Hi, I'm a keen DIY motor mechanic with many years experience under my belt, but I've always resisted the whole welding aspect! Today I bought my first MIG..it's a Sip 105. I had a go tonight for about an hour, and though I was getn the feel for it..my welding thus far is brutal..lol!! Will I ever get this right? I only want to weld sills, etc! Not body panels as such.
- Thread starter McNab
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Highway_Star
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Greetings from another Fifer!
Bit more info required, size of material you're trying to weld, size of wire, gas etc.
Bit more info required, size of material you're trying to weld, size of wire, gas etc.
Hi, I'm using .6mm wire with CO2 gas..(with which there lies yet ANOTHER problem,but i'll go into that after I give you some basic details first!). I've been practising on sheet metal about 1mm,but just cant seem to get the wire speed/technique right on actually attempting to lay the weld! I'm either getting a lot of blow-thro or a bead that just isn't right. The best run I ever did was on my 2nd attempt..it looked good,had nice penetration,but latter attempts have proceeded to become rat poo! I'm making sure the metal is spotless,but I'm just not getting the feel for it. I can weld thick metal with a lot less problems..spanners,etc..HaHa! There's not been any instances of me making big holes,and the welds look strong. should I keep practising on the thicker stuff then go progressively thinner? I only intend to weld cars,as I do practically everything else on them except weld. Does anyone know if there's any courses out there I could enroll in? Also,a mate of mine who CAN weld,has had a go of my machine,and reckons it's a decent enough wee rig..he made it look easy,but hasn't the time to spare to teach me,so my equipment is ok. Back to the problem I mentioned about the gas,I've been using the wee disposable Sip gas bottles you get from Halfords for about £6. Twice now, the bottles seem to have just emptied themselves! I can see & hear the pin in the cylinder valve moving up & down,so I'm certain they are actually empty. The 1st one I left screwed onto the regulator,so assumed maybe it was a dodgy seal,but the next cylinder I removed completely,after only having used it 4 about 20mins. There was defo gas in it when I disconnected it,but the next day it too was empty! Would I be cheaper getting a larger cylinder of CO2 like they have in pubs and buying another regulator to fit it? PHEWWWW!!! LoL
Fife eh?
What you gonna be welding up first? 8ft security fence? Bracket for the CCTV camera? Or maybe knock up some chain in the forge?
(only joking)
Says you fae the "Heelands"..HaHa! I was up your way once,and the headline of the local rag was "Shock Horror..Vicar breaks nail in church fall" LoL...
Hi,where in Fife you from? I'm in Dunfermline!
Hi Mac, firstly change your CO2 gas for argosheild light, CO2 give to much penertration, especialy on sheet, guestimate your wire feed/Amps control and set for 40-50amps. set voltage around setting No 3. Check weld- if spattery, turn voltage to No 4, do not alter your amps/wire feed yet. you will arrive at a situation where the weld bead blends in with the parent metal at the toes. should you blow through at this stage, then lower the WFS. turn the voltage back to No 3 and start again. very basic, but its a start. lets know how you get on.
