I have an old SIP Handymig (gas) that I have been using extensively on a TR3 I am rebuilding. It has worked fine up to now using it with argon/CO2 mixture and 0.6 wire. I have been getting good welds in 20 gauge sheet steel.
Recently it has started sputtering (whilst making a definite cracking sound as opposed to the smooth hiss that it gives when it is welding properly) when I weld at pretty much all currents. I have changed the liner and replaced the previous plastic item with a wire wound one and put a new tip and shroud on it. I have also checked and cleaned the wire feed wheels.
It will still weld and get good penetration but it is difficult to get a clean weld at low power which means it is difficult to use on thin material. On heavier material e.g. 2mm chassis rails, I can turn up the power and whilst it still sputters it will create a good weld pool and a tidy weld.
I have taken the panels off to have a look inside but don't really know what I am looking for, there doesn't seem to be anything obviously wrong/missing/burnt. The only thing I wonder is - does it have a rectifier and if so - if it wasn't working properly, would that mean I was effectively getting only half the waveform, i.e. the current would be fluctuating and giving me a stutter.
Any ideas out there?
Ian
Recently it has started sputtering (whilst making a definite cracking sound as opposed to the smooth hiss that it gives when it is welding properly) when I weld at pretty much all currents. I have changed the liner and replaced the previous plastic item with a wire wound one and put a new tip and shroud on it. I have also checked and cleaned the wire feed wheels.
It will still weld and get good penetration but it is difficult to get a clean weld at low power which means it is difficult to use on thin material. On heavier material e.g. 2mm chassis rails, I can turn up the power and whilst it still sputters it will create a good weld pool and a tidy weld.
I have taken the panels off to have a look inside but don't really know what I am looking for, there doesn't seem to be anything obviously wrong/missing/burnt. The only thing I wonder is - does it have a rectifier and if so - if it wasn't working properly, would that mean I was effectively getting only half the waveform, i.e. the current would be fluctuating and giving me a stutter.
Any ideas out there?
Ian