Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original

Welding Setup...?

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Rick:
I think the one I used was a Lincoln.  I guess it worked fine for light duty, but if you want to build anything of substance, the 110 is just too light for the job.  While I have a stick welder, I really like the wire feed, as you don't have to keep changing sticks.  I use the large rolls of wire with the adapter so I don't have to deal with changing rolls very often.  This unit I have also has a safety just in case you exceed the duty cycle.  However, I have worked several large projects that required welding for 13-14 hours a day and most of a 10 pound roll of wire, and just the time between pulling the trigger was sufficient to keep from hitting the duty cycle limit.

Of course, when you get past 5/16 material, the unit I have is too small, so its time to switch to either a bigger wire feed or a stick welder, especially if you are welding anything that will have stress factors.

As a final note,  I am not a welder by trade, and have never had any formal training.  I just started welding in my teens, and enjoy it so much I have retained the skills.  Since I have always been one of the top welders and fabricators at the various companies where I have worked, I have peridically closed my office for a week or two to assist with large projects.  My interaction with other employees takes on a completely different personality when the see the guy who signs all the checks in work cloths with a welder in his hand. :wink:

Good luck in the selection process.

Rick

kawdude:
Can the aluminum wire be pushed through the cable or do you need to have a spoolgun.

mikesmith:
Both a spool gun (can be hard to control,gets heavy) or you use a differnt liner in the cable,but you have to keep a straight/smooth line in the cable to keep the wire from sticking/kinking.Cobra makes a small light gun that pulls instead of pushing the cable and I've seen the guy tie the cable in a loose knot with no kinking.But its made for prouduction use like in building boats ect.,for how much it cost I'd just get a TIG.And like Rick says he's welding 13 or so hours a day,he need's a big welder.Be honest on what your doing with it,small welder for small jobs,big welder for big jobs!What do you do for a living Rick?Not trying to be nosey,but like me you seem to be a do-it-your-selfer!

KXcam22:
I'm using an older 220V A/C lincoln (got it free).  Works quite well with the correct rod (7028 & 6013).  I run it out of my dryer outlet.  The 220v wire feed is definately the way to go (I should do that).  For hobby welders like myself, I found the new auto-tinting electronic welding helmets increased my quality quite a bit.  They are getting cheaper too at around $200 CAD. Cam.

Rick:
Been out a few days, so posting a little late.

For aluminum, I just ran my .35 wire through the same liner as my steel wire.  This means I can switch back and forth by just swapping the wire and changing the polarity (takes about 5 minutes).  I also pay little attention to the cable staightness, and never had a sticking problem.  It is important to note that this is not the recommended setup, but it seems to work just dandy.  Now, if I were going to aluminum weld a lot, I would no doubt prefer a different strategy, but for periodic aluminum work, all is good...

Rick

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