MIG Welding 6mm and 4mm Cold Rolled Steel Rod

[dalexop]

Hi folks,

I need to buid a Steel Dog Kennel Door.
( Or rebuild one that's destroyed )


I bought some 6 and 4 mm steel rod for the material.

I am using a Century 85A Mig Welder.

Generally speaking, the rod needs to be welded at 90 degrees to each other, one lying on top of the other.
This will create a wire frame and door.

I am finding it difficult to weld the little spot between both rods.
Wirespeed 6 and heat 3 settings have worked, but I am getting a ball weld as opposed to a nice little pool between the two peices of steel.

Has someone already figured this technique out ?

Thanks

Derek from Whitby, Canada

 

[Sparkey]

Hi Derek!
Why not use a higher power setting? if the weld looks like a ball you didn't put enough heat in it...do you have some offcuts lying around to try it on?

edit: hmm i forgot to say: you can also sweep a little with the torch, start the welding on the lower rod and gently sweep up a bit to reach the other rod too...or the other way around if you'd like...

 

[pedrobedro]

85 amps is a bit low for what you are doing there. Try grinding some flats on the rod where they intersect and weld the edges together.

 

[Sparkey]

Is it a gas-less welder? Did a quick google to find out more, but it only got me even more questions...Century was Craftsman before right? it got re branded Century...
How many settings do you have Derek? wirespeed and power?

 

[cumbriasteve]

I would be running at over 150amps to get a good weld pool and some penetration on 6mm, probably nearer 180 ish, I doubt your 85 amps will work very well.

 

[Sparkey]

I would be running at over 150amps to get a good weld pool and some penetration on 6mm, probably nearer 180 ish, I doubt your 85 amps will work very well.

Yeah...depends how big the dog is?

 

[keith19]

Even if it's a gasless welder, it isn't going to be able to take on 4 - 6 mm rod at only 85A.

If using gasless mig, I'd be grinding flats, as Pedrobedro advises, and using 150A (top whack on mine) in short runs to stick them together.

At 85A the heat is dispersing into the rods too quickly to get a pool started. Time to get out the buzz-box arc welder if you've got one...

 

[Norm]

Just out of interest what breed of dog is it? that managed to destroy a steel door