rockworth 120amp gas setup help

[essexandy]

hi i have got a rockworth 120amp mig, i am using co2 gas, i have tryed to do set it up so i can do some welding but i am having problems, i got some spare steel that was left over from a panel beater (sill section) but i cant seem to get a good weld going, i can get a a plug going now and again,

does anyone have this welder and know the best settings for it, i have the wire speed fairly low and the power on the lowest setting, i know it should sound like frying bacon but when i come to do a seam it just spits or blows holes and just looks like pidgeon **** really

any help?

 

[Mick - Ford Focus]

essexandy

The co2 Maybe Your Main Issue, And Possibly Your "fairly low" Wire Speed - Have A Look At The Shielding Gas Section In The Mig Tutorial Above For Few Pointers.

An Expert Shall Be Along Shortly.

Mick

 

[essexandy]

will do and any experts would be great or anyone with the same unit, i no its not the best one but its only to do abit of welding on my car

 

[keith19]

Andy, there are so many variables on this. You need to let folks know what steel thickness you are using, if the steel has a galvanised/zinc coating and if you've cleaned this off before welding; and if you are just running a bead on top of the metal or making some kind of joint.
Don't know how experienced you are, but if you are just starting out with CO2 you should be doing practice on something a bit thicker than a sill panel.
As Mick says, on thin metal CO2 gas takes some getting used to, as it is harsher than Argon/CO2 mix.
If thin metal is all you've got to practice with, just practice tacks to start with, like in the 'thin metal technique' tutorial video on here.

 

[mike 109444]

Hi Essexandy.
I don't have same m/c but do use an old Clarke 120. I find that the lowest settings are really to low and of the 6 power settings I usually use 3 or 4 for car body work but you wil not be doing long runs anyway (not without burning through or distorting metal). Not sure if this is a new m/c to you but try getting some 3 or 4 mm steel set power to 4 or 5 and doing some basic runs on that to check the welder out. If you are getting varying welds then, then you may need to suspect the welder/earthlead ect. I use CO2 with no probs. Have tried mix and yes it was nicer weld but such a pain to get refills and welding time much less for same size bottle. CO2 = wine/beer celler supplies.

 

[essexandy]

cheers, well the thickness is 1.2mm i think, it was a brand new sill section from work that was not used, so it had the black primer on it that i used an angle grinder to clean up, i will try and get some thicker steel to test on, my welding was ok, but i never set up the welders, they was already set up.

i will only be using this welder to do some seam welding on my track car, and weld in some new engine mounts

 

[essexandy]

oh and i was just doing some welds on the metal, and not making any joints as of yet

 

[shenion]

Are you sure it is 100% CO2, not CO2/NO2 mix or pub gas.

Also is the wire speed smooth.

Pictures would help.

 

[gavuk]

Agree with Mike ,lowest settings are probably not ideal for using co2,long runs will blow through or distort ,use the "thin metal technique",nothing wrong with co2....makes perfect sense for many diyers to use

 

[essexandy]

yes its co2, i will try thin metal techs, as you say i am just blowing holes at the moment,