Clarke 135TE Doesnt weld?

[aterro]

Recently bought a clarke 135te (gas version)
Currently using ARGON/co2 mix from clarke bottle

wire 0.6mm
tip 0.6mm new.

Im only praticing on a car panel at the moment.

When i go to do a weld, it just spits and does very small dots?
it wouldnt do a line. just small dots and pop spits cooper everywhere.

What is going on?
Ive put the welder on number 2 and max setting.
The regulator is set at 6.
wire at around 3

Ideas? is it the welder?
Im running the power straight from a socket in garage...

cheers

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Sounds like wire speed may be too slow for that power setting. Try upping the speed a bit, then use a bit of scrap and adjust the wire speed whilst doing a test weld to fine tune it til you get a smooth sizzling sound.

 

[shenion]

2/max sounds high for a car panel. Watch the wire speed video in the tutorials section.

Do you hear the gas flowing? Those disposables often don't work well. The ar/CO2 mix bottles only last about 6-10 minutes of use.

 

[aterro]

Tried upping the wire speed, keeps jamming near cog.....

Gas is flowing yep
It doesnt penertrate the panel only slighty on top... it doesnt weld at all, just poppes ontop leaving lil weld balls.
is 0.6mm wire right? or should i get 0.8mm?
just paid 20 for 2 disposables

should i run just co2 instead? and its a second hand unit...

 

[cumbriasteve]

Have you got the earth clamped onto a nice clean area of the work section?

 

[aterro]

yea, its tight on the section of metal...(has got spraypaint on the metal mind)

 

[h3rman]

Have you got the earth clamped onto a nice clean area of the work section?

yea, its tight on the section of metal...(has got spraypaint on the metal mind)

So it's not on a clean section of metal. Paint is an insulator and will prevent good electrical contact. Strip away the paint to reveal bare metal and clap onto that. Then try again.

 

[cumbriasteve]

yea, its tight on the section of metal...(has got spraypaint on the metal mind)

There is a good chance your problem has been found then, the area where you intend to weld needs to be as clean as you can get, also the area where the earth clamp is placed, a good method for cleaning is a grinder with a flap disc.

Ideally you should be back to shiny steel, any paint, rust, grease etc will affect the weld significantly, it can also make learning to weld very difficult.

 

[Robotstar5]

Im running the power straight from a socket in garage...

Has the garage got a decent size power supply?