Problem with ambient temperature?

[solidcelt]

I welded a plate onto a landrover crossmember using cooger as shielding gas and got good welds . The next day using exactly same welder settings etc i went to tidy up some gaps in the welding runs and could not get a decent weld at all - even by adjusting the current and wire speed . I had a good earth. The only difference was the ambient air temperature which was below freezing in the garage on the second day. Could the freezing temperature affect the welding performance in this way?

 

[Luke]

Far more likely to be contamination or other factors affecting the weld. Ambient temperature does have an effect, but its not like an on/off switch.

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

it could have been the gas...

I've noticed on cold days there's frost building up on my CO2 regulator. Maybe it was restricting the flow internally?

Regards
Peter

 

[wyn]

Maybe water had condensed on the chassis overnight and the welding was boiling it off especially if you were filling gaps between welds.

 

[rikrobson]

you could heat the area to be welded up with a torch. This would warm the area and ensure that any condensation has been driven off.

 

[Sparkey]

Hi,

it could have been the gas...

I've noticed on cold days there's frost building up on my CO2 regulator. Maybe it was restricting the flow internally?

Regards
Peter

Yes, we had similar problems at the plant when the temperatures went below zero we had gas flow trouble too! (the gas tanks are outside the building)
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=14039&page=6
(hehe, nevermind the chitchat....)

 

[solidcelt]

Thanks for all responses which have been helpful.