Going for the record - worst first welds ever!

[skid]

Cheers Zardoz! I've had this machine for a long time and I've discovered really that mig welding with this machine isn't really all that versatile.

For example recently I resurrected the machine because I want to weld some nuts onto a pair of brackets which hold a guard onto my rally car. Putting the guard on and off is really tricky trying to tighten both nut and bolt together.

But, I'm going to need to clean these brackets immaculately, if I grind off the surface then am I inviting rust? There is no room to put a flap wheel in there anyway. Then I've got to get a good earth. No idea where I will get that as again no room on the welding area. I think it's an M6 nut but i have no idea what material the brackets are or what type of nut to use? If the bracket is steel and the nut is zinc coated for example will the two weld to each other? I'm going to end up making a hash of it I am sure.

On the reel front, as I swapped a 0.8 for 0.8 I must have the right roller as it was fine before.

Final question - when I weld and I am staring at the torch through my mask I can still see a white spot in my vision afterwards - is that normal and not damaging ?

 

[Stubradley1]

I have never welded gasless but I seem to remember reading that the roller was a different shape for flux cored wire?
So it may say .8 but would not grip properly.

 

[skid]

My feed roller

 

[skid]

Closer look at the knurling. If I unwind the tension from the reel it seems to feed ok so pretty sure that's where the resistance is coming but then again as you say maybe I need more grip

 

[AndyStobbs]

I've greased the moving surfaces of my reel, and mount plates.
Could be worth doing, anything to lessen the friction.

 

[wyn]

On a clarke 151 mig that i used to have the 0.8 corresponded with the closest groove to the lettering..............so when 0.8 was visible the 0.6 groove was the one that the wire was going through.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Where are you located, Skid? There is always a possibilty that somebody close by can nip round and give you a few pointers and help to set up

 

[the snooper]

its worth mentioning that the disposable gas bottles only last around 10 minutes solid welding time & your regulator should be opened fully as those small ones are pre set, if you know anyone in the pub trade try and get a bottle of pure Co2 from them and a regulator to suit.

 

[skid]

Cheers for all the replies so far - more than I was expecting !

I am near Doncaster

Good ideas to grease the spool wheel, also I didn't know the other side of the feed wheel was 0.6 so def worth spinning that round too. Found the user guide for this welder on the Internet PDF download, has some info on that.

It was funny when the guy in the machine mart sold me the bottle and regulator he told me I'd get about 45 minutes. When I had to take both back because the regulator was faulty he said "are you sure you haven't run out of gas you only get about 20 minutes with these"

Anyway that's expected but for the small amount I'm going to be doing it ain't a problem but will keep a look out for a cylinder for sure.

I can still hear a hiss from the torch but hard to tell if that's a weak flow from a bottle on its last legs. I'd say I'd done about 10 mins of actual welding at the most.

 

[SiPMerlin150]

If you need to use those disposables, there are some high capacity bottles holding 600gm of pure co2 rather than the regular 310gm bottles. Do you have a Halfords local to you? This is where I purchase my cylinders from. Last a bit more longer than the small ones. I do most of my welding underneath cars outdoors and 1 600gm bottle lasts a 0.7kg roll of wire and a little more. These bottles normally cost me £16.99, The regulators don't need to be screwed all the way out. Its a case of finding the correct flow rate on your regulator. I turn mine on slowly until I hear hiss from the torch when I squeeze the trigger, and its good to go. If its windy, or I need to have the wire stick out longer, I crank it up a little more. Hope this helps!

 

[Paul99]

If you need to use those disposables, there are some high capacity bottles holding 600gm of pure co2 rather than the regular 310gm bottles. Do you have a Halfords local to you? This is where I purchase my cylinders from. Last a bit more longer than the small ones. I do most of my welding underneath cars outdoors and 1 600gm bottle lasts a 0.7kg roll of wire and a little more. These bottles normally cost me £16.99, The regulators don't need to be screwed all the way out. Its a case of finding the correct flow rate on your regulator. I turn mine on slowly until I hear hiss from the torch when I squeeze the trigger, and its good to go. If its windy, or I need to have the wire stick out longer, I crank it up a little more. Hope this helps!

I found that the disposable regulator I had didn't let anywhere enough gas out when wide open - not that noticeable by sound but with a flow meter I think I was getting 3lpm max. I ended up having to open out the hole behind the quick release fitting slightly to get a decent flow rate. I doubt there will be two of these cheap regulators the same so some might be way off - so well worth testing with a pea shooter.

 

[SiPMerlin150]

Yes they are quite cheaply made. They look cast from a mould! However, my gas mod for my MIG is set up with 6mm gas delivery tube too. I have no idea how many L.P.M I'm getting, but it must be enough

 

[skid]

Thanks SIPmerlin yeh I've got a halfords close by. It seems like a good middle way for the amount that I do now.

 

[SiPMerlin150]

You're welcome pal

 

[ajlelectronics]

How much difference is there though over Argon mix? I always buy that because I am concerned about weld quality. I always have my reg wide open and the bottles last me over a year with the small amount of welding I do.

 

[SiPMerlin150]

How much difference is there though over Argon mix? I always buy that because I am concerned about weld quality. I always have my reg wide open and the bottles last me over a year with the small amount of welding I do.

The disposable argon mix bottles are even more of a waste of time, the gas isn't liquified as it is with Co2, so your only getting 60 liters of compressed gas, , meaning literally 5 or 6 minutes of solid welding. Argon mixed with co2 gives a neater looking weld that appears less rounded. More Co2 generally means a hotter arc, aiding in slightly more penentration, but the bead doesn't look as good.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Thanks for the clarification. I was referring to Argon / CO2 as Argon mix. Clearly that is higher level of Argon then.

 

[skid]

Update *****

Hello all again just an update. I don't get much time in the garage these days. Just had another go.

Can I just say this forum is absolutely top draw. To those like my who are just starting up with a 2nd hand hobby welder - check everything !! And read all the threads in this forum. Really useful and thanks all.

I've just made the best welds for me I've ever attempted, you may say they are t so good but today I feel like billy big balls cos I just welded something !

Followed all the advice given -

Swapped feed roller over (correct the side that says 0.8 should face inward for .8 wire)

Gas cylinder wide open

Wacked up the power to account for the thickness of steel

Using the RIGHT wire ( v important!!!! )

Slowed the wire speed down a tad

Happy days !!

PS I managed to set a large piece of foam on fire in my garage , I didn't notice for a good few minutes until I saw the smoke , I looked round to see a pretty large flame licking up at me !! move all flammables and keep an extinguisher well handy

Be back soon with my latest exploits !

 

[skid]

Pic 2 bead

 

[skid]

Weld here is all a ferrous brown colour no idea what's going on with that ?