New to welding, have some questions

[TheGreyRider]

So i picked up a used mig welder from a friend today and was trying to weld some junk metal just for play, anyway i got a lot of popping and crackeling.

What are the things that could cause that?

Thanks.

 

[Shield Arc]

Dirty metal, too much voltage, too many amps / wire speed. Too much stick out, and a lot of other things.

 

[moored4]

Gas, kind, amount, and do you have a bottle attached????

 

[TheGreyRider]

WOW, OK... So i would guess the voltage settings are OK based on the panel inside the welder, The metal was old junk, but i did take the wire wheel to it before i started welding it, The wire speed was also set according to the panel inside the welder.

The gas is a small bottle of CO2 only, i did not get a chance to run to town and get a bottle of mix yet. The setting on the gauge was 15 once again based on the book that came with the welder.

So the stick out is the one thing that i am not sure of, i guess it seemed that when i got closer to the metal with the gun it didn't do that.

 

[Shield Arc]

To a point stick out has an effect on voltage. Bare wire gas coverage, (Mig) I like about 3/8 inch stick out. If you set your machine to run with 3/8 inch stick out, and you open the stick out to say 1/2 inch, the puddle will be hotter. But if you open the stick out to 3/4 or more the puddle will get colder.

 

[Transit]

Co2 gives a harsh arc, C25 is much smother. you may rest the gun on the work if need be to stady it. The gun angle is important, about 30 deg. Do not look only at the arc, keep the arc at the leading edge of the puddle as not to over weld the puddle and to get the base metal to tie into the weld.

 

[grsthegreat]

a couple of questions.....are the lead wires set for mig welding (there interchangeable between the solid wires and the flux cored (non gas).

second, are you using the right type of wire for mig??

heres a good beginning guide...sort of. may help
http://www.esabna.com/us/en/education/knowledge/fillermetals/mig-wire-selection.cfm
.



i had a friend that simply added the gas kit to his, but still had the gasless type wire and didnt reverse the leads.....what a mess. he thought his welder was a piece of crap hehe

 

[Jim in ICT]

Do you have a good ground?

 

[TheGreyRider]

I was using solid wire and gas. The ground thing i never thought of tho, I cleaned the areas i was going to weld, but didnt clean the ground area.

 

[moored4]

When you make your welding table get a small piece of stanless steel and weld to your table to attach your ground to.:thumbsup: