from gasless to gas

[weld_it]

i have bean doing some welding the last couple of days using gas . i found i was doing much better welding with the gassless wire than i was with using gas. using the gas i have to use max power to get a better weld. on no gas i could do well on the lower settings.
my beads wear quit good when using the no gas. but with gas i just can't seam to get any good beads. what do you think my be happening.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Have you changed the polarity over on the set?

 

[weld_it]

yep that was the first thing i did. the top of the weld just isn't right. at times it's ruff looking & with tiny holes in it.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Porosity is usually a sign of lack of gas coverage... causes are:

Insufficient flow, usually 10 lpm is the norm but if welding outdoors any draughts will kill that.

Incorrect torch angle, usually accompanied by a sooty deposit left around the weld.

Also possible you have purchased some cheap wire, or wire that is not what it is supposed to be.

Can you put some pics up, much better chance for others to help if they can see the welds

 

[weld_it]

i will take some pics tomorrow when their is some better light. i am using a small disposable bottle and one of these regulators.

 

[cumbriasteve]

That may be your problem, the flow can be hard to set.

When I first started I used a bottle pub gas CO2 with a proper regulator and it was generally OK and cheap, £13.50 a year rental and £11 for a refill, would last ages on car repairs.

In real life the disposables are just too costly.

 

[weld_it]

i wondered about the regulator setting. were to set it etc. i guest a few times but didn't make much difference.

 

[weld_it]

here is a few pics of the weld....

 

[octo0072000]

that just looks like you have been welding with no gas
put the torch to the side of your face DONT POINTIT SO THE WIRE STICKS IN YOUR FACE pull trigger better still remove wire tension,
pull trigger you should just be able to feel the gas blowing on your face the small regs and disposable bottles cause half the problems see if you can get some pub gas Co2 and a proper reg the cheap reg on my Co2 is up full to get the gas flow right got to get a adpter for the argon reg

 

[cumbriasteve]

Yes it looks exactly like you have had no gas coverage, you should be able to feel a gentle breeze of gas on your skin and hear a gentle hiss...even thats only guess work.

You are also getting no penetration due to the weld pool not being as it should be.

 

[weld_it]

your right about not geting any good penetration wich was worrying when i was welding. when i was using the gasless wire the penetration was good.

i have a pub bottle with regulator but no gas in it at the moment. but i was talking to one of my neighbours last week about welding and he said one of his golfing mates supplies bottles to pubs etc. i spoke to the neighbour an haur ago and he said his mate is going to sort out a full bottle of Co2 for free for me, not sure when or what size it will be but it will have to be one off his bottles. now thats going to be well handy.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I've no idea what it is you're making but whatever it is ALL those welds need cutting out and rewelding. Don't just run welds over the top of them, that's no good, they need taking out completely so you're back to the original parent metal.
Not one single one is any good, no penetration or fusion. It will fall apart vey quickly.

 

[weld_it]

yep woz your right. once i get the welder set up to run right i will grind them out & start over. starting to wish i had started off with the gaslass in the first place now.

never mind its all about learning anyways and a bit of play around with some bits of metal. as long as your being safe about it that is. not having anyone to help you hands on doesn't help. but thank the lard for forums like this one were you have hundreds of people to help keep you right.

 

[octo0072000]

Windy today

also you are welding outside not good if it's windy
blows the gas away you need to be in a shaded place if you was welding outside in tha same place with gasles yes you will be better with gasles
with gas try to get a shield 2 sheets fo 8ft by 4ft osb/ply board will make a shield from the wind just put a couple of lift off hinges on them to make a corner sounds daft but it works when welding on a car put the shield at one side to stop the wind blowing under the car all part of the learning curve