I have a Lincoln 140 welder and would like to learn to be a better welder with it. I feel like I am missing some fundamentals with the welder and would like to see if someone here gould give me a rundown on the unit or let me know what i am doing wrong.
I generally use flux-core welding wire when welding and I use a 3500w inverter generator most of the time when welding with it.
Fluxcore requires a long arc length (1 inch). You don’t seem to go into detail about what your actual issues with the machine are though. Also any type of welding that uses flux has the potential for slag inclusions, pinholes and other weld defects. You need to make sure your direction of weld travel doesn’t push slag and flux back into your welds
On thinner metals (14Ga, 11Ga) I seem to do ok most of the time but thicker (1/4", schedule 20) metal I am way less consistant. My welder sputters and I don’t seem to get good consistent penetration or that sizzle and the welds wind up looking. I wind up with splatter and welds that look like popcorn.
Your little 140 welder isn’t really made for 1/4 material in a single pass. It’ll probably do 3/16 at best. You will need to run a bead, brush off all of the slag, then run another on top until the gap is filled. Clean the material of paint,grease,rust, oil …ect really well.
