Clarke 145 turbo mig - no weld puddle just lots of spatter

[Cobbler]

I could well be wrong, but I think Super 6 don’t make wire, just stick a label on whatever they get cheapest. I’ve never used it, but it’s cropped up on here many times that the quality can be, how can I put it, somewhat variable!

 

[DAVEDIY]

Thankyou to everyone, looks like I failed to do the obvious , clean the metal well. I managed to get a co2 gas bottle and tried the gas option with the electrode connected to the positive this time. I noticed this seems to give a better result for me. I think you guys would definitely reject the results, haha but at least I,m up and running now. Could I ask if the strongest setting on this welder max 2 , would this be too much power for 3mm mild steel. Also I've bought a co2 gas bottle and I have the correct value regulator ( bought it from clarkes ) how do you release the gas from the bottle, is it just released by turning the regulator knob up ?

 

[duncans]

hi mate I use one of these just push your shroud on the mig gun in the hole and it measures how much gas you have coming out of your gun so you are not using to much gas or to little I was in the same boat as you a few weeks back and all the advice you get from this forum from the members is brilliant a gr8 bunch of guys on here im not sure how much gas you should be using as I use str8 co2 but someone would tell you

 

[DAVEDIY]

Hey that's great, looks like a useful gadget, I'll get one,cheers duncans

 

[Gan gan 123]

Thankyou to everyone, looks like I failed to do the obvious , clean the metal well. I managed to get a co2 gas bottle and tried the gas option with the electrode connected to the positive this time. I noticed this seems to give a better result for me. I think you guys would definitely reject the results, haha but at least I,m up and running now. Could I ask if the strongest setting on this welder max 2 , would this be too much power for 3mm mild steel. Also I've bought a co2 gas bottle and I have the correct value regulator ( bought it from clarkes ) how do you release the gas from the bottle, is it just released by turning the regulator knob up ?

That’s great that you’re getting there it will be miles cheaper to get a pub co2 bottle but it’ll mean you have to get a new regulator. The welder you’ve got has a gas solenoid so if you turn on the bottle then flip the wire feed roller off when you press the trigger you should be able to hear the gas coming out of the shroud. You should be able to weld 3mm ok on max 2 might just have to move a bit quicker but as I have said I’m not an expert give it a go and see how you get on. Graham.

 

[duncans]

they are great mate so easy to use you will at least have a good idea how much gas you be using and not wasting your gas

 

[duncans]

yeah I use a co2 bottle it cost me £35.00 and that was a full one with plenty of test on it and £20.00 for a refill but how things are at the moment I can't go and get a refill that's why im having to do arc welding for the time being till I can go get my bottle exchanged yeah if you go down the co2 route make sure there's a test on the bottle cause when you need to exchange they ask if you have own bottle and is it in test mate

 

[Robotstar5]

Sounds like you're making progress, have you had a look at the tutorials for getting started? - link here

 

[DAVEDIY]

Few things to check.
Check the "Return" clamp is on the positive side. If using gasless wire.

Is it gasless? Halfordss were know to mix them up.

0.8 is about as big as that machine will take.
The feed wires are marked 6 on one side and 8 on the other (Or 0.6 etc.)

Does the wire feed evenly?
Set it up, mid range and pull the trigger. It should drive out in an even manner.
If not, you need to investigate the drum, feed rollers, liner and torch. Lots of useful information on here about that.


Clean up your metal, looking for a bight shinny surface.
Angle grinders are good for that.

Then try to lay beads down on a scrap bit. Or.
Practise. Practise and do it again.

You need to know your machine.
It needs setting up.

When you are happy.
Chamfer the edges and tray again.

You have many issues on that weld.
You need to step back, enjoy a coffee.
Then work trough in a logical manner to find out what is wrong.

Hope this points you in the right direction.

Sounds like you're making progress, have you had a look at the tutorials for getting started? - link here

many thanks for your advice

 

[DAVEDIY]

Sounds like you're making progress, have you had a look at the tutorials for getting started? - link here

Thank you, at least I've got up and running now, just need lots of practise it seems

 

[DAVEDIY]

Hi graham, how do you get hold of a bottle of co2 gas.....sounds like a large bottle would be a lot cheaper than the little bottles I'm buying from toolstation.

