n00b from MD

[Sleepy_Steve]

Hey all, I'm new to welding. Got an HH-140 yesterday; for car related projects mostly.

I'm teaching myself how to weld because I don't know anyone else near by that knows, and my dad hasn't welded in about 30 years and when he did it was with gas.

So far I've been laying some beads into scrap exhaust pipe lying around my garage, and doing some minor joining of material. One trophy made of old car parts of mine, and an attempt - with poor results - of joining two 4'' long bits of 1'' square tubing together.

[urch55]

Welcome Steve to the forums.
You will not regret investing in a welder. Are you using shielding gas or flux core wire. Using a gas C25 will work out great for your projects. It won't hurt getting a student pack from Miller. We are all still learning we are just in different grades. All of us on the forums started one time or another.

[Sleepy_Steve]

Thanks for the advice.

I'm on flux core for now, Trying to get better heat / puddle control on flux core before investing in some C25 gas.

Whats in this student pack you speak of? I already graduated from college, and was planning on taking a break from being a student for a while. But if it includes a better ground clamp than the one that came with the HH140, I'm all for it.

[urch55]

Steve,
You said you were teaching yourself to weld that is why I suggested getting Millers student pack. The pack is the last one listed on the page for $25.00.
http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/tools/#books

[Sleepy_Steve]

I'll consider it when I've exhausted my current supply of reading material on the subject.

[Sep]

Thanks for the advice.

I'm on flux core for now, Trying to get better heat / puddle control on flux core before investing in some C25 gas.

Whats in this student pack you speak of? I already graduated from college, and was planning on taking a break from being a student for a while. But if it includes a better ground clamp than the one that came with the HH140, I'm all for it.

Hey Steve, where from MD are you from? I'm in the rockville area. Anywho, I also MIG weld my self. I found flux core too be a little too much for exhaust pipes. I think you'll have a better time handling flux on thicker metal. I dont know if you know, but flux core runs hotter so it penetrates more. For example, on my welder I can weld up to 1/4 inch steel if I use flux, but can only go up to 1/8 steel if I'm using gas.

I personally concider my self a newb as well. I can get the right weld, but i dont make the best looking welds, which dont matter to me, but I also make some good practice runs before the actual thing. Anywho, Hobart offers a 20oz CO2 tank w/ a fixed regulator (25CFH) that I think is a good step up from flux, but isnt exactly going to be the costy path of getting a real cylinder for C25 and getting it filled. Welding store nearby charges 50 bucks to fill a 40cf C25 mix. Total rip off and monopoly, while the 20Z will last about 40 mins of welding time and costs like 3 bucks to fill up. Plus you can easily use other paintball CO2 tanks, and you can get it filled at most places that sell paint ball stuff.

[rlnash]

Hi Steve - welcome to the Forum. I also live in MD. I bought a Hobart 140 about a year ago and have just been using flux core also. I will switch to gas soon. I got mine because I fool around with old cars and wanted a mig for the lighter metal. Good luck with your new welder.
Rick

[Sep]

It's funny how we all have the HH 140.

[Sleepy_Steve]

Do any of you other MD people know of any decent steel suppliers in the area? I'm dead set on not paying home depot / Lowes prices for angle.

I think I'm going to build myself a small 4x6ft utility trailer. Primary use would be to store tires / tools / camping gear for track weekends as the track car does not have enough cargo space for all of that. I figure the HH140 can handle the welds on 2'' angle that's 1/8'' thick. Load should not be much of an issue, the design is rated for 2000 lbs, and I'll never even be near 1000lbs of load.



@ SEP.

I'm down in the Laurel / Beltsville area.

So far I'm liking the HH140, I've gone from sticking my wire to the material all the time to making neat looking sculptures out of scrap I had lying around.

20oz bottle seems like a nice way to get a taste of shielding, but would have me running back for more too often I think. I'd rather just pony up for a decent sized bottle for my exhaust / seam welding / trailer making / whatever else needs. Besides the thing came with an adjustable regulator, so all I should need is the bottle right?



Second question, does the shielding gas flow all the time, or only when wire is being fed out?

[urch55]

Second question, does the shielding gas flow all the time, or only when wire is being fed out?

Only when the trigger is pulled.