Machinos
02-17-2004, 05:41 PM
I finally got a mig welder (flux core for now), and it's a reasonably good one too, it's a Craftsman, it's the same as this one (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&fromAu to=YES&bidsite=CRAFT&pid=00920560000) but without the big spool gun thing. Got it off eBay slightly used and it just came this afternoon.
It is missing the manual though, so I'm having a few problems. The first one is that the "range" toggle only seems to work on "High", if I set it to "Low" it's like the machine turns off (no buzzing sound inside, and it doesn't do anything when I try and use it). I think the switch might have been damaged during shipping because it's kind of pushed in a little. Can I open this up myself and see if anything's wrong with it or should I take it to a professional? As it is I can do a perfect bead on 16ga but I keep burning through on 18ga.
Second thing is a more general question... what's the best way cut a hole in sheet metal to butt weld a patch in when you don't have a plasma cutter? Cutting wheels on my angle grinder are too big and inaccurate, the Dremel wheels are too puny to cut through a floor, and (conveniently) most of the holes in the floor are right over the frame so I can't use a hacksaw. It'd be really easy to just stick a patch over it, and it won't be seen anyway, but I'd rather do it right.
It is missing the manual though, so I'm having a few problems. The first one is that the "range" toggle only seems to work on "High", if I set it to "Low" it's like the machine turns off (no buzzing sound inside, and it doesn't do anything when I try and use it). I think the switch might have been damaged during shipping because it's kind of pushed in a little. Can I open this up myself and see if anything's wrong with it or should I take it to a professional? As it is I can do a perfect bead on 16ga but I keep burning through on 18ga.
Second thing is a more general question... what's the best way cut a hole in sheet metal to butt weld a patch in when you don't have a plasma cutter? Cutting wheels on my angle grinder are too big and inaccurate, the Dremel wheels are too puny to cut through a floor, and (conveniently) most of the holes in the floor are right over the frame so I can't use a hacksaw. It'd be really easy to just stick a patch over it, and it won't be seen anyway, but I'd rather do it right.