Learning to Mig Weld but need help....

[MooseBoy]

Hi, I am new to welding and currently taking an evening course in mig welding at a local college. To get more practice I brought a gasless Unimig welder, only a small one but every time I use it as soon as it touches the metal it arcs out without me even touching the button, is this normal and if not how do I stop it from happening?
Also do you have anymore tips for a beginner?
Cheers in advance

 

[redwine300]

Hi.
Firstly, welcome to the forum.
I am not knowledgable enough to explain why your torch is arcing out, maybe some of the more experienced here can advise. In the mean time, take a look through the tutorials, they have a wealth of information that will be of help.
Good luck with the evening course by the way.

 

[rtbcomp]

Welcome to the forum.

If it's a cheap hobby machine it may have a permanently live torch, all the button does is control the motor.

 

[MooseBoy]

Is it possible to change the torch? But will this sort the problem?
Sorry if it sounds stupid

 

[Engineer1964]

Is it possible to change the torch? But will this sort the problem?
Sorry if it sounds stupid

You can change the torch if it has a euro connector, if the torch cable simply goes into the casing with no visable connector then its hard wired inside the welder

 

[gaz1]

from a novice mig welder

as it is live at the torch end you cannot touch the metal with the torch end as you need to have a little distance so the wire does the welding not the torch

in effect you will be doing like an arc welder where the rod touches the metal only

 

[rtbcomp]

Is it possible to change the torch? But will this sort the problem?
Sorry if it sounds stupid

It's in the design of the machine. In most models there is a contactor (a heavy duty relay) which engages with a nice solid clunk to energise the torch.

In the cheaper machines this contactor is omitted and the torch is permanently live.

If you have a machine with a live torch you just have to be careful not to catch the workpiece with the wire until you've pulled the trigger.

You can get Euroconnector conversion kits, but for a low end hobby welder it's a waste of money IMHO, and won't fix your problem.

If you buy a professional or high-end hobby machine it will have a Euroconnector torch anyway.