95silverstallion Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Im in the process of building my first forge and have a question about welding 1/2" plate for the pot. Since its not going to carry any heavy load but it will obviously see extreme heat...would I be kidding myself trying to weld up the 1/2" plate firepot with my Lincoln 140 MIG welder? Ive been welding the table up with my MIG using gas but if need be and you think it would work I can switch to .030 flux core. Or should I just tack it up good and have someone with a big welder finish it off? Thanks, Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironwolfforgeca Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 is the welder 110 V or 220 V ? if 110 V use flux core & made pre heat 1/2 plate or find someone with a Bigger welder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Greetings Brian, Ya going to have a bigger welder .. Preheat and tack it . You will find your welder is limited to about 5/16 stock... You will need a 225 or bigger stick welder to do the job right.. Good luck Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Preheat and a good glove will help a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Graham Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Bevel the corners use a multiple pass weld each pass will preheat the next Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale M. Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Bevel the corners use a multiple pass weld each pass will preheat the next This would be my solution too.... Since its not structural, all it has to do is hold together.... No like its supporting a balcony in theater or something load critical... Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Roy Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Brian, you should be fine with a Lincoln 140. Bevel the edges and make multiple passes. I used a Lincoln 135 on 3/8" plate and have been using my fire box for 9 years with no signs of degradation at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Roy Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 95SS, you are okay with your equipment. I built my fire box out of 3/8" plate and used a Lincoln 135. Bevel the edges and make multiple passes. That is how the big boys do it on heavy iron. I have been using my fire pot for 9 years with no sign of degredation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Roy Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 deleted double post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWHII Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Just go for it! Just weld it up and learn. You can't do hurt anything a grinder can't fix. You might even suprise yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Greetings Brian, Test weld , Test weld, Test weld.. !/2 plate at that angle allready has a bevel.... I think you will be filling a 3/4 or better gap... Check out the duty cycle of your machine... It's only metal have at it... reverse gear is a grinder... Good luck Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95silverstallion Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 Yes its a 110v welder. I figured it cant hurt to just lay the juice to it and go multiple passes. I can MIG weld good but I have never welded plate that thick(1/2"). I suppose a good initial preheat will help since im in the garage with no heat and its in the 20s. I will definetly do some test passes on leftover pieces. If I thought the wife wouldnt give me the look I would just go buy a stick welder and be done with it. Thanks for the boost of confidence, Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95silverstallion Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 I probably wont get to it until next weekend. Worst case I can have someone stick weld right over my MIG welds. Im sure ill be fine though. Thanks again, Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evfreek Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Waste of time and gas. You will need to wait for the welder to cool between passes, and you'll blow a lot of gas. It's not even fair to do with someone else's gas. Although I know those who would do that. This is an ideal job for a big stick or mig welder. The amount of filler you can lay in with a 650 amp 3 ph stick welder running iron powder rods is just awesome in comparison to one of those little 120V MIG's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95silverstallion Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 Im still going to atleast tack it up and then maybe see how much someone would charge me to weld it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavala Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Waste of time and gas. You will need to wait for the welder to cool between passes, and you'll blow a lot of gas. It's not even fair to do with someone else's gas. Although I know those who would do that. This is an ideal job for a big stick or mig welder. The amount of filler you can lay in with a 650 amp 3 ph stick welder running iron powder rods is just awesome in comparison to one of those little 120V MIG's. Lol abit overkill don't ya think,"650 amps 3 phase 7024 rods" it's a fire pot not a bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95silverstallion Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 Turns out my Grandpa has a stick welder in the fiery depths of his garage. Ill go out there and weld it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aljeter Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I used a 140 to build mine out of 3/8 plate, multiple passes and the machine handled it just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I have used 1/4" plate and the are going on 10 years now with daily use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale M. Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 I have welded for extended periods of time with a Hobart Handler 140 and have yet to have machine in thermal shut down due to duty cycle... Just weld it!... You are wasting valuable forge time.... Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 The corners of the fire pot don't nearly take the punishment that the sides do. It really only needs to hold about 20 to 30 lbs of coal and iron at the most. as long as it can support that load and the fire is contained you'r fine. One pass to make it air tight will do the job. The sides will burn away long before the welds are eroded by oxidation from the heat of the fire. Extra passes will make you feel like you did a good job but that will not add anything to the functionality of the finished fire pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Yates Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 It will work fine .025 wire just means you will have to make more passes on the plate Gas is the way to go with your unit I have .030 on mine W/25 % /75% Mix I prep (Bevel) 1/2 plat all the time and weld it up even on Structural Stuff If you can weld with that unit (you have not shown any photos ) then you can weld a simple Fire pot . debating the issue is more of a personal preference of one's ability then the ability of the Machine that does nothing unless turned on by a welder and used . it will do the job very proficiently. Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95silverstallion Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 Couple pics of a few welds on my table. This is a Lincoln 135 MIG (not 140) using Argon/CO2 mix and .025 wire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWHII Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 By the look of your welds you should do fine welding up your fire pot. Use the advise Samcrow gave you and have some fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale M. Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Welds look good.... IF you are going into heavy (thick) materials I suggest you move up to .030 or .035 wire if welder will handle it.... And bump up heat accordingly Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.