Anyone here ever arc welded sheet metal?
 

Today was my first day of ever welding. I think i was using a arc welder(wire feed) and it was a lot tuffer than I thought. I was ok on the thicker metals, but the sheet metal kept burning holes through it and wouldn't weld very nicely even when i turned the voltage down. Has anyone else here been successful with welding sheet metal? What is a good welder for aluminum and sheet metal? Also, is this a bad welder to use? Im just a noob to welding but i really enjoyed it. Anyone have any comments or good info for me?

Thanks

Re:Anyone here ever arc welded sheet metal?
 

For aluminum??? well you need a good MIG or TIG and someone that can Weld aluminum.

Re:Anyone here ever arc welded sheet metal?
 

Get a tig machine with high freq.and foot pedal.Its easy with a foot pedal.

Re:Anyone here ever arc welded sheet metal?
 

Whats the diference between tig mig arc and wire feed ? Which is best for aluminum/steel/misc metal stuff?

Re:Anyone here ever arc welded sheet metal?
 

i will break it down for you guys:

arc : a stick welder, very good for welding and penetrating thick metal. (im talking like 400 amps and 3" steel)

electric: electric welders are just electric no argon/co2 WIREFEED

MIG: same as electric but has the gas (more penetration easier to lay a nice bead) WIREFEED

TIG: tig uses an electrode and u manually feed in the wire, creates awsome welds but they take longer and more practice.


TIG is great for aluminum and the only thing u can realy use to make an awsome weld on it, there are spool guns for MIGS also.

for what we do on cars, buying a quality TIG unit like a miller syncrowave 185SD would do anything u wanted.. but its pricy, not to mention u need a nice 220v 50amp breaker.

but the syncrowave units are inverter so they have like a 90% duty cycle.

duty cycle : basically the time u CAN weld and have full power. most units are transformers, those millers are inverted.

anything else?

Re:Anyone here ever arc welded sheet metal?
 

also u wont be able to weld sheet metal with an arc welder, unless u can get it to go low enough and use a very small ROD.

also u have to pulse on sheet metal it gets to hot.

Re:Anyone here ever arc welded sheet metal?
 

Thanks shorty's, that helps a lot. I take back the high heeles comment ;)