Trying my hand at MIG on a tight budget

[Eman Resu]

Finally have a reason to learn MIG after buying a Vauxhall Frontera for trail use. Got a 150-amp gasless unit secondhand and a spool of flux core. Would gas be cleaner for frame patches or is it better to learn gasless first?

 

[NovelRecover2452]

Gasless is a good way to start especially for outdoor work like trail rigs where wind can mess with shielding gas. That said, gas will give you cleaner welds with less spatter, which is nice for frame patches. If your machine can do both, learning gasless first is totally fine, then upgrade to gas when you're ready for cleaner results!

 

[Eman Resu]

Learning with gasless first and then adding gas for the frame patches is a good path forward for me. For someone just starting with flux core wire what's the most frequent mistake a new person makes?

 

[B1GF00T]

Learning with gasless first and then adding gas for the frame patches is a good path forward for me. For someone just starting with flux core wire what's the most frequent mistake a new person makes?

I guess the biggest common mistake is rushing the weld without dialing in the right wire speed and heat. It's an intricate process that you wouldn't wanna just wing to be honest if you're in it for perfection. Also, please don't skip cleaning your metal first. If not, you'll have to fight porosity all day.

 

[Illustrious-Goat-57]

Gasless is a good way to start especially for outdoor work like trail rigs where wind can mess with shielding gas. That said, gas will give you cleaner welds with less spatter, which is nice for frame patches. If your machine can do both, learning gasless first is totally fine, then upgrade to gas when you're ready for cleaner results!

Makes sense to start gasless with trail rig stuff especially since I'll be outside a lot. Curious though, does switching to gas later mean buying a whole new welder or just adding a few parts?

 

[Eman Resu]

I'll be sure to focus on getting my settings right on some scrap metal first. Cleaning the surface to avoid porosity is a very helpful point to remember. @B1GF00T

I was wondering the same thing about my own machine. I'll have to check if my secondhand unit can be upgraded or if it only runs gasless wire. @Illustrious-Goat-57