ChrisBailey
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- Kings Lynn, Norfolk, UK
Practice on some offcuts or scrap metal. Looks like your practicing by making a workbench.
- Thread starter CharlesF
- Start date
Erie Fred
Member
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- 6,115
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- Erie, Pa USofA
Practice on a flat piece of plate first.
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
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- 6,436
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- Glapwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
Adams Gas will have an agent close to you, their web site will show their stockists.
www.adamsgas.co.uk
Stockists | Find a Delivery Service Near You | Adams Gas
To find the nearest delivery service for your gas canisters, visit our stockists page to find your nearest stockist and deliverer.
www.adamsgas.co.uk
JOEPRO
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- 4,941
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- UK
Do you have a good quality auto darkening mask? Have you tried adjusting it's settings?
You need to be able to clearly see the weld pool with any welding!
As others have said, try to go slower. Adjust the settings. I don't particularly care for synergic welders. Manual dials are easier but that 181 should have a manual mode. I normally play with the amps and wire speed back and forth on test steel offcuts of the same gauge. Push it to bad settings both ends and find the middle / sweet spot. Try running straight consistent beads on plain stock first then move to joining stuff together!
Cobbler
Codger bodger
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- 8,076
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You will probably find you need a larger tip for gasless, it deforms under the roller feed & sticks If it’s 0.8 wire, stick a 1mm drill through a tip. We’ve all tried it & then bought gas.
Went with one of these: https://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/r-tech-speedmaster-hd-pro-welding-mask-system
Thanks, handy tip, will do this when the new wire arrives...then like you say, probably buy gas
You can open the tip up with a 0.9mm or 1mm drill bit. Preferably in a pin vice rather than a power drill.Thanks, handy tip, will do this when the new wire arrives...then like you say, probably buy gas
Even a 10ltr bottle is a good size depending on how much you'll use it.
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
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- 6,436
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- Glapwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
Agree, 20 ltr is the best size for a hobby bottle, the most cost effective for size/gas/cost/easy transport ratio....
5% CO2 in Argon Mix, 20L, Gas Bottle for MIG Welding - Supplied by Adams Gas
Enhance your MIG welding projects with the premium 5% CO2 in Argon Mix Gas Bottle, exclusively supplied by Adams Gas. Designed to meet the highest standards of quality and performance, this gas mix is perfect for achieving smooth, clean welds on a variety of metals. It serves as an excellent...
www.adamsgas.co.uk
MikeBs
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- 163
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- Worcester
I was in your position a couple of years ago, but with a cheap welder.
Started with gasless and within a couple of weeks tried gas and was converted to always using gas when I can.
Got the RTech 181 as you have, earlier this year and it’s a cracking machine. It also does stick welding which is also a useful addition.
Get yourself to a scrap yard and get some thick stuff (5mm or so) and some thin stuff (1mm or so) and just run lines of weld. When you get consistent on the thick stuff try on the thin stuff. The default settings will get you in the ball park of the heat you need, but it might need a bit of tweaking.
Gasless tends to get a lot of splatter and you can only drag. If you try and push the slag will get into the weld pool and the weld will just not penetrate properly.
Good luck.
Started with gasless and within a couple of weeks tried gas and was converted to always using gas when I can.
Got the RTech 181 as you have, earlier this year and it’s a cracking machine. It also does stick welding which is also a useful addition.
Get yourself to a scrap yard and get some thick stuff (5mm or so) and some thin stuff (1mm or so) and just run lines of weld. When you get consistent on the thick stuff try on the thin stuff. The default settings will get you in the ball park of the heat you need, but it might need a bit of tweaking.
Gasless tends to get a lot of splatter and you can only drag. If you try and push the slag will get into the weld pool and the weld will just not penetrate properly.
Good luck.
2nd attempt, using the correct wire this time..started off with the auto settings on the weld far right, slight change from 8.7 and 20.7 to 8.7 and 21.7 on the 2nd weld from right...also with one and two I cleaned the steel with a grinding disc, the rest with a flap wheel, which seems to have made a difference, maybe.
Any thoughts please?
Any thoughts please?
Erie Fred
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- Erie, Pa USofA
You need to adjust speed and angle to whatever is needed to make a smooth even puddle.
Wetted in on the sides, even ripples, etc.
The best helmet in the world won't help if you don't know what to look for when welding.
Your welds indicate such.
jo1010
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- 354
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- West Berkshire, uk
Yep, my thoughts too.....my eyes are around 10 inches away from the job when welding (my eyes see better close up and I actually take any glasses off ), .....and 2 hands on the torch keep the tip to work distance right as well as steady
