Help bubble-weld trouble

[Silverbullit]

Howdy mates,

I really need your knowledged help!

Tonight my welder suddenly started making crap-welds, it sparks and the result is bubbles and crap!
It is a Esab c160i and it worked flawlessly a few days ago,
seems it feeds the welding thread evenly - still tightened the roll up some extra,
now I checked the mison-gas and it seems ok - tried increasing it like "insane" no improv,
took apart the nozzle and cleaned it thoroughly - put on a new original welding tip,
took apart the ground-clamp cleaned it and overly tightened it

No luck



Any and all feedback is most welcome, I really really need your help mates!

/Silverbullit


PS Now this might seem silly to you skilled professionals but it ran through my mind,
Now I think the last thing I did when I welded two days ago was dipping the tip in welding grease/abicor binzel as usual...
can something have happened due to that, could the grease have creeped in between the wire/hose up the tube/hose?
If that improbable thought could be the source of the sudden crap bubble welds, how does one clean out the hosing/tubing?!?

 

[tflnemesis]

Lack of gas i would say, is the only time my weld bubbles and pops, when i have run out of gas. Can you feel anygas at the torch?

 

[Silverbullit]

It seems to let gas through viewing the reduction meter scales, but the gas at the torch does feel "weak"....

Where does the gas actually channel through the weldinggrip?
I cannot seem to find such obvious information/pictures anywhere?
(Could be my english is to poor in technical terms for google)

Any further help here would be deeply appreciated

 

[rikrobson]

The gas comes out of 4 holes at the bottom of the neck insdle the shroud. It sound like the gas has stopped. if you pull the trigger when not welding the wire should feed and you will hear a dsitinct hiss.

The gas pushes the air away and carries the arc. If there is no gas the arc is in the air. The nitogen and oxygen react with the iron and make a poor weld with gas bubbles in. Also the arc is not as stable.

whay gas are you using?
what is the gas pressure reading on the Regulator?
Did you turn on the gas ?
Did you leave the gas on last time and its all run away?

 

[Silverbullit]

Thank for your thoughts and suggestions mates,

whay gas are you using?
- I run a 20litre bottle Mison 18
what is the gas pressure reading on the Regulator?
- needle says 145 and the other moves when I hit the trigger (I hear a hissing sound also, however I have a hearing disability so it sounds somewhat meek and I cannot say if it is my hearing or...)
Did you turn on the gas ?
- Thats an affirmative
Did you leave the gas on last time and its all run away?
- I live in a small village and fortunately there's no where to run... (Well at very special occations villagers gather around the town scrubbage and watch it grow, at least those who can take the suspension)
how far in are you dipping your tip?
- I suspect to far, last go I mushed it in there quite a bit (however I did clean it before turning here to you mates, the four holes seems all clear and I did a fift? cleanout with tops/cotton tips and kompressed air...)

I do so much appreciate your feedback mates, look forward to more
t h a n k s ! ! !

 

[the snooper]

does your welder have a gas solenoid inside the welder or is it a simple valve built into the torch ? either way I would dismantle it and check for leaks and that the pipes are still fitted properly

 

[Kent]

Cup your hand around the torch, put it up to your ear ( sideways don't want wire firing into your ear - safety first) have you got positive gas pressure?
I bet not!
Now it's likely the bottle but if you remove the reg and crack it open - you should be in no doubt it wants to go with a bit of whoosh not just let gas out



Next if you have gas there is the regulator then the gas line then the solenoid ( is it clicking) then the torch line ( is it damaged?) then your gas diffuser in the torch ( is it blocked with spatter or goop?)

Not nessarilly in that direction but start with the gas - because it's most likely too low to feed!