first ever attempt on a mig or any welder

[icecreamman]

Any tips or advice on how to advance my techniques please! got my machine set at power 2, wire speed 3 and gas set at 12 on the argon bottle with built in reg also Using 0.6 wire,


New to the forum so please be gentle lol lol

 

[arceyered]

For the first attempt I must say I think it is very good," You must be a natural".
The weld looks a little peaky so I would increase the power setting or decrease the wire feed ,if the weld profile is to flat increase the wire feed or decrease the power.
Just remember to practice practice and did I remind you to practice.
Good luck you are on the right track

 

[Kent]

The settings are meaningless as 2 on one plant might be 6 on another etc. 12 Litres per minute? is a lot reduce it to 10 if indoors and save some gas. I assume its Argon co2 mix not pure argon your on ? cant tell too much from the bead but it looks a bit feeble. Look up padding beads on the u-tube and the like you need a good few hours at least on that first off

 

[MoreWellie]

what sort of coating is that on the metal? looks a bit like powder coat? it probably should be cleaned off before attempting to weld

 

[icecreamman]

Thanks all for your helpfull replys,

should have said its a sealey mighty mig 190amp I've got and was out doors and yes I believe the metal is powder coated, my intentions are now to search and read posts on here aswell as check out some videos on you tube!

Again thanks for all your kind helpfull replys!!

 

[icecreamman]

Not 100% witch gas it is just know It was real expensive :-( but will have a look when home from work later!

 

[icecreamman]

So using the top horizontal weld as a ref,, when its sitting high like that turn the power up and or reduce the wire feed,? Should the weld profile sit flat/flush with the metal im welding?

 

[Kent]

don't weld over finishes as they have to come through your molten weld pool.

 

[icecreamman]

don't weld over finishes as they have to come through your molten weld pool.

Sorry not upto speed with the lingo yet dose that mean once I've run a bead of weld don't weld over it again?

 

[icecreamman]

Finishes = paint/powdercoat/chrome/galv etc.

Can you tell im new lol lol thanks,,

 

[Kent]

Whatever you weld over comes through your weld and generally contaminates it, in some cases it leaves porosity. It aint good practice and don't forget some of this stuff is likely to be toxic as it burns off

 

[Richard.]

Clean metal! Always wherever possible weld on clean metal. As others have said those welds look cold and prominent. You've got 190 amps on tap don't be afraid to use it (the worst that can happen you burn through) second post by arceyed Was a good point. Crank up the voltage and give it some spread. Kent mentioned a bead pad. Get on some of those and fill them up edge to edge. Then scribe a few straight lines and see how straight and consistently you can follow them. Once the settings are right mig is all about consistency (getting from A to B straight and steady.)

 

[icecreamman]

Im going to grab some bits of old scrap metal over the next day or 2 and have a practice using some of the great advice you guys have given!

Thanks alot much appropriated,

 

[mike 109444]

Remember next time you post some pics of your welds include a pic of under side as that can tell a lot as in penetration.
Look back through some old posts usually titled "first welds" or similar to get an ideal of how to progress.
Include thickness of steel and wire size (if you up to 0.8mm wire) to allow for better guidance.
Do some runes at different settings and use chalk or marker pen to highlight each runs setting.
And keep up the good work

 

[mike 109444]

Bit like this
1st pic is top side at power settings 1 to 6 (other writing is some testing of different components i was trying in machine)
2Nnd pic is under side of same sheet. On thin metal (1 to 2 mm) you should just see some BREAK THROUGH usually refereed to as penetration. To much and it blow through !! to little and you are not fusing/melting the metal enough to join.
Setting 4 was about right on this machine.
On thicker steel (proper steel !!) it would bet totally different but WE are talking car body metal (paper thick + 20 thou ).
Wait till you try to join to bit, then the fun starts

 

[icecreamman]

That's very helpfull and a very good way thank you!! :-) :-)