 

[Gan gan 123]

Hi graham, how do you get hold of a bottle of co2 gas.....sounds like a large bottle would be a lot cheaper than the little bottles I'm buying from toolstation.

Hi davediy I got mine from a bottled gas supplier. They do propane,welding gas and cellar gas you can find these places if you look on google just make sure if you go somewhere like this that it’s pure co2 because some beer gas is mixed. I believe it’s possible to get them from your local pub, it’s worth asking. Graham.

 

[eddie49]

This supplier may be of some help, or at least shows what can be available:
https://yorkshire-co2gas.co.uk/welding-co2.html
( that was searching "York CO2 pub gas"
Regulators designed for "Pub gas" CO2 cylinders connect with a flat nylon seal held on by a female sleeve nut.

 

[DAVEDIY]

Thanks graham I'll shop around. Whilst I'm on, have you ever tried pure Argon....or even Argon 75% mixed with co2 25%.....which gets the best results in your opinion. Cheers Dave

 

[DAVEDIY]

This supplier may be of some help, or at least shows what can be available:
https://yorkshire-co2gas.co.uk/welding-co2.html
( that was searching "York CO2 pub gas"
Regulators designed for "Pub gas" CO2 cylinders connect with a flat nylon seal held on by a female sleeve nut.

Hey many eddie49 that's a great site. Thankyou. Do you know I've never known a more helpful forum site, cheers all.

 

[Gan gan 123]

Thanks graham I'll shop around. Whilst I'm on, have you ever tried pure Argon....or even Argon 75% mixed with co2 25%.....which gets the best results in your opinion. Cheers Dave

Yeah I’ve got a bottle of argon mix but it’s just ran out. When I first got the Mig I got a bottle of co2 but when I could afford it got the mixed gas and it’s so much better once the lockdown is over I’ll be able to exchange my mixed bottle. I would personally get a bottle of co2 if I was you as it’s the cheapest option then providing you are still enjoying your new found hobby get a bottle of argon mix at a later date. Graham.

 

[a111r]

Hi graham, how do you get hold of a bottle of co2 gas.....sounds like a large bottle would be a lot cheaper than the little bottles I'm buying from toolstation.

If CO2 suits your welding needs, 'out of date' 2 Kg CO2 fire extinguishers bolt straight on to a standard regulator, once their 'horn' is removed.
They need to be inverted, or the reg. freezes up.
Cheap or free, depending on who you know. They contain the same weight of gas as about £100 worth of disposable bottles.
There's a Ebay seller doing them for £6: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2kg-CO2-...398108?hash=item4da8cb9d1c:g:2xwAAOSwU7Jd~dA~

 

[DAVEDIY]

If CO2 suits your welding needs, 'out of date' 2 Kg CO2 fire extinguishers bolt straight on to a standard regulator, once their 'horn' is removed.
They need to be inverted, or the reg. freezes up.
Cheap or free, depending on who you know. They contain the same weight of gas as about £100 worth of disposable bottles.
There's a Ebay seller doing them for £6: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2kg-CO2-...398108?hash=item4da8cb9d1c:g:2xwAAOSwU7Jd~dA~

Really, I looked on eBay and they are cheap ......so as long as the bottle is inverted (upside down) and connected to were the horn unbolted, your just the same . What about the trigger thing, on the top of the fire extinguisher ? doesn't that have to be depressed or something to allow co2 gas to flow ?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I looked on eBay and they are cheap

The second hands one on E bay are cheep.
They have been removed from service.
Either they are 10 plus years old or have failed.

I know people do use old CO2 fire extinguishers as a Gas supply.
But they are not designed to be used inverted.

99.99% of the time nothing happens.

But I have had one being used as a gas supply. Inverted.
The safety valve froze. When the user removed it from the welder it leaked CO2, gave him a nasty freezer burn.

The CO2 in an extinguisher is in liquid form. It is expelled as a liquid and boils into a gas when meeting the world.
A 2kg CO2 has 2kg, by weight of liquid CO2. The rest of the weight (Approx. 5kg) is the body and head.

 

[a111r]

Really, I looked on eBay and they are cheap ......so as long as the bottle is inverted (upside down) and connected to were the horn unbolted, your just the same . What about the trigger thing, on the top of the fire extinguisher ? doesn't that have to be depressed or something to allow co2 gas to flow ?

Yes it does. An earth clamp does it.