first go at MIG welding

[CORLEY]

Hi All

I am restoring a Mk 2 fiesta and am quite handy with the mechcanics but never had a go at welding so i went out and got my self a clarke turbo 151te and away i went straight into the deep end

i have posted a picture of the area on the car whick is under the batery tray and as you can see it did not go well i ended up just pratcing on the plate after making a botch job of both the welding and grinding down

if any one has any tips on the settings and where you think im going wrong please please reply thanks !!

 

[malcolm]

That's what normally happens when you start directly on a car

Have a read through the tutorials on here, and practice on steel off the car to get the technique. It's a lot easier if you practice on 1.5mm or 2mm sheet first - otherwise you'll be scared of blowing holes and move the torch too fast.

 

[CORLEY]

Hi
Cheers, i have been on here all morning watching the videos and reading the comments wish i thaught of this yesterday haha!

definatly got more of an idea of the technique jus cantget my head around the power settings ?

any thaughts?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Those pics are poor quality but from what I can make out you're quite low on gas coverage.
The welds are lumpy and you have a lot of brown soot around them. Disposable cylinder by any chance?
If so, turn the regulator fully on, use the gas up, throw the empty away, get a refillable one and a regulator/connection kit and try again

 

[CORLEY]

yep you got it disposable gas!!!

i got a cylinder but cant find the connections for it ????

 

[BillJ]

from what I can make out you're quite low on gas coverage.

If you're like me and other beginners, you're perhaps holding the torch at too shallow an angle and too far from the work. If this is the case it would help to explain any lack of gas coverage. Try holding the torch no more than 20 degrees to the vertical (i.e. almost pointing straight at the work) and with the shroud between 5-10mm from the work.

(Hey! One lesson and I'm an expert! )

 

[CORLEY]

i was holding the torch at quite a low angle and not that close to the work to be honest

i'll try the 20 degrees and try to get closer

cheers appriciate the advive

 

[kev234]

Hey Corley, I'm certainly no expert but I took the plunge and got a bottle of argoshield from BOC and a decent set of regulators from weldequip and it has made a hell of a difference compared to my practice runs on disposables. I guess to the guys that can do this it probably makes no difference but to amateurs like me it was much easier to weld with correct gear.