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Wire diameter is related to the thickness of the metal to be welded and the type of welder you have. MIG wire is usually mild steel, electro-plated with a thin layer of copper to protect it from rusting, improve electrical conductivity, increase gun contact tip life, and improve arc performance. Choosing WireĪnother area that can be confusing is choosing the proper wire-or more technically speaking, the electrode. Due to the properties of its alloy, chromemoly really requires a TIG welder. Cast iron will hold a magnet and nick easily, but is very difficult to weld and is best left to the pros. The exceptions to these two tests are cast iron and 4130 chromemoly steel. If it nicks easily, it’ll be easy to weld. You can also test the material by nicking it with a metal file. If the magnet sticks, you can probably weld it. To see if the material in question can be welded, attach a magnet to it. To MIG weld material more than 5/16-inch thick, you need a higher capacity industrial machine.Ī MIG welder cannot be used on all metals. Using a home shop-type MIG welder on material thicker than a 1/4 inch will result in what is called cold-casting welds that look good, but just “sit” on top of the work piece and do not penetrate the material. Thinner metal, like body panels, require a slower wire feed speed and lower voltage to avoid burning through the metal. Thicker metal requires a faster wire feed and higher heat. The thickness of the metal you’re joining determines the welder’s wire speed and amperage requirement. The higher amperage range of this machine will allow you to lay down a weld in a single pass more often, eliminating the need for second or third passes. For jobs like building a mild steel chassis or roll cage, repairing a trailer, and working with material up to 1/2-inch thick, a larger 230-volt welder would be a better choice. This type of welder is ideal for joining body panels, making brackets, and other non-structural work.
#Lincoln handy mig portable
Most home shops have a machine similar to Lincoln’s Handy MIG, a household current (115 volt) portable unit that can weld virtually any light-gauge mild steel from 24 gauge (1/16-inch) through 12 gauge (1/8-inch). While this info is geared to the new welder, you guys that have been making the sparks fly for awhile might learn a little something too. But before you begin, we have some handy tips, courtesy of the welder folks at Lincoln Electric, to help you get your fabricating career off to a good start. We know you’re probably itching to fire up that new welder and make stuff. Not only will you be able to make brackets, stitch together body panels, and fix broken parts for yourself, you’ll have the honor of doing it for your car pals, too. So you took (or are about to take) the plunge and got a MIG welder.