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Barking Mat
Cuddler of hedgehogs.
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Hi. Thanks for the add. Whst a wonderful and informative site. It's from a reputable seller and all the Total tools I have and have been of great quality. I've always wanted to get a mig welder and I do alot of mma welding. I've read and reread your tutorials which are impressively informative. I know it's certainly not a top of the range welder but am hoping it will work OK.
Barking Mat
Cuddler of hedgehogs.
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- 13,515
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- France, Brittany.
Are you in Australia ?
Some links to the parent Chinese company:
www.totalbusiness.com
www.totalbusiness.com
This welder looks like just about every other generic Chinese inverter MIG/MMA welder. The integrated digital displays and the apparent use of multi-turn rotary encoders ( rather than simple potentiometers ) on the front panel imply that it is a recent design. It is capable of taking a 5kg MIG wire spool.
With no direct experience of this machine, it is hard to assess quality or reliability. The key issue with products at this level is the duration, credibility, and ease of invoking the warranty.
TOTAL | TOTAL Tools Official Site | One-Stop Tools Station
TOTAL Tools is a one-stop solution with full range of professional tools. Shop TOTAL power tools, hand tools, power source, garden tools, accessories and cordless tools with 20V lithium-ion battery platform.
Learn more about TOTAL Tools
TOTAL Tools is a professional tools brand focusing on power tools, hand tools, power source, garden tools, accessories and cordless tools with 20V lithium-ion battery platform.
With no direct experience of this machine, it is hard to assess quality or reliability. The key issue with products at this level is the duration, credibility, and ease of invoking the warranty.
No. I'm in Zimbabwe. Central Africa
So after a couple of test runs and some adjustment on power and wire feed with argoshield. I didn't think they came out too bad. Pretty sure they will gey better with time dpent on it. But at least she works. Thoughts criticism and advice are welcome.
Barking Mat
Cuddler of hedgehogs.
- Messages
- 13,515
- Location
- France, Brittany.
Mig.
Cut the plate in half.
Amps ?
Thickness plate ?
Good start.
Cut the plate in half.
Amps ?
Thickness plate ?
Good start.
My view:
Cleaner is usually better but this is more lack of fusion and lack of joint penetration.
The void in the above image is a lack of joint penetration that might have been avoided with some joint preparation. In addition to cleaning, bevelling would achieve a better weld width to depth ratio and allow better joint penetration.
(I assume that since you have welded both sides, you were attempting full joint penetration - particularly as there is a gap.)
The line section between the two red segments shows lack of fusion. Torch angle would not have helped much because of the restricted access (no bevel) but more power (hotter) might have helped.
The vertical edge of this weld also shows pretty bad lack of fusion. Polishing and etching would make it easier to see. In this case, laying the torch down a little (to point towards the vertical plate) might have helped.
Again, there is a lack of root/joint penetration.
The top toe (arrowed) has a contour typical of a lack of wetting and the resultant lack of fusion.
I am not a welder so I apologise if my terminology is off.
Jack
Cleaner is usually better but this is more lack of fusion and lack of joint penetration.
The void in the above image is a lack of joint penetration that might have been avoided with some joint preparation. In addition to cleaning, bevelling would achieve a better weld width to depth ratio and allow better joint penetration.
(I assume that since you have welded both sides, you were attempting full joint penetration - particularly as there is a gap.)
The line section between the two red segments shows lack of fusion. Torch angle would not have helped much because of the restricted access (no bevel) but more power (hotter) might have helped.
The vertical edge of this weld also shows pretty bad lack of fusion. Polishing and etching would make it easier to see. In this case, laying the torch down a little (to point towards the vertical plate) might have helped.
Again, there is a lack of root/joint penetration.
The top toe (arrowed) has a contour typical of a lack of wetting and the resultant lack of fusion.
I am not a welder so I apologise if my terminology is off.
Jack
Last edited:
henry Kadzielski
Member
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- Australia Wollongong
No that just about covers it
I assume that's a typo, you mean 200 Amps. However, that is low for MIG on 10mm plate with no bevel.
Is your machine the Total TMGT1601? If so, the specs state max current is only 160 A, so if you read 200A on the display, it is flat-out and over-optimistic.
TOTAL Inverter MAG/MIG/MMA/TIG Lift welding machine 160A (TMGT1601)
TOTAL Inverter MAG/MIG/MMA/TIG Lift welding machine 160A (TMGT1601) Home WELD BATTERY CHARGER
bax.tools
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
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That, looking at the penetration (or lack of) looks to me like a 150 amp weld, tops. Probably more like 120-130 amps.
MIG takes AMPS to penetrate into thick sections, this is why most cheap MIGs are useless as they don't have the amps, or they don't have the voltage to drive it properly at higher amps.
MIG takes AMPS to penetrate into thick sections, this is why most cheap MIGs are useless as they don't have the amps, or they don't have the voltage to drive it properly at higher amps.
Indeed u are correct. I'm pretty new to mig and the machine . There's a volt adjustment. It was on 19.what is puzzling me is that there is penetration on one side and not the other ?I assume that's a typo, you mean 200 Amps. However, that is low for MIG on 10mm plate with no bevel.
Is your machine the Total TMGT1601? If so, the specs state max current is only 160 A, so if you read 200A on the display, it is flat-out and over-optimistic.
TOTAL Inverter MAG/MIG/MMA/TIG Lift welding machine 160A (TMGT1601)
TOTAL Inverter MAG/MIG/MMA/TIG Lift welding machine 160A (TMGT1601) Home WELD BATTERY CHARGER
Many thanks. Makes alot of sense on all u say. Please excuse my ignorance. What does wetting mean? This was just a test piece and practicing.
There is a lack of fusion, particularly on one side. That is because there is not enough heat to melt (fuse) the metal. If the torch were pointed more towards the colder joint the situation would be improved but there would still not be enough heat - probably the other side or perhaps both sides would suffer.
The bottom line is that 200 Amps is not enough for a single pass weld on 10mm plate - more so if there is no preparation (bevel).
It is the same meaning as with water. If there is no base metal wetting by the puddle, you will get roll over at the toes.
These might help:
What is meant by wetting and how can it be used?
The wetting of a surface by a liquid is discussed, including factors that influence the wetting action, and the measurement of surface tension.
www.twi-global.com
Jack
