How to transition to MIG?

[dragoneggs]

when transitioning to mig like me..............dont do this!!!:mur:
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Looks like some of Terry's art... just on a smaller scale. :laughing:

 

[BigBlue1]

when transitioning to mig like me..............dont do this!!!:mur:
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Fortunately I read (or watched video) warning about that potential issue so I've been pretty careful handling my wire spools.

I did run into a couple cases where my wire got stuck in the tip of the gun and gave me a similar mess in the feed system. Kinda hurts to have to cut off the 10-12' of wire to fix that. Is there something useful a person can do with orphan lengths of MIG wire?

Rob

 

[coxhaus]

I like to load the wire with the gun tip off. Once the wire comes through the gun then slide the tip on the wire and screw the tip on the gun. It saves from getting a bird's nest loading the wire.

 

[Fallon]

Fortunately I read (or watched video) warning about that potential issue so I've been pretty careful handling my wire spools.

I did run into a couple cases where my wire got stuck in the tip of the gun and gave me a similar mess in the feed system. Kinda hurts to have to cut off the 10-12' of wire to fix that. Is there something useful a person can do with orphan lengths of MIG wire?

Rob

I keep a roll of tie wire around, might be more useful than duck tape. Hanging stuff for painting, keeping loose stuff from rattling around, keep stuff together like a beefy twist tie. Tons of generic uses. I'm sure mig wire would work just as well.

 

[BigBlue1]

I do also remove the tip to start a new strand of wire. My issues with birdsnests were from using flux core wire and trying to learn how to MIG weld. Gunked up the tip a few times and the wire plugged in the tip.

 

[Big Barn]

I have never done it but I know others have chucked lengths of it in a drill and created strands to use as Tig welding filler rods.

I suppose you could also use it for laying in voids or spaces before welding. Of course I have never had that problem. ==roll eyes emoji.

 

[the old grind]

We can skip using flux core wire for hanging painted parts to dry. That or I dare ya.

 

[Big Barn]

I do also remove the tip to start a new strand of wire. My issues with birdsnests were from using flux core wire and trying to learn how to MIG weld. Gunked up the tip a few times and the wire plugged in the tip.

Look on the bright side. If you remain REALLY bad in this transition and you continue having unspooled rolls and birdnesting, the worse you get the more wire you have for the scrapper.$$$$

Word of advice though. When your wire scrap weight approaches anywhere near 3 cents in value best you go back to flux core.

 

[California]

You guys snip your birds nests? The couple of times I've done that, I wound it back onto the spool.

Maybe flux core isn't as difficult to spool as stiff wire.

 

[Big Barn]

California you have way more patience than I. If it’s just a few wraps undone and not kinked I will spool it up. If it’s more I will most likely make it worse.

I TRY to realize when it’s time to cut my losses. Lol