If that is all 16 ga. steel that you got to bend like that, good on you. I certainly couldn’t have done it any better. You owe it to yourself to buy and get decent at using a mig, and dump that el cheap o flux core box. I’d even go so far as to say even better would be you invest in a tig. I’ve been looking at the rust, and am still scratching my head as to why you wanted to go down this path, but it’s your path to go down, not mine.
I woulda cut and welded every piece as a strip instead of bending it. ( That’s just because bending heavy ga. sheet metal is a pain in the dick). One strip at a time, with inside corners that butt together welded on the inside/backside, then grind the outside edge of the welded seam to form a smooth radius. That way, you can make a more compound curve that follows the actual curve of the windshield.
But that’s me. Your bends look close enough to work. You just got to get a better welder.( And quit relying on your brother) The flux core welder is almost too hot for 16 ga. steel, and impossible for stuff thinner than that
Mig welding is monkey see, monkey do. There is very little technique required after getting the heat and wire speed right. If you can make a zig-zag motion with your index finger, or a cursive small e, then you can master the technique required to mig.
Im considering upgrading my TIG. I have an el cheap o chinee unit that works great, but want a Lotos combo TIG/ plasma cutter. The el cheap o tig would be el cheap o for you.
Learning to TIG on the other hand is not so easy. especially when trying to weld rusty steel. I don’t think that stuff is galvanized but if it is, it’s even worse. Ive had to force myself to use the tig more, especially doing light ga. stuff like exhaust tubing. It just looks better, there’s no weld spatter, and the weld bead, as bad as I am at it is way smaller than my best mig pass.
Ya ya ya....the flux core is at the end of my rope...It was an MFer to get that 16 gauge piece welded in....the parts where it welded to the cars rusty 16 gauge which is probably more like 18 gauge now. I blew a hole in it...then ALMOST had it closed up and bam, like a plasma cutter blew it open again. I finally got it boogered back together and ground reasonably smooth. Not doing that again.
My brother dropped off his Titanium (mid level HF brand) that has .035 flux-core in it. He couldn't find the .025-.030 MIG roller it came with or the 110v adapter cord. But he did find the regulator. So tomorrow, I call out NexAir rep that handles our business account and see what he can do me for a 75-25 bottle. I'm going to have to call HF and order the feed roller. I can make the adapter cord. It should weld 18-20 gauge just find on 110.
@CarMichael Angelo So how el cheapo is the cheap o tig? Dumb question, which I don't feel like looking for right now....can the TIG be used with 75-25 on mild steel?