first attempt at welding!!

[carlargyle]

Hi all

As the title says I've just had my first attempt at welding and thought I would share some pics for all to comment!
I purchased a SIP handymate (90amp gasless) MIG welder for a couple of quid just so I could practice some welds before I started welding repair panels on my 68 beetle. I have since read a lot of posts on here against SIP welders and some mods that people have undertaken & I may investigate these further later on. However, for now, not knowing any better I am happy the way it is.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Right, where to start?
1st pic, actually that is not bad at all! Nice consistent width, good profile, that one gets a .
The rest, way too fast on your travel speed, the welds are narrow and 'straggly' looking. You need to slow down a bit and rest the neck of the torch on your spare hand.
One last thing is that you'll find it quite difficult using gasless wire on thin bodywork, you're far better off with 0.6mm solid wire and shielding gas. It's so much more controllable and a lot cleaner too.
Good start though, keep it up.

 

[carlargyle]

Cheers, I was quite pleased with the first one but had a feeling I was going too fast on the rest but kept getting burn through otherwise (moving too slow??). I shall practise some more, am still getting used to it at the mo.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Burning through is one of the drawbacks of using gasless wire, it runs hotter than solid wire and shielding gas which is why it's not ideal for bodywork.

If your machine is the one I think it is it's gasless only and has just two power settings, low and high?
If so then you'll definitely find it difficult to use as the low setting is a huge 55 amps!

 

[carlargyle]

it is definitly gasless only, but as it was cheap i thought id give it a go then hopefully sell it on for a small profit. ideally id like a gas/gasless model like the clarke 90en.
http://www.toolsbypost.com/product_pp.php?id=71&category=691
it states here that it is 25amp minimum power but i dont think its correct.

 

[Chickenjohn]

you now need to start practising joining bits of 1mm steel together, tack at intervals and join the tacks with overlapped spots/ very short seam welds.

If you try and weld two pieces of thin steel together with seam welds using a gassless welder you will end up blowing a lot of holes.

In the tutorial section read up on Malcolms thin metal technique!

 

[pob125]

first weld

too little power,the welds wouldnt stand a weld test

 

[pob125]

the weld should mould onto the surface not sit on it