First attemp - Should make you smile :-)

[rough]

My mask & gauntlets arrived from Weldquip last week so all i had to do was pick up the bottle of Argon light on the Volkzone offer (thanks for the heads up from you guys )& i would be ready to try out my new to me mig :-)
A month or so ago i had to add some strengthening pieces to my trailer when i tried to weld a new axle onto it after the old piece of box crumpled.
I really struggled using a mayflower arc welder for the repairs so i only did what i thought was a nessecity at the time so today i had a go at finishing off welding an angle to the trailer.
Gas bottle connected, gas turned on, quick buzz over the angle grinder & i was ready to, so heres my first attempt, i could'nt believe how difficult it was ! Bloody hell maybe i should off bought a decent arc welder as i'm sure i could make a better job than this this mig lark !

Anyway for the next attempt i may turn the gas on

(I had switched the gas off after connecting it up & checking it !)

 

[Engineer1964]

Thats not bad at all

As with all welding the secret is in the preparation, so clean all that paint and rust off, and you should get a fair decent weld. Make sure the Earth is attached to Clean bare metal

 

[rough]

Gas turned on

I blew a hole, but i also struggled going over where i has tacked it ? is this normal ?

The nice clean tidy torch didnt last long !

Where can i get Kemmpi parts for the BOC 190C torch ?

Half way through welding this piece i kept getting a real intense blinding green flame that made things difficult to see ? why would this be ?

 

[rtbcomp]

It's a bit of a false economy leaving the gas off

What make/model MIG have you got?

 

[rough]

BOC 190c

I've looked so many times at buying a sip mig or similar, but my last attempts at using my mayflower arc welder was the last straw - i wanted something decent

 

[Engineer1964]

Thats not a bad set at all and with a Euro Torch too

 

[Engineer1964]

1. I blew a hole, but i also struggled going over where i has tacked it ? is this normal ?

2. Half way through welding this piece i kept getting a real intense blinding green flame that made things difficult to see ? why would this be ?

Ok Question 1, Normally, i would weld over tacks at a higher setting so that you melt into the tack, as opposed to just welding over the top, You want to ensure that the tack becomes part of the weld, so a little bit higher to go over tacks is a must.

Question 2, Normally any strange colours apart from the normal weld flash is 99.9% contamination, either paint, galvanise or similar. I've had some real bright yellow and Greens when i've welded some galv coated box section, Galv is pretty hard to get off completely so you do get some containation.

 

[Norm]

Hi Rough for a first go at mig I'd say that was very good , most people would at the very least run a few practise beads on some scrap metal of the same thickness first to get the set up correct and get a feel for the process so for a straight in first go thats a very good result.

Norm

 

[octo0072000]

as you are used to arc welding you need more cleaning up prep of the metal with mig
arc will burn through paint etc mig don't like it causes splatter etc
but looks ok it's just practice but it does help to turn the gas on your not the first or the last to do it

 

[rough]

Thanks for the replies & comments

 

[zedhead]

Much better than my first efforts!
Actually, much better than any of my efforts...

 

[Ed.]

I can't tell from the pics how well you cleaned that metal, but If I were you I would clean off at least 13mm wider than the weld bead will be, as the arc melts the metal and the surrounding HAZ area will also heat up tremendously and any paint, galv., or crap will also vapourize and possible contaminate the weld bead or gas coverage.

Not doing too bad though, seen much worse welds. Keep practicing.

Cheers

Ed.

 

[Liebherr Welder]

looks like you could have you welding set on a higher setting this would get a much cleaner and better looking weld

 

[PaulMcElhinney]

I tack then spend some time prepping the tacks, sanding them flush. This way you're not welding over the top of them and you get an even bead. I was given this tip by a local sheet metal man and it works for me.