My first attempt

[Gareth25]

This is my first attempt at MIG welding. I'd welcome comments and critique. Don't be too harsh :-)

The metal is scrap, I'm just using it to practice on.





Any suggestions on how I can improve would be really appreciated.

Thanks
Gareth

 

[mike 109444]

Gareth think you will need to give the guys and gals a bit more info as that could be a mountain range or a microscopic view! They will need
welder type
settings you were using
wire size
gas used
metal thickness
and any other things you think ....
ps don't look to bad But I could be the other side of room
and welcome btw

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Look a bit cool to me. try a bit more heat, keep torch angle cnsistant and about a 8 or 10mm gap between the contact tip and the metal.

 

[BrokenBiker]

looking ok to me. is that with the maypole 130?

 

[Gareth25]

Right lads/lasses,the welder used was a maypole 130 turbo with pub gas,wire 8mm ,metal was 1.5 mm thick

This is how it was set when I had a go hope this helps

 

[BrokenBiker]

have you sorted the wire feed issues then?

 

[mike 109444]

If you look at the underside of the welds you should see some distortion where the penetration is coming through, this will be the correct power + wire feed + travel. You are only one notch down form top power so should be at the point of blow through on 1.5 mm steel (are you sure it's 1.5?)

 

[mike 109444]

If you look at this chaps pics 2 and 4
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=42271
you can see the penetration and some blow through. The difference between penetration and blow through on thin metal is a matter of a few mili seconds of not moving the torch quick enough (blow through) and moving to quick (lack of penetration) hence the "thin metal technique" See tutorial at top of page if you intend to weld car body panels

 

[Gareth25]

No mate wire feed is still a bit random but I'm picking a new reel of wire up tomorrow to try will let you know how I get on with it

 

[BrokenBiker]

that doesn't look too bad for a welder with a dodgy feed.