Initial set up advice, 20swg steel, Clarke Pro 90

[Pete Rodder]

I'm just getting started on my Beetle roadster pickup project and need some initial setup advice for my Clarke Pro 90.
The material is 20swg mild steel and I'm using 0.6 wire with CO2 from a disposable cylinder. My resulting tacks/welds are too high and 'blobby' requiring lots of grinding.
Can anyone suggest some initial settings to play with?
Would I get better results with a mix gas?

Thanks for your help.

 

[slimjim]

yes you would get a better result with argon mix

my clarke 100en, welds 20swg great on power 1, wire feed 3 on Argon mix, but when using Co2, it has to go onto power 2 wire feed 3, welds are simmilar, but the Co2 are higher and less smooth

this is with the argon mix

 

[Pete Rodder]

Your welds look much neater than mine. Is that using a large cylinder or a throwaway?

 

[slimjim]

Your welds look much neater than mine. Is that using a large cylinder or a throwaway?

medium refillable.

its much easier to set the welder using argon mix, and much easier to get nicer looking welds.

 

[Pete Rodder]

Would that be from BOC?

 

[gavuk]

Hi Pete ,i use co2, it is more difficult to use on cars ,i always use the thin metal technique,or spot on spot welding .If you are using disposables then try argon mix before you go to a big bottle ,most of us that use co2 do so because of cost, i pay £15 a cylinder with no rental charges ,i have 2 in the garage,.....argon gives a more stable arc and better weld profile the profile makes little to no difference on car welding which on the most part is ground flat ,disguised and painted ....if my welds were on show ,gates ,fabrications etc i might decide to spend the extra for Argon but for car welding i can get around co2 shortfalls....I run hotter than min settings always and normally start the next tack while the previous is orange,still only weld about an inch before moving to limit distortion,works for me as a diyer

 

[slimjim]

Would that be from BOC?

err no, I got it from here, they post it to me

http://www.weldinggases.co.uk/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=1

I also have a large bottle of pub gas, which I use on thicker metal, cheaper than the Argon mix, but I would'nt entertain it for welding thin metal.

 

[slimjim]

Hi Pete ,i use co2, it is more difficult to use on cars ,i always use the thin metal technique,or spot on spot welding .If you are using disposables then try argon mix before you go to a big bottle ,most of us that use co2 do so because of cost, i pay £15 a cylinder with no rental charges ,i have 2 in the garage,.....argon gives a more stable arc and better weld profile the profile makes little to no difference on car welding which on the most part is ground flat ,disguised and painted ....if my welds were on show ,gates ,fabrications etc i might decide to spend the extra for Argon but for car welding i can get around co2 shortfalls....I run hotter than min settings always and normally start the next tack while the previous is orange,still only weld about an inch before moving to limit distortion,works for me as a diyer

false economy

I can get around Co2's shortfalls too, but once the deposits paid on the bottle, it is'nt that much more expensive and decent grinders ar'nt cheap to replace or run

 

[gavuk]

false economy

I can get around Co2's shortfalls too, but once the deposits paid on the bottle, it is'nt that much more expensive and decent grinders ar'nt cheap to replace or run

I respect your opinion completley, although you are totally wrong ,i pay for argon rental for my tig but for the last 20+years have always used co2 on my mig for diy car repairs etc,its local its cheap it suits me....So we will have to agree to dis-agree Jim

 

[slimjim]

I respect your opinion completley, although you are totally wrong ,i pay for argon rental for my tig but for the last 20+years have always used co2 on my mig for diy car repairs etc,its local its cheap it suits me....So we will have to agree to dis-agree Jim

Thought you might say that

 

[Pete Rodder]

5 or 15% ? which is best?

 

[slimjim]

5 or 15% ? which is best?

if its a pay rise, then 15% is clearly the best

 

[Pete Rodder]

Thanks to all for your help up to now.
I've discovered a local gas supplier who will refill cylinders, where can I get a suitable cylinder?

 

[slimjim]

Thanks to all for your help up to now.
I've discovered a local gas supplier who will refill cylinders, where can I get a suitable cylinder?

does'nt the supplier have bottles?

depends on the gas, local tip normally have a few co2 bottles lying about, if its argon mix, then you can buy empty bottles of ebay that are refurbed and tested, about £60 plus postage iirc.

 

[Pete Rodder]

Thanks to Slim Jim

Just spent a couple of hours welding with Argon mix - much neater welds, far better results than CO2.
Thanks to Slim Jim for help and advice.