Welding question.....HELP!!!!!

[tnhomestead]

Maybe ask at weldingweb.com, some really helpful folks, and some ideas to mod your welder to improve it.

 

[Scooby074]

Maybe ask at weldingweb.com, some really helpful folks, and some ideas to mod your welder to improve it.

Do you happen to have a link to the mod thread? I searched weldingweb and didnt find much. Thanks

 

[Hiltz]

Thanks guys for all the replys, Im going to print this post and keep it at my shop. I really appreciate the knowledge............

 

[cuoffroad]

Are you plugged into a 20 amp circuit? Had similar problems with my Clarke 110v mig. It would weld great for a little bit and then would not weld worth a darn. I was running on a 15 amp circuit and that is just not enough. Switched to a 20 amp and it made me look like a pro (well not really a pro but A LOT better than fighting it at 15 amps).

Hope that helps.

 

[Ken Cunningham]

Are you plugged into a 20 amp circuit? Had similar problems with my Clarke 110v mig. It would weld great for a little bit and then would not weld worth a darn. I was running on a 15 amp circuit and that is just not enough. Switched to a 20 amp and it made me look like a pro (well not really a pro but A LOT better than fighting it at 15 amps).

Hope that helps.

I found this to be true also. I dont remember if someone else allready said this or not, but turning up the current and slowing the wire speed will produce a better looking weld. If you run a bead and it looks like its just sitting on top of the material then it probably is. Get some scrap and run some test beads to tear apart and then you will see difference in strength by judging the looks of the weld.

 

[DaveOmak]

Hiltz, Good morning.

Looks like the amperage and wire speed are ok for a thinner material. Doesn't appear to be proper penetration of the parent metal.
Try turning up the amps and increasing the wire feed until you hear a smooth buzz of the wire burning. A smooth puddle should appear that flows smoothly.
Second. May seem dumb but can you see the puddle flow? I need to use reading glasses from the drug store to weld. Try some that lets you see really well at 18" or so. They really improved my welding when I could see the molten metal flowing. So far it looks like your doin pretty good.

 

[sizzami]

what type of gas ar you using what is your wire diameter?
with these little welders ..0023 works well you could use a steel mix w/ 5% helium to squeeze more heat out too .

 

[DaveOmak]

Hiltz. Argon CO2 10%. I use .030 wire. Tilt the gun about 15 deg foreward in the direction of travel. Weave the bead from one piece to the other. the width of the weave should be no more than 1/4". The weave will help heat thicker material by keeping the weld in a smaller area for a longer time. I'm not familiar with your welder, I set mine at 18-19 constant voltage electrode positive. When welding thicker material, 1/4" and thicker,preheat the metal to 300-500 degrees with a weed burner. Preheated material will help a smaller welder with penetration and reduce the possibility of cracking. Preclean the metal with acetone etc. and grind or sand to remove all scale from the rolling process and also rust. ACETONE IS EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. Hope I helped. Good luck, Dave

 

[Wineslob]

See the above response^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
plus notice that the vertical down weld in the first pic (right side) is pretty acceptable. I going to guess you backhanded the weld. Thats probably the ticket with a small machine, concentrate the heat.
The "bad" welds are, as has been pointed out, "cold". Try to prep the weld areas a bit more, and try to use a backstepping/backhanding technique with the figure 8 or a "C" motion, but keep that puddle molten and moving. Don't overdo the motion of the gun.
Just remember, you are trying to make that machine do a tad more than it can.

 

[athomp]

Make sure your feed line does not have a tight bend.
Also if your welds are erratic it might be time to change the liner.