To weld thin thin metal a mig welder(yes with argon / carbon dioxide) works great. Just spot tack ,tack,tack,tack,tack etc. Sheet metal to thicker metal is easier. Ride the line on the thicker side and it pulls to the thin.
True true but I will say mig can be really tricky when you are outside and there is even a slight breeze blowing the shielding gas away. I recently got a new mig and on the trailer I'm restoring flux core has been much better for outdoors. A lot of mig machines will run arc flux as long as you can switch the polarity to DCEN and you change out the tension spool.
The reason that you may have burned through was probably because you were slightly to hot for the thickness of metal I am very impressed for your first time welding 👍
I second the point that you probably had the power up too high. I weld quite a bit but my welder is cheap and only has a high and low current setting which makes it hard. Low setting can still be too high so just don't weld for too long, do a couple seconds and stop for a second or two then continue. If it gets too hot it will melt. I am restoring a 3 horse stock trailer (converted to horse trailer) and had to fix a Crack in the front and was "chasing a hole" for a bit. Thin steel is hard to learn on but you'll get the hang of it.
thanks Alvaro, we did end up learning a lot about welding on this job, but I still have SOOO much too learn, getting the settings right when you change metals, and making sure there is good contact to weld seems to be an ongoing process!
Gonna be a good looking trailer.
Nice project. Learn a lot and save a lot of money.
To weld thin thin metal a mig welder(yes with argon / carbon dioxide) works great. Just spot tack ,tack,tack,tack,tack etc. Sheet metal to thicker metal is easier. Ride the line on the thicker side and it pulls to the thin.
Great point! We are learning slowly but surely !
True true but I will say mig can be really tricky when you are outside and there is even a slight breeze blowing the shielding gas away. I recently got a new mig and on the trailer I'm restoring flux core has been much better for outdoors. A lot of mig machines will run arc flux as long as you can switch the polarity to DCEN and you change out the tension spool.
Did you weld a new trailer jack on a livestock trailer yet? Did you make a video about it?
Looks great!
The reason that you may have burned through was probably because you were slightly to hot for the thickness of metal I am very impressed for your first time welding 👍
yea, that might be it, we are starting to figure out the settings, welding definitely isn't as easy as some guys make it look, that's for sure!
I second the point that you probably had the power up too high. I weld quite a bit but my welder is cheap and only has a high and low current setting which makes it hard. Low setting can still be too high so just don't weld for too long, do a couple seconds and stop for a second or two then continue. If it gets too hot it will melt. I am restoring a 3 horse stock trailer (converted to horse trailer) and had to fix a Crack in the front and was "chasing a hole" for a bit. Thin steel is hard to learn on but you'll get the hang of it.
we are getting a little better, thanks for the tips, every little bit helps. good luck on the trailer
gotta have your heat lower for thinner metals so it doesn’t burn through
thanks Alvaro, we did end up learning a lot about welding on this job, but I still have SOOO much too learn, getting the settings right when you change metals, and making sure there is good contact to weld seems to be an ongoing process!
My vote is paint it black!