Has anyone converted a JobSmart 125 flux core wire welder to use gas for MIG/MAG welding? I have one, and the gun appears to be designed for gas use, with the gas feed holes behind the tip inside the nozzle. But there is no existing connection for the gas inside the welder at the wire feed mechanism. The gas tube must simply end inside that clamp block. The user guide shows how to change the liner in the gun cable, and even shows a gas tube leading out to the tip. I'd like to know if someone has found a way to connect into the gas tube on this model and set it up to use CO/Argon?
SOURCE: Welder work OK with flux wire, cannot get penatration in MIG mode
Same here, just a tall cold bead in MIG mode using .024" wire and 75/25 gas
SOURCE: SMALL PUDDLES NO PENATRATION
Hi:
If you are using flux core wire you need to switch the polarity of the machine. With flux core wire, your ground clamp becomes positive (lead) and your gun the ground. All you need to do is switch the cables above the feed rolls.
That will take care of the problem
If this was useful to you, please vote. Thanks.
SOURCE: Flux wire on Dual Mig Welder not feeding.
Change the contact tip.This is the most common problem. The tip gets burned and keeps the wire from feeding. You should always have extra tips on hand.
SOURCE: convert flux to mig
need to buy a gauge set up , these usually come with the hose and gauge,just attach in the back and hook up your bottle..
SOURCE: I dont know what kind of metals this wire type can
Usually a flux core only welds steel. It is a higher penetration weld than a MIG. Usually it acts similar to 6011 rods in SMA (Shielded Metal Arc) welding -- a.k.a. stick welding -- if you're familiar with that. I don't believe there is such a thing as flux wire for aluminum. There may be stainless wire for it, but I've never seen it. It probably could also be used for building up cast iron and cast steel, but nothing structural. I have a Chicago Electric one and I love it -- simple and it penetrates hard. My 90 amp will weld to 3/8" without breaking a sweat and if I baby it will go to 1/2" or better. It is difficult to go much lower than 12 or 14 gauge though due to the high penetration.
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Thanks, Owen. But I have read on other forums that, unlike the Harbor Freight entry level flux welder, for example, the JobSmart 125 actually IS a DC output welder. If that is true, I see no reason why the wiring could not be reversed for use with gas. It does lay down some nice beads, once I learned how to use it compared to the 220 Lincoln stick welder I've used for 25 years. But I would like to try using gas to get the nicer looking welds, and also to weld aluminum.
In my intensive search online, I discovered a Powerweld 130E model which looks almost identical to the Jobsmart 125. The case, handle, mig torch, ground clamp, and even the color of the knobs and switches are exactly the same. Probably built on the same assembly line. :) The difference is that the Powerweld 130E is gas/gasless and comes with the regulator etc. needed to use gas, and appears to have 3 heat settings instead of 2. Of course it costs $300 compared to the Jobsmart 125 price at TSC of $129. So I am wondering if I can get the parts that are 'different' between the two models, I may be able to convert mine.
The biggest issue is where to route the gas. Mine has a block where the Mig torch cable meets the wire feed and it is enclosed. There is no sign of a fitting for the gas hose to go out the back. But in the manual, where it tells how to replace the wire liner, it shows and mentions the gas hose inside the Mig torch cable. Plus there is a diffuser fitting behind the tip with holes for the gas to exit.
My thought at the moment is that the Jobsmart 125 is just like the Powerweld 130E except they economized it and omitted some of the parts so they could sell it for less as a flux wire welder. I have yet to take a peek on the back side of the inner wall where the wire feeder is mounted. I am wondering if, on the Powerweld 130E, they might exit the gas fitting inside that compartment and have a hose leading to the back end. If anyone happens to have a Powerweld 130E I would love to see some photos inside it, and/or a look at its manual.
I got a look into the inner workings of the Jobsmart 125. Unfortunately the differences mentioned above are more involved than I had hoped.
The Jobsmart mig gun is the same externally, but it has no gas hose entering the cabinet. They must have omitted the hose from the gun cable assy. And although I had read multiple places that the Jobsmart 125 is true DC output, it appears to me that the gun electrode lead directly exits the transformer secondary windings and heads to the gun. There is apparently no rectifier circuit in that lead. So now I question whether it is actually DC or not.
If these things all come together then it may be impractical to consider converting the Jobsmart simply because all the needed components may add up to too much expense, if I would also need to replace the mig torch assembly.
I bought a jobsmart 125 amp have tried 3 different metals from fencing galvanize to I beam will not stay what could it be
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