Overhead welding

[Danny1107]

Hi guys, having some trouble with overhead welding, basically I'm doing some welding on a car that required some "overhead" welds, it is a horizontal piece onto a vertical piece, 2mm mild steel, the weld doesn't seem to stick at all, it is also getting stuck to the copper tip frequently (stick out of around 8mm at a guess) is it possible that the tips are too small? using 0.8mm wire with 0.8mm tips.

Any help is greatly appreciated, I'm using the lowest setting on my welder (Draper MWD121AT) using 10lpm of BOC Argoshield light wirefeed set to 1.5 on the welder, tension is fine, welding flat is fine with these settings, also welding the same kind of joint but on a work bench it's fine. Really confused by this but I am inexperienced with overhead welding, the majority of my welding experience has been on a work bench.

Any tips or advice? Would be greatly appreciated!

 

[blenkie1]

Tip should be set slightly inside the shroud and turn the power up. Try a test piece off the car if you can where it might be less akward. What are you welding thats 2mm?

 

[Bill Edwards]

It can be a little harder than on the flat, but it shouldn't be too difficult.
It could partly be that your tip has worn out - they don't last for ever. I suggest you try turning the wire feed down and/or power up a little if you can't getting the weld to 'stick'.

 

[Kent]

Get yourself from under the car and practice first with settings and wind it up you want the arc and torch angle to fight gravity some as the weld metal wants to fall. Down welding at higher power is far easier than up welding although it lacks the deeper penetration another reason to go high not low. On old car stuff don't try and just buzz in a big long run either, short bursts is fine if it gets the job done its done!

 

[Danny1107]

Thanks for the tips guys, will do a few practice runs on some scrap to get the settings dialed in, the tips that the wire was sticking to were all brand new ones

 

[blenkie1]

If you are on your lowest setting, with the tip sticking out welding 2mm plate you will use tips. Practice and trial is what it will take