complete noob with stoopid questions..

[blowthru]

After following various threads here took the plunge and got me a portamig 185 just before christmas.. only got to use it for the first time last week!
After a bit of adjusting the power and wire speed got some pretty nice welds.. more luck than judgement..
I'm welding together an exhaust system with 2" mild steel pipes as a first project, a few messy welds until I realised I tend to hold the torch too far from the job.
I've set the flow of argonshield lite to halfway on the dial.. no green or red colours to let me know if its ok.. what CFM should the flow be?
stoopid question #2.. I've got some anti splatter spray.. what do I spray with it? the job or the torch tip?

cheers

Steve

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

The only stupid question is the one you don't ask I weld with arc or tig but I'd think 9-15 lpm for mig ? I'm sure someone will correct me, my 285 should be ready this week so this is a learning curve for me too

 

[Badger1bear]

I use 12 lpm outside, if its a tad blowy I up it a bit, if its more than a tad blowy I put a shield up around my work.

oh I agree, there is no such thing as a stupid question, its better to ask and get it right than sit in the dark and screw it up

 

[keith19]

1. 12 to 14 LPM. Sometimes get away with 10 if inside with no draughts.
2. Usually the job. You can give inside the shroud a quick squirt, too, before you start.
Welcome to the forum!

 

[blowthru]

Thanks guys.. I'm now gonna try to do some nice welds so I don't waste time and cash wearing out the flap disks grinding them down.. then making holes.. then try filling holes with weld.. and of course making it worse!

 

[Ed.]

Hi, I generally don't use more than 9-10lt gas on my Bernard 400amp torch and if I go to my tiny 180amp torch then I only use about 8lt, outside if it is a slightly windy I add another liter or two. If it is windier than that then some sort of cover/windbreak is required in the weld area.

Quickest way to learn is if possible get someone who knows how to mig weld to show you how to do it, preferably on your machine, you will learn considerably faster than hit and miss, trial and error.
The anti splatter goes on where you don't want any overspray beads to go, also a squirt inside the nozzle helps keep the build up inside the shroud easier to remove.

 

[blowthru]

so then.. the anti-splatter spray shouldn't go where you weld, but around it.. is this right? (and a bit in the torch)

 

[Ed.]

Depends on the anti splatter, with the stuff I use I have sprayed it over everything in the past, so long as it isn't dripping wet, I think the one I have is water based and it evaporates off as soon as you start the arc, it's a light blue liquid which I bought bulk and I put it in a hand pump sprayer, I have also worked in places where they used to issue us with cans of Crisco spray, which I think is a vegetable oil spray, that was about 40 odd years ago so memory is a bit vague, but I don't remember having any problems with it, but generally you should be able to lightly spray anti splatter over everything. Just do a test sample to be sure but you probably won't have any issues.

I actually use a wax like anti splatter for the nozzle, came in a small tin I bought about ten years ago and still have over 70% left, I warm up the nozzle by doing a quick bead on a bit of scrap and just push the nozzle down in to it about 20-25mm, the excess just runs off and another quick blast on a bit of scrap and good to go. The next day when the nozzle is cold and has a bit of build up it it, I just give it a slight push with a rat tail file and the crud just falls out easily and quite often a single dose will last me for several days to a week depending on how much welding I do and at what amps, the more amps (>230amps) the more often I have to do it.

Cheers

Ed.