Layed some beads tonight

[Garvey]

Finally got a bottle of gas today so got it rigged up to my new Clarke 160TM.

Had an old car boot lid laying around so this became my test piece

Pics are from top and bottom. These are my first attempts so any advice appreciated!

 

[irondarren]

Are those on the lowest power setting?

 

[Welderpaul]

Too hot!
Clean off the back as well as the front.
Not bad though.

 

[3Rs]

Yep, your burning way to hot.

 

[Garvey]

They were on 1min with various wire speeds.

I thought it was too hot as the metal was warped after. What can I try to reduce the heat?

 

[shenion]

Use 0.6mm wire.

Is that straight CO2?

 

[Garvey]

Using Argoshield light and 0.6 wire

I think the panel might be a little thin so I've picked up some 18swg to practice on.

 

[Hitch]

Your heading in the right direction, they look almost spot on, considering the metal thickness is probably a bit thin, and where you have stripped the paint.

If your already on the minimum, you could move slightly faster, of slope the metal downwards slightly, and weld pointing down the slope.
If its the distortion you want to control, use the small stitch technique.

 

[Garvey]

I will have a go at moving the torch quicker and try sloping the metal

 

[malcolm]

I've found the Clarkes respond well to reducing wire speed. You might need to hold the torch closer to the work to make it work on low wire speed, but there's a fair bit of adjustment available in doing that.

I always used short runs or the stop start technique on thin metal with my old Clarke.