New welder - struggling

[Ewok]

Hi I have had a little Sealey MightyMig 100 for the last 20 years - and have become very proficient with it even if I say so myself.

Just upgraded to a R-Tech Inv160 but am struggling a bit. The weld flame I’ll call it seems to be balling back and I cant get it to force a nice pool so I can make a neat fillet. The arc seems to jump about and I end up with knobbly bits. I’ve tried various wire speeds / power but not getting very far. The welding is also very quiet – no sound? I’m mainly welding thin wall tube – 2mm thick. Any advice or setting as a starting point would be greatly received. Cheers, Ewok.

Using Agon/Co2 and 0.6mm wire. Have the ability to set a flow rate for the gas now too - not sure what that should be either! - welding indoors - not outside that is :-)

 

[pedrobedro]

It sounds like you are running the wire too slow and too far from the workpiece. Get a piece of your spare tubing and try it with wire and power on maximum and if the wire pushes back at you turn the speed down and if it blows holes turn the power down. Experiment to find what suits you as it isn't a hard and fast science. You might try .8 wire for 2mm as it will take more power and try the gas around 5lpm or a gentle hiss as a starting point.

 

[Ewok]

Many thanks. Now I have a regime I'll try that and see how I get on and report back.

 

[Ewok]

Sorted - wire speed. I held my MightyMig gun and the new one side by side and matched the wire speed on the new welder to what I am used to as a starting point. That sorted it straight away. Lovely crackling sound and a weld I can work with. The gas flow rate seems fine too. Many thanks pedrobedro - you're a star

 

[pedrobedro]

Glad you're sorted and it was nothing complicated, keep up the good work.

 

[Tino]

5lpm sounds a bit low to me. Maybe I should try it, might save some gas. At home on small wire (0.6-0.8mm)I run about 10 lpm and at work on 1.2-1.6mm wire 15 lpm.

 

[Ewok]

I'm just using hobby gas at the mo till I can get a big Argon/CO2 cylinder. The little gauge I gave maxes out at 6lt/min - and the little bottles hold diddly anyway.

 

[pedrobedro]

That's just the mark on my regulator, they aren't that accurate but if he's inside with no draughts the least possible will cover it.