having successfully repaired a gifted (as in, "have this knackered welder", not "superbly talented") Siegen Power 130 welder I thought I'd photo the first attempts and ask for some tips. This little welder is out and out chinesium, and seems to be a clone of the equivalent sealey130, but it sorta works and I'll only have light duties for it. I'd love a Kemppi Evo 200 but I don't have the need for one right now
So, onto the pics. I had a broken wood working clamp with a 6mm or so metal bar, decided to run a few lines to check settings then cut a bit off and try jointing it back on
Thought 6mm might be a bit ambitious for such a weedy welder but we'll see what you guys think.
Started off on highest power and wfs of 6:
1) oops, not enough gas (ar co2)
2) wfs too high ? Looked like too much material deposited, sounded too poppy, more like dull bass note explosions
3) wfs of 5, still sounded high
4) wfs of 4, still too much material- travel speed too fast? Didn't make good loops that joined both surfaces to the pool?
5) I think this is better, wfs of 2.5
Did the other side on wfs 2.5 (out of 10) too, think it's around here I need it set and I probably travelled too fast on this one, travelled inconsistently, and didn't stir the pool to the mating sides enough?
If I'm getting the wfs right, how come it is so low when power is on max? stick out was probably 10mm..
I cut the weld through the section where I thought I'd done the best effort, to have a look inside:
I guess having rounded edges helped the two sides merge..
I put the other side on the vice and wound it til it broke, curious to see if the weld had penetrated:
I think it did a little- could that be improved with technique or will this welder never be suited to this thickness of metal?
Other side note; the earth clamp and lead was pretty warm when I'd finished. I'm confident it had a good connection right through to the work, but it ain't the beefiest of things- think about the clamps that come with those jumps leads that Asda sells for 3.99 and you'll get my drift. Is it worth buying a more meaty wire and clamp, or is it again a "you're probably approaching the limits of such a baby machine; lighter work will see it operating more comfortably"?
Thanks for any pointers guys(n girls). plan after practice is to make a TV bracket out of some 2mm galv box section. I read I should grind the galv off first as it makes unpleasant gases when burnt in the weld flame?
Cheers
So, onto the pics. I had a broken wood working clamp with a 6mm or so metal bar, decided to run a few lines to check settings then cut a bit off and try jointing it back on
Thought 6mm might be a bit ambitious for such a weedy welder but we'll see what you guys think.
Started off on highest power and wfs of 6:
1) oops, not enough gas (ar co2)
2) wfs too high ? Looked like too much material deposited, sounded too poppy, more like dull bass note explosions
3) wfs of 5, still sounded high
4) wfs of 4, still too much material- travel speed too fast? Didn't make good loops that joined both surfaces to the pool?
5) I think this is better, wfs of 2.5
Did the other side on wfs 2.5 (out of 10) too, think it's around here I need it set and I probably travelled too fast on this one, travelled inconsistently, and didn't stir the pool to the mating sides enough?
If I'm getting the wfs right, how come it is so low when power is on max? stick out was probably 10mm..
I cut the weld through the section where I thought I'd done the best effort, to have a look inside:
I guess having rounded edges helped the two sides merge..
I put the other side on the vice and wound it til it broke, curious to see if the weld had penetrated:
I think it did a little- could that be improved with technique or will this welder never be suited to this thickness of metal?
Other side note; the earth clamp and lead was pretty warm when I'd finished. I'm confident it had a good connection right through to the work, but it ain't the beefiest of things- think about the clamps that come with those jumps leads that Asda sells for 3.99 and you'll get my drift. Is it worth buying a more meaty wire and clamp, or is it again a "you're probably approaching the limits of such a baby machine; lighter work will see it operating more comfortably"?
Thanks for any pointers guys(n girls). plan after practice is to make a TV bracket out of some 2mm galv box section. I read I should grind the galv off first as it makes unpleasant gases when burnt in the weld flame?
Cheers