Please Help a Novice?

[RoverRich]

Hi Welding Gurus

I'm trying to learn to weld (a self teach that’s not going well) I've borrowed an Arc welder and transformer from my brother who’s currently travelling in Australia so I can’t contact him for any advice. I’ve set the welder up but I’m having no luck actually producing any weld from the rods, they seem to be burning but are only producing miniscule blobs of spattered weld and I seem to have to keep making contact with the work as its not producing an arc, I have tried changing the settings but from the lowest to the highest it’s pretty much the same result. I’ve watched a few of the tutorial videos and I think I’m doing everything correctly but I’m not sure if it’s my technique or the set up. Please can you advise? thanks

Set Up of welder

Welder: Silverline 396689 AC (I’ve tried various mm of rods/welder settings)

Transformer: 1 Phase 40-100~
Input volts 230 – 250
Output volts 110cte
KVA Rating 1.0 continuous
(plugged into a normal 30m extension cable, that’s plugged into the wall)

I've had a look for local courses but they all seem to be full courses for qualifications I could just do with an idiots guide that lasts a day to give me a general idea. is there such a thing?

 

[shenion]

WHat size rods?

Will probably be near full setting for most rods. These low-end buzz boxes are difficult to learn on as they do not have a real stable arc.

You need a heavy-duty extension or you will lose power.

Post picts of welds and welcome to the forums

 

[rtbcomp]

I would definately try to eliminate the extension before looking too deeply for problems.

 

[voipio]

What's the welder's input voltage given on the rating plate on the back?

Aussie mains is ~240V. If the welder's designed for that, and it's being fed off the 110V output of a transformer then the symptoms you describe would be the result.

It's best for early weld practice to be obtained using a decent amount of current (100A or more) and welding rods at least 2.5mm, even 3.2mm diameter. 1.6mm rods and 55A current is fiddly and best left until a few welds have been laid down. Even then it can be tricky.

 

[rtbcomp]

Just done a Google - it works off 240 16A mains, did your brother actually use the welder with the transformer?

 

[syborg]

hi mate,
whack it up to full power and make sure your steel is clean.

galv can be a right sod if your welder is 100amp tops

try giving the steel a good clean with a nice harsh sand disc then have another go.

my first welder is only 100amp and i can now draw quite well with it using 1.6mm rods on 50 amps on clean steel.

peace

oh yeah. a good stable supply ie socket is best.

syborg

 

[RoverRich]

Just done a Google - it works off 240 16A mains, did your brother actually use the welder with the transformer?

I know he ended up never using it and paid for someone to do the welding but I don't know if this is because he had problems getting it to work as well. Could it be the transformer?
As far as the extension cable goes thats a must as its the only source of power and the garage is a distance from the house, is there any way around this apart from buying a petrol generator?

Cheers for all your help guys

 

[RoverRich]

WHat size rods?

Will probably be near full setting for most rods. These low-end buzz boxes are difficult to learn on as they do not have a real stable arc.

You need a heavy-duty extension or you will lose power.

Post picts of welds and welcome to the forums

I've tried with 2mm and 3.2mm, I'll try and get some pics on tomorrow.

Thanks for the help

 

[rtbcomp]

If the transformer has a 110 volt output definately, Double check the welder is 240 volts, it should have a rating plate somewhere on it, if so connect it straight to the mains.

You could use the thickest cable you can find for the extension, or better still get a proper mains supply from the house to the garage.

Can you get the welder nearer to a socket just to test it?

 

[CKJDJK]

Hang on, Brother is in Aus, he is in Derbyishire. If the welder is 240 Volt why use a 110 transformer. Output would be seriously low. Or am I reading it wrong?

 

[eil]

Pick the welder up and take it down to as near the cooker socket in the kitchen as you can, if you have a cooker socket that is, and with your thinest rod try to strike your arc, don't do it on the worktop though it can make a bit of a mess, better just outside the back door.