A bit wary.......

[slim_boy_fat]

As title, I'm a bit wary of posting up my efforts, but faint heart and all that.......

Just for fun I tried some beads this afternoon on .8mm steel [chopped up computer case] using 2.5 rods and managed this

and the reverse side

Travel is uneven [I'm partially sighted in one eye and have trouble with depth perception. Well, that's my excuse ], and I find feeding the rod a bit tricky.

But at least I wasn't burning holes......... Is it unrealistic to expect good results with that rod on thin stuff? Not got set up to try the MIG side of the machine yet - I was advised to practise MMA first and once [if] I'd grasped that I should find MIG easier. Is this sound thinking?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Don't be wary of showing your results, everybody on here has been there, if you don't let us see we can't give advice!
You're never going to see good results even laying a bead pad on something that thin, by the time you have your travel speed, amps etc sorted your going to be blowing holes. Get some 5 mm offcuts and start there. I'd suggest arc distance is your biggest enemy here, I think your travel speed will work itself out fine after that. What is were youbusing

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Also mig is backwards to stick, with stick you drag the Weld pool, with mig you push it

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Thanks.

Also mig is backwards to stick, with stick you drag the Weld pool, with mig you push it

I'm left-handed, so stick I go R - L, with mig L - R , aye?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Yes pretty much, with stick the rod tip is pointed to the weld pool and leant over in the direction of travel with the rod holder over the un welded material, with mig the tip is pointed in the direction of travel pushing the weld pool

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Gotcha, thanks Dan.

 

[Tigman]

Having said that Tinbasherdan , you can also pull on mig !

 

[Tigman]

Hope not to confuse you Slim !

 

[HughF]

Thick steel for practice... This is 20mm... That thickness is not necessary, but 5-10mm is a good place to start.



4mm 7016, 135A ac, tight arc...

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Having said that Tinbasherdan , you can also pull on mig !

You can but let's not confuse the man! Get the basics first and if he begins by dragging he'll never get there!

 

[Bill Edwards]

Well on 0.8mm thick metal you can't slow your travel speed down or you'll have a gaping hole. Not a bad effort actually for that thickness, but I suggest you use a MIG for anything under 2/3 mm in the future, and get some 5mm ish thick metal to learn to stick weld on.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Thanks again lads. The .8mm was just "to see if I could"...
Been busy so yet to get Mig set up for play.