if I ignore all advice, it goes badly. Heed advice and it goes well!

[skotl]

I really must start paying more attention... bought a 100A buzzbox off a member on here, about a year ago, to keep my MIG company. It's just sat on the floor so I thought a quick spin of the arc section here, and let's give it a go.

Pretty disastrous stuff - couldn't believe how hard it was compare to MIG, and I didn't exactly hit the ground running with MIG, either!
Very difficult to get the arc started, maintain the arc length. Tons of spatter and inclusion. Not good at all.

So I came back inside last night and re-read the posts here and realised I'd got *everything* wrong!

4mm rods, 55A and 1.5mm steel. Ahh....

Watched the welding institute vid on arc, then went out and bought some 2.5mm rods today. Tried it tonight on 3mm steel at 75A and what a difference! Now I can see the appeal of arc, finally!

So thanks to everyone who posts questions on here, and everyone who answers them so patiently

 

[Mutley7370]

Just a question...Did you learn using just a MIG? I think most of my generation and older were taught to weld with arc and when MIG became mainstream it was a case of "wow!" Would anyone else say that is fair comment? I think with ARC you need more practice and a more steady hand...?

 

[rich r]

I think a lot of people moving from MIG to MMA make the mistake of trying to 'push' the weld pool, rather than 'pull' it, and wonder why they just get a slag covered hole. Most beginners (and I class myself in that category) find 2.5 or 3.2mm 6013 rods on flat, horizontal 4-6mm mild steel easiest. Then it's all about practice until you get your technique right and can move on to smaller rods on thinner steel, and welding on vertical surfaces.

I have to say I did turn a quite large ride on mower on its side last summer (after removing the petrol tank, battery, cutting deck and so on) because I'd rather do a decent horizontal weld to repair the cracked chassis than risk a poor vertical one

 

[skotl]

To mutley's question; kinda... I did a college course last year that had oxy, mig and tig (no MMA). I found the oxy interesting but wasn't that interested in pursuing it, and I knew that I couldn't afford TIG.
So pretty much MIG (college + self taught) and then arc. My (hopefully self-deprecating) post was targeted at the fact that, as with any welding technique, once you listen to the advice, apply it, and practise it, then you're going to be in a far better shape.
I have to say that, now that I have suddenly "Got" arc/mma, I'm wondering why I bothered with all the applied science that is mig.

I guess that I'm happy with the precision of mig, while comfortable that I can lay down multiple layers of arc if/when I need to. One other point that values making is that even a wee buzz box can do the trick in certain scenarios.

 

[Mutley7370]

I have to say I did turn a quite large ride on mower on its side last summer (after removing the petrol tank, battery, cutting deck and so on) because I'd rather do a decent horizontal weld to repair the cracked chassis than risk a poor vertical one [/quote]

I would have done the same thing, if you can lift it or roll it to make the job easier & neater then why struggle eh!

 

[rich r]

Yeah - it took about two hours to strip it down and roll it, then about 20 seconds worth of welding And then after it had cooled, a little bit of paint and then another hour or so putting it back together.