Century FC-90 welder

[FergusonTO35]

Yes, this will be a lifelong process!

 

[OnlyStihl]

Yes, this will be a lifelong process!

I have the same welder. Had it for a couple of years and still can't get welds that I feel proud of. Unlike my stick welders which yield (IMO) almost factory quality welds. Now that you have been at it for a year and a half how's the Forney welds looking?

 

[OnlyStihl]

Some Forney beads. Recommended for this 1/8 inch thick mower blade was 7 of 10 amps and 7 of 10 wire feed rate. Backed off the amps and the wire feed moving from left to right. At 5 of 10 Amps the arc was getting inconsistent. Not a whole lot of difference. Breaks in the bead were where I had to reset myself. Nothing like the stick welder that would lay beads down nice and thick and uniform. The Forney flux core welder is a different animal.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I haven't used it much but the welds I made have held so far. I welded an Echo muffler back together after modding it and the muffler has held together just fine. I think this welder is ideal for sheet metal and quick and dirty patch jobs. It's definitely no substitute for a stick welder or even a 220 volt mig. A buddy is supposed to bring me a mower deck to patch so I'll let you know how that goes if he does bring it.

 

[OnlyStihl]

I haven't used it much but the welds I made have held so far. I welded an Echo muffler back together after modding it and the muffler has held together just fine. I think this welder is ideal for sheet metal and quick and dirty patch jobs. It's definitely no substitute for a stick welder or even a 220 volt mig. A buddy is supposed to bring me a mower deck to patch so I'll let you know how that goes if he does bring it.

It does have a lot of advantages. Light weight, easy start arc, love the carry handle (wraps up all the cables), 120V.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Yeah, for it's size and price I'm satisfied. I would like to learn to weld thin sheet metal, which is what these small welders are made for.

 

[Woodpecker]

Welding just takes practice .My favorite welding story on another forum .A typical California know it all said I couldn't weld --sooo I gas welded two tin cans together and then the silence was deafening .

In hvac school we had to be able to solder 2 pop cans together in order to earn an A. After that brazing copper line-sets were a breeze.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Silver soldering is a real art form and can be incredibly strong. I would love to learn how to do it. What kind of solder do you use on copper? I wonder if it would also work on thin steel or aluminum?

 

[Woodpecker]

Silver soldering is a real art form and can be incredibly strong. I would love to learn how to do it. What kind of solder do you use on copper? I wonder if it would also work on thin steel or aluminum?

For brazing hvac refer lines nothing less than a high quality 15% silver brazing rod will do in my humble opinion. I like and have almost always used stay-silv 15 rods but they’re pricy.

Sure you can get it done with a 0 or 5% rod or even solder but failure rates on those cost/corner cutting measures just isn’t worth it and can be characterized as border line shoddy work.

The increased silver content is more expensive but increases ductility, flow, and therefore durability.

For a regular steel chainsaw muffler you could probably use solder and be just fine. The trick is to heat to either side of the joint you’re trying to solder and let capillary action draw the solder into the joint. The solder will always follow the heat. Once you get the knack it’s really quite easy. The only reason the pop can exercise was so difficult is because it’s so hard to judge how hot aluminum is. It looks almost the same from cold to hot right up until the point where you melt a big friggin hole in it. It was a challenging but fun exercise and made me a better technician.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Awesome. Can an ordinary propane torch be used for 15% silver rods?

 

[Woodpecker]

Awesome. Can an ordinary propane torch be used for 15% silver rods?

No those would be considered brazing rods so they melt above the minimum 840 degree solder/brazing threshold. A small portable Oxy-acetylene torch would be the best choice. I’ve done brazing with a mapp torch in a pinch. It can be done but it’s really easy to mess the copper up with a mapp only torch. If you don’t have an oxy acetylene torch one of those little portable oxy/mapp torches from blue flame will get you by for the occasional small job. But you will spend way more in the long run on the little disposable tanks.

 

[OnlyStihl]

I have a guy coming over to have some ramps welded. Just put up the Free Welding Ad this morning. After doing a few projects like this, taking pictures, I'll be able to charge a fee for the service.

/------------------ edit ---------------------/
Some cutting involved. Nice new ~1/4" 1"x1" angle steel. Should be fun. Guys very flexible, but I hope to have it done by Tuesday.

 

[OnlyStihl]

I'm ready to start welding. The saw made quick work of the pieces.

 

[FergusonTO35]

No those would be considered brazing rods so they melt above the minimum 840 degree solder/brazing threshold. A small portable Oxy-acetylene torch would be the best choice. I’ve done brazing with a mapp torch in a pinch. It can be done but it’s really easy to mess the copper up with a mapp only torch. If you don’t have an oxy acetylene torch one of those little portable oxy/mapp torches from blue flame will get you by for the occasional small job. But you will spend way more in the long run on the little disposable tanks.

Thanks. Yeah, I think a real torch set and tanks is next on my list. Are the Gas Pony ones at Tractor Supply any good? They are supposed to be USA made.

 

[Woodpecker]

Thanks. Yeah, I think a real torch set and tanks is next on my list. Are the Gas Pony ones at Tractor Supply any good? They are supposed to be USA made.

I’m not sure. I purchased my tanks/torch through the Votech school I attended 20+ years ago. They were supplied by the local gas fill company.

Something I did notice with the tractor supply kit is it isn’t filled. So you will have to find a place locally to fill it. Might as well call them and see if they sell something similar to what TS has on offer. Since you’re going to have to go there anyway.

 

[OnlyStihl]

Here is a couple of beads with the Lincoln Arc welder (1/8 6013). Gives me newfound respect for the Forney FC welder. Equal in my eyes.

 

[OnlyStihl]

Here is today's project complete and ready for the customer to pick up. Not my best work, but for free and good enough to handle the weight of an ATV.