I've spent the past wee while learning how to weld by borrowing a Clarke 100E mig welder off my dad. I think I've got it mostly figured out and have successfully repaired a section of inner panel on my car.
It's now come to the time where I need to replace the outer panel, but I'm having trouble deciding where to weld it. I think my options are between the red dotted line (on a relatively flat surface) and the green dotted line (along the edge of a fold in the metal). I'm currently leaning towards the green dotted line as I feel intutively that the whole thing is going to be stiffer that way, after I've tacked it. It also seems like it'll be easier to clean up the bead after welding. Does anyone have any advice or opinions on the matter. If I seem like an I'm being an idiot it's because I've only been welding for a few weeks .
As an aside I wonder if anyone might comment on the settings I'm using? The panels are around about 0.8mm thick mild steel, I'm using the lowest power setting (about 30A if you believe the manual) and between 4-5 for the wire speed. 0.6mm welding wire and Ar/CO^2 gas. I find that I absolutely have to stitch weld with these settings or I just blow holes. Even with stitch welding it's still tricky to control and I occasionally make a hole. The thing that confuses me is that for this situation the manual suggests the 3rd (of 6) power setting and a wire speed of 5-6. If I use these settings I instantly blow holes. Should I just be ignoring the manual or is there something I'm missing?
TIA.
It's now come to the time where I need to replace the outer panel, but I'm having trouble deciding where to weld it. I think my options are between the red dotted line (on a relatively flat surface) and the green dotted line (along the edge of a fold in the metal). I'm currently leaning towards the green dotted line as I feel intutively that the whole thing is going to be stiffer that way, after I've tacked it. It also seems like it'll be easier to clean up the bead after welding. Does anyone have any advice or opinions on the matter. If I seem like an I'm being an idiot it's because I've only been welding for a few weeks .
As an aside I wonder if anyone might comment on the settings I'm using? The panels are around about 0.8mm thick mild steel, I'm using the lowest power setting (about 30A if you believe the manual) and between 4-5 for the wire speed. 0.6mm welding wire and Ar/CO^2 gas. I find that I absolutely have to stitch weld with these settings or I just blow holes. Even with stitch welding it's still tricky to control and I occasionally make a hole. The thing that confuses me is that for this situation the manual suggests the 3rd (of 6) power setting and a wire speed of 5-6. If I use these settings I instantly blow holes. Should I just be ignoring the manual or is there something I'm missing?
TIA.