My Welds look like metled snowmen,

[Big_Adam]

Afternoon,

To start with, I weld like a monkey with a rock trying to make fire. But I seem to get along with my gasless MIG welder fine.

I just got some new Clarke wire for it and now me welds have gone ... odd.

http://imageshack.us/a/img824/1053/p1040257s.jpg

My welds seem to stick to themselves but not the metal. So I tried a chunky test bit of metal and again same problem. Also don't seem to be getting the white flux leaving like I normally do.

Old Wire Reel ; http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/837/p1040258v.jpg

New Wire Reel;http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/268/p1040261v.jpg

I'm using the same settings, same welder, same metal but my welding have tuned all terrible. Did I get a knockoff load of wire or something? It was two for £10, compared to Machine Marts 1 for £10. Only thing that doesn't match up on the old Vs new wire is the part number and the blue on the sticker being lighter on the new stuff.

So am I an idiot, or is it the wire?

 

[bigbadbugga]

What welder, what settings are you using.

Looks to me like there's not enough power, put the welder on full power and see what you get. If its a gas/no gas model, have you got the leads the right way around?

 

[Big_Adam]

Yo,

Its a Clarke Wld Mig 100 EN turbo, gas no gas welder. Plugs are right. Nothing has changed but the wire. Using the settings of 1, Min and 3-4 feed speed.

As I mentioned I weld like an ape, but this stuff just don't seem to be working.

Left of the pic, new wire. Right with the white stuff is the old wire welding.

http://imageshack.us/a/img823/6117/p1040264q.jpg

Edit

Also I'm trying to weld a 20+year old tool box together. If I use max settings I think I'll just blow holes in it. Well, more so than normal.

 

[jonnyBMX]

also have you got the right wire? u need gasless wire if im not corrected

 

[Big_Adam]

also have you got the right wire? u need gasless wire if im not corrected

I don't know, that's the problem.

Writing is the same on old and new reel, just the part number is different on the new reel. The old part number apparently does not exists to Clarke.

 

[Country Joe]

Hi there,
Maybe you should try bending a piece the wire in half - I've always found that the flux cored (gas-less) type just snaps in two, whereas the normal wire just bends - like normal wire would.
All the Best,
CJ

 

[bigbadbugga]

Put it on 2-max and see how it welds.

That metal you are welding looks like 3mm box section, 1-min on your welder seems a little low to me. I had a 105en turbo and it needed 2-min to weld 1mm steel on a car.

 

[jonnyBMX]

where are u based m8?

 

[Big_Adam]

Miles away, sorry.

Jonny, I'm in Norfolk England.

Anyway, had a bit more of a play about, tested with higher settings on 1.5mm sheet steel I have.

I threw a nice-ish weld down, but the flux was a hard black cover (like with stick welding) rather than the soft white I'm used to.

But seems to be working okay. Have to play about some more.