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Your shiddy weldz...

Sceep said:
Ok then. Question: People here said i needed to shorten my tungsten WAY up. so i did. and it seemed to help. but then I see that dude with his tungsten out like 1/2" ?
Whats up with that?
I did order some larger/smaller cups and those gas lens things to try out.
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he has a steadier hand than any of us
 
on the gas lens stuff, if you've got a 17, don't get the 17 size gas lens stuff
get the two kits of the "small" 9/20 size ones, and the "big" 26 sized ones

Ebay is usually cheapest, get the big kit first rather than buying the small kit, then realizing that you want to buy the big one anyways
 

this guy has some good videos


note the big gas lens cup shoved over a finger for a heat shield, jody don't show that trick for obvious reasons
 
Bought a $20 hitch to put on my kei truck, the freehand plasma cutting pairs nicely with shiddy weldz.
31A59142-1DAE-4576-B9F1-9833EC6695D7.jpeg
 
WESTOF7 said:
Screenshot_20230218_162602_Gallery.jpg

Just about have the old millermatic 200 and spoolmatic 1 dialed in.

Not bad for 43 year old technology :flipoff2:
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looks good 4043?
the only new tech in that time has been inverters and pulse... but i think it was the 80's pulse came out, cant remember the model number, but i have a miller pulse box on my old synco250. works great.

the first aluminum i did was from a v senceing suitcase, without a contactor, miller s32? or something like that and powered by an early 80s weld/gen. about a 5' whip, running rollers i made. i had more time than money then.

now i have 3 invision354 pulse power boxes all running newer push pull feeders. so nice, any idiot can run them.
 
[486] said:
I wish my spine was as flexible as yours is, because I'd be sucking my own dick, too.
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Jfc dude keep it in your containment thread :laughing:

tracyb said:
looks good 4043?
the only new tech in that time has been inverters and pulse... but i think it was the 80's pulse came out, cant remember the model number, but i have a miller pulse box on my old synco250. works great.

the first aluminum i did was from a v senceing suitcase, without a contactor, miller s32? or something like that and powered by an early 80s weld/gen. about a 5' whip, running rollers i made. i had more time than money then.

now i have 3 invision354 pulse power boxes all running newer push pull feeders. so nice, any idiot can run them.
Click to expand...
Nexal 4043. I also like superglaze 4043

I've got a syncrowave 350 that I still absolutely love excellent machines that just work and make money. Been thinking of getting a stand alone pulser for it. Love the big old Miller transformer machines.

Haven't tried pulse mig but I've been casually looking at millermatic 355s with the push pull gun.

My only newer machines are a dynasty 400 that's starting to have issues and I just ordered a 800 :shocked:I do some thick AL tig and can't get helium consistently anymore.
 
WESTOF7 said:
Screenshot_20230218_162602_Gallery.jpg

Just about have the old millermatic 200 and spoolmatic 1 dialed in.

Not bad for 43 year old technology :flipoff2:
Click to expand...
That’s really a spool gun? I ride the short bus when it comes to aluminum, but if an outside corner will MIG weld like that, I may need to invest in one for my old 251.
 
300sniper said:
That’s really a spool gun? I ride the short bus when it comes to aluminum, but if an outside corner will MIG weld like that, I may need to invest in one for my old 251.
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It took a lot of time and trying different things before I got to this. I have a multiple step overkill prep process. If you look at my earlier spool gun welds in this thread they're not nearly as nice.

Wire fed welding aluminum overhead was a interesting learning experience :laughing:

There's a guy local to me selling a spoolmatic 30a for $600 cdn. I believe that's a direct fit for your machine and dirt cheap.
 
[486] said:
I'm making fun of you for posting 'shiny' pictures in a 'shitty' thread.
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After months of trying to learn how to mig weld aluminum properly I finally figured it out. It's a bitch :laughing: It's taken me a little over 8 months to get to this point consistently.

I used to just tig everything but started getting jobs where it just wasn't feasible so I had to learn something new and get out of my comfort zone.

Honestly dude instead of making passive aggressive digs at someone at a higher level of progression why not change your mindset up a bit and ask them how they did it so you can benefit and do it yourself?

This would help you to not have to fix cars for someone else into your 30s. Just one more skill that most can't do.





 
 
WESTOF7 said:
I don't

I just remember how shitty it was fixing cars as a employee. 100% said that in good faith.
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working on cars making... I think they're paying 32 an hour now? it has been total gravy work
had enough excess to buy my house for cash back when I was making 22.50
You gotta work for a tiny shop where the owner is totally invested.
 
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WESTOF7 said:
Jfc dude keep it in your containment thread :laughing:


Nexal 4043. I also like superglaze 4043

I've got a syncrowave 350 that I still absolutely love excellent machines that just work and make money. Been thinking of getting a stand alone pulser for it. Love the big old Miller transformer machines.

Haven't tried pulse mig but I've been casually looking at millermatic 355s with the push pull gun.

