Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for
MORE wrenching? 
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| | | | Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 111 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 111 | Not really (or indeed at all!) truck specific but I did some initial welding using .030 and I felt that possible a move down to .024 might be helpful. The welds were a little higher than I would like and I feel less material being inserted into the weld would be better and require less grinding/heat.
Any strong opinions on which is more suited to sheet metal patch panels? | | | | | Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 225 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2016 Posts: 225 | You WILL notice a difference using a .023 (some make a .024) wire, over using a .030. Does much better on thin metal. What kind of wire is it? Solid, flux-core, flux-core gasless...and are you using gas?
Mike
1951 3100 5 window
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 | The thinner wire the better, and "stitch weld"- - - - -make short passes a couple of inches apart to avoid distorting the panel with heat. Let things cool down, and split the difference between welds the next time around. Eventually you'll get a solid bead with a minimum of heat distortion. Gas shielded solid wire will give a MUCH better weld than flux core.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 111 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 111 | You WILL notice a difference using a .023 (some make a .024) wire, over using a .030. Does much better on thin metal. What kind of wire is it? Solid, flux-core, flux-core gasless...and are you using gas? Solid wire with a argon mix. Standard MIG setup, not flux. Seems like the preference is the thinner .023/4 which I have a ten pound roll of. Will switch from .030 and see how it goes. Thanks for the feedback. Paul | | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,249 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,249 | I have an older Miller, with an old hose/nozzle. I find anything in the machine thinner than .035 tends to bird cage off the drive wheels. With the right heat and wire speed setting, I have no issue welding up sheet metal with .035. And I'd rather weld than fix the welder when I'm welding. If you can use .023 with no issues, that's the way you should go! | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 | Mark, a new liner in that wire feeder will make a huge difference in how smoothly the thin stuff feeds. Even a slight bit of roughness can cause repeated hangups and birds' nests.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,249 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,249 | Jerry, I know. Too cheap and lazy at this time. It's my home welder that isn't used as often as the one at the shop. The shop one, on the other hand, will get adjusted as necessary. Or, it's easier to grab the TIG to do thin metals there. My process: load up stuff that needs welding, in the truck in the morning, and head off to work.
I'm sure the home welder will get fixed soon after retirement, if not just before. | | |
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