help

[fannihall]

Help.............
I'm trying to get started on bodywork. I bought the Wolf 130 amp and am trying to weld 2 bits of thin scrap together and all I get is a pile of blobs that look like ...... Anyway, the co2 that came with it all leaked out so now I've got Argon. Ive been through the tutorial and watched the video and this machine doesn't seem to work like that. If I try low (min) setting it doesn't stick to the metal and at max setting it sparks like crazy and blows a hole in it. I've tried just about every combination of power and wire speed setting from bottom to top of both knobs and all I end up with is a hole or a pile of blobs.
I can stick weld OK and in the past (20 or so years ago), I've got by with mig.
What am I doing wrong? Am I so thick I've missed something obvious?

 

[shenion]

Post some pictures of the welds.

Practice on 2-3mm steel to start with. You need to get smooth with it before tackling thin metal.

Could be the machine, there are some Wolf models that are near useless. I'd be interested in a picture of the spec plate on the machine.

 

[Wozzaaah]

First off, can I suggest you start your own threads instead of tagging onto others, they will get more attention.

Second off, post some good quality photos of your attempts so we can see where you're going wrong.

 

[fannihall]

How do I do that. I looked all over the site to find out how but I'm a bit thick so I obviously mnissed it

 

[Wozzaaah]

All over the site except here then.

 

[fannihall]

Sorry but I followed that link and it took me to one telling me how to add links.

 

[shenion]

Here is the link on that page on how to upload pictures:

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=5016

 

[fannihall]

Thank you.
I've just found that the machine emptied the (disposable) argon cylinder that I put on this afternoon in about half an hour of trying to get it to work. I've now sent a message of complaint to the ebay supplier (UK Home Shopping) and will probably end up sending the ..... thing back. However, I have to be sure that it is the machine not me so I need to get it to work properly if possible or identify what the problem is. I opened the valve part way and am sure I heard gas coming out of the shroud, even with the trigger off (and the power off). When I unscrewed the cylinder at the end of play, there was no escape of gas so I took the tube out of the regulator and opened the valve but nothing came out.
Is this machine u/s?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Sorry but I followed that link and it took me to one telling me how to add links.

You clicked the second one down, 'post links' not the top one titled 'upload photographs'.
Follow the instructions carefully and you'll be fine.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Those disposables only last about 10 mins of welding, you did well to get 1/2 hour out of one!

 

[shenion]

Thank you.
I've just found that the machine emptied the (disposable) argon cylinder that I put on this afternoon in about half an hour of trying to get it to work. I've now sent a message of complaint to the ebay supplier (UK Home Shopping) and will probably end up sending the ..... thing back. However, I have to be sure that it is the machine not me so I need to get it to work properly if possible or identify what the problem is. I opened the valve part way and am sure I heard gas coming out of the shroud, even with the trigger off (and the power off). When I unscrewed the cylinder at the end of play, there was no escape of gas so I took the tube out of the regulator and opened the valve but nothing came out.
Is this machine u/s?

Those disposable argon cylinders last about 6 minutes of use. So, it was as it should be.

Disposables are expensive to use. The CO2 ones last about 30-40 minutes of use but still are expensive.

 

[Country Joe]

The machine's not useless, it's just a wolf! Some wolves eat sheep, but yours eats gas!
There are probably some tiny leaks somewhere within the system, and as those cylinders only hold a "puff" of gas, it probably ran out while you posted one of your messages, earlier.
The gas shouldn't flow with the trigger & the power off. That would be the welder's fault.
So don't blast the gas supplier, if that's who your message of complaint was to. Those small ones are supposed to be grief, you know!
All the Best,
CJ

 

[cumbriasteve]

My first machine was a Wolf, I am afraid you may never feel happy with it's performance.

I wasted a few evenings determined to get it running smoothly but it was very erratic and weld performance varied between 'difficult but looks a bit like a weld' to 'nightmare and bird crap' and that was without altering any settings between the two runs.

 

[fannihall]

I've given up on the Wolf - they are collecting it on Tuesday!
I took the machine to my neighbour who has a bodyshop and is an experienced welder. It was leaking gas at the trigger and not putting out regular and sufficient amps, even at high settings.
So now I'm looking for a cheap, reliable, easy-to-use machine - and quick
Thanks to all for your comments above.

 

[mrcheese]

May I suggest that a second hand Clarke machine may be a good bet.
If you lets us know what sort of budget you have then I am sure you will get some good advice.

 

[Cobbler]

Where abouts are you, I have a 100 amp Clarke I am thinking of selling. If you are local to Glos. Too heavy to post though.