110v welder. Can it do frames?

[Kintore]

As the title says. Like gusset kits and building frames. Can it get enough penetration?

[DohcBikes]

It depends on the welder. IMO if the transformer has at least a 125amp max rating, it works fine. Also, i have had much better luck with dc welders than ac welders. As with any welding, prep is key. Deep vees and clean metal with a good ground that is close to the weld being laid.

I have modified and welded countless motorcycle frames with a 110volt welder. I now use a 220v, 180 mig and yes it works better.

[trike savior]

my 90 amp harbor freight special is only good for light non-structural steel. I have used it to tack frame parts together and it holds, but I would never use it to completely weld it. not enough penetration.

my old Chinese 125 amp welder from ebay (Lincoln knock off) was awesome and did just fine up to 1/4 inch. still have a lot of what I built with it. always had problems with it blowing the breaker in the middle of a weld, which eventually killed it. when it blew, I began looking for another and they make the exact same thing still but only in 220v and not 110v anymore

biggest tool investment in my life yet, but my millermatic 252 is now my baby. worth every penny. could make a monkey look like a pro. took 4' out of the middle of a freightliner and welded her back together. beautiful strong welds still holding together today

[Poco Loco]

I have 2 Lincoln 110 wire feeds besides my big one. 1 is set for .035 flux core. The other is a mig set up. Yes the Lincoln is a machine capable of a frame build. Plenty of penetration for a frame. Do it. practice on similar metals 1st. Dont booger your frame up. Dont blow it apart. Practice practice 1st if your new to welding. If you run a Central or another Chinese welder...Good luck with that.

[Flyingw]

It would be best when using a 110v welder to use it with blended gas rather that straight flux core wire. Also, take a propane torch and heat the welded up area first. Not allot of heat but just get the metal warm. It really does help.

[Dirtcrasher]

Without reading the other responses, here are my thoughts:

A GOOD (Lincoln, Hobart, Miller) welder can handle an ATC frame just fine. I HATE flux core wire; The right gauge wire is important. And a SUPER CLEAN joint ia also best. Mig and Tig welders do not like paint and or contamination......

These frames are not thick, hence the stock overlapping of joints and the gusset kits some of us install.

Get the Argon gas pressure set and leave it. Then start a practice weld on the same thickness material. If voids are found in your "layed out roll of coins" you are too far away or the wire speed isn't enough. If it globs up, sometimes even making the nozzle bounce away, you are not hot enough for the pool or the wire feed is a bit fast or too large. I always weld with circles.

My Lincoln 180SP 230V has dials I can adjust like a radio knob. The cheaper welders have 1 thru 5 or A thru E for settings. Which is fine, you just can't get it in between those settings but without those settings, practice will prevail.

My Miller180 Diversion is my newest addition as a full AC/DC stainless/copper/aluminum and small fine welding TIG machine. I will need to practice but I plan to be very good at it.

If all you have is a flux core, do the best you can. Grind off the "embarrassment" welds and do it again. Took me 25 years to get set up as I stand and Rome wasn't built in a day!

Good luck, post with any questions.
DC

[DohcBikes]

Heating the prepped metal is a great tip as well. Mig welding does produce a nice looking weld, but flux core wire burns hotter and penetrates deeper.

[jays375]

Always use a good heavy extension cord.Don't get far from the outlet.Using a blended gas works best 75/25.On light sheet metal .020 wire.For heavier stuff use .035 wire.A quality 110 machine can handle 1/8 material no problem.Maybe even 3/16" these days.Remove all paint and as much rust as possible.Watch a couple YouTube vids and practice.Or if your lucky maybe a friend can help you get started.

[big specht]

So basicly yes with the right welder. I have a millermatic 130 its 110v and I have welded all kinds of stuff that I probley shouldn't have and it has been fine. On bike frames I have to watch that it dont burn thru.

[just ben]

The blended gas that has been mentioned a few times is c25 75% co2 25% argon

[Dave_D]

I have a 110 flux core and would not hesitate to weld a frame with it
Practise practise practise

I uses 030 wire seems to get WAY hotter and have better penetration low wire speed and like I said
Practise practise practise

Like said before use a heavy extension cord or no extension cord. It does make a huge difference

[Flyingw]

I have a Hobart 140 with 75/25 blended gas. For a light duty welder, it does a pretty good job. Preheating the metal for initial strike does make a big difference I must say. I had an economy 90 amp welder with no gas...... crap welds. I gave that one away and bought the Hobart.

[Kintore]

I couldnt weld to save my life ten months ago. But I happened to find a new job 9 months ago and now im a pretty decent welder.

Just getting that itch to build my own toys....I know I got the skills so far. Just didnt want to run 220 out to my shop if I didnt have to.

Thanks for the replys guys! Keep em coming

[fabiodriven]

I extended my first Tecate's swing arm using an old "Silver Beauty" welder and flux core wire without gas. I had it cranked all the way up and I used the flux core wire because somebody had told me it burned hotter. Whether or not that's true I don't know, I never ran gas on that machine. It's a really old machine, I still have it. It's not great to use though, haha. That swing arm is still holding up to this day. You'll have to grind most of the welds, the flux core makes a mess, but it is strong enough if you really burn it in.

[Flyingw]

I don't weld either but having a welder that works well is half the battle. I also found this video and after watching it, made perfect sense. Excellent learning tool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzBGZaS1apw