Picture of my mig welder.

[propane1]

Hehe. I call it the 1/2 welder. It’s only 75 amps on high. But it’s good for some things. I can’t seem to get on to a mig welder, but my son can use it great. Bought it about 12 or 13 years ago. Can’t remember what we payed. About $100.00 maybe.

Noel

 

[bplayer405]

Found this in a dumpster. Story was it wouldn't weld like it was supposed to. Don't know what the expectation was, but it will weld. Tried with flux core. The chart wants too much wire feed. Last 2 pics are with 22 gauge. Don't have a regulator to try gas yet...

 

[bplayer405]

Picked up a regulator today and some 1/4" OD tubing to give the salvage welder a go at solid wire. Got it hooked up to C25, installed .023 wire and switched over to the smooth drive roller. Feeding problems immediately. Spool tension was too tight and the drive roller tension was maxed. No adjustment on the spool tension so I had to clip sections off the tension spring and the drive roll tensioner arm had to be filed down to allow more tension between the rollers (plastic feed assembly). Still stutters every now and then when welding. I understand why it was in the dumpster.

I had to really play around with the settings to get some decent welds. Best setting was the top right weld. I'm hoping this welder will do ok for sheet metal. If not it'll end up back where it was found.
View attachment 255

 

[Yomax4]

Surprised that you had to modify the feed tension spring. Or maybe it was not the original. It was an .023 feed roll you installed right? You'll get the most out of any 115v welder with 030. 1/4" tubing will be tough with that machine and not do-able with 023.

 

[A-one]

I started with a 70 amp Campbell- Hausfeld a couple of years ago. Gave $40 for it, about 3 pounds of wire, and a Harbor Freight auto darkening helmet.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have the same problem with my Airco MigLite 100. The tension wont stay adjusted, too tight and it stutters and then too loose and it birdnests the spool. I need to make something that will hold just enough tension but not tighten up under use.