Will I Ever Master This?

[Industrial Toys]

I have a Lincoln CV 250.

I still need to orient my work so I can weld downward. The weld just runs away on me in any other position, unless of course I just peck at it or turn the heat down and get no penetration.

Also, on heavier stuff, I always end up using WAY to much filler. I try and get good penetration, which means turning tup the heat but when you do, you have to turn up the wire speed to avoid burn-back to the tip, so you end up with way too much filler.

Thanks for the help.

 

[4570Man]

You will get better with practice. I just started a few months ago with a stick. My first weld looked awful. I have got a lot better with a little practice.

 

[Fawken]

Cannot help you except to say that with TIG I'm getting better by sometimes just taking a break and analyzing what my torch was doing vs what I thought it was doing. I wasted a 1/4 bottle of argon last week by trying to add filler too soon. I regressed, but learned from it. Now I can clearly see the difference between an actual puddle in the aluminum and just some shiny flecks. I know it gets old but just practice and take a break too to look at your work and analyze where the heat is going.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Sounds like you need some guidance on proper setup and then just more practice.

First some terminology:
the wire feed speed (WFS) is your amperage - more wire needs more amps to burn it.
The voltage only controls the height and width of the bead - it is not "the heat"

The proper combination of WFS and voltage gives enough amperage for good penetration and enough voltage to wet out the puddle without too much spatter.

Here is some reading if you need: Miller - MIG/GMAW 101: Setting the Correct Parameters

Good luck and have fun

 

[Industrial Toys]

I always adjust the voltage and then set the wire speed accordingly. Is this backward?

But I may still have OTHER problems. It all started when I accidentally bought a three phase welder. Then built a phase convertor to run it.

The Lincoln computer did not like the manufactured phase. Somehow I suspect, I may still have a problem other than me.

 

[Shield Arc]

But I may still have OTHER problems. It all started when I accidentally bought a three phase welder. Then built a phase convertor to run it.

The Lincoln computer did not like the manufactured phase. Somehow I suspect, I may still have a problem other than me.

That may be your problem, but I've read where people have had success running 3-phase welders off phase converters.

Can you post pictures of your welds?

 

[Mysfyt]

I always adjust the voltage and then set the wire speed accordingly. Is this backward?

But I may still have OTHER problems. It all started when I accidentally bought a three phase welder. Then built a phase convertor to run it.
The Lincoln computer did not like the manufactured phase. Somehow I suspect, I may still have a problem other than me.

You may have a situation with your welder that nobody could do a good weld with. Phase converters and welders typically aren't a good marriage. The biggest problem here is the manufactured leg which you have already discovered. This leg can be 'tuned' by use of capacitors to bring the voltage within a few percent of the other legs when the given load is constant. Here lies the problem in that the load is always changing when welding.

What kind of phase converter are you using? I'm guessing a rotary? Used on the old transformer type welders, these welders could be a little forgiving with the voltage seperation, but it sounds like you have a newer welder.

I would invite somebody over who knows there way around welding and let them have a go at it. This will tell us if it's you/setup/equipment that's at the root of the problem. HINT: Most welders like beer,especially when it's ice cold!

Good luck!

 

[CNC Dan]

I always adjust the voltage and then set the wire speed accordingly. Is this backward?

But I may still have OTHER problems. It all started when I accidentally bought a three phase welder. Then built a phase convertor to run it.

The Lincoln computer did not like the manufactured phase. Somehow I suspect, I may still have a problem other than me.

Can you swap two of the three input leads so that the electronics are using the two normal legs of your three phase?

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I have a Lincoln CV 250.

I still need to orient my work so I can weld downward. The weld just runs away on me in any other position, unless of course I just peck at it or turn the heat down and get no penetration.

Also, on heavier stuff, I always end up using WAY to much filler. I try and get good penetration, which means turning tup the heat but when you do, you have to turn up the wire speed to avoid burn-back to the tip, so you end up with way too much filler.

Thanks for the help.

My recommendation is to pull a bunch of scrap out of the bins at your local dump/transfer/recycling center, and practice welding on that. Keep in mind that you'll be running into a bazzillion different ferrous alloys when you do, and every one of them behaves differently. It takes a long time to get proficient at identifying the different kinds of metal alloys, and almost as long learning how to weld them efficiently.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

I always adjust the voltage and then set the wire speed accordingly. Is this backward?

But I may still have OTHER problems. It all started when I accidentally bought a three phase welder. Then built a phase convertor to run it.

The Lincoln computer did not like the manufactured phase. Somehow I suspect, I may still have a problem other than me.

In my opinion yes it's backwards, determine the amps you want to weld with - then dial the wire speed to hit that mark (approximately).
Adjust voltage to make it run right - much easier with one hand on the gun and the other on the dial.
Adjust down until it's clearly not enough voltage, adjust up until it spatters too much, somewhere between will be your spot.

In my opinion of course.

The other stuff I do not have any experience with I'm afraid - good luck to you on finding the solution.