Another Newbie that can't Weld ... Wolf Inverter

[jimgreen]

Hi guys, I'm busy trying to weld 2mm stainless pipe for an exhaust system and I'm really struggling.

My welder : http://www.wolf-online.co.uk/product.asp?id=001433

I've tried with ARC and TIG and would love some advice on either of them.

ARC: I'm using 2.5mm Stainless Rod and ~15amp (unfortunately the dial only has 20amp marked on it, then you have to guess.) Any higher and it just blows holes in it. It's brushed clean, and I've even tried grinding it clean. I get a nice weld pool, and everything looks great, but then it just falls appart. It sticks to both surfaces but never seems to join.

TIG: All it seems to do is get everything far to hot. I'm using a 1mm filler rod, but I can't seem to get this to flow.

Any suggestions would be appreciated, unfortunately I'm a beginner without MIG at the moment!

 

[snowcat]

TBH the tig should be the best tool, your proberbly have to purge the pipe, whats the tig scratch, lift or H/F, the heat draw from stainless would be more than lcms, sounds like too little amps but without knowing more about your setup.

Oh I see, its the setup in the link must read more carefully , whats your setings have you tiged before???

 

[jimgreen]

I'll be honest with you mate, I've sat here with a friend and we can't really get to what you are saying!!

Purge the pipe - Gas is deffo coming out of the thing
Tig scratch, lift, or H/F - We are basically using a scratch start as the h/f (High freq?? ) doesn't seem to go.


We have just had some success with the ARC by reversing the polarity of the electrode and clamp.


As for previous experience. I think you could assume none.

Thanks for the help so far.
Jim

 

[Mikey D]

i would say if your a total novice it would be very hard to weld 2mm thickness with the arc ,
if you want to try tiging ,assuming its a scratch start tig then , the earth lead wants to go in the + connection , and the tig torch to the - . A good sharp tungsten is needed otherwise the arc will wander everywhere .
id try about 50 amps to start with ,have a play about with a scrap piece of stainless , dont forget to turn the gas on before you scratch start tho !

cheers mike

 

[snowcat]

No your have no H/F on that machine, so scratch start only, Red top tungsten (thoriated), as mentioned ground to a point, a purge simply means to fill the pipe with gas prior to welding, Theres ways and means of pluging the work, you will get "contaminated welds" if not which could rust, and apperance will be poor..... your torch priortys around the right way, and I take it your using pure argon , or heluim argon not just universal or like as your sheild....gas flow about 8-15lpm. Tig will make a far more pleasing job, but its a skill that takes a bit of time and practice to master..but worth the effort,

Oh and cleanlines is everything dirt will contaminate the weld tungsten etc, and ruin the job.. what grade of stainless BTW are you welding?

 

[GeorgeB]

Hi guys, I'm busy trying to weld 2mm stainless pipe for an exhaust system and I'm really struggling.

My welder : http://www.wolf-online.co.uk/product.asp?id=001433

I've tried with ARC and TIG and would love some advice on either of them.

Jim - how are you getting on with your Wolf DC inverter welder? I was pleased to see they are now selling the 5-75amp model for £89 incl P&P. So I bought one and look forward to trying it out, on mild steel initially. I hope the minimum 5 amp setting can be used on wafer thin steel, like 0.4mm thick but I won't know until I try. My only other welder is a cheap arc (stick) welder but that blows holes because the minimum amps is 45 or 50.

 

[Weldingartisan]

GeorgeB,
Quite a bargain for the welder, but for 5-20amps it will probably cost you around £200 for an auto screen that won't flicker! W/A

 

[GeorgeB]

W/A

Many thanks for the warning about auto screens. I would never have realised, otherwise, and could have wasted my money on an unsuitable model. What triggers the auto screens, I wonder.

In the meantime, I am using an ordinary face mask - dark all the time - coupled with very bright electric lighting which allows me to see what I'm doing even before the arc is struck. I hope there's no hidden danger with that approach. I'm using a 50w halogen light, very close but I might upgrade to 2 x 500w halogens.

 

[zardoz]

To be honest mate, as a novice trying to weld a 2mm pipe with Arc, your on a hiding to nothing. TIG wont be much easier either, though thoroughly cleaning the area around the weld with a Stainless Steel Wire Brush (that is not used for anything else, so it wont be contaminated) might help, along with pumping some purge gas as a backing (though this is more of a help with Ally than Stainless)

TIG is a bitch to learn unaided, and i would not recommend it for a novice who has no prior welding ability, especially with a cheap set (meaning no offense, but TIG is one area where you really need to spend to get a decent set)

MIG on the other hand is easier to learn, and even though (IMHO) just as hard to master You can still get a reasonable weld with a cheap set (anything under £300, The Clarke 160T for instance is by all accounts the ideal welder for your situation)

So, again in my ever so 'umble opinion. You have two options.

One: buy a MIG, but will it be worth it in the long run. Do you want to learn it, or just use it for the occasional DIY job ?

Two: Persevere with the TIG, get some scrap metal & practice like a son of a *****. Take lots of pics of your efforts and carry on coming here to ask advice.

Good luck Sir(s)