Clarke 100E possible issue

[bert]

I had been using my 100E with flux core wire but as it was about to run out I bought some 0.6 wire and a throw away bottle of argon/co2.

i found that there seemed to be a pressure build up that stopped me pressing the trigger so had to remobe bottle and then it let me depress the trigger.

ok so I reconnected the bottle and started to weld, I have what looks like a green arc compared to the old flux core and I have a lot of spatter and pidgeon poo weld.

is this likely to be a lack of gas coverage as i have an initial spurt of gas and then very little.

Thanks

 

[malcolm]

The spurt of gas is normal - the gas line between the bottle and torch fills up to bottle pressure, then it all releases when you first squeeze the trigger.

It does sound like you are short of gas. The constant flow of gas afterwards is the thing that needs adjusting. The little bottle regulators are notorious for not supplying enough gas unless they are adjusted to max setting (and sometimes even that isn't enough).

 

[weldequip]

The 100E is a straight gas-only machine Bert, you need to be able to reverse the earth lead polarity to be able to use gas-less wire. You should find a 100% improvement using gas so, as Malcolm says, it's down to gas flow adjustment.
weldequip

 

[bert]

cool, thats what i thought it was. i never changed the polarity when i put a the flux core wire in (embarassed smiley)

will have to get one of the regs off you after payday and get a big bottle.