I dont think i can so it, unless I cough up the $$$ for 1/16" rods, and even then, it wont be very nice.
But, that said, is there a rod that I can use to try and weld up sheetmetal wtihout burning lots of holes in it (right now the smallest I have are 3/32" rods)?

Gonna tell us what size sheetmetal and what its bein stuck to?

I dont know the thickness off the top of my head. I think it is around 20 gague. Last thing I tried to weld with it was the front fender on my power wagon. It just made the hole bigger :(
Next project I need to do is to cut/weld the fenders on my 4runner, and I would much rather try and do it with my welder, then driving all over to buddys places trying to get them welded up, only to find that their welder is still boxed up, or they are out of town (took me almost a month to get my buddy to weld up the exhaust on my truck for me).

BTW, I think I remember mike telling me that when he used to use this thing to weld up sheet metal, he used 1/16" rods (something about doing the exhaust on his jeep with it).

Originally posted by GRMhick
is there a rod that I can use to try and weld up sheetmetal wtihout burning lots of holes in it (right now the smallest I have are 3/32" rods)?

I tried some 1/16" A500 a while back. Did a decent job on some 18 guage with my DC machine.

1/16" rods, and LOW power could work all right.

lowest I can go is 35 amps. And it is a DC machine.

I used 6013 5/64" to do the exhaust on my truck, body panels, etc. with no problems. 35A is kind of a lot for that sort of work. I'd suggest getting a short piece of extension cord, a 110V plug, and a 220V socket that matches your welder plug - then your 35A setting becomes more like 17A. Assuming, of course, that it's a 220V welder. ;)

Originally posted by Lloyd
I used 6013 5/64" to do the exhaust on my truck, body panels, etc. with no problems. 35A is kind of a lot for that sort of work. I'd suggest getting a short piece of extension cord, a 110V plug, and a 220V socket that matches your welder plug - then your 35A setting becomes more like 17A. Assuming, of course, that it's a 220V welder. ;)

wait, are you talking on the power cord?

Ya, I have a 220v hobart tr250.

Use a piece of copper of aluminum to back it up where you are welding and that will help.

try vertical down 6013, youll have to move kinda fast

Originally posted by GRMhick


wait, are you talking on the power cord?



Yup. Common thing to do when using a unit like yours as a constant current source for scratch-start TIG on thin materials.

And backing with something does help too. A big brass pipe cap can be used with good effect.