Complete newb

[Lnewland]

Hi guys a number of people have directed me to this forum. I have a couple of projects on the go at the moment that require some welding. As a result I have picked myself up a second had Sip turbomate 105 mig welder. Cost me £45 and have had to replace the liner on it but other wise all seems good.

Had a little play tonight and clearly I have a long way to go

Both surfaces were clean and I have turned my wire speed down. Anything else I should be doing

 

[Robotstar5]

Both surfaces were clean and I have turned my wire speed down. Anything else I should be doing

Surfaces need to be ground clean, those look like a wire brush?, what size material are you trying to weld?, best to practice on some 2mm thick (clean) steel to start with.

and welcome to the forum

 

[Lnewland]

Hi mate I was just trying to join the nut to the 6mm plate which is forming a spreader plate for where I am bolting my rear seats to the floor int he back of my van. The next bit I need to weld is 3mm to 2mm

 

[Robotstar5]

You will struggle to penetrate more tham 2mm with your welder

 

[Wozzaaah]

As said, your machine is way too underpowered for that.
The pic shoes no shroud on the torch too, have you since fitted one?

 

[Lnewland]

Hi yes sorry that was the day I picked it up. I have since fitted new liner shroud and tip and installed .6 wire

 

[Country Joe]

Turn the gas up to it's fullest extent, those mini-regs are stingy with gas at best, an all that brown sooty stuff would point to you needing more gas.
But as said before, you'll need a few more amps to deal with 6mm steel.
None of the steel looks clean enough, either - unless it was really shiny around your weld, it's not clean enough!
All the Best,
CJ

 

[Windy Miller]

Whereabouts in Kent are you? If you're close to the Medway towns, I can pop 'round and give you a demo...

 

[Lnewland]

Hi mate I am in Folkestone.

I was only taking the nuts in place so when I do the bolts up it doesn't require two people but realise the metal is to thick. As I say the next job is joining 2x 3mm so hopefully the welder will be more suitable.

So turn the gas up and grinder the surface instead of sanding it

 

[Robotstar5]

You will be able to join 2 x 3mm plates end on (butt joint) if you leave a small gap and weld from both sides.
A tip for welding the nuts is to hold it in place with a bolt from the other side which will also keep the threads clear of spatter visible in first pic.
Have you had a look at the tutorials page? they're very good for beginners.

 

[pedrobedro]

You are melting the nyloc bit as well, just in case they need to be locking nuts so a bit of threadlock may be needed.

 

[Exuptoy]

You could also drill a hole big enough to sink the nut and weld it from both sides. You still need to turn up the heat though.

 

[Hopefuldave]

About the Nyloc nuts, if they need to be self locking and welded, you can get all-steel locking nuts - they're same shape, but the locking part is steel and there are cuts in from the top and flats and the top is pressed down so the threads interfere to lock - a decent fixings place will have 'em (not Halfords, B&Q etc!). You'll need to grind.off the plating or they won't weld / you'll zinc poison yourself...

I won't advise on the welding, I'm a noob at mig too!

Dave H. (the other one)