doors. I was welding up the holes the p.o. drilled, then mangled with wood screws in order to mount... yep, diamond plate door panels!
I made it from a hard drive magnet and an easy-to-bend strip of sheet metal with a copper pipe union (thicker than the pipe) smashed over it. I used a rivet to attach it to one of the existing holes in the magnet holder.
It works great because it's very low-profile, so you can fit it in tight spots, and pivot, or bend the steel into just about any angle you need in order to press the copper flat against the work.
Here it is in all its glory:
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- #76
Bought a 2 ft section of Copper Pipe for $4 and some Rare Earth magnets at Harbor Freight for $4.
Cut it in half and working on pounding it flat now, not easy but will post up results.
Cheers!
Cut it in half and working on pounding it flat now, not easy but will post up results.
Cheers!
Coolerman
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Neat idea with the hard drive magnet and copper!
Another great source for copper/heat sinks are old computer CPU heat sink coolers. I have several in my welding cart. They have copper cores surrounded by aluminum fins. Easy to clamp and they REALLY soak up the heat of welding! The won't fit in tight places though...
I got my copper scraps from a roofer. Next time you see someone getting a copper roof install, stop and ask for a couple of scraps...
Another great source for copper/heat sinks are old computer CPU heat sink coolers. I have several in my welding cart. They have copper cores surrounded by aluminum fins. Easy to clamp and they REALLY soak up the heat of welding! The won't fit in tight places though...
I got my copper scraps from a roofer. Next time you see someone getting a copper roof install, stop and ask for a couple of scraps...
2fpower
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Coolerman and doghouse... great ideas. Thanks. I am going home to open up those old computers I have been yelled at by the wife about keeping. Now, I can tell her how brilliant I was for keeping them! I might even tear open the old hard drive for the magnet.
I have to put a new floorpan in my 68' driver side and need to figure out a way how to attach the copper underneath. I don't see how I could use a clamp once I get far enough away from the tunnel. I might just run some hvac screws through the pan and copper and weld them closed later.
Thanks!
I have to put a new floorpan in my 68' driver side and need to figure out a way how to attach the copper underneath. I don't see how I could use a clamp once I get far enough away from the tunnel. I might just run some hvac screws through the pan and copper and weld them closed later.
Thanks!
You don't need a clamp if you have the neodymium/rare earth/hard drive magnets. These are some SERIOUSLY strong magnets.
Yes, VERY strong. The one in my picture is very thin, but its really hard to believe how hard it sticks if you haven't played with one before.
I have a bigger one that I had to tie para cord to for a handle - too strong to easily remove without it.
