Duff wire or Duff user

[Geodawg]

Guys,
I just bought some 0.8 mild steel wire from screwfix and as soon as I try to use it, it just melts. even on my lowest setting min 1 and speed at 1 it still melts. is this duff wire or am I doing something wrong? as soon as I put my 0.6 back in it works fine.

this is the stuff I bought (note its from china)

 

[pedrobedro]

What do you mean by "it just melts" ? Can you try it in someone else's welder for a comparison ?

 

[Wozzaaah]

It's supposed to melt!
Do you mean it balls up on ther tip instead of feeds out? If so, are you changing the tip to the correct size?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

If the wire is burning back you need to turn the wire speed up, 1 is the lowest wire speed surely?

 

[Geodawg]

sorry, yes it just burns back. I've had the speed at max and at it's lowest and it just burns back no mater what settings I use, as soon as I try to weld it just burns back to the tip. Ive changed the tip to 0.8 to go with the wire. changed it back to 0.6 and changed the wire back and all is good.

edit,

I meant to say, I dont have access to another welding machine to try it on.

 

[Geodawg]

just a wee update, I've reserved some Sip from Halfords, so I'll pick that up tomorrow and give that a try. The 0.6 is from there and I dont have any bother with that.

 

[Wozzaaah]

It sounds like it might be a duff reel.
I had one once (by coincidence it was a 5kg SIP from halfords!) which got down to about 1/4 left then flatly refused to feed.
I tried everything I could think of then eventually conceded defeat and bought another reel which fed from beginning to end perfectly.

 

[Robotstar5]

Can you stop the wire feeding by gripping it with your fingers?, feed rolls may be slipping, liner blocked etc.

 

[Geodawg]

Can you stop the wire feeding by gripping it with your fingers?, feed rolls may be slipping, liner blocked etc.

I'll give that a try tomorrow.

 

[pedrobedro]

Have you changed the tip to a .8 ? Sorry just saw the other post, wondered if the wire is feeding smoothly as above.

 

[Geodawg]

Have you changed the tip to a .8 ? Sorry just saw the other post, wondered if the wire is feeding smoothly as above.

Hi pedro, yeah tip changed wire feeds ok just doesn't want to do what it's supposed to as soon as I try to weld it burns straight up to the tip. had it on fast wire speed low wire speed highest power setting lowest power setting none of which made any difference, wire just burnt up to the tip.

 

[chevykev]

Do you need to change feed rolls ? I'm sure on mine ( old sip topmig) you turn one of the rolls over

 

[Geodawg]

Do you need to change feed rolls ? I'm sure on mine ( old sip topmig) you turn one of the rolls over

Changed the feed roll over mate. Starting to think it might be the tension as when you change it round its for 8 and 9 so might have been slipping as previously mentoned

 

[Rig Pig]

A mate of mine had some cheap wire that wouldn't feed, when we tried to feed it it would run ok for a few foot then stop we cut some off the reel and pulled it through a new tip and found that it had the odd slightly fatter bit that nipped up in the tip! Cheap c##p!

 

[normspanners]

Changed the feed roll over mate. Starting to think it might be the tension as when you change it round its for 8 and 9 so might have been slipping as previously mentoned

.8-.9 that means to me it is a gas /no gas set up, have you got the polarity correct IE + to the torch and also are you sure the reell turns ok on the hub?

 

[Geodawg]

.8-.9 that means to me it is a gas /no gas set up, have you got the polarity correct IE + to the torch and also are you sure the reell turns ok on the hub?

yes polarity correct mate I've been using gas with the 0.6. wheel looked like it was feeding ok, but as previously stated I think it's worth my while checking the tension.

 

[normspanners]

Just had a thought might sound daft but IS the wire .8 it might say it is but might have been stickered up incorrectly run a vernier over it to be sure.

 

[Geodawg]

Ok guys, turns out to be duff user put the reel back on and tightened the feed tensioner to where I had it the last time pinched it and the feed roller just slipped.. so tightened it right up and lo and behold works like a treat (every day a school day) so now its onwards and upwards practice practice practice...

Thanks again for all the input guys.

 

[normspanners]

Just check that you havnt lost the key off the driveshaft when you changed the drive roller round coz you shouldnt need to tighten the the tensioner wheel right down IMO.

 

[Geodawg]

it's all there mate, I could probably release some of the tension. just ramped it up to make sure it was me and not the wire.