Is the wind affect my welding?

[spaffmonkey]

Hi

Two days ago i got my clarke 200t mig welder all set up using a bit of scrap
1.5 mm steel sheet.
It was making the nice cooking bacon sound great penatration.
(weather sunny and hardly a breeze)

Today i went and tryed and the welds are all splatty and its
blowing hole strait through? and the welding sounds like a machine gun
im really confused.
(weather cloudy and very windy)

If i no its the wind ill just have to wait. its just im trying to weld up my
van ready for the mot in a couple of weeks.

Thanks dale

 

[Andy from Workshopshed]

When I first started MIG welding I had some problems with porosity in the welds. Rusty dust would be another symptom of problems with the shielding gas.

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/articles/Common-MIG-Weld-Defects-GMAW/

 

[spaffmonkey]

Thank you and thanks for the link very interesting.

Im wondering wether to try a make a wind shield? would that help?

And i'll go clean the metal again.

Is there a good chemical the wipe the metal with before you weld to help clean of
any dust and grease?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Yep, sounds like your gas is being blown away. Is it possible to set up a makeshift windbreak?
You may be able to get away with it if you can stop the majority of the wind and also up the gas flow slightly to compensate for what's being lost.
I take it you're using a large cylinder with that machine, not disposables?

 

[spaffmonkey]

Yep, sounds like your gas is being blown away. Is it possible to set up a makeshift windbreak?
You may be able to get away with it if you can stop the majority of the wind and also up the gas flow slightly to compensate for what's being lost.
I take it you're using a large cylinder with that machine, not disposables?

Hi yes im using a boc size y bottle of gas.
I will try and construct a wind break.

thanks for your advise much appreciated

 

[GrahamGKD]

Spaffmonkey,
Any wind most certainly will affect the welding process, assuming you are using shielding gas. If it is 'very' windy and you are working outside I think that must be your problem. I even notice the effect with a draft from the open workshop door sometimes. On days when it is just a little windy you could try upping the gas flow rate a bit, and / or improvise some form of windshield. If it is very windy it's probably best left to another day. Is there any work to do from inside the van - maybe you could crack on with that?
Graham.

 

[spaffmonkey]

Spaffmonkey,
Any wind most certainly will affect the welding process, assuming you are using shielding gas. If it is 'very' windy and you are working outside I think that must be your problem. I even notice the effect with a draft from the open workshop door sometimes. On days when it is just a little windy you could try upping the gas flow rate a bit, and / or improvise some form of windshield. If it is very windy it's probably best left to another day. Is there any work to do from inside the van - maybe you could crack on with that?
Graham.

Thank you graham.

I started doing some welding in the back of the van.

I am just over lap welding but i keep blowing hole through now

and some of the welds are looking a bit volcanic rock ish

any idea's?

 

[BChild]

Floor or walls?

Not underseal underneath contaminating the weld is it?

 

[Wozzaaah]

How many litres per minute do you have your regulator set to?
Somewhere around 10 is a good starter, a bit more if there's a breeze.
Can you post a pic of the welds?

 

[spaffmonkey]

Floor or walls?

Not underseal underneath contaminating the weld is it?

Its the van floor in the back.

there is still under seal underneath could that affect the weld ?

 

[spaffmonkey]

How many litres per minute do you have your regulator set to?
Somewhere around 10 is a good starter, a bit more if there's a breeze.
Can you post a pic of the welds?

Thats a good question!

my regulator, the gauge is not working there is gas getting through to the

torch but just gessing really untill i can afford a new regulator.

i've been opening it about 1/4

 

[Wozzaaah]

Try increasing the flow to see what effect it has, if it cures the problem all well and good, if not then you need to look towards contamination.

 

[spaffmonkey]

Ok thank you

I will try it out tommorrow and let you no how i get on.

 

[spaffmonkey]

Right i didnt use the welder today as all my neighbors were in and didnt want to anoy them

with my generator rumbbling away. so have decided to try again on monday.

But did start stripping off the old underseal what a horrid job.

I have also just won a HARRIS, CO2, ARGON, REGULATOR PLUS FLOW METER on ebay

which should help me work out my gas flow rate.