First attempts at mig welding

[Cracker]

Ok thanks for that. I can't control the wire speed as it's done automatically when you adjust the volts or amps can't remember which.
I have charts for the settings for different gauges of metal. I'll have a search round on the web to see what's the best bead to aim for.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Ok thanks for that. I can't control the wire speed as it's done automatically when you adjust the volts or amps can't remember which.
I have charts for the settings for different gauges of metal. I'll have a search round on the web to see what's the best bead to aim for.

what welder is it?

if its semi synergic you will need to aim for around 40amps per mm of material thickness as a starting point, providing the readout on the welder is correct because mig isnt constant amps, its constant voltage. the voltage trim will effectively just alter the weld profile a bit, more voltage will make a flatter, wider bead, less will give a humped up thinner bead, but beware, you will also get those results from setting the amps too low or high too and also from travelling to fast or slow.

i have a semi synergic mig and as much as i do like using it, i think i still prefer and old school volts and wire feed machine

 

[Cracker]

The welder's a Velpax 140 pro 3 in 1 with IBJ converter off Amazon. It has very good reviews even from experienced guys such as yourself.
As I've said I have not much knowledge where welding Is concerned apart from 54/55 years ago when in order to go for my national craftsman exam (mechanic) I did a quick course which was only gas and arc at the time.
.

 

[BrokenBiker]

The best thing you can do is get some scrap material and start by running beads, tweaking the settings til you get something decent, then run some more beads overlapping and building the material up, then move to butt joints, lap joints, inside corners etc.

Stuff like car body work is generally done with a series of overlapping racks so as not to blow through. A 140amp mig will do anything from car body work to maybe 3mm, anything after that will need bevel prep to increase penetration

 

[Cracker]

Ok Thanks I'll do that, incidentally some of the reviews on the machine said they'd welded 4 mm steel with it.
I can't see me doing anything like that as I've bought it as a toy basically, but I would like to get proficient with it.
Time will tell.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Ok Thanks I'll do that, incidentally some of the reviews on the machine said they'd welded 4 mm steel with it.
I can't see me doing anything like that as I've bought it as a toy basically, but I would like to get proficient with it.
Time will tell.

they may well have done, but it either wouldnt have been a full penetration weld or they will have cut a bevel into the joint. you can definitely stick thicker metal togehter, but the strength wont be there like it would with thinner material

 

[tom2207]

weve had this recently in another thread , and I previously came up with the idea of telling the machine its running different wire thickness as a way of trimming wire feed speed , it may or may not work for you , but for five mins its worth a play , you may find a setting you prefer ...