New member after advice

[Stewy1984]

Hello guys and girls. I'm new to welding, having had a mig in the garage for years (my dads) and messing around with it, but never getting it to do more than cough and splutter. I thought it about time to try and learn how to weld!

so this weekend ive bought an auto mask and had my first real attempt using the infomation for the tut on this site (very helpful)

im using an old hobart betamig 175 with 0.6 wire i think and using it gasless with the wires changed around.

Ive been trying tonight on some 3mm steel, knowing naff all about the welder and getting no penetration, is it me or the welder?

any ideas welcome.

cheers

 

[shenion]

AFAIK, noone make 0.6mm gasless wire. Don't you mean 0.8 or 0.9mm?

looks like no need some more power. What are the machine settings?

 

[wyn]

As shenion says, the wire, if it is 0.6, is likely to be solid wire for use with gas. To use the wire you would need to change the polarity back and get hold of a bottle of gas.

To use it gasless will require a different wire ....fluxcored...it would be possible to get a small reel to test out from somewhere like halfords or machine mart.

 

[Stewy1984]

just been and checked and it is 0.8 gasless wire, reason i thought it was 0.6 is because i had just put anew 0.6 nib in.

power settings are min/max and 1 2 3 and then the wire speed knob.

was using it as setup in pic.

 

[wyn]

Sounds like you're right with the settings then.

I haven't used gassless myself so not too sure with the exact results. But i understand there is a lot of spatter and that the flux will cover the weld so will need knocking off.

 

[Rusty]

just been and checked and it is 0.8 gasless wire, reason i thought it was 0.6 is because i had just put anew 0.6 nib in.

power settings are min/max and 1 2 3 and then the wire speed knob.

was using it as setup in pic.

You need a 0.8 nib ( tip ) to go with your 0.8 wire.

 

[Tino]

It's hard to tell from the pics but your steel looks like it could be a bit dirty. The MIG likes clean steel a quick tickle with an angle grinder can make a big difference.

 

[Stewy1984]

yeah was cleaned, just in strips and earth was clean.

off work tomorrow, just got some 0.8 wire and gas so will try again.

 

[Stewy1984]

Here's the second go on the same 3mm steel, with gas (not sure on flow) and 0.8 wire and better pictures.

 

[Stewy1984]

Any tips for welding tube guys? its 45mm OD and 3mm wall

first go, tacked in 4 places then welded between the tacks.

Dont know if i should be leaving a gap between the tubes? or what

 

[Stewy1984]

well its been afew months of welding for me since this first try, i've jumped right in at the deep end with roll cage, mounts, tray backs and chassis repairs.

enjoying nearly every second of it.

will have to get some weld pictures tomorow and compare then to now.

 

[KTMMICK]

Looks like you have got the idea now..........