First welds -orginal title

[zaph]

Hi all, have being trying to log in and was using wrong username.

Got my new toy out for the first time, a Clarke mig 105en gasless, and tried welding. I was sensible enough to use brand new sheet steel, but alas the stuff I bought was 1mm. To be frank my welds are terrible. I will get some pictures up on Friday if I can bare the shame.

First weld a bit bird poo like, later ones a bit better, with the odd hole blown. My main problem is laying down enough wire and getting decent penetration.

Tried a few lap and butt welds, getting a bit too ambitious. Managed to melt the edge of the steel. Mainly because cutting the 8 foot odd of sheet steel I bought with metal snips means they are bent and don't line up properly. Will have to get the compressor setup so I can use the metal cutting disc.

We do have an angle grinder, but it dates from about 1783, and is frankly useless. Anyway i am glad I didn't start on the Dolomite.

One thing I was surprised by was how clean gasless is. A bit of spatter and smoke, but not s much as I was expecting.

 

[zardoz]

A gasless MIG is not easy to learn with if you only have thin sheet. However a way to minimse the blowing through of welds in thin stuff, is to use the stitch technique (In the tutorial section on this website)

Also a copper heat sink (or maybe a lump of thick aluminium ?) behind the weld, often stops it getting too hot and burning through. Although learning how to use these is an art in itself. I have some 1/4 inch thick copper plates with a channel down the middle, to clamp tightly right behind the weld.

Try some thicker metal if you can, it'll be a lot easier.

 

[keith19]

As Zardoz says.
Also what size gasless wire are you using? 0.9mm can be a bit fierce on 1.00mm steel, to put it mildly. 0.8mm is better, but still needs plenty of practice.
What make of gasless wire are you using, too? This can make a big difference, especially when starting out.
Certainly easier to start on something like 2 or 3mm, just laying short beads on the flat to start with, till you find you get a steady hand that is reasonably accurate.
Just a thought, you are 'pulling' the torch along the job, as per tutorial? That is welding from your left to your right, if you are right-handed. Doing it the other way around - pushing - gets the metal hotter, as a general rule, and is more likely to cause blow through.