My only newer machines are a dynasty 400 that's starting to have issues and I just ordered a 800 :shocked:I do some thick AL tig and can't get helium consistently anymore.
Click to expand...

my shop is only 200amp 1ph, non pfc machine, so set to kill she'll suck back more than half the shops power. a bit much with all else i've got going on anymore. it is on lone, with a shopmaster (long time storage) to a buddy. i like the inverters but dont feel comfortable unless i have a dinosaur back up if needed. imho pulse for tig its nice to have for stainless, but otherwise, meh.

all my stuff is invertor now. i dont need a huge tig machine, biggest is an htp3xx (i couldn't stomach the miller $increases) its been a great machine. that 400 is $14k bald eagle bux now? i cant imagine an 800. gotta ask what type of aluminum tig you do? i switch over to wire when it gets thick, the big stuff for me is marine aluminum. wont find 4043 in my shop at all. i have no problem getting helium, always have a tank on hand... but thats only cuz my old lady loves going over the top on parties and has to have floaty balloons:lmao:.

i got a killer deal on the invision machines and feeder. all 3 with push pulls for $4500. i was about to get a 355 until this deal came up. i'm adding bench feeders to them too for steel work. having the pulse for mig is great. not just aluminum but running metal core and hardwire where i would have used dual sheild before.
 
Throw this out for those learning.

Don't use a gas lens when welding aluminum. They don't flow enough gas to "cool" the nozzle and will break right at the neck down. I always used a 7 straight, and turned up the gas when leaning on the amps.

Mig alum, push the puddle, lean it over.
 
300sniper said:
That’s really a spool gun? I ride the short bus when it comes to aluminum, but if an outside corner will MIG weld like that, I may need to invest in one for my old 251.
Click to expand...
I've got a 30a on my 251 and wouldn't be without it! If you do buy one don't hesitate to buy a flex neck for the spool gun. I have the 8" but should have gone up to the next longer size. Being able to bend the neck toward the work feels more like welding with a mig gun than with a football. The other big benefit is that it seems to bend the wire a bit so it comes out of the contact tip in the same direction every time!
 
Gravy said:
Throw this out for those learning.

Don't use a gas lens when welding aluminum. They don't flow enough gas to "cool" the nozzle and will break right at the neck down. I always used a 7 straight, and turned up the gas when leaning on the amps.

Mig alum, push the puddle, lean it over.
Click to expand...


what? bad advice.
at least for the novice world. high amp stuff I can see.

i run a gas lens, always.

will flow just as much as any shitty collet. if the lens is restricting gas flow... you got other problems.





your torch breaks at the neck? what are you running? some garbage china flex neck? i only buy CK stuff, worth every penny.
 
Gravy said:
Throw this out for those learning.

Don't use a gas lens when welding aluminum. They don't flow enough gas to "cool" the nozzle and will break right at the neck down. I always used a 7 straight, and turned up the gas when leaning on the amps.

Mig alum, push the puddle, lean it over.
Click to expand...
huh, I've only been using the gas lens cups
have had them glowing halfway back doing cylinder head work, with a water cooled 20 torch

the only ones I've had break were totally my fault, dropping them
 
tracyb said:
your torch breaks at the neck? what are you running? some garbage china flex neck? i only buy CK stuff, worth every penny.
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I think he means the neck of the ceramic cup breaks off

which would explain it, as I use the #10 or #12 on the "big series" ones that you can jam a gloved finger into, and the #8 on the little baby ones
the li'l baby neckdown ones don't go with dumb old transformer machine AC too well, the weld is too wide for their coverage...
 
tracyb said:
my shop is only 200amp 1ph, non pfc machine, so set to kill she'll suck back more than half the shops power. a bit much with all else i've got going on anymore. it is on lone, with a shopmaster (long time storage) to a buddy. i like the inverters but dont feel comfortable unless i have a dinosaur back up if needed. imho pulse for tig its nice to have for stainless, but otherwise, meh.

all my stuff is invertor now. i dont need a huge tig machine, biggest is an htp3xx (i couldn't stomach the miller $increases) its been a great machine. that 400 is $14k bald eagle bux now? i cant imagine an 800. gotta ask what type of aluminum tig you do? i switch over to wire when it gets thick, the big stuff for me is marine aluminum. wont find 4043 in my shop at all. i have no problem getting helium, always have a tank on hand... but thats only cuz my old lady loves going over the top on parties and has to have floaty balloons:lmao:.

i got a killer deal on the invision machines and feeder. all 3 with push pulls for $4500. i was about to get a 355 until this deal came up. i'm adding bench feeders to them too for steel work. having the pulse for mig is great. not just aluminum but running metal core and hardwire where i would have used dual sheild before.
Click to expand...
I remember when I first used the syncrowave 350 at my first house shop there was only 200 amp split service. I'd have to turn absolutely everything off to get anywhere close to enough power for thicker aluminum.

Even if I went all inverter I wouldn't feel comfortable enough without transformer machines for backup either. I've had boards fry on my Dynasty 400 during covid and it took them half a year to get me a replacement :shaking:

Can barely stomach the Miller price increases either its pretty crazy what they're asking for now. I've looked at alternatives but I'd rather cut costs and save longer to go with them. They're really pushing it though :laughing: I remember when I finally ordered my Dynasty 800 I had to sit down at my desk, take some queit time, made a drink and smoked a cigar to calm down.

I've never even seen a shopmaster but I'd love to have one. Have only heard good things.

I mainly use 5356 as well but Ive been trying different fillers from Nexal. Can't say what the really thick stuff I do is due to NDAs but a lot of pressure vessels.

If you don't use superglaze or Nexal I'd highly reccomend checking it out.
 
WESTOF7 said:
I remember when I first used the syncrowave 350 at my first house shop there was only 200 amp split service. I'd have to turn absolutely everything off to get anywhere close to enough power for thicker aluminum.
Click to expand...
You ever heard of running multiple passes? :laughing:
 
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