GYS SmartMIG 162: i have one! Questions? Feel free to ask.....

[MaartenNL]

Hey all,

just putting this here in case any members here have a question about this welder, i might be of help.

Disclaimer: this is my first welder and i have next te zero welding experience


I'll update this thread when i recieve my new toy further projects will be posted in the appropiate sections.



cheers

Maarten.

ps: i uploaded the manual for reference

 

[MaartenNL]

It has landed!!!!


First impressions:

for the price it looks and feels like a good quality piece of kit. Sturdy build, good paint, the switches and the knob for wirespeed don't feel flimsy. The torch feels good and it is a EURO torch (pro), albeit a bit short with 2.2m (con) so if it becomes a nuisance (or breaks) you can buy a longer one.

GYS clearly have made savings in some departments like the earthclamp (not detachable) and wheels, particularly the backwheels. The small steel hub clamps the rod/axle, which should only be done on small toys, i'd rather see a small throughole and a pin to lock the wheels and prevent them from coming loose.
The back axle is guided through 2 small plates inserted in little slots. It works, but thats about it.

I'll hope my flowmeter, 0.8wire and some other bits and bobs arrive for this weekend. I'll try and get my hands on some steel for some practice runs

I'll keep you posted!

Shipped boxed like this, no further packaging

Obligatory Coffeemug for size

Other side

Wheelhub / axle retainer

 

[Hood]

These Star Lock washers are surprisingly robust and secure, just a bit of a pain to remove without breaking them.

 

[eddie49]

Nice shiny yellow toy! I'd really like to see the electronics inside, without the casing, but I do understand that it's under warranty.... Maybe the wirefeed assembly?
What is the situation with gas in NL ? Are you going for solid or "self-shielding" wire?

 

[MaartenNL]

I''ll be using a 85/15 CO2/Argon mix.

i bought a 20 liter bottle because, per liter, it is signicantly cheaper to fill then a smaller 10 liter bottle.

bottle
10 liter..............€199,-
20 liter..............€299,-

Filling
10 liter...............€40,-
20 liter...............€50,-

i am no einstein but..........what the questionmark?

With buying the bottle you participate in a trading system, it''s a company called Supergas and they have numerous gasdealers. I can just simply trade my empty bottle for a new one and only pay the filling, real easy.

 

[MaartenNL]

@Hood

ok, thats surprising, time will tell but i'll take your word for it, thanks for reassuring me.

@eddie49
i fear the electronics will be a no-no but i will take some pics of the wirefeed unit, no problem!

 

[MaartenNL]

Haggis sniffs something froggy...uuhh fishy

 

[MaartenNL]

Little update, unfortunately i didn't got a chance to weld some.

Some of you asked or contacted me for some more pics of the SmartMIG, so here we go:



Open wirefeeder, plastic but pretty nice build i reckon. 40watt motor according tot GYS and it feels like it's got some power feeding it through while i was setting the tension.



Closed feeder with setting/markings on the knob.



Reelholder with the knurled nut to set compres the rubber sleeve to act as a brake to prevent backspin of the reel and causing a feeding problem.



Reel endcap with the little platisch protruding thingy (sorry i'm Dutch) to drive the wirereel



I know how to operate a grinder but i hate them, i'm not that precise with them so i bought this little chopsaw.

I choose a saw over a abrisive wheel because of the coldcutting and less cleanup and no sparks. It's also a very cheap piece of kit, quality is about "meh" but it's faster and more acurate then me with a cut off wheel.

Here'sthe link to the manufacturer for some specs
https://evolutionpowertools.com/uk/build/mitresaws/r210cms/

Enough capacity for me, i'll mostly be using 1-4mm box, angle, strip, et cetera.



And remember kids! WEAR YOUR GEAR.

I once got a shard of laminate flooring in my cornea because i wasn't wearing my safetyglasses because they sucked.

Little trip the local hardware store and then i found these from the MSA brand, no more fogging, and very comfortable, these i will just keep wearing, i barely notice them. Such glasses cost around 10 pound mark.

To be continued

 

[MaartenNL]

@eddie49 i fogot to tag you, check my post above this, i made some pics for ya

Please feel free to ask if you want to know more

 

[eddie49]

Maarten, thank you.
The wirefeed assembly may be only plastic, but it looks like it has been made very carefully.
Using a rubber sleeve on the spindle bolt as a "brake" for the wire spool is a novel idea !

 

[MaartenNL]

@eddie49
You're welcome, yeah i only seen a spring, placed under the retaining nut, to function as sort of a brake.

 

[Hood]

....
Using a rubber sleeve on the spindle bolt as a "brake" for the wire spool is a novel idea !

Not that new, my spool gun had that 25 years ago

 

[MaartenNL]

Not that new, my spool gun had that 25 years ago

new to us/me

 

[MaartenNL]

Finally got round for some practice....

first i made a makeshift welding table.......i later hooked the ground on my workpiece so to be sure i wasn't having grounding issues to rule out if i was having trouble welding

First attempt........well.......the term "hammered dog ****e" springs to mind....

Little troubleshooting learned me this........7 cubic feet/hour is not 7 liters per minute......i read the wrong scale

Stay tuned, more to follow shortly!

 

[MaartenNL]

first i prepped my workpieces off course.....i later found out that the flat strip is 5 mm instead of the 2 i thought it was....stupid...i wasn't thinking clear i suppose. I found out after trying to figure out why my welds didn't have penetration on those.

I ground the millscale and a little 45-ish bevel on everything.

 

[MaartenNL]

 

[MaartenNL]

i really enjoy welding, but i'm gonna have to put in some time and some guidance from a mate to up my game.

The GYS works fine, it's just me having a litle trouble finding the right settings and not eaxctly knowing what to look and listen for.

But hey, all in good time i quess

 

[merelboon]

Hi Maarten. Merel here. Also from the Netherlands. I live in Spanga Friesland. I also have a Gys. I have got the 142 which is quite similar. I have trouble getting the wire to flow in a steady stream out of my welding torch. The role of welding wire seems to wobble on its spindle. Did you have similar problems? Do you know of any solutions?

 

[eddie49]

Hello and welcome to the Forum !
The originator of this thread, MaartenNL, has not been online here for 4 years.

Does the wire speed slow, or stop completely?
Does this erratic wire feed happen even if you are not actually welding, just letting the wire run out?
Does the problem occur at all settings of the power and the wire speed controls?
Have you tried altering the adjustment of the pressure roller and the wire spool spindle brake?
Release the pressure roller and try to slow the drive roller with a gloved hand. Do you get consistent torque?
If you could post a photo of a failing weld bead it may help to diagnose the fault.
It is unlikely that a wobble of the wire spool hub is causing this problem.

 

[ms08]

I have a 162 also for some years now and no issues with wire feed so as above check all settings are good. Is the liner in good order and shield/nozzle ok and not blocked?