weld pak 100

[chaps7931]

have a lincoln weld pak 100 that i will be converting to gas but my big question is would i be able to weld car frames with it and if so what type of was mixture should i use to get beter penetration. just need to do 1 frame,not for every day use.

[Teddco]

Have you compared the stated metal thickness capabilities of the welder to the thickness of the car frame metal you want to weld? If you're welding 3/16" or more, it's likely that no gas mix will give satisfactory penetration for that welder. These small 115VAC welders usually can weld thicker metal with flux core filler wire versus gas anyways. If the proposed frame weld is critical and/or load load bearing I'd be looking for a higher amp welder and possibly some professional help.

[KRS]

I think you'll need to specify what part of car frames you want to want to weld.

If you want to cut, shorten, and reweld car frames... the answer is no.

[chaps7931]

well i want to cut and shorten a frame but i got confuse when i seen some other people talking in this forum that the weld pak can weld 1/4 thick metal and might be able to handle 1/2 with gas but i will just wait untill i upgrade to a biger welder

[littlefuzz]

I want to say the thickest rating is 1/4". No way in hell you'll be good to 1/2"
Most frames are only around 10ga so I believe you'd be ok assuming you know what you're doing. Probably have to have some splice plates too. The fluxcore wire will be hotter.

[chaps7931]

co2 gas is said to have more penetration then fluxcore. would that be a better way to go?

[Visorblue]

well i want to cut and shorten a frame but i got confuse when i seen some other people talking in this forum that the weld pak can weld 1/4 thick metal and might be able to handle 1/2 with gas but i will just wait untill i upgrade to a biger welder

There may be some people here that can do all sorts of outside the box things with a smaller welder by beveling, pre-heating the metal with a propane torch, etc. but that's for someone that's really really good with a lot of experience. Out of the box the Weld Pak 100 will do 1/4" with .035 flux-core and multi-pass (cleaning in-between passes). Even the 220v Pro-Mig 175 requires multi-pass and NR-212 .045 flux-core to do 1/2". Also, note the text on the bottom of the attachments, not something I'd want to trust in a car.

I'm not sure about CO2 having more penetration than flux-core. More than C-25, yes. You can always call Lincoln for help. They are knowledgeable and friendly. Maybe talk to an engineer there.

You have a lot of options though. Have someone else do the thicker stuff, rent a bigger welder for those weld, add a stick welder to your setup...

Good luck!

[chaps7931]

thanks guys for the info

[smyrna5]

Since you already have the welder, and since you will likely get more penetration with flux wire, why not just find a local fab shop that will sell you some scrap cheaply and get some of the same thickness as the frames you intend to weld and try it. Or, if you have an old frame piece try it on that. Once you weld some cut it apart and otherwise bend fold and mutilate it to see what kind of penetration you are getting. This will convince you one way or the other.

[wanderinwoods]

I have used my 100 pak to do some welding for my truck parts. I made a set of rock sliders with it. I can jack the truck up by thiese sliders with no problems. I have done 1/4 inch with no problems. Just gotta burn SLOW and make a few passes. I use flux core. One of these days I will be doing a rear bumper for the truck, but that I will probaly just tack then take elsewhere to have it done right.

BTW I never welded before I bought that welder.

[bill104]

Ok heres my input, i know a sp100 is rated for thin welding, but a few years ago i had to fix a box scarper on a john deere i added 2 inches of halt inch plate, using flux core 0.35, its still in servise today, i just V groved it when i welded, I also welded 3/4 cleats on to a case 450 dozer's drive sprocket, when the guy got it down a canyon and rolled all the teeth off, a Quick fix to get it up the hill for proper repairs lasted four months and 3 jops later, until the owner could buy new sprockets, again used a V grove weld, as for a solid core wire i run 0.25 wit co2 and weld bumber mounted trailer hitches to 1/4 inch stock, useing 3 passes along each weld, I pull a 32 foot toy box from sacramento Ca, to Sandmountain NV al the time, its never failed me yet, just over a year on the new hitch. anther hint for flux core is to turn the wire speed way down, so the base metel melts more, and if you realy want to play, turn it almost of and feed oxy weld rod into your puddle, try diferant things on scarp to see what you like and what penirats best, for your needs. then practice practice practice.