Interesting. 

Wow what a difference MIG makes compared to flux core!

Always wanted to try it and had my eye out for a cheap one to play with. Unbelievable how clean the welds are and how easy this one is to use

-Barely used 205 amp multi process welder and 50 amp plasma torch, 10lbs solid wire and nearly full bottle, $410, craigslist deal. Fixing to try to torch this morning. 

Awesome deal Rojo. 

Yeah, mig with the shielding gas is really nice and clean. 

If the plasma cutter doesnt already have one hook up a good air dryer to it. Any moisture in the air supply is bad for it. 

Oh yeah, I prefer to stick weld over flux core any day. A good GMAW (mig) is hard to beat for clean easy welds. Just remember they aren't magic YOU still have to know how to weld, nothing makes as beautiful B A D welds as a mig.

SWEET DEAL Pedro! I'd love to have one like it come my way.

Frosty The Lucky.

Thanks gents and yes Mr. Wolf, compressor has a moisture filter and cutter has a built in trap.

Im really impressed with how fast it cut this 3/8” especially since they are like $220 new on amazon

Looks good. Like I said you got a great deal for the price. Those will set you up for all kinds of nice work. Look forward to it. 

So, I’m on a business trip,  driving down the road, and I spot a pile of rusty metal at the foot of someone’s driveway with a sign that says “FREE”.  Naturally, I pull over, and grab this old buggy wheel tire:

 But since I’m flying home tomorrow, I had to break it into pieces at the nail holes:

(Which confirmed that it’s wrought iron:

)

And stomp on them to flatten them enough to fit inside my suitcase:

What’s annoying, though, is that I knew that this was as much as I could fit in my suitcase without going overweight, and I had to leave four more behind — three more buggy tires and one heavy wagon tire. So if anyone’s near Mount Desert Island on the Maine coast, they’re a mile or two from the south end of Eagle Lake Road/Route 233 and free for the taking.

 

Whoa John, what an amazing score!

 

Also, I know it defeats the whole free thing, but maybe ship the rest to yourself?

Are you going to have to worry about the TSA asking you some questions?

I have a large collection of notes from the TSA that they opened my bag for inspection. One more won’t make much difference. 

6 minutes ago, Shainarue said:

maybe ship the rest to yourself?

In theory, yes, but probably more trouble than it’s worth. Also, piecing the wagon tire would have necessitated buying a hacksaw, and I’ve already got a couple at home. 

(Both wagon tires and hacksaws.)

Wow what a great find JHCC. I have some wagon wheels that were left on the property. I wonder if they may be wrought iron because knowing the man that owned the place, there's no telling how old they are. Do y'all know how I could test that other than cutting a piece off or would that be the only way? Thomas Powers had mentioned something about that years  ago, but I can't for the life of me remember exactly what he said

 they see you at the security and they are wondering what you stuffed now in your bag.

5 hours ago, CrazyGoatLady said:

Do y'all know how I could test that other than cutting a piece off or would that be the only way?

Cutting and bending is the most reliable method, but you can also look closely to see if there are any signs of forge welds. That’s what I did in this case, and I was pretty sure it was WI even before I started breaking it down, as steel rims are somewhat more likely to be arc welded (especially in places that have large Amish communities that are still using horse-drawn vehicles).

12 hours ago, JHCC said:

I knew that this was as much as I could fit in my suitcase without going overweight

Update: the weight limit for checked baggage is 40 pounds, and this came in at exactly 39.

Dear TSA Agent,

These are the remains of an old wagon wheel which I've placed here to make you scratch your head...

Yours,

John the blacksmith

Thank you JHCC. I've got 3 wagon wheels that I acquired  from the property and two I already had. One is a big thing. I'm 5'2" and it's about as tall as I am. I'm assuming it's a wheel anyway lol. Could be something else but I'm going to look closely at it now that I know what to look for

Nice score john. 

Maybe you could mail it to yourself if you had the time. 

9 hours ago, CrazyGoatLady said:

Do y'all know how I could test that other than cutting a piece off or would that be the only way? Thomas Powers had mentioned something about that years  ago, but I can't for the life of me remember exactly what he said

You can spark test WI with a grinder or grinding wheel.  IIRC the sparks leave straight lines with few, if any, secondary bursts.  Look up spark test charts.  The color of the sparks may be diagnostic too.

"By hammer and hand all arts do stand."

36 minutes ago, Daswulf said:

Nice score john. 

Maybe you could mail it to yourself if you had the time. 

His mailman's back does not agree anymore.

Thank you George. In the dusty cobwebs of my mind, I knew that. Thanks for jogging my memory. Between your and John's advice, I'm certain I can tell now

Cut part way through and then bend it at the cut. WI will break with a stringy sort of texture like breaking green wood. Once you see it you won't forget the look.

Frosty The Lucky.

I would love to forge some of it. It has to be worked at high heat or it will delaminate. Is that correct?

Does drilling wrought iron produce chips similar to cast iron?   Easy to tell apart from steel.  Drill a tiny hole?  Shoot maybe there's cast iron tires out there.  IDK.

CGL, that’s correct. Message me your address, and I’ll put a piece in the mail to you. 

And as expected…