My 1970 GMC “Project Splice”

[Kronald_70GMC]

Originally Posted by ryans69chevy

Kyle spend some time on YouTube checking out "how to's" it might be worth it and it's free. You can always search this site for some welding tips as well.

I can't see your picture that well, but if it's not sticking, either the metal isn't clean enough or your settings are a little bit off. Like you said maybe you want to just practice on some scrap. You could even weld some of the metal you cut out of your cab which would be able to dial in exactly the right thickness.

Just play around with it until you feel comfortable. Also what size wire are you using? .023 is what I use for anything smaller than my frame basically. I use .030 on my frame. If you are using too big of wire it could cause either too much heat which would burn through thin metal since it requires more heat to melt or its not enough heat to fully melt and penetrate into the metal. Try even tilting your gun at a little angle - this might prevent the blow throughs. Btw I wish I had a tig welder too! What kinda mig welded are you using?

Thanks for your feedback. I will definatly have to do my reasearch now lol. I am using .030 as that is the smallest size flux core wire you can get to the best of my knowledge (which isnt very good when it comes to welding...yet lol). My welder is an ancient hobart 140 handler but I do not have the gas hookup. There is the place for the hookup but I dont have the tank or gauges. Might be more worth it to spend some money on a newer welder before I get the gas. As far as tilting my gun goes, I've tried so many diffrent angles but it almost seems like my wire speed fluctuates while I am welding so it is very difficult to be consistent. I have had a few very nice tacks but they are far and few between. I am also going to be picking up a new auto darkening helmet because mine is in very bad shape (my dads old one lol) It probably is not helping that I cant see very well. Im not giving up, I will figure this out!

[ryans69chevy]

Yea I hear ya! Man if I was you I would try to swing some new equipment. It makes the job a lot easier. I think I spent a little over 1000 on all my stuff for welding - welder, tank, cart, helmet, jacket, wire, tips, and some random tools with it. So it's definitely an investment, but it sure is a cool one!

You wouldn't have to buy everything I did so it wouldn't be that much. You could get by with just the bare essentials for now and slowly get more tools/equipment that will help you get the job done easier. You could save some coin by just putting a spot light on the area that your welding and you should be able to see good enough. It is nice to have an auto helmet though!

I guess as far as flux core and all that I don't know a lot about it, but the wire size seems like an issue to me... I think that is one of your problems, but again I don't know a whole lot. I would search the internet on the how thin of metal to weld with .030. Good luck! Hurry up though so you can post more pics!

[Kronald_70GMC]

Well I have done some research and found some solutions to my welding problems. Firstly, I put a new plug end on my welder because the one that was there was missing the ground pin (Thanks to Scott aka OriginalThor for pointing this out) then I got a new wire feed roller for the thing because it had a v groove .045 roller, which was the wrong size for the wire and the wrong type. It is supposed to be a knurled flux core roller so I got that sorted. The next thing I did was head down to my local Princess Auto and pick up an auto darkening helmet on sale for $70. And with all that I was able to make some good progress. Now that Ive made a disaterous mess of my welds it is a very tedious process. lol I still have a bit of welding to do on this piece yet.... ok a lot but now that I have an idea of what Im doing, I can accomplish anything. anyway, here are some pictures.