Quote:
Originally Posted by Megadan
Using flux core mig would be just about the worst setup to use on any tube frame bike, regardless of how good or bad the metal quality is. That just screams blown holes and turd weld beads. The effective wire diameter is .023 on most flux core, which gives way too much of a narrow hot spot for thinner gauge steel. You would have to be a damn good welder to pull off a good weld on even high grade tubing without screwing up.
Considering there is more than one example of people that have successfully welded to the stock Hawk frame, it's not impossible. A .035 Forney 42276 wire with a 75/25 Ar/CO2 blend would be my personal combination of choice if I were going to go the MIG route. Might make for a wider weld, but it will distribute the heat better (limits relative penetration "focus") and lay a flatter smoother weld.
To each his own though.
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I agree with that logic when using a higher quality welder. My little Miller 175 seems to like 0.030" with 75/25 on light tubing; it'll lay down decent beads with 0.035" or 0.040", but I've had the best results with 0.030'. When it's cranked up to weld 1/4" plate, it likes 0.035" or 0.040" just fine.
When I had an opportunity to try my buddy's Eastwood 140, I found that it could only work with 0.023". When I tried using 0.030" at the correct settings, the gun was literally being pushed away from the work. It didn't have any more power to give. Don't get me wrong; it's a wonderful little welder with infinite voltage control, but don't expect to weld more than about 3/16" in a single pass.