JMperformance Badlands buggy ST3 thread

**Matt** · 01-12-2021 02:48 AM

We started our build threads about the same time. I'll be following your build also.

I used fluxcore on my ST2 until about half way, switched to gas 110V. It was so much better with the gas, if not for the buggy, my lungs! I remember welding flux core in the garage till late at night and there would be a giant haze in the garage. Then i'd hack up a lung in the shower, yuck!

Now im using a 220V with gas. I dont often need all the power when welding the tubes together, but the control and duty cycle is much better than my old 110v hobart.

You could just tack it with your flux core and wait to upgrade to gas later

**JMperformance** · 01-12-2021 02:55 AM

Originally Posted by Matt

We started our build threads about the same time. I'll be following your build also.

I used fluxcore on my ST2 until about half way, switched to gas 110V. It was so much better with the gas, if not for the buggy, my lungs! I remember welding flux core in the garage till late at night and there would be a giant haze in the garage. Then i'd hack up a lung in the shower, yuck!

Now im using a 220V with gas. I dont often need all the power when welding the tubes together, but the control and duty cycle is much better than my old 110v hobart.

You could just tack it with your flux core and wait to upgrade to gas later

I just bought the correct fittings to hook up my welder to gas. Thank you for the reply. I just want to make sure that the 110V will be enough power to get the tubes welded tight and right. I bought the buggy as a rolling chassis but some of the welds do not have a good penetration(and look quite crappy). I will have to grind them down and do entire re-welds on the frame. I also am going to flip over the frame to make sure the whole underside is properly welded.

Also, what size sprockets did you use on your St2 build?

**darwinpayne2000** · 01-12-2021 03:06 AM

I have a Lincoln Weldpak 100. It is also a 110 volt welder. It will weld up to 1/4 inch steel plate using flux-core and 1/8 inch tubing/plate using gas. I'm not sure why there is a difference, but . . .

Frame tubing is usually 1/8 inch max, so your welder using gas will probably weld everything up just fine.

**JMperformance** · 01-12-2021 01:23 PM

Ok thank you.

**JMperformance** · 01-15-2021 01:10 AM

Tonight I tried hooking up the gas to my welder for the first time. I am having issues with the bead of the weld staying on top of the metal instead of fusing. With the flux core, I had no problem with the metal fusing together. With the gas, the bead wants to stay on top of the metal. What should I do?

**kustomfab2003** · 01-15-2021 12:20 PM

Did you change the polarity once you hooked up the gas connections? Solid wire runs DC +, you will need to change the leads so that the MIG gun is now a positive and the ground a negative. Flux core is reversed as the wire is electrically hot to pre-heat the wire and activate the flux agents. Also you will need some more voltage then you used with flux core, flux core is tubular so it doesn't need as much voltage to burn off. Just remember wire feed speed is amperage (penetration) and voltage is puddle fluidity (bead appearance).

**JMperformance** · 01-15-2021 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by kustomfab2003

Did you change the polarity once you hooked up the gas connections? Solid wire runs DC +, you will need to change the leads so that the MIG gun is now a positive and the ground a negative. Flux core is reversed as the wire is electrically hot to pre-heat the wire and activate the flux agents. Also you will need some more voltage then you used with flux core, flux core is tubular so it doesn't need as much voltage to burn off. Just remember wire feed speed is amperage (penetration) and voltage is puddle fluidity (bead appearance).

I did reverse the polarity after switching it to gas. The welder is all hooked up correctly to run the gas. I’m just having very bad issues with penetration and bead appearance. Probably just gonna save up for a Miller or Everlast welder.

**kustomfab2003** · 01-15-2021 12:58 PM

What sized wire did you go with? What gas also? Voltage will probably need to be 18-20V for .035 wire and wire feed speed anywhere from 175-245 depending on thickness. If running .030 the voltage range will probably be 16.5-18.5 volts but the wire-feed speed will be much higher as it burns off faster more in the 230-300 range for 1/8" material. Also your contact tip to work distance should be fairly close 3/8-1/2" for short circuit welding, anything any further and you loose arc energy (amps) and it will just sit on top of the plate.

**JMperformance** · 01-15-2021 07:47 PM

I am using 0.6 solid wire from Lincoln electric. The highest my welder runs is 120 amps, that is what I was running.

could the contact tip be an issue? I am using a 0.8 tip with 0.6 wire, should I buy some 0.6 contact tips?

I linked some pictures of the weld:weld_2.jpg

**JMperformance** · 01-16-2021 12:37 AM

Has anyone used the Titanium MiG 170? would it be good for industrial use?

Here is the the specs: MIG 170 Professional Welder with 120/240 Volt Input (harborfreight.com)

It is sold by Harbor Freight but, it has very good reviews and is comparable to the Miller 211. Let me know what you think! I need an upgrade from my HD power systems SMIG120gg

After that there would be one more welder. That is the Titanium Unlimited 200 Professional Multiprocess Welder With 120/240 Volt Input.
It is a multiprocces welder that is capable of mig, tig, and stick. the only drawback is that it is about $300 more than the 170.

here is the link for that welder: Unlimited 200™ Professional Multiprocess Welder with 120/240 Volt Input (harborfreight.com)

which should I take?
JM

also, I posted this on the forum "shop talk"