From: "Tracy Hallock" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
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To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
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Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Welding Equipment Recomendations
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2016 09:02:35 -0600
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Dave,

There's a lot of good advice here, and I probably don't have a
lot more to contribute, except that after seeing your rotary
installation, I know you can learn to weld.  My advice is that
you absolutely, positively, do not purchase a $100 stick welder
from Harbor Freight, witt the hope that you can successfully
tack weld parts together.  I had one for many years and was
never able to get the damn thing to consistently draw an arc.

Imagine spending an hour with nothing but stick-pull, stick-pull,
stick-pull, never  actually drawing an arc.  Getting frustrated,
giving up for the day, going back out to the garage next week,
another half hour of stick, stick, stick, no arc.  Try it a few months
later, a few years later.  Like Tracy said, POS, please do not waste
your money.  You'll only be frustrated and give up on welding.

My first MIG welder was a $200 refurbished MIG 140 from that
other low-cost Chinese tool seller--Northern tools.  At first it
worked pretty good, and I was able to join steel after a little
practice.  Then it got erratic, and I spent a lot of time messing
with it, taking it apart, putting it back together, until I finally
gave up again.  Again, trying to save some money, which was
totally gone with very little to show.

Then I bought a $279 Harbor Freight 220v MIG welder on sale
for $179 that had pretty good reviews online.  This welder worked
pretty good, and I would recommend it.

After moving down to South Texas, and not having a 220v outlet,
I bought the 220v/110v Everlast PowerMTS 211Si MIG, TIG, Stick
welder for Christmas this year ($1100).  I haven't done TIG yet (no
gas), but the MIG (flux core) and stick work great.  I'm still not
great with the stick, but at least the problem is now my own skill,
and not the equipment.  With the installation of a 220v outlet in
my garage, I how own two welders that work for me.

I would suggest the Hobart 140 MIG as the easiest way to start,
with a fairly well-regarded lower-end welder that you should be
able to get for around $300.  I know you can learn to weld with
this using flux-core.  It just takes practice and maybe a little help
from someone that already know how to use it.

One other thing, most everything is made in China, so having a
US-based manufacturer is no guarantee of not getting Chinese
equipment.

Tracy (the other one).


-----Original Message----- 
From: David Leonard
Sent: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 7:00 PM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Welding Equipment Recomendations

Oh man, if gas is the easiest to learn then I am in big big trouble.
I once watched a set of videos on gas welding 4130 then spent a day
practicing.  I never so much as joined to molicules of iron.  Someone
told me that gas was the hardest and I should try his MIG machine.
After 4 hours of practice I got enough wire tacked down to be able to
limp the opject into a professional, who gave me a discount because it
was the best laugh he had in a long time.  In fairness I was outside
in windy conditions, but weld integrity was the least of my concerns.

I am pretty sure I will never be good enough to actually trust any of
my welds and anything of significance will have to go to my guy after
I tack it.  So thank you every one for the great opinions and leads to
get me going.  I guess I should also rephrase my question.  What is
the easiest system to learn to do acceptable tack welds?  When you say
'stick welding' is that the same as some of the machines I see labeled
as 'arc'?  I think that Lynn is right (he always is) that I should go
take a class.

BTW, I cant spraypaint either.

Thanks again
David Leonard

On 2/2/16, kenpowell <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:
> I have to agree with Lynn here (no surprise) - o xy-acetylene is the 
> easiest
> to master. I have an old Lincoln 225 AC stick machine that actually works
> pretty good with an easy-to-use 6013 rod. I also have a Hobart 140 mig 
> that
> I have just never been able to conquer - I end up firing up the o
> xy-acetylene if the weld matters. Lastly, I love my o xy-acetylene 
> torches.
> You can create the puddle and control it with either hand speed or flame
> distance from the puddle. Very easy to learn and to use. The biggest
> downside is welding gets to be really HOT in the summer months! I still 
> want
> a set of torches from the Tinman: https://www.tinmantech.com/
>
> Ken Powell
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "Lehanover" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
> To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 1:46:02 PM
> Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Welding Equipment Recomendations
>
> Try to take a course at a local trade school. Best option. I have gas
> (Oxyacetylene) and a 600 amp Hobart
> TIG machine. I only use Argon as a shielding gas. I sold my wire welder
> years ago. Good for building trailers tacking on quarter panels and 
> similar.
> I like gas welding. Slow and easy. Also brazing and shaping and bending
> steel parts. Gas welding is the most versatile of all forms. My mother 
> could
> weld aluminum with paste flux and blue glasses.
> Wire feeders are difficult to master when starting from scratch. If it 
> runs
> on 110 volts it is just about a toy welder. Thin steels nearly horizontal
> only. Takes lots of practice to even get some spot welds going. A stick
> welder is actually easier to learn the basics on. Use match tip 6013 
> sticks
> and build your first trailer.
> The key is to get an instructor to teach you the many welding systems and
> how each has its good and bad points. The end game is a big TIG machine
> where any metal, any thickness can be done. The same machine will also do
> stick welding AC or DC. Straight or reverse polarity. And the most 
> critical
> aircraft work.
> The heat is controlled by a foot pedal and it is a joy to use. Much 
> welding
> training on the Internet.
> Lynn E. Hanover
> In a message dated 2/2/2016 2:06:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> flyrotary@lancaironline.net writes:
>
>
> I have a number of small welding projects around the home and hangar
> that are starting to accumulate. I am thinking about getting one of
> those $100 welders from Harbor Freight but I have almost no welding
> experience. There is plenty of info on the web but I thought I would
> put the question to my rotary friends.
>
> Given that I just want to be able to do occasional projects around the
> home and airplane, what type of welding equipment would be best for me
> and what do you consider the minimum power level that is acceptable?
> I will skip the desire to do anything with aluminum. I am thinking
> that Arc or Flux Core would be easiest. I tried to weld with
> auto-feed MIG and I just couldn't keep up with the wire. Also, most of
> the airplane projects are too difficult to keep any gas bubble in
> place.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> David Leonard
>
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