New to this: 1s Time Setting Up Sip auto-plus 181 dp

[8ball]

New to this and never welded before:

I have just purchased a Sip auto-plus 181 dp welder and I plan on doing Gas Welding. I will connect the welder to a 20L Argon Mix gas Cylinder...

My first project after messing about with some off cuts will be to make a steel welding/work bench. (Square Steel Tubes ans sheet steel)

The instructions that came with the welder useless.. I therefore have the following questions and would be most grateful for any advice given:

Setup:

1) Earth clamp cable
a) Which of the three plug sockets '-', 'tourch', '+' do i plug the Earth cable in to?
b) And Why? (I understand that it can be plugged into different sockets for different reasons)
c) Why would I use the other sockets?

2) Gas Supply Set-up
Setting up the connection for the gas supply looks basic, connect Twin Dial Regulator to gas container, connect hose to both regulator and welder. Then when ready to weld, open the gas supply on the container, But what do I set the adjuster to on the regulator to when when the regulator dial?

3) What is the switch on/set-up procedure? (?? Power On, Adjust Amp Setting, Wire Feed Level, Turn Gas On, Adjust Gas Regulator Setting, Key Wire & Gas Feed Line on the Euro Trigger to Clear Out Air, Trim Wire???)

4) What is the Safe Shut Down Procedure?

First Use:

I plan on doing some sample welds on Scrap Sheets of plate and Square Tubes to learn on and tune the settings?

1) What would be the best wire to start learning with, 6 or 8 ?

2) What would be a good starting point for setting the Welder Settings to as a starting point before adjusting?
a) Wire Feed Speed
b) Power Setting
c) Gas Regulator Valve
d) Anything else?

3) When trimming back the welding wire for starting, or after use, how close do you trim back the wire. IE how much should be sticking out?

4) Anything thing else I should know?

 

[Robotstar5]

Had to look for a pic of your welder to work out the 3 sockets

There should be a link wire you plug between torch and "+" then connect the work return (earth clamp) to the "-" socket, this setup is for gas shielded welding.
Put the link between torch and "-" with work return on "+" for gasless (flux cored wire) welding.

To set up the gas, turn the bottle on, slacken wire feed clamp (saves wasting wire) pull the trigger and adjust regulator to 10-12 lpm on the gauge.

Have a read through the excellent tutorials we have, then get

 

[the snooper]

you don't want pure argon for mig you need a mix of argon/Co2

 

[Robotstar5]

you don't want pure argon for mig you need a mix of argon/Co2

I noticed that but assumed it was a simple "newbie" error and he meant mix?.

 

[doubleboost]

Not your welder but all relivant

 

[the snooper]

I noticed that but assumed it was a simple "newbie" error and he meant mix?.

but you can never be sure, its been done on here before and the op wondered why his welding wasn't getting any better