Go Back   RCCrawler Forums > RCCrawler General Tech > Tools, and Procedures
Loading

Notices

Thread: Building with a flux welder

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-07-2011, 09:33 AM   #1
Newbie
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Springfield MA
Posts: 42
Default Building with a flux welder

Picked up a nice Hobart 125EZ for some diy at home repairs from ebay for $229. Cheap! It's a flux based welder(I know, boo flux) but it fit in my budget perfectly.

Anyone have any luck using it to fab up tube stuff with brake line etc? Can't wait for it. i used to play with my father in laws Miller gas mig setup, but i can't swing $600 for a setup right now.
dynamic_e is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 10-07-2011, 04:18 PM   #2
Newbie
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Grand Junction
Posts: 15
Default

yeah i use one for brake line welding.. it does a pretty good job. i have built bumpers and a new rear cage withe it
GJ crawl3r is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2011, 08:24 PM   #3
Rock Crawler
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Piedmont, SC
Posts: 551
Default

I have a Lincoln flux core welder. It welds small stuff very good. If the lowest setting is still too hot, just plug it up with a really long drop cord and it will drop the voltage a little.
Slowbro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2011, 08:25 PM   #4
Quarry Creeper
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: another state of mind..?
Posts: 215
Default

I have one. Just turn it down and "burn some rod" as my welding teacher used to say. Its tuff to weld the brake line without burning through it so I suggest getting a torch even a cheap one will work. but the welder is still perfect for holding it all lined up and in place.
86zuk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2011, 08:54 PM   #5
I wanna be Dave
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,236
Default

Yea the problem with welding thin stuff with a flux core wire is that the flux wire runs a lot hotter than a solid wire with shielding gas.

Hobart welders are basically relabeled millers, I used to have a small 110v unit that came as flux but included the regulator to switch over to gas. I would recommend doing that it you can.

I not have a miller 110v welder (basically the same welder I used to have but my old one got stolen) running gas and I'm not sure if I would use it for brakeline, its hard to weld that thin without burning a hole.
SMR 510RR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2011, 08:24 AM   #6
Newbie
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Springfield MA
Posts: 42
Default Cool

Cool, sounds like the flux would be great for solid stuff like bumpers and sliders where weight isnt a big deal as opposed to trying to do a full cage in brake tubing to save on weight.
dynamic_e is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2011, 10:49 AM   #7
I wanna be Dave
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,236
Default

Yea, even then plan on spending a lot more time cleaning up your welds. Flux has a ton of slag and it spatters all over the place.
SMR 510RR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2011, 12:21 PM   #8
Newbie
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Springfield MA
Posts: 42
Default

I figure it will be a great way to learn and play with welding and if I use it more then I expected, then I can find a good reason to sink the bucks into a shileded gas setup.
dynamic_e is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2011, 05:45 PM   #9
I wanna be Dave
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,236
Default

Do you have a link to the one you got? I bet you can put a regulator on it and run gas although you will have to invest in gas...Gas cost went through he roof since last time I filled my bottle.
SMR 510RR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2011, 01:09 AM   #10
Rock Crawler
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Commiskey
Posts: 585
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SMR 510RR View Post
Yea, even then plan on spending a lot more time cleaning up your welds. Flux has a ton of slag and it spatters all over the place.
Yep, the clean up is what keeps me from messing with it.
I've got a Hobart Handler 140 and I hardly ever use it for RC.
Maybe someday when I switch to gas and get away from the flux wire.
I have more $ in my torch than the welder so I braze everything and havn't had anything break yet. I would rather spend the time makeing my joints fit clean before I braze with very little clean up after than spend the time to ground down weld"s, smooth,etc after.
transambill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2011, 09:43 AM   #11
RCC Addict
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: burlington
Posts: 1,042
Default

i have a small buzz box and i have found that tak welding a chassis together then brazing it up works great. you get minimal to no spatter and clean brazed joints

Last edited by joeyf; 10-10-2011 at 09:49 AM.
joeyf is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:58 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.
Copyright 2004-2014 RCCrawler.com