another welding question

I have a little hobart gas-less welder As Seen Here!!!. I am about to get pretty deep into some fabrication on my mustang and the flux core wire is to sloppy IMO. But I don't want to spend more to get a decent mig welder.
So to all w/ experience can I make this a flux core a mig?

Its seems the 125 EZ can only do flux cored welding. The Handler 125 can do MIG. So, to answer your question, no, your machine cannot MIG weld.

It _is_ a mig welder, that's what wire feed is. Just because it's flux core instead of shielded gas wire doesn't mean much except the gas model will weld better.

How "deep" into this project are you getting? More than 1/8" thick material? I'd suggest getting a better machine, as well as upgrade to a TIG.

You might be able to upgrade that one you have for gas feed, but it's still going to cost you some coin. I don't know for sure about the upgrade path though.

How "deep" into this project are you getting? More than 1/8" thick material? I'd suggest getting a better machine, as well as upgrade to a TIG.

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I just ordered a roll cage and some pretty serious sub frame connectors. How deep I plan to go and how deep I end up are never the same!

I can swing the coin for a 115v mig set up with gas (I don't want to) but everything I've seen on a a tig set up is way out of my budget for now! I take it all your nice work is with a tig?

I was looking further into the 125ez that I have vs say the 125 or 140 and besides the gas set up I am also lacking the feed speed control. I think I might be at a loss..

for carbon steel use can use a tig whip and a good cracker box AC/DC stick machine, maybe 400 bucks total, you can even weld SS with it, you just can't weld Al with this tig set-up

Jake.. hey, you can make your gasless mig perform better by preheating your work as hot as you can (torch/rosebud) and then run fast & hot w/multiple pass if needed. You'll be surprised at the better weld quality.

Not sure what your budget is, but check craigslist and ebay for name brand tig welders, ie; lincoln or miller. A small DC tig can be had for as low as $600 if you get lucky sometimes. My "old" one is listed for $1200 but it's in near perfect condition. A brand new one is $1800+ from Miller.

Jake.. hey, you can make your gasless mig perform better by preheating your work as hot as you can (torch/rosebud) and then run fast & hot w/multiple pass if needed. You'll be surprised at the better weld quality.

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I'll be welding the roll cage to the floor pan so pre heating is a definate no go

Not sure what your budget is, but check craigslist and ebay for name brand tig welders, ie; lincoln or miller. A small DC tig can be had for as low as $600 if you get lucky sometimes. My "old" one is listed for $1200 but it's in near perfect condition. A brand new one is $1800+ from Miller.

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I guess I'll have to keep my eyes open

Thanks

My cage was stick welded to the floor pan, want pics, it aint purty, but definately sturdy

My cage was stick welded to the floor pan, want pics, it aint purty, but definately sturdy

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I want pretty tho!

the only difference is grinder time

For the cage to comply with regulations the welds cannot be ground at all. If it doesn't turn out right I could cut off and retry but I really don't want to do that

In all seriousness your doing a roll cage get a MIG (GMAW) machine it will suit you for your needs. Yes a TIG (GTAW) machine is very nice and you can get a wire feeder for it but in reality if you have never welded with TIG it will take some time and practice to get good and make the welds look pretty and function the way the weld is supposed to.

With a decent wire feed machine you can do fluxcord (FCAW), GMAW, and even some SS GMAW welding with it. Some wire feed machines can even do Al welding usually with an adapter.

Do not get a stick welder (SMAW) for a roll cage if you can help it I personally think that is just stupid.

I have done numerous roll cages and some with GMAW and some with GTAW. I love the look and control of GTAW but thats also a huge drawback since it takes about 3 times as long with GTAW than GMAW. If you get your settings right and can run a half decent weld it should turn out looking good with GMAW.

If you can try to get a machine that you can control your Voltage and Wire Feed speed not just notches that are presets. You will get better control with weld puddle wetting and penetration.

Again look on ebay or Craigslist like DAdams suggested for a used one in decent condition. I have a Miller Deltaweld 652 but I got that from work its over 25 years old and still runs like a champ.

neomac you talk like you have done this once or twice! Thanks for the input fellas. Looks like I might have to spend a few bucks on a mig. Nothing seems to be popping up online and my cage shows up on Monday.

Haven't seen your name in a while Jake. Where'd ya go??

Haven't seen your name in a while Jake. Where'd ya go??

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I was in an locked down army school for a little while. I didn't have much fun the rewards are friggn sweet!

What kind of gas should I be using?

What kind of wire are you using and what type of power supply?

Mig is typically 75/25 CO2/Argon.

IMO i'd rather see some ugly arc welds holdin the cage in than a 110 wire feed. The penatration just isnt quite enuff. U might be ok with ur welder if u plug weld and weld the perimeter of the cage mounts (assuming they have a flange like mount) I havent ever been too deep into the floor pans of a mustang but i have had plenty of collision repair welding training so if u wanna post up some pics of the cage and the mounting locals i might be able to help u with a welding procedure that will work with ur welder.