Jim Davey
R H Davey Welding Supplies Ltd
- Messages
- 5,737
- Location
- Southampton
I had to give a demo to prove a product wasn't faulty this week.
Backstory is, I was asked to provide self shielded wire for a large welded structure to support a big shear in a metal recycling facility on Friday. The brief was to supply a product that would work in position and downhand and be unaffected by weather (wind/rain) as they had no option but to weld it outside and tenting it in was an unpopular option due to time, space and budget constraints.
I suggested a supplier for the diesel welder and wire feeder as I don't keep big diesels on the fleet these days, and supplied the wire. Unfortunately for me, it didn't occur to me to inform the client that gasless wire runs reverse polarity in most instances, assuming as the welder had asked for the product he would know what to do with it. It turned out he didn't, and trying to run 1.7mm wire with electrode positive on a 400 amp Lincoln actually stalls the machine!
They phoned the supplier of the kit who duly replaced the welder, twice, with the same result before giving up on gasless wire and returning the reels to me the following Monday. I was keen to resolve the situation so I tried the wire on my set first thing, then after okaying it with the client got straight over and demoed it in front of the client and his welder.
Ok, I fouled up by assuming the welder knew the product, and the customer misdiagnosed the problem as kit issues. But we both learned something as a result. Gasless wire works great if the kit is set up right. And if you have a problem, get on the blower to the supplier and ask before making changes, it just might save a lot of running around and wasted time for all involved.
A few pics of the result on some 12mm plate.
Little play at vertical up.
All fun and games in this business, every day is a school day...
Backstory is, I was asked to provide self shielded wire for a large welded structure to support a big shear in a metal recycling facility on Friday. The brief was to supply a product that would work in position and downhand and be unaffected by weather (wind/rain) as they had no option but to weld it outside and tenting it in was an unpopular option due to time, space and budget constraints.
I suggested a supplier for the diesel welder and wire feeder as I don't keep big diesels on the fleet these days, and supplied the wire. Unfortunately for me, it didn't occur to me to inform the client that gasless wire runs reverse polarity in most instances, assuming as the welder had asked for the product he would know what to do with it. It turned out he didn't, and trying to run 1.7mm wire with electrode positive on a 400 amp Lincoln actually stalls the machine!
They phoned the supplier of the kit who duly replaced the welder, twice, with the same result before giving up on gasless wire and returning the reels to me the following Monday. I was keen to resolve the situation so I tried the wire on my set first thing, then after okaying it with the client got straight over and demoed it in front of the client and his welder.
Ok, I fouled up by assuming the welder knew the product, and the customer misdiagnosed the problem as kit issues. But we both learned something as a result. Gasless wire works great if the kit is set up right. And if you have a problem, get on the blower to the supplier and ask before making changes, it just might save a lot of running around and wasted time for all involved.
A few pics of the result on some 12mm plate.
Little play at vertical up.
All fun and games in this business, every day is a school day...