New to MIG welding - Slope out??

[rozabikes]

Hi, new to the forum with little welding experience. Looking at moving to a TIG welder from ARC.

I was talking to a welder the other day who said I should aim to get a welder with "slope out" facility. Can't find much when I google this.

I have been looking at Clarke 135 / 151 welders which seem to come well recomended for the price. Would units such as these have this facilty?

Any help appreciated.

 

[Archie]

The slope out function gently decreases the current over a period of time when you finish a run instead of just shutting it off. You set the time this takes. The aim is to avoid craters in the weld at the end of a run.

As for welders, I think the Clarke models to which your refer are MIG welders but don't count me on it.

 

[rozabikes]

OOPs!! I mean MIG welders. Does slope out still apply?

 

[Archie]

Don't worry. I'm sure you're not the first! It might be a feature on industrial pulsed units for welding stainless and ally but it's not something you'll find on a Clarke machine.

 

[chunkolini]

No slope down on Clarke welders, but do you need it?
They are good budget machines and do the job, great for starting on the slippery slope to welder hell. Avoid SIP welders, they sem well specced for the price, but by almost all accounts are not up to the job.

Chunko'.

 

[rozabikes]

Well do I need it? Over to you guys!! Advice much appreciated please.

 

[Tino]

Well do I need it? Over to you guys!! Advice much appreciated please.

The quick answer is no. As Archie said you are only going to find it on newer high quality M.I.Gs . It's more of a T.I.G thing. The idea is to fill the end crater to prevent crater cracking. Another way to do this is to spot the end of the weld by hand.When you stop welding allow the weld to start to cool then before it is fully cool put a couple of spots of weld in the crater to fill it. Mostly you will only do this when using spray transfer (high power on thicker material)

 

[matt1978]

Its not even so much a thing thats just for Pulse migs, its something that is only available on Inverter powersources, as Transformers are not able to switch power up or down whilst under load.

 

[Chickenjohn]

I second the praise for Clarke welders, I bought a 150 TE several years ago and have welded several cars with it and done a number of small projects. Great budget welder, very reliable and easy to use and the spares are reasonably priced and easy to get hold of as machine mart stock them.

 

[rozabikes]

Brilliant thanks for your answers I am just a confused amateur!!!