welding

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue May 01, 07 10:23 pm

ok ,had my frist go at welding --using a mig with gas --looks like bird pooo ---emmmm , any advice please

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue May 01, 07 10:29 pm

Have you got the settings on the welder right?

It may just be that you need a bit of practice.

latil · Post by **latil** » Tue May 01, 07 10:34 pm

Clean scrap metal offcuts, and practice

Sounds like wire speed too high if it splatters. Do a test run and bring the speed down until the arc buzzes,without going too slow to burn holes.

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Tue May 01, 07 10:35 pm

And make sure the earth lead on the welder is perfect. Them "hobby" MIGs are built to a price

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue May 01, 07 10:36 pm

dont no ---have never done any welding before and have no instructions with welder :roll:oh i shall have ago and try on some bits before i set loose on car ,thanks all

latil · Post by **latil** » Tue May 01, 07 10:37 pm

Especially SIP

steve h · Post by **steve h** » Tue May 01, 07 11:03 pm

Practice--- should sound like frying eggs continuous crackle
try adjusting wire speed etc some of the diy welders are crap
and not even a pro welder could get a decent result, don't over tighten
the wire feed tension as this causes the wire to flatten and stick, and don't store in damp conditions the wire will rust causing an uneven wire feed. make sure you protect you re eyes and face as arc eye is no joke
good luck

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed May 02, 07 9:35 am

Don't hold the gun too far away from the part or the gas won't shield it correctly. Same if you are welding outside and it is windy. Try to aim the gun so that it pushes the wire into the join, that way the weld pool should sit nice and you should get good penetration. I see far too many "experienced" welders covering joins with weld but not actually penetrating then wondering why they break. You can introduce a weave into the weld join to cover more area, this sometimes helps to add penetration since you effectively melt the same point twice.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed May 02, 07 10:07 am

I used to be a very good gas welder but I had to practice with the MIG a lot to get it right.
Yet MIG is supposed to be easier?

I have two problems with the MIG.

First. I don't use it very often so every time I use it my welds are awful at first and then I am just getting the hang of it when I am finished.

Second. Going from one thickness of steel to another means adjusting everything and starting from scratch again. OK if you are welding a big piece but murder when you are only welding an inch or something.

I often fall into the trap of two high a wire speed. Turn it right down and start from there. Use a minimum setting of wire and amps for bodywork type welding.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed May 02, 07 12:58 pm

i stuggled for years with an SIP, then i went and bought an old beat up 'proper' mig welder, (half the price of the new SIP) now my welds are great.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed May 02, 07 8:04 pm

hello all thanks for all advise ,just had another go --this time i in creased the speed of wire and it seems to be going ok --little bit more practice ,then iam off

Mick · Post by **Mick** » Wed May 02, 07 10:47 pm

I have got an Sip 240 mig, which i bought new and 2 Esab 200 migs which were second hand and although the Sip is larger, the Esabs are far superior plants.
The very small ones are quite dificult to use and welding anything thicker than sheet can result in cold lapping, where the weld only adheres to one side.
Mick

Post by **MattH** » Wed May 02, 07 11:47 pm

As Bratfink says, listen for the sound , frying bacon is the noise I listen for. A case of getting the wire speed and power right, bit of trial and error.
I use a 100AMP sealey turbo mini-mig with a big bottle of Argoshield universal, have never bothered with CO2. This welder has been great for 15 years, biggest snag is if the wire gets rusty and you have to pull it all through.

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Wed May 02, 07 11:57 pm

If I'd ever cooked bacon (which is a girls job) perhaps I'd be better at welding.

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Wed May 02, 07 11:57 pm

They say that human flesh tastes like pork, well my skin burning tastes like bacon, or something....