Advice

[Martin Chapman]

Hi guys new to the forum I need advice I’m a hobby welder I’m currently building a hot rod and can weld ok , but I have a Sealey imig 160 that I’ve had for about 18 months now , I just carnt seem to weld or get a low enough amperage for thinner metal 1mm 1.2mm it blows through I’ve spoken to a guy who repairs pcbs on these and he has said that the lowest setting is 30 amps and this is too high for 1/1.2mm , I’m not shaw he’s correct .. advice please before I send the welder to him thanks Martin

 

[GrahamGKD]

Hi,
I presume you are using the thin metal teqnique: https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/thin-metal.htm

Where possible, you could back up the material with some copper strip?

 

[Robert Mullins]

If your not in a hurry, then make/break the arc, make sure that each tack/weld overlaps the prior one to burn out the weld crater:
You could also shallow the torch angle so that the wire pushes the weld pool along the plate, rather than force the wire through the butt;
Use just enough wire, this allows the arc to 'sit atop' the weld pool rather than punch through;
'whip' torch manipulation, I could write a tome to try and describe what it means, perhaps some other person who knows how, and how to upload the video can demonstrate

 

[eddie49]

I am surprised that an inverter MIG does not go low enough to avoid blowing through 1.2mm or even 1mm.
Are you sure that your joint fit-up is accurate and tight? Are you using the lowest workable wirespeed? What wire diameter and gas mixture are you using?
Please submit photos of simple beads on 1mm sheet at the lowest Amp setting.

 

[rich r]

If as a novice I can weld 0.8mm steel with a Lidl gasless then you almost certainly should be able to with your more flexible gas setup. Try a lap joint with the series of overlapping tacks as per the tutorial linked above. Try just doing a short burst with the wire in one place, then varying the wire feed to get a nice spot of weld that just penetrates through to the other side. Then let it cool slightly and do another immediately overlapping it (ie start at the edge of the one you've just done). Repeat until you've done the run. Butt joints are more sensitive to getting the technique and fit right, but with practice it gets easier.

 

[stichill99]

I have a murex 235 which goes down to 30amps and I just couldn't get it to weld 1.0mm without burning through and was beginning to doubt my welding abiity. My friend got a new Lincoln welder which I asked if I could have a go at welding thin sheet. I welded it no problem at all so it must be the welder I presume!