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How to repair/rebuild a metal control panel
OSCAR:
--- Quote from: crashwg on February 19, 2004, 11:57:12 pm ---Oscar, is welding an expensive thing to do? I understand there's an initial investment of the welder, which you can most likely get down to the $150-200 range (if I'm not mistaken). But I don't know what else has to go into these things to keep them welding. Do they need some kind of bottled gasses, they obviously need some kind of metal rod thing to make the weld too, how much is that stuff?
Also, what are the differences between the types of welders; MIG, TIG, etc. (if there is more).
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Be careful when getting into the lower end of wire feed welders. El-cheapo brands & models have poorer designed wire feed units, which can lead to snarling up your wire, jams, inconsistent feed rates, etc... All of these can make your wire feed welding experience nothing but headaches. Two of the best known and most popular wire feed welders are Miller and Hobart and have excellent wire feeders. I've been welding with my Millermatic for a few years now and gone through pounds of wire, but I've never had a single feed problem. After the initial investment of the welder, the only real cost is the wire. I bought a 10# spool almost 2 years ago, and I'm still using that spool & I weld at least a little bit nearly every day. IIRC, I think that spool cost $60-$70.
I don't use a bottle with my MIG, I have been using it with flux core wire. Using shielding gas allows you to weld thinner gage material without burn-through because the weld is cooler, and welding with the shielding gas is cleaner as it doesn't get flux everwhere. However, on my Millermatic, I've found that it has fine enough adjustment on the feed rate and voltage that I can weld 20ga steel without burning through. If you were doing body work or other detail welding, you would definitely want to consider using a bottle instead of flux core. Check out rec.crafts.metalworking and sci.engr.joining.welding for more detailed info on this topic, there is far more information available there than I can write. But also be sure that you understand many of the authors 'point-of-view' when researching welding and equipment in newsgroups. Asking there if a $100 welder is any good is like asking about MAME in RGVAC. ;)
Brax - yes, the fire button definitely looks to be out in space up there, but that's where it was. Go figure...
OSCAR:
--- Quote from: Zakk on February 19, 2004, 11:09:27 pm ---That's like a sign from above... I've had so many instances lately where a little bit of welding would save me tons of effort...plus watching american chopper has me all jazzed to weld stuff...I'm going to take your recommendation and get one of those puppies. I've been doing a fair bit of resarch on the different kinds (MIG TIG etc) and was undecided.
I remember when I plugged holes on my first panel, I used cut plexi, "liquid weld" and bondo. It worked, but your method is just so much more 'right'.
Nice work by the way, seems to be a lot of centipede cabs popping up around here. It's such a damn nice looking piece of artwork! Well, not as nice as that candleholder... ;)
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You will not regret picking up a little welder for your shop, that's for sure. Besides, I'm sure MMP Products can always use write-off's... ;)
Gumby:
How powerful of a welder does one need to do basic control panel repair?
You use a 135amp welder (a very nice one, but at $600 is currently out of range for me)..
The local Harbor Freight has this...
85 AMP, 115 VOLT FLUX AND MIG WELDER
For mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Weld with gas or perform flux cored gasless operations.
Welding current range: 25 to 85 amps
Input: single phase 115 volts, 60 Hz
Open voltage: 19 to 30
Duty cycle: 20% @ 75 amps, 45% @ 50 amps
Draws 21 amps @ 120 volts
Weldable wires: 0.023'' to 0.035'' steel and stainless steel, 0.030'' to 0.035'' aluminum, 0.030'' flux-cored
Includes: 2 lb. spool of flux cored wire, handheld face shield, brush hammer, fuse power line; Weight: 55.8 lbs.
For about $175
Is it strong enough? Or do I need to go higher than 85amp for CP metal?
-Gumby
crashwg:
So far the least expensive mig welder I've found was $299, from sears. I'm definitly not willing to spend that much on something that I will probably not use more that maybe once a month. Am I just asking too much for a good welder in the lower $200 range?
Nannuu:
Hmmmm? Why does my wife hate this board so much? I really need a welder! I have the same question as some others. Harbor Freight has a mig welder on sale this week from 199 to 119. Is that a total waste of time to buy? My guess is yes as that seems to be the general rule - cheap tools = cheap tools.