Help with some things in MIG

[daveypower]

ok so i set up the welder Sealey Supermig 150/5 as my first trail, ive done a pervious evening welding course in MIG, T joints, vertical advanced joint etc.

Anyways i couldn't get much of a weld but I am not surprized to be honest, Im using flux cored wire with out changing the polarity. as i cant change the polarity unless i open up the machine. I have no Gas at the moment.

First question is the wire i have says its flux cored wire to be used on straight polarity?? is this normal??

Second question is im clamping the earth to an old subframe which still has the black paint on it, Is this ok?? or should i grind a nice clean patch on it??

Third question is can i only weld to what the earth is clamped to? i Tried to weld some clean metal on concrete a few feet away from the earth on the subframe but nothing happend just wire coming out. I started welding then on the Subframe and i got an arc.

Forth question is there is alot of white smoke that went on to the shroud and the metal when i was trying to weld, But this could be related to question 1.

Fifth question, i had the welder turned up to 5 it goes up to 6, but i was afraid to turn it up to 6 unless i would blow a fuse because its on a 13amp plug.

Thanks for anyhelp.

 

[shenion]

1. Polarity for flux core is work positive or torch negative.

2. You need clean metal for the work lead.

3. There must be a low-impedance path for current to flow from the work lead to the point being welded. It is not just a "safety earth or ground" it provides the return path for the welding current.

4. Yes gasless wire is messy.

5. Yes, 150A (max setting) is close to where the fuse will blow.

 

[daveypower]

1. Polarity for flux core is work positive or torch negative.

2. You need clean metal for the work lead.

3. There must be a low-impedance path for current to flow from the work lead to the point being welded. It is not just a "safety earth or ground" it provides the return path for the welding current.

4. Yes gasless wire is messy.

5. Yes, 150A (max setting) is close to where the fuse will blow.

Thanks very much, appreciate that, so basically i just need a nice clean patch for the earth, and i need to change the polarity also for that wire? or will i be ok just for messing about with it not changed, see im unsure if i can change the polarity of the welder, so maybe some gas is in order.

One more question im using 0.9mm flux cored wire, should i be using smaller wire? i have a 1.0mm tip though, as i heard your better of with a tip slightly bigger for flux wire.

 

[shenion]

Some wire will work ok with the wrong polarity, others will not have a good arc.

The thinnest you can get 0.8mm flux wire. 0.9 is fine for playing with. The next larger tip is usually a good idea.

 

[daveypower]

Some wire will work ok with the wrong polarity, others will not have a good arc.

The thinnest you can get 0.8mm flux wire. 0.9 is fine for playing with. The next larger tip is usually a good idea.

Perfect. Thank you

 

[keith19]

Scott about wraps it up in a few words, advice-wise.

So far as the wire goes, you are fine using 0.9 mm gasless wire in a 1.0 mm tip. I do this all the time, especially on thicker metal, 2 - 4 mm. Using 0.9 wire will be a bit strong on very thin metal, however, so go to 0.8 gasless wire if using less than 2 mm steel, for starters.

When you get a lot of practice in you can go down to 1.2 or 1.0 mm metal with 0.9 mm wire.

Either clamp the earth lead onto whatever you are welding, or onto something made of steel which is also tightly clamped to whatever you are welding. As Scott says it must be really clean where you clamp.

You should get some kind of weld with the polarity set in either position, but it tends to splatter more and give less penetration when using it the 'wrong' way around.

 

[daveypower]

Scott about wraps it up in a few words, advice-wise.

So far as the wire goes, you are fine using 0.9 mm gasless wire in a 1.0 mm tip. I do this all the time, especially on thicker metal, 2 - 4 mm. Using 0.9 wire will be a bit strong on very thin metal, however, so go to 0.8 gasless wire if using less than 2 mm steel, for starters.

When you get a lot of practice in you can go down to 1.2 or 1.0 mm metal with 0.9 mm wire.

Either clamp the earth lead onto whatever you are welding, or onto something made of steel which is also tightly clamped to whatever you are welding. As Scott says it must be really clean where you clamp.

You should get some kind of weld with the polarity set in either position, but it tends to splatter more and give less penetration when using it the 'wrong' way around.

Thanks for that aswell keith, ill keep all that in mind, its just none stop raining, snowing, and hailstoning over here at the moment so cant really get trying anything, but im glad i bought it.