33 replies to this topic

[sibhs]

Hi Glen, can you put some pics up of your welder, the settings you use and some welds.
Then the advice will flow.


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[Rockoz]

What gas are you using?

I found the disposable bottles didnt work well and ran out very quickly.

I went to a normal bottle and weld quality improved dramatically.

Better machines will give better results easier but the cheapies arent too bad

[FordPrefect]

Hi Glen,
Is it a duel purpose gas / gasless as the polarity org the terminals may need swapping?

[TerrA LX]

Hi Guy's, I have a very basic / cheap mig welder and I am struggling to get any sort of consistency with my welds.

My question is , are better migs easier to use or is it my inability.

What machines do you guy's use.

I am using 0.6 wire and mig gas

Thanks

Glen

Is the wire clean?
Is the liner clean and fitted correctly?
Are you getting a good earth?

[Rockoz]

Similar to the one I use.

The wire feeder can be a problem and the gears in it do strip easily.

The wire tension adjuster can be a problem as well.

I use a G clamp to get decent pressure on the wire to drive it.

The earth clamps are pretty crappy as well.

Apart from that make sure the material you are welding is meticulously clean.

[N/A-PWR]

put the wire through a fluro/normal earplug, and then through the wire feeder.

 

That way the earplug keeps the wire clean all-round. 

[TerrA LX]

FWIW better mig welders are easier to use.

Be careful how big you go if you only have 10amp power points.

 

Also, if you are a very low volume user I suggest removing the wire roll from the machine and storing it in an air tight container as it will start to rust.
Using rusty wire will result in poor welds and contaminating your liner etc etc.

[wot179]

Pics of a weld would be good.

[Ice]

For What Its Worth got it

[SmacT]

I have a cheap ($200) Rossi welder off ebay, with the D-size Argon gas and BOC wire. At first it was shite, but I had a good mate who can weld come over, adjsust the settings, re-route the wire, re-attach the earth clamp, and now my welds are consistent, even to the point of being better than I expected. 

 

For me, set up is crucial, as is CLEAN metal, but having said that, I had the use of a really good welder from a panel beater mate, and it was alot easier to work with. Still, the little Rossi has done most of my car reasonably well - and it's all I've got/can afford! Have a good go at setting yours up right I reckon and perhaps a high-quality earth clamp before selling it. If that still doesn't work, chuck her out! :-)

[TerrA LX]

SmacT has pretty much nailed it.

Welding may look as easy to some as laying a bead of silicone down in their bathroom but there are several factors that go into making a good quality weld.

[SmacT]

Wow - I have actually offered advice to someone on this forum, after years of me just asking for advice, and it worked! I have officially gone up a step! :-)

 

Glad to hear it and to be fair, I think a few others advised the same thing. Funnily enough, I was welding up a rear door I had cut for flares last night and was having a shocker. So I cleaned the metal better, played with the settings and slowed down my actions and - all better! It's an art, welding is, and guys that are really good at it are magicians. As long as I have flashes of brilliance occasionally, I am happy. Ha ha.

[Rockoz]

Its an art that needs practice.

Once you have got the knack you are pretty right.

Best advice I was given was to get your eyes as close to the job as you can and really watch the weld. Not the arcing. The weld puddle.

[N/A-PWR]

Yes, and the weld puddle can be seen by adjusting the helmet viewing shade to suit your eyes,

 

I used shade 11

The weld puddle.

[TerrA LX]

Weld POOL...

[Rockoz]

Bloody nit pickers. lol

[N/A-PWR]

TerrA's welding is bigger than ours Rob

Puddle ( small ) vs Pool ( large )

[wot179]

With light gauge butt welds I recommend not welding in long runs.

Just one quick tack after the other.

Aim each tack right into the tail of the last one.

As you watch through your helmet, you will see each tack cooling.

As the red glow disappears, that is the time to pull the trigger.

It prevents all the blow throughs and reduces distortion.

Before you start to weld, make sure you have plenty of tacks to start with. About 25mm apart.

You can gently grind them down before you start your run,(being sure not to grind anywhere but the tack) allowing you to go back over

the top of them easily.

If you do it right, it will look just like a weld bead and not like a series of tacks.

Don't be scared to take your time.

Heat always causes distortion, there is no way to avoid it.

The trick is to minimize the distortion by minimizing the heat.