Old Welder,New2theForum+Mig+ThankYou

[MyZuke]

Hi all.

WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU to all the forum and migwelding.co.uk in all.
A very helpful site with lots of fantastic info, i can see lots of time will be spent here.

I was a Stainless Tig welder in sheffield for 10+ years.
no qualifications, just learned it and did it, happy to weld anything together did a lot of jobs for swimming pools etc.
All the Stainless stuff in Ponds forge Diving area (Sheffield) + more, for the world student games (long while back)

HOWEVER, all that time i had an old arc welder, and still made it look like pidgeon poop.

the arc died, (R.I.P)
just got a Wolf 140 (combination) for £150.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280939432870?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

and had my first nights welding (gas-less)

YAY, already better at mig than the arc in 1 night.

will post pics of my first project as soon as its done
(push bike trailer for log collecting)
Regards
Neil

 

[cumbriasteve]

Welcome to the forum Neil, a review of your Wolf after a bit of use would be good...they are not very well thought of, I had one and it was a nightmare...although that model looks a bit newer so perhaps they have ironed out some of the problems.

 

[MyZuke]

Will do thanks.
Already called the helpline provided, just to be sure about which way round the - and + connections go for gas-less. Didn't want to kill it on it's maiden voyage.
Very helpful and a standard number (no national rate, so free from the mobile.)

But on a 1 nights usage, after a first ever attempt at mig in over 20+ years.
I'm happy so far.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Glad you are enjoying it, there is always a market for well priced MIGs around that size, so if Wolf have redesigned and it works well I should think other's may be interested..hence your feedback after a bit of use will be valuable.

 

[BoatBuilderDave]

I'd consider one at that price if it is good....

Care to post some photos of welds?

 

[BoatBuilderDave]

see the reviews on Amazon.....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-MIG-Co...5NWY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348944589&sr=8-1

Maybe I'll pass on this one....

 

[cumbriasteve]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-MIG-Co...5NWY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348944589&sr=8-1

Maybe I'll pass on this one....

I'm afraid those reviews match the problems I had exactly, also reminded me the polarity was haywire as mentioned.

 

[MyZuke]

PICTURE (s)
hope this works, never posted pics into a forum, if i do more than 1 post,(apologies in advance)

first 1 is after around 15-30 mins actual welding (over 2 days) wire mesh onto square tube.
was a bit of a gap but I'm happy with it.
better than i could weld with the arc (:



second, is the push bike trailer (1st project) for carrying wood (for wood stove, from the woods)
fitted a tow ball on the back of the mountain bike...

all bits of scrap i found along the way.
(with an easily adjustable drop-prop, to stop the weight from thr trailer toppling the bike over,
just need a OAP, electric scooter now and i'll be well away (:




JUST finished my first 0.25kg roll and installed new 0.45kg flux cored from ebay
(£15 for 2 + nozzle, free postage) will continue to use gas-less,
then i presume WITH gas, it SHOULD be much better.

i still have to familiarise myself with correct power and wire speed but i have no complaints about it.
OTHER THAN... as far as i can figure out, the connections inside
(to be swapped round for MIG or FLUX) the pic is the wrong way round?

i presume, the RED is TORCH and the BLACK is EARTH cable, but on the pic, for gas-less it shows other way. i think...

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

it will be a different machine with gas as others have fouind out when converting from gasless to gas with any